Page 246 of Alpha Mates

“Yes,” I say flatly. “Yes, I would.”

Julian’s smile drops and he nods in understanding—then the fucker begins to tilt. I notice too late and only catch a glimpse of his shit eating grin returning before he drops and drags me down with him.

“Julian!”

It’s the first thing I say when I resurface, teeth chattering and goosebumps all over my body as ice-cold water pounds the top of my head. By the time I escape the attack, he’s already waddling off like that’s gonna save him.

I slog after him, dragging myself and my drenched clothes through the shallow water to catch up to him. But when I grab his hand, Julian doesn’t pull away. He squeezes my fingers, clinging to my hand like it’ll keep him from drowning.

“I didn’t push you in,” he says before I can get a word out. “I fell in, and you decided to come with me.”

“Bullshit,” I mutter, looking between him and his death-grip on my fingers.

He chuckles until he spins and meets my blank stare. Then his voice turns nervous. “But no harm done, right?”

“My phone’s in my pocket, Julian.”

“That’s fine,” he dismisses quickly, confidence snapping right back into place. “You don’t need a phone. The link works fine.”

“Some of us have social lives, Jewels,” I remind him. “That was also our only contact with the pack.”

Julian’s mouth opens. Closes. Opens again. Before he finally comes up with, “… oh.”

“Yeah,oh,” I mock, but I’m not angry. How can I be when he’s happy enough to cause trouble? “What’s going on with you tonight? You’re strangely happy.”

He raises a brow. “Am I supposed to be depressed?”

“No,” I reply honestly. “But this is different for you.”

He just rolls his eyes. It’s dismissive, like I’m the one being ridiculous when we both know it’s the truth. Maybe I am, but that look reminds me that this night can’t last forever, and as much as I want Julian happy forever, it’s not guaranteed.

“Julian,” I start, and something in my voice must give me away because he looks at me immediately, and there’s a sadness in his eyes that I know he’s been trying to hide, not just tonight, but for a while now.

Letting go of his wrist, I touch his cheek. “What’s going on?”

“I’m fine,” he says too fast, like an automated response he doesn’t even realise he’s blurted out.

“Julian,” I repeat, gentler this time. His eyes dart between mine, caught in some quiet struggle. His eyes glisten, and the mask cracks.

The joy drains from him all at once. He starts to shake, and I know it’s not from the cold of the water. I pull him into my arms as his lips tremble.

“Julian,” I whisper.

“It’s Alex,” he finally breathes.

The world, like our bond, darkens the moment he says it, and there’s no more room for ignorant smiles and hopeful sentiments. Max howls with frantic alarm.

I swallow, forcing myself to remain calm even as the world eclipses around us.

“What happened to Alex, Julian?” I ask it carefully, not letting my voice shake for him even when my insides feel like they’re splitting open.

Julian stares at me, lips quivering, unable to speak. His eyes shine wet, hollowed by something I can’t fix. Then his voice breaks.

“He’s gone,” he sobs with a soft cry.

My heart stops as Max’s howling grows louder, his distress matching the panic that seizes my chest.

“He’s not speaking to me.” Tears stream down Julian’s face, each word torn out of him like a secret he never wanted to share. “He’s not … with me. I can feel him, b-but only a little, and I thought if I fixed us, it would fix him but … he’s gone, Aiden.”