Page 299 of Alpha Mates

Donut?Emitt frowns but nods obediently, and Beckett slowly lowers his hand. He keeps his eyes focused on his lemonade, refusing to look at me.

“What are the other options?” I ask as I push my hair back. “Are there any more?”

“You can call him daddy.”

“By the Plains,” I pray, begging for an early departure from this realm as Beckett scolds his mate, yet again.

I always thought Emitt was just an overly-social, animated wolf who—sure—loved a good time, but was otherwise normal. I never would’ve suspected that a lustful tyrant was hiding underneath.

“So, about the daddy thing?” Emitt says, ignoring my and Beckett’s distress. “I’m not making this up. The guy has a secret thing for that. I don’t know where it came from, but he does.”

“I am not calling himthat,” I spit, curling my legs under me, too mortified to look up now or possibly ever again.

“You give, and you get, Julian,” Emitt chides as if he’s the sane one in this situation. “Give in, and you’ll get some great sex.”

“Alright, enough,” I groan, scrambling to my feet. “Thanks for … whatever this was, but I’ll figure it out on my own.”

I try to bolt, but Emitt grabs my arm with a surprising amount of strength.

“There’s one more!” he says, eyes lighting up. “You should be able to do this one. In fact, you should be eager to do it.”

I frown at him, wanting to walk away, but … those green eyes gleam with mischief, and curiosity has always been my greatest downfall.

“You’re back,” Aiden shouts the second I open the front door.

“Yeah,” I call back as I stumble in.

I kick off my shoes at the door and drag myself into the kitchen, where Aiden’s already cooking up a storm. He glances over his shoulder with a smile—and I don’t think I’ve ever been more jealous of another person.

He’s just bursting with all the energy Emitt leeched from me, while I can barely climb onto one of the kitchen stools.

“How’d your talk with Emitt and Beckett go?”

My heart drops. I freeze mid-sprawl, tension creeping back into my shoulders. I just stare at him until he glances at me, confused.

“Emitt said you met up,” he explains, brow wrinkling. “Was I not supposed to know that?”

“Oh. No. I mean, it’s fine,” I reply, fixing a smile into place. “Anditwas fine.”

Aiden nods before turning back to the pot of ground beef he’s stirring.

“What are you making?” I ask, slipping off the stool to inspect it for myself. “I’ve never seen you make anything other than undercooked burgers.”

“Yes, you have. I make you veggie shit all the time,” he retorts, swatting me with the dish towel over his shoulder.

I duck with a laugh as I amble closer to peer into the pot that, admittedly, smells pretty great. Thankfully, there’s second beside it filled with vegetables.

“Don’t start that shit with me,” Aiden snipes. “You know I can cook.”

“Debatable,” I murmur against his ear as I lean against him, pressing in until I feel the subtle hitch of his breath.

Before Aiden’s seeking hand can slide around my waist, I slip away—but not too quickly. I move like I normally would. His weighted gaze lingers on me, but I act like I don’t notice it. At least not until I glance back.

He’s staring. I raise a brow, my expression plain. Wordlessly, he clears his throat before looking away.

“I’m going to take a shower,” I say, smiling at his tense back. “Food should be done by then, right?”

“Yup.”