Page 182 of Alpha Mates

“It’s adress-upparty,” I deadpan.

“Costume,” he corrects with a sing-song tone. “And I’ve got something planned for us.” He grabs my hands and shakes me. “Come on, Jewels.”

I groan as I look at him. He’s pouting, and a man can only be so strong.

“I’ve never been to a party,” I remind him.

“That’s perfect,” he muses. “I’ll pop your cherry.”

I roll my eyes while Alex snickers. His humour is, sadly, a perfect match for Aiden’s.

“I don’t know, Aiden,” I say. “I don’t like things like that. I’d rather stay home and read.”

“You’ll grow as a person.”

“It’s dangerous,” I counter.

“I’ve been to a million. They are not dangerous.” He slips the puppy-dogs on again. “Please, Jewels—for me.”

Goddess, I’m weak.

“Promise you’ll stay with me,” I say, already regretting this. “I don’t want to be sitting on some dirty couch by myself.”

I haven’t even finished my sentence before he’s yanking me into a hug.

“Promise!” he shouts, making me wince as he shakes me like a rag doll. “You’re going to fucking love this, Julian!”

I’m not too sure about that, but a piece of me lingers on what he said about me growing as a person. He wasn’t being entirely serious, but he isn’t wrong.

I like who I am just fine. I’m smart, strong, and even though my life isn’t what I expected as a kid, it’s one I’m happy with. But since Oliver died, it’s been the same routine on repeat—school and pack work, with no care or time for what I wanted.

I’d been okay with that before, because I owed it to Oliver to be the best alpha I could, even if that meant putting myself on the back burner. But lately, the days of my parents’ nagging have been replaced by days with Aidan, and watching him has changed everything.

It’s impossible to spend time with someone who breaks rules so boldly, who saysfuck youto everyone and everything that tries to stop him, and not start craving more for yourself.

I wanted out of my box, out of the same ol’, same ol’.

I want more, and I know this is only a party, but it’s also a chance at thatmore.Or at least, a step towards it.

“Alright, we have to go now,” Aiden says, releasing me to shove our books into his open bag.

“Why?” I ask, cringing as I watch the violation. Aiden’s too focused on getting us out of the pack’s beautiful new library to notice.

“Because,” he drawls once we’re in the elevator, “make-up takes a long time and Isabel said we have to be at her place by seven if she’s going to do both of us.”

My brain short-circuits. For a few reasons.

First, there’s the fact that Isabel is apparently going as well, which likely means that Beckett is too. Second, there’s them apparently taking full advantage of only needing permission from one of their alphas to leave the packlands. Third, there’s the fact that Aiden already made arrangements before I even agreed to this party, and last of all—“Make-up?”

“You’ve never put a little something on, Jewels?” he teases as he slides his shades on. “Now that I think about it, I wouldn’t mind you in lipstick—something I can ruin when I use your mouth.”

Heat floods my face, and the smug curve of his lips tells me that was the point.

“Do you ever stop flirting?” I ask, exasperated.

“Can’t,” he says earnestly, but then that racy smile of his makes a reappearance. “I’m Juli-sexual.”

“Juli-sexual?” I repeat, laughing as we step out of the elevator and head out of the packhouse.