Page 192 of Alpha Mates

Where’s that again?I ransack my head for the memory, but it’s all a blur.

He tries giving me directions, but I don’t think they really work because at some point, I end up at the front of the house where an angel that looks like his omega friend stands on the lawn with Emitt, but I must walk far enough because eventually I spot him.

“Found you!” I shout, launching myself onto his back.

“Fuck!” Aiden curses, glancing back at me. “Why do you turn into a banshee when you’re drunk?”

“Am I being loud?!” Aiden winces again, and I shrink into the crook of his neck. “I’m sorry,” I whisper. He doesn’t reply, which makes my heart sink with fear. I slide off his back and circle him quickly. “I’m sorry. I really am.”

“It’s alright, Jewels,” he says, and he’s smiling so he isn’t mad. I smile back at him. “Are you having a good time?”

“The best!” I clap a hand over my mouth. Idoshout a lot. “The Jell-O pool came,” I whisper.

“And your bouncy castle,” he adds, making my eyes go wide. “You didn’t know?”

“No!” I shout, making him wince. “Sorry!”

He just shakes his head with a smile and offers his hand. “Come on. I’ll show you the way.”

He leads me to the backyard, where a massive pool sits in front of a huge red-and-yellow bouncy castle that brings tears to my eyes.

I slip away from Aiden and sprint for it. I dive straight inside, despite the line, and scream excitedly as I bounce.

There are people inside, ones that try not to step on me, but I soon make them leave. They don’t like it, but who cares? I reach out and pull Aiden in so we can bounce together.

“Higher!” I jump as hard as I can, but I’m laughing too hard to get much air. Before my fingers can touch the roof, I fall on my ass and bounce onto my side.

I scream and shout as Aiden jumps around me, making me fly all over the place until I’m laughing so hard that I can barely breathe. He takes mercy on me then and sinks down beside me.

We settle on our sides, facing each other with smiles so big they hurt. I slip my hand into his.

“You’re the best, Aiden,” I slur, tracing his knuckles. “I don’t want anyone else as my mate.”

“I’d sure as hell hope not,” he teases, rolling on top of me.

“Bouncy castle sex?” I ask, and he laughs, even though I don’t mean it to be a joke.

“No, sorry, but maybe some other time,” he says with a pat. I nod in understanding as I tug away his shades so I can see his eyes. He blinks down at me, still smiling, and I think the air slips out of the bouncy castle because I swear I’m sinking.

“Pretty,” I drag out as I look into his eyes.

“Thanks, Jewels,” he says, but then shouts from outside steal all his precious attention away. “Maybe we should get out. People are waiting.”

I frown as he drags me up before I can protest. He helps me out of the bouncy castle where people glare at me, but I glare right back. “I ordered the damn thing. I have rights!” I shout as Aiden hauls me away. “Ungrateful mutts!”

“You curse a lot when you’re drunk,” he says as he leads me away from the pool. I try to make a dash for it, but he’s much stronger than me right now for some reason.

“It’s a free country,” I huff. That’s what the humans call it anyway.

I’m not sure if that’s true for the rest of us. If it were, then maybe my parents wouldn’t feel like coals on my back. And maybe Oliver would still be here …

My smile wavers. Did Oli ever get to experience something like this? Had he snuck out of the pack and made great memories too?

Did he want more, too?

“Hey.” Aiden fills my vision as he steps in front of me with a frown that doesn’t suit him. “Where’d you go? What happened?”

I shake my head and bite my lip to stop it from wobbling. I’m not going to cry, not now, and certainly not here.