Page 209 of Alpha Mates

“I told you he wasn’t in this pack the day after your birthday, but you didn’t listen,” I reply, and I hear it—the disregard—before hurt etches itself into her usually cheerful features. “Isabel, I’m sorry.”

“You’re not. You probably don’t even know why you’re apologising,” she snaps after another mouthful of liquor. “It’s fine, I guess. You’re just speaking your mind.”

“I don’t always have to,” I whisper, slide my hand onto her knee. “I didn’t mean to make you upset.”

“Well, you did,” she deadpans. “Don’t you think it would hurt someone if you told them that their mate washidingfrom them?”

I wince. “I do—”

“You all got your mates from day one,” she continues with an angry shrug. “Yeah, it started in a shitty situation between you and Aiden, but at least he was there. Now, Emitt has Beckett, and they’re so deep in love it’s a wonder they weren’t together before they were even mates.”

Tears gather in her eyes as she speaks, and no matter how hard she tries to blink them back, her lips start to tremble.

“I just thought I’d have mine too,” she admits in a broken whisper. “Even if it was a shitty situation, I thought maybe the luck ran in the group. Guess I fell short, huh?”

“Hey,” I say, abandoning my mug as I stretch over to hug her.

Strong arms wrap back around me as she cries quietly into my shirt. I rub her back, cursing myself for talking so carelessly about something every wolf wants.

“How about I contact some of the alphas from nearby packs? Your mate might be in one of them,” I offer as she pulls away and rubs at her puffed eyes. “I’m sure they’ll let you look if I ask.”

“Yeah,” she mumbles with a forced nod, but I can tell her hope is a failing thing.

“It’ll be okay, Isabel,” I promise as I give her hands another squeeze. “You will find your mate. I know you will.”

She searches my face for a long moment before managing a small smile.

“I’m sorry for being so tactless,” I sigh, cradling my mug again. “I didn’t mean to be.”

“Mate trouble?” she guesses, and we both laugh.

“Yeah,” I mumble before draining what’s left of my drink.

“Woah,” Isabel breathes as I toss the mug aside. “Who stole your favourite dildo?”

“Aiden,” I blurt, then freeze. “I don’t mean he stole my dildo. I don’t have a favourite dildo. Not saying I love them all equally—I don’t even have any to love—”

Isabel puts a stop to my rambling as she bursts out laughing. Banging her fist against the ground, she cackles until tears stream down her cheeks again. Skin warming, I reach over for her jug to refill my cup. At least these tears are happy ones.

“I love you, Julian. Oh my Goddess,” she weeps, wiping her cheeks. “That was good.”

“Yeah, whatever,” I mumble as I swirl the cup before taking another sip. Still awful.

“Okay, I’m back,” she says as she sobers. “What happened with Aiden?”

Any pleasure I felt a moment ago evaporates. “Aiden’s being an idiot,” I spit as hurt, frustration, and rage spark anew, only to sputter out a moment later. “He’s ignoring me.”

“Aiden?” she echoes, surprised, and that just makes it hurt more.

“He’s always in bed now, and when he’s not, he’s distant,” I mumble, fingers tightening around the handle. “He’s not speaking to me, and we got in a fight today. At least I think we did.” I shake my head with a hollow laugh. “It’s weird now. We don’t even argue anymore, so I can’t tell.”

“I’m sorry, Julian,” she says gently, giving me the same pity I’d just aimed at her.

“It’s fine.” I shrug as I take another sip. “We’ll get through it. It’s a stupid problem.”

“It’s not stupid. You’re mates—friends. You need him, and if he’s not paying you enough attention, it’s bound to make you feel like shit.”

I nod. “Like shit” is exactly how I feel.