Page 5 of Her Cruel Alpha

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A little before three when I arrived at the party. A ton of people were already there, including all the other Alpha’s. They stood next to Jay near the front. Everyone looked dressed for the occasion, and as I walked up, Frank was the first to notice me. He raised an eyebrow at me. “I thought you were bringing the cake?”

Everyone turned to look at me after that remark, and I glared at him. “It’s being delivered.”

“Fancy,” Aaron said, his smirk growing. “Or did you forget?”

“I didn’t forget,” I snapped. I didn’t need my sister to catch wind of those words and come barking at me.

“Where is your gift?” Maddox asked, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

“I didn’t get one.”

“What?” Jay’s eyebrows went up. “I’m your best friend, and you didn’t bring me a gift?”

“Best friend?” Aaron turned to Jay. “What the hell?”

“Yeah, are we chopped liver?” Frank added.

Jones smirked.

“I didn’t bring a gift because you're married to my sister and sleeping with her. I think that's enough of a gift.”

The guys started to laugh when Sam walked over. My sister looked tired after a long day at work, but I could see the sparkle in her eyes when she looked at Jay. She loved him deeply. She wrapped her arms around Jay’s and tugged him to her.

“What are you all doing?” Sam asked, looking at each of the guys before she dropped her eyes on me. She raised an eyebrow at my empty hands. “And where is the cake?”

“It’s being delivered. Don’t worry.”

Her eyes flicked past me, and she smiled. I turned, spotting Jill walking towards us with the cake. “See,” I waved a hand. “I told you I ordered the cake.”

Jill gave me a smile, and I knew the secret was safe between us.

The party was in full swing within half an hour. The space was packed with people and I was ready to go home. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy myself because I did. I knew almost everyonehere since I lived in this town for so many years before they offered up the town I live in now. But it was different. It seemed everyone was growing up, everyone was doing something different, and I was stuck being the Alpha.

I loved my job, but sometimes I wished I had more. I saw our friends having beautiful marriages, and some having children. People were getting promoted and switching fields. I at least had Jay, who was the same as I was. And then he was married and having a baby.

I took another deep drink of my beer and glanced around the room. My eyes froze when they spotted Katie standing in the corner. She looked uncomfortable, her fingers clutching a small glass tightly to herself. She was wearing a deep blue dress that went from her neck all the way down to her ankles. It was different from everyone else who was wearing short dresses and their breasts half out. Katie dressed to cover herself up.

I wanted to ask her how she was. I ached to fix the words I’d thrown at her. Katie was sweet, and I didn’t want to be the reason she was hurt. But if I had apologized, it wouldn’t have fixed the damage that was done. It wouldn’t change the future. I was destined for another, and she didn’t deserve the heartbreak. It was better to appear a jackass rather than to string her along.

“Are you listening?” Tuck, a friend, raised an eyebrow at me.

“Sorry,” I quickly apologized, pulling my eyes away from Katie, stuffing that urge down as far as I could. “I thought I saw someone.”

Jay snorted, and Tuck glared at me, not impressed. “I didn’t know I meant so little to you now, Henrik. What, you get a big boy job, and suddenly, I’m not good enough for you?”

I knew Tuck was teasing, but the words still landed. Some days, I felt I had left everyone behind. I missed the old days when my biggest worries were training to be an Alpha.

Jay patted my shoulder. “He’s joking.”

“I know that,” I said, giving Tuck a smile. Tuck had been a good friend of ours growing up. He was funny and charming. Married a beautiful woman who had given him four wonderful children. He had the life Jay and I wanted. I envied him.

“My wife is waving me over,” Tuck patted my shoulder. “It was great seeing you, Henrik. You should come down, and we should all go out for dinner.” He turned to Jay. “Happy Birthday man.”

Tuck slipped away, and Jay raised an eyebrow at me. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I snorted. “I’m just hungry. Why don’t you go mingle like your wife is? I’m pretty sure she’s talked to more people than you have.”

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