Page 10 of The Alpha's Stolen Mate

Over the past two months, we’d been getting into fights about how much time he spent betting at the casino in our town. The same small voice in the back of my mind that urged me to snoop around his room was warning me that if Axel proposed, it would be like him placing a bet on our relationship. He didn’t care if I said yes or no. All he wanted was the thrill from doing something impulsive.

And I was eighteen. Was I ready to be engaged to anyone right now?

An image of Gabriel in a black tux standing at the altar burst into my mind.

No.

I was dating his brother, who might propose to me soon.

“So, you’re surprising Axel tonight?” Scarlett asked.

“Yes.” I finished my hair and walked to my closet to pick out my outfit. “You know that I’m not the biggest fan of parties, and when Axel asked me to go, I said no. But after finding the engagement ring, I want to surprise him.”

“That’s so romantic,” Scarlett said and sighed wistfully.

My face grew red as I went to the bathroom to change into a long black skirt and white tank top. Would Scarlett still think that it was so romantic of me to surprise Axel at the party if she knew I was only doing it to get another guy off my mind?

***

“My parents want me to be home by midnight,” I reminded Scarlett as she opened the door to Joshua Collin's house.

As soon as I stepped over the threshold, I was overwhelmed. Loud pop music was blaring from the black speakers in the living room. The only lighting was neon purple strip lights on the walls. And it seemed like my entire graduating class was crammed into this tiny space.

“Why are they so overbearing?” Scarlett asked as we sidestepped a couple making out aggressively against the wall. “You're eighteen. Can't you stay out however long you want?”

“Well, um, they’re protective because of the attack on me.”

She blushed.

“Oh, right. Sorry. Well, Troy isn't going to drink either, so I'll just catch a ride home with him. I'm going to go find him, actually. Catch you later. Good luck with Axel!” Scarlett said, already turning to leave.

“Thanks...”

Before I could get another word out, she was lost in the crowd.

Axel was nowhere to be found in the living room or kitchen, so I slowly made my way up the stairs, stepping over discarded red plastic cups, another couple making out, and Samantha Matters screaming at her on-again, off-again boyfriend. When I got to the top, a strange prickling feeling started in the back of my neck, then spread to the rest of my body. All of the noise of the party faded into the background as I walked down the hallway.

Instinct told me to pass by the closed doors and go to the one at the end of the hall that was hanging slightly open. I knocked once and held my breath.

“Find another room! This one's occupied.”

Axel.

Without hesitating, I burst through the door and turned on the light. My boyfriend and Makala Hanson were naked in bed, blinking up at me with annoyed expressions. Makala and I had never been close friends, but it wasn't a secret that Axel and I were going out. When their eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness, their faces drained of color. Axel scrambled off the bed and called my name. As he stood, his foot caught on the sheets and he fell onto the ground.

A strangled laugh came out of me.

Makala sprang out of the bed and started to pull her red dress over her head.

“Um, well, I guess you two have a lot to talk about,” she said once she was dressed. “Sorry, uh, for this,” Makala said to me and gestured wildly around the room, and then left.

Axel avoided my eye as he clumsily pulled on his jeans. His blonde hair was disheveled, and from his red, watery eyes, I could tell that he was drunk.

“Summer, this isn't—”

“Don't say this isn't what it looks like because I'm not an idiot,” I snapped and crossed my arms.

“I'm sorry,” he slurred. “I know sleeping with Makala wasn't cool of me, but since you're saving yourself for marriage, I just wanted to lose my virginity before I graduated high school. Can't you understand that?” He swayed where he stood.

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