Page 20 of Alpha Mates

Ignoring Max’s whining, I leave the room and close the door behind me, but the moment the barrier settles between us, the world blurs.

I feel my throat strain as some terrible sound slips past my lips, but the sound turns into a ringing in my ears as agony overwhelms me. It’s not a physical pain. It’s spiritual, and it’s so much worse. Soul-deep longing paralyses me, making my heart slow and my lungs collapse as my body shuts itself down.

I try to take a step forward, but falter as it replaces the blood in my veins with broken glass. I press myself back against the door, as close as I can get to the one thing that can stop this. Julian. It has to be, because just the thought of him already has me feeling better.

I settle trembling fingers over the knob before I shoulder the door open. I stumble in with a heaving breath, and the moment my eyes settle on him, the pressure on my chest releases, freeing me from the torment that seemed to have possessed us both.

Already halfway to the door, Julian’s pale skin flushes as he sucks in a greedy lungful of air. We pant across the room as the world comes together again. I stare at him, unable to look away, and the second I have the strength to move again, I head straight for him. He rushes forward too, and I don’t know why until my arms wrap around him, and then it all makes so much sense.

The second our skin touches, any second-guessing is vanquished as electricity sparks beneath, flooding fresh life into my weakened body. The pain leaves, and there’s only bone-deep pleasure. So much pleasure.

Holding Julian Heil should’ve felt like a death sentence, not a touch from grace.

His hands fist the ends of my shirt and tug me closer, deepening the intoxicating feeling that sinks beneath our entangled limbs as more of our skin brushes. I bury my nose in his neck, inhaling that fuckingamazingscent, and he does the same as his hands drop to my hips to keep me to him.

“Are you alright?” I ask against his collarbone.

“I’m fine,” he pants, but I draw back to see for myself. Pushing his hair from his face, I search for any sign of lingering pain so I can take it away because I—

I frown as my thoughts falter, but then Julian’s blinking at me and I’m distracted for another reason. “What about you?”

“I’m good.” I swallow, holding that crystal-blue gaze that pulls me in like a promise. “I’m … good.”

“We heard a shout—”

The fever dream shatters as our fathers rush into the open doorway. Julian and I immediately jump apart to face them, but it’s too late. They stare blankly at us, their eyes wide and their mouths slack. They look horrified, and the same terror soon runs rampant in me as I properly compute what just happened—what is still happening. Because even though I’m well aware of how close I still am to Julian, I can’t find the strength to move away.

“It’s the bond,” Julian hastily explains. “He left the room, and I couldn’t breathe.”

When neither of our dads says a thing, he steps a little closer to me, teasing me with the brush of his fingers against mine and the warmth of his heavy breaths against my skin. Dear Goddess.

“This doesn’t happen to mates,” I say, clearing my throat when it doesn’t quite come out right. “Why is it happening to us?”

I look to my dad, but his lips remain sealed.

“… I don’t know,” Michael says, but his words are barely audible.

I risk a glance at Julian only to turn away when he slides those light blues onto me.

“You aren’t a usual pair of mates,” Michael continues when the silence stretches. “Maybe it has something to do with you being alphas, male, or both. This is all new, so …” He straightens, jaw tightening with resolve. “We should … test the limits.”

I stiffen, not liking the sound of that for shit. “What do you mean?”

“Well, first, try letting go of Julian.”

“Let go? We’re not—” My words die on my tongue when I look down at our interlocked fingers.

I blink at the damning evidence and then at a wide-eyed Julian who hurriedly tears his fingers from mine.

“You were saying?” Michael grinds out.

I meet his gaze and one thing becomes exceedingly clear. Michael doesn’t just blame me for all of this. He hates the fact thatI’mthe one mated to his son. I had never borne the brunt of his wrath, but I’ve witnessed it enough.Not necessarily ideal, but I’ve faced worse demons.

“Aiden,” Dad prompts, drawing my attention away. “Come towards me.”

I study him too, searching for any trace of malice from earlier, but all I find is curiosity and concern. Reluctantly, I make my way over to him until I’m standing at the door, leaving Julian alone inside, until his father joins him.

“Now, step outside,” he instructs. That feels worse than leaving Julian’s side, but I do it, keeping my eyes on him the entire time.