Page 60 of The Alpha's Mates

She shook her head. “I won’t let you do this on your own. Besides, which one of our families owns and operates a safe haven for orphaned and abandoned kids? And, which one of us has taken care of more than their fair share of lost children?” She quirked one of her blonde brows in challenge.

“Has to be the clothes,” he teased, ushering her out of the house. “Only explanation I can come up with.”

“For what?” She licked her bottom lip as she stared up at him. Christoph wrapped his arms around her. He bent his head and inhaled her fresh summer strawberry scent. When he brushed his lips over hers, she pressed herself to him. His sweet innocent Bell. She was corruptible, like Jackson said. Though sullying her wasn’t high on his list of things to do. He loved this version of Bell.

“Why you’re sassy,” he said before helping her into the passenger seat of their SUV.

Bell giggled. “I’m not sassy.” She clicked her seatbelt into place as he closed her door and went around the front to get in.

Christoph started his vehicle and backed out of the driveway. “Yes, kitten, you are. When you want to be. The rest of the time you’re our soft, adorable, and thoughtful mate.” He laced their hands together as they drove down the mountain and into town.

“I love you, Christoph, but you smother me sometimes. I’m not as nice as you think I am.” She frowned. Even her pout was cute.

“I believe you, mate.” He kissed the back of her hand as they slowed for a school x-ing. The days were getting longer, which meant the schools in the area were keeping the kids outside more than inside, especially the shifter children. He’d captured glimpses of them since they’d been there. He wondered if Isaac was having fun with his schoolmates as well.

She snorted. “Maybe I need lessons from Zoe or Hayden. Both of them might whip me into shape. Or my brother.” She wiggled her brows. “I’d bet he’d teach me how to peg you and Jackson.”

Christoph’s mouth fell open. He didn’t know if he was scared or turned on or a bit of both. Staring at her like he was, she gave nothing away. Arousal pooled low in his gut. Christoph had been very specific with Jackson. He was a top, and he never fantasized about taking a dick. He could suck his mate off, and he could fuck Jackson. However, he just didn’t think he could bottom. He knew his preference wasn’t an issue, because everything was about consent, but this. This version of Bell, he’d call her Bell 2.0, also turned him on. She motioned to the light that had turned green while he’d been struck dumb by her. He went through the intersection, still taken aback by her comment. “I—”

“Gotcha.” She laughed.

The sound of her happiness hit him square in the chest, and his lion purred. He loved hearing the tinkling sound of her glee. “I should spank you.” First because with one statement she made him hard as a rock and second because he entertained the idea and found himself intrigued and ready to make it happen if she wanted.

“Not a punishment,” she hummed, her brilliant smile lifted some of the nervousness still churning in his gut.

“No, it’s not,” he agreed. “Thank you, Bell.”

She turned in her seat. “For what?”

“For taking my mind off all this stuff.” He kissed the back of her hand once more. “You have no idea how anxious I am right now.”

“I can smell you,” she said. “The normal sweet grass aroma I love has soured into something twisted and filled with fear.” Her features became serious. “We never talk about your family after everything that happened. I figured it was for obvious reasons, but you know we’re here for you if you ever need us.”

“A lot of dark, not so nice things happened to me, Bell.” He shuddered at the thought.

She peered up at him, terror and sadness filled her crystal blue eyes. “I’ll tell you my secrets if you tell me yours.”

Why did he have a bad feeling about this? Why did his gut scream at him to back away from the subject, not because of him, but because whatever she had to tell him, it would enrage and destroy him more than he already was torn in two? “Bell, you never have to tell me about any of it.”

She swallowed audibly. “Yes, it’s time. We’re going home. You might hear about it through rumors and conjecture in town. I’d rather it be from me first.”

“Right now, though?” He was giving her a way out before they arrived at the Sheriff’s department. “We can do it later with Jackson. So you only have to say it once.”

She nibbled on her bottom lip. “Maybe you’re right. Hey, who do you think Elgor and Maliki are?”

Thankful for the change of subject, he shrugged. “Not sure, but the old man seemed to know Jackson, and he said the boy was Jackson’s brother, but is that possible?”

“Kind of like a butler.” The man had been sharply dressed in a three-piece tailored suit. Even the little boy was wearing nice clothing for a three-year-old, if Christoph had to guess, going by his size and what he’d remembered from the last time he’d seen pictures of Adam, Bell’s baby brother. “Talk about horrible timing, huh?”

Yeah, she could say that again. He hated leaving his mate alone to deal with whatever was going on with the old man and Maliki. “Do you wish you would have stayed?”

She shook her head. “More like I wish there were two of me, so I wouldn’t have let either of you do this alone.” The somber look on her face fit Christoph’s mood. “I knew leaving the house with you, whoever Elgor is, he’s part of Jackson’s clan. The surprised look on Jackson’s face showed me. He believed everyone was dead. Now, he knows the truth.”

“Shit, I don’t know which part is more fucked up,” Christoph said, pulling into the parking lot across from the Sheriff’s department. “Us leaving him alone, or us being here.” The knot of trepidation and sickness swelled in his gut.”

“I can’t answer that either,” she said. “I’m here for both of you.”

“Then let’s go find out who Alexia is,” Christoph said, parking the SUV.

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