Page 50 of The Alpha's Fake Mate
“You sound unsure about Bosk’s claim. Is that why you are asking?”
“No. But I need to be sure there isn’t some trick up his sleeve. I need to know.”
“I’ve never had a mate-bond. What I’ve read you’ve probably read, too. You experience feelings of love, propriety, unusual rapport. You’ve seen the movies just like I have. The mated pair feel it when the other dies. My dad felt it. He knew my Omega-dad died before he was informed.”
“That’s very sad.”
I nodded. “It was a bad time, though I barely remember it.”
We were going to have to talk about this subject a lot if we were to show the world our united pairing. But right now my tiredness was getting to me. It’d been a long day.
“I don’t feel Bosk, except blind rage. Hatred. I try not to think about him at all.”
“I’ve never heard of a—well—a hate-bond forming.”
He tilted his head. “That’s good. Real good. One way of putting it. But what if—I keep thinking—“
I shook my head to reassure him. “It can’t be possible, I would think. A bond forming through violence, just—no. And you said you don’t feel anything.”
“I feel hate. I wouldn’t care if he died. And my scent is the same as far as I know. But what if the doctors didn’t know, or Chirl knows but never said anything? Where would that leave me?”
“It’s not a concern because it didn’t happen.”
Bosk. He was going to be the star of our nightmares tonight.
“I think I should get a private blood test. Very private. I want to be sure.”
It was a bad idea. I could feel it. That what-if horror that it might be true, and that Holland couldn’t feel it because his rage blocked it.
He had to be terrified to be thinking this now. Bosk had claimed him only hours ago. What a jolt. And now, this unsecured feeling that just maybe the monster had a legitimate claim that would supersede mine—my fake claim. Our fake mate-bond papers which were still being created.
“We can get you tested tomorrow. I’ll hire a private facility. For our eyes only.”
He nodded. A shine came over his eyes. And I knew. He was scared. He would never show it, though.
“If you need anything. You cannot be afraid to come to me. Any time, day or night.”
“A good night’s sleep. That’s what I need,” he replied, and he tossed his hair to one side so its gleaming ends trailed along his neck and shoulder. His dark hair wasn’t long, but it was past his ears, and it moved when he moved his head, sliding in silken strands against his ears, his jaw, and sometimes over his eyes.
I took a step toward him and his head came up fast.
“You may not believe it,” I said. “But I do want to be your friend. I know me being an Alpha makes that nearly impossible, but I’m not Bosk. I know what friendship means. I know what loyalty means. I know how not to break a promise. And how to take care of my own. You are an Omega from Zilly’s. I own Zilly’s. That makes you part of my family.”
“No. I’m part of your business.” Those dark blue eyes shone with a sudden flame and deeper beyond that heat, shadows upon shadows.
“That’s not how I think of you.”
“Then how do you think of me? As some unfortunate who got ruined by a crazy Alpha? Yeah, that’s what you will always see when you look at me!”
“No. Family.” I spoke that last word with conviction, my throat pushing it out with a hard breath.
“What?” He laughed with no mirth. “Like a brother? A cousin?”
More,I wanted say.Much more.“Whatever you like. But more, after these months of working together, a friend. I don’t expect you to want to feel friendship for me. I’m an Alpha and you hate us. I understand. But I truly feel that toward you. So you are part of my family whether you like it or not since you can’t control my feelings.”
He looked like he was about to stomp his foot. He controlled himself better than that, though. “And now you probably want me to thank you.”
“No. I said no strings. No thanks are necessary. But Holland, understand this. I won’t let that man near you. Ever.”
