Page 210 of Alpha Mates

“Is that why you agreed to come out here with me?” she asks with a devious smile. “I thought it was weird that you wanted to get wasted.”

“I just needed out,” I admit. “A night to get my mind off things.”

“Well, in that case …”

I glance up, meeting Isabel’s gaze, and it only takes that look for me to know she’s up to no good.

“Why don’t we sneak out again?” she whispers.

“What?” I bellow, shaking my head. “No.”

“Why not? We know the way,” she retorts, eyes gleaming. “And I’m not saying we go to a party or do anything crazy like set off a million fireworks—”

“Hey! I told you that in confidence.”

“I’m just saying,” she says, hands raised. “Let’s go out properly. Find a bar or something and drink.”

“The humans’ alcohol isn’t as strong as this,” I say, lifting the concoction of our very own moonshine.

“The humans’ alcohol had you screaming ‘fuck school’ into a mic, last I checked,” she says. “I bet we can get free drinks if we team up.”

“I don’t think you’ll need me.”

“Are you kidding me? You’ll be carrying this,” she throws back before tilting her head to one side. “Sometimes I forget how oblivious you are. Doesn’t matter. Let’s go out.”

I glare at her, willing her to let this go.

Sure, we’d been out more times than I could count over the last few months, and it wasn’t as scary as it used to be, but that didn’t mean I was willing to be careless.

“We’ll be safe,” she promises. “I won’t even let us get drunk.”

“Isabel,” I groan.

“Come on, Julian,” she begs, gaze imploring. “I need this.”

“Shit,” I whisper, and she immediately cheers. “No more than an hour, and we are not getting drunk out there.”

“Deal,” she agrees, already on her feet and forcing me up with her.

She barely lets us grab our drinks before we’re off. We don’t bother with the car, going by foot so there’s no chance of slamming into trees as we slip past patrols and head out into the open world.

I’ve barely crossed over the border before the bond swells and Aiden’s voice is in my mind.

What are you doing? Where the hell are you?

Out, I answer shortly.

Out where, Julian?

Planet Earth,I deadpan.

Julian …he growls my name this time.

So now that I’m not home, you want to talk to me?I spit as my anger rises, bringing my temper with it.Now you care?

I know you’re mad, but—

There’s no ‘but,’ Aiden!I yell back.I tried to talk, and you walked out on me! All you’ve done lately is walk out on me. If you were going to regret saying those words to me, then you shouldn’t have said them!