Page 134 of Alpha Mates

“We’ve been on the road for less than one, Aiden.”

“It feels like five!”

“We’ll be there soon,” he replies, but he says it slowly, which tells me that he’s trying to stall.

“What issoonto you?” I ask as I turn, glaring at him through the blindfold. “’Cause you said we’d be theresoonan hour ago!”

“Again, we haven’t been out for more than an hour, and look—we’re here!”

“Look? I can’t see—”

“Shut up, Aiden,” Julian snipes, but the car is slowing, so maybe he’s not lying.

“Julian, I don’tknow if you know this, but your social skills really are on the floor,” I whisper conspiratorially. Even behind my blindfold, I can tell he’s glaring at me. I grin with all my teeth.

Cursing under his breath, Julian eases the car to a full stop before I hear his window rolling down. My straining ears twitch with interest as I hear footsteps approach.

“Hello, and welcome—”

“No!” Julian yelps, cutting off the stranger. I sniff, going still when I scent an incubus. “Sorry. This is a surprise.”

“Oh,” they reply, and I get that distinct feeling of someone looking at me.

“SAVE ME,” I mouth to them before a swift smack atop my head has me ducking for cover.

“Ignore him,” Julian begs while I snort.

“I’ll need a name at least,” the guy says.

“Heil. Julian Heil.”

There’s some shuffling before the guy returns. “Got it. Have a wonderful—” He cuts himself off with a laugh. “Time. Have a wonderful time.”

“Thank you,” Julian says.

I yell, “CALL THE POLICE!”

“Aiden!” he groans, pulling away as the man’s laughter fades behind us. “Why are you like this?”

“I’m in a strange place, blindfolded, and you won’t tell me anything,” I say. “Are you selling me off?” I’m only half-serious, but that guy was an incubus, and they’re a freaky bunch. “Wait, are you? Because I won’t do well as some old guy’s bitch.”

Julian hums long and low before replying. “I thought about that, but I decided not to.”

“How nice of you,” I mumble, shifting in my seat.

I’d been pretty good after my mini freak-out, but my legs are shaking now with equal parts excitement and nerves with this surprise seconds away from being revealed.

We’re far from our packlands, and somewhere nice enough to need a reservation to be let in. The only places I can think of that fit that bill are fancy human hotels, but Julian would never spend a night in such a danger zone.

I endure another eternity before the car finally comes to a stop, and Julian pulls the brake up.

“Can I take this off now?” I beg, fingers already reaching for the blindfold.

“You can,” he offers, but there’s something in his tone that makes me pause.

“Or?” I prompt with my fingers resting on the knot.

“Or … you can leave it on for a little while longer and we can have some fun,” he replies breathlessly, and my heart stumbles over itself.