Page 290 of Alpha Mates

“Don’t pout,” I coo, grinning at him. “There’s no reason to be upset. We’ve always known I’m the smarter one.”

“And when you say ‘we’,” he begins, eyes narrowing as he takes the last step towards me, “are you talking about you and your delusions—”

I huff a laugh that tugs his lips upwards.

“Or are you suddenly picking up French?”

“You’re such an idiot,” I chuckle, hating him, and myself, for finding that funny.

He grins proudly as he slides his arms around my waist, drawing me in close. I give in, already leaning forward—until I freeze.

“Oh, come on!” Aiden whines. “Just a peck.” I shove him back, and that whine turns into a sob. “Jewels!”

“No!”

“Guess who’s back!”

Aiden and I jolt, both turning towards Katerina—standing in our apartment as if this is our usual Tuesday.

When I first stumbled upon her in the woods, I never imagined I’d see her again, let alone three more times in the same month. But here she stands, a giddy version of that scared girl. She looks healthier, brighter—almost glowing. Gone are those strange black and red leathers; instead, she wears a white blouse with billowing sleeves, and at her waist, a wide belt adorned with daggers and glowing vials hangs above her loose trousers. She doesn’t look quite like a witch, but she doesn’t look like a vagrant either.

“What are you doing here?” Aiden all but snarls at his newfound friend. She ignores him entirely, jumping around with unbridled excitement.

“Full strength!” she screams, making us wince. “It’s time to go kill everyone in my coven!”

“That’s … dark,” I mutter, giving her a once-over.

“It is what it is.” She shrugs, glancing between us. “I came to cash in on that favour.”

That syphons all the air out of the room.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that,” she grumbles as her excitement visibly wilts. “It’s nothing bad. Plus, we made terms, remember? I can’t force you to do anything if you genuinely don’t want to.”

“Then what is it?” Aiden asks before I can.

She deflates, though she’d really have to be nuts to expect enthusiasm. Sure, she and Aiden seemed friendly last time they spoke, but she’s still a witch we owe a debt.

“I need someone to watch the coven borders,” she says, the words edged with reluctance. “Just in case someone tries to run.”

“No,” Aiden and I say in unison.

“Hells, let me finish!” she snaps, throwing up her hands. “I’m not asking you to kill anyone or join in on the fun. I just need one of you to just make sure no one escapes. If you catch them, just hold them until I come and get ‘em.”

“No,” we repeat, and I add, “Being there would be getting involved—helping you inany waywould be getting involved. And if the Board found out—”

“—we’d be screwed,” Aiden finishes. “We’re not doing that.”

Forget the Council, if we got tangled up in witch business, the Supernatural Board would be on our asses and that’s not a risk we’re about to take.

“But they won’t find out,” Katerina insists, her tone slipping into a whine eerily similar to Aiden’s a few minutes ago. “By the time they find out anything happened to my coven, it’ll be too late. They’ll all be dead, and no one will be able to track it back to me.”

“And you know that, how?” Aiden challenges.

“Nobody even knows I exist. And I’m an Amorenia,” she says proudly, only when neither of us reacts to that, she rolls her eyes. “I’m powerful. I’m very fucking powerful. You guys have seen what I can do,” she replies with a pause. “I can cover my tracks, and I can cover yours.”

“Still no,” I say flatly, crossing my arms. “We can’t and won’t help you commit mass murder just because you feel like it.”

“It’s not just becauseI feel like it!” she snaps, and the air changes instantly. The playful edge is gone—her eyes flood poisonous violet, and her magic lashes through the room in unseen ribbons. “They fucking deserve it. This is justice. It’s a mercy.”