Page 237 of Alpha Mates

Silence stretches before he replies. “It’s okay. It’s okay. I know how it gets.”

And he does. Emitt doesn’t know the gritty details, but he’s seen enough to understand there’s not much anyone can do for me when my world caves. I glance at the bathroom door. Well, anyone but Julian.

“How’s the pack?”

I’d known from the second I left I was being selfish as an alpha, irresponsible too, but I’d told myself Julian could keep things running until I was stable enough to head back and deal with us. That plan backfired spectacularly. For one, I stayed longer than planned, and now we were both gone, leaving our pack more vulnerable than ever.

“Good, we’re all good. Everyone’s managing,” Emitt says, a little too fast. “How are you? Julian disappeared a few days ago, and we can’t find him, so I’m guessing he found you.”

“He did,” I confirm, ignoringthe slight hostility I can hear in his voice. “He’s … helping me through this.”

I never thought anyone could, not even my mate, but since he got here, the weight on my chest had finally started to ease. Once we’d talked—really talked—the rest of it just sort of faded away like some bad dream.

“That’s good,” Emitt exhales. “That’s good if he’s helping.”

“He is,” I state firmly.

“Do you know when you’re coming back?” he asks carefully. “Wearegood here, but I’m sure people would feel a lot better if Beckett and I were able to give them something other than ‘I don’t know’.”

“Soon,” I promise. “A couple more days, maybe.”

Icouldgo back now. I’m stable enough—good enough— to manage whatever’s left rattling inside of me. As good as I could be. But I’m not too sure about Julian.

He’s better. Happy, eating, laughing sometimes. So I know he’ll find his strength again. But there’s this sinking feeling in my gut that says there’s something else.

“I’ll keep you posted,” I promise Emitt as the water stops.

“Alright,” he says quickly. “Stay safe.”

“We will,” I vow before I cut the call.

“Everything okay?” Julian calls as he peeks his head out through the small gap in the door.

“Yeah, I was just checking in with Emitt.” I toss my phone onto the bed. “What about you? Did you enjoy your fake shower.”

Julian disappears back into the steam before I can spot his blush, but the flicker of heat through our bond gives him away. I chuckle and take a look around the room.

We’re running low on supplies, which means we’ll need to head into the nearest town soon—something I usually dread, but this time … maybe it’ll be good to get Jewels out.

With a change of scenery and exposure to the closest thing we have to normalcy out here, maybe he’ll start to feel a bit more like himself.

But that could wait until tonight. Julian said he wanted the day together, so we’d spend it here—just us, without any heavy feelings or difficult talks.

“What do you want for breakfast?” I shout as I look around what’s left.

“As the better cook between us,” he calls back, “I’m sure I’ll love whatever you make.”

A snort escapes me as I shake my head. “Keep talking, chef.”

Yeah, we’ll be okay. He’s still mine. Still here. That’s enough for today.

Chapter 48

Julian

“What do you say to us getting out of here?”

I look up, meeting Aiden’s waiting gaze. The axe resting on his shoulder mimics his panting breaths, but even dripping with proof of his body’s exertion, there’s still a lax smile on his face.