Page 15 of His Temporary Alpha Mate
“Me? You’re sweet, but my problems aren’t quite as big as yours right now. I’ll be back with something to soak up that booze.” He scanned the table and saw the many bottles there. “Did you drink all this yourself?” Dalton sounded scandalized.
Nodding, I listed to the side before Dalton caught me. Once he set me upright, he patted my shoulder with sympathy, then left.
I woke from the doze I was in when the smell of fries reached my nose.
“Hey, I got Winter to make you some poutine. Works wonders for me when I’ve been drinking. That cider is wicked strong. I’ll ask anyone if they have a hangover tonic later, okay?”
“Dal?”
“Here, eat some.” Dalton shoved the bowl at me. Everything about him screamed tension, yet he was sticking by my side, making sure I was okay.
Picking up a fork, I took a bite before groaning as the taste exploded over my tongue. I turned to thank my friend to see him tucking into his own bowl. I must have been really out of it to miss him bringing in two bowls.
We ate in companionable silence until I felt less drunk. There were days I was grateful for my shifter metabolism. Today wasn’t one of them. I wanted to feel nothing again. None of the pain of missing out on my chance with Roan.
“I’m sorry about Roan,” Dalton said as he set down his empty bowl. “Sounds weird to say sorry when he’s having the best day of his life, aside from the injury, of course.”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“Have you been to see him?”
“Can’t. He’s in the omega section. Hiroshi took him to their house.”
“You’ll be able to get permission, no problem. I’m sure Chase would escort you, or Axel.”
“Don’t.”
“What?”
“Dal, he hasn’t even texted me. Do you know how many messages I’ve left since I heard he was in the clinic?”
“Oh.” He sagged into the seat of the sectional.
The mansion had an entertainment room with a bar, pool tables, dart boards, and a selection of board games. Since the attack, no one felt up to socializing, everyone was suspicious of everyone else, so the room had been empty. The silence hadsuited my mood.
“Yeah, it’s fine. He’ll surface in a few days, apologize, and like a fool, I’ll forgive him.” I made a face at myself. My alter was too distant from me, thanks to the booze I’d consumed. Sweetwater cider sure was potent. One of the few things which could get shifters drunk.
“Wanna hear something that’ll make you feel better?”
With difficulty, I turned to face my friend, seeing the same hurt I was feeling echoed there. “Sure.”
“The elf came out of Axel’s room. He has stuff there. As in, he sleeps there all the time. He’s got weapons, clothes, things in Axel’s room like he belongs there. This isn’t a fling for them. They are inseparable.” He sniffled, then wiped his eyes on the sleeve of his sweatshirt.
“Y’know, it’d almost be easier if they were fated. You don’t fuck with fate.” Catching a look at my scowl, he backtracked. “Lark, come on, y’know what I mean, right?”
I laughed, because I did. “Yeah, yeah. A choice over fate is worse. Why are we both being fucked over right now?”
“Dunno, but I hate it. Any of those left?”
“Not sure. There might be some elven type vodka Hakeem brought over.”
“Ugh! It sounds good, but it’s from them!”
It didn’t stop him from heading to the bar and downing three shots in quick succession.
“Phew! That’s strong!” he said as he staggered towards me. His giggle as he landed in the seat next to me was cute.
I liked looking at Dalton’s face. His top lip was thinner than the bottom, but his smile for me was always warm. His nose was straight and maybe slightly overlong for his face, but he didn’t use it to look down on others. He kept his face free of what little facial hair he could grow and now that his health had returned, I had to admit he was attractive. There were faint smile lines around his eyes and though he was over a decade older than me, we looked to be around the same age. Shifter genetics were awesome.
