Page 312 of Alpha Mates

“No!” he snaps,his eyes incensed as they dart between mine. But there’s not only rage there. There’s so much pain … so much yearning. “You don’t get to do that, Max.”

“Alex, I’m sorry.” It’s not the time—it’s the very worst time. I know that, but it’s the only thing I can say. “I’m so sorry for what I—”

Alex is out of the water before I can even finish. He takes off into the woods, leaving me alone in the water. Groaning, I drive my fingers through my hair while my mind races.

How am I supposed to do this? How can I fix this when he barely even tolerates being near me? I want to show him that I’m truly sorry, but how can I when he’s too hurt to see that it’s true?

As far as Alex is concerned, I’d gone against my promise and left him alone, and now he couldn’t trust me anymore. But of course he didn’t when I’d made assurances only to break them.

The water mutes my curses as I sink beneath it instead of following after him.

He didn’t want me near him right now—he made that clear enough—and I couldn’t risk making things worse. So I stay where I am, taking my time when I scrub myself clean before dressing, grabbing his things and mine as I head back to the fire.

It flickers with newly added branches just a few paces away from where Alex lies in the shadows. He’d shifted, likely to keep warm in his fur, but the sight of the wolf I’d chased all my life so far only causes the painful snare in my chest to tighten.

My lips part, but I clamp them shut before I can make another mistake.

If I didn’t even know what to say, is there any point in bothering?

Silently, I follow his lead and shift before dumping myself on the other side of the fire. I stare at him through the flames until sleep comes to claim me.

“Shit,” Alex curses as he pulls his hand away from the wobbling surface with a glare.

“Let me do that,” I scold as I step between him and the barrier. “You’ve shocked yourself five times already.”

“And I’ll do it five more if I have to,” he retorts, but thankfully, he doesn’t try to shove past me. He turns and continues along the barrier’s edge, this time a few paces away and with his hands at his sides.

I follow after him, keeping close without being close enough to make him glare at me. I learnt quickly after the first morning that while Alex realised I was not going to leave him alone, he wanted several paces between us at all times. It’s a stark contrast to what I’m used to: being glued to his side, holding his hand as the centre of all his attention … But it’s better than nothing.

It’s our third day locked in this “arena,” and as Katerina promised, there is no way out. There are only our meagre supplies, a few loose hares, and a small family of wolves that keep to themselves.

Even though it’s clear that there is absolutely no way out, Alex still woke at the crack of dawn to look and, powerless to do anything else, I arose to do the same.

Trailing on the path we’ve walked ten times over, we continue in the same painful silence that returned whenever Alex wasn’t cursing our other halves and the world as a whole. Around us, the wind blows, tugging at leaves that cling to their branches.

“Do you remember when we got stuck in that strange plain with Tobias and Chris?”

The words slip from my lips before I realise I’m speaking.

Alex stills, turning around with a frown that reluctantly fades as recognition sparks within his eyes.

“The one none of us knew a thing about becausesomeonedecided exploring without a plan was a chance to experience truly living?” he retorts, lips twitching as he glares at me.

It’s almost a replica of how he’d glared at me back then, but there’s not nearly enough of the mirth we’d shared for each other.

“We kept losing Chris because he’d trail off without saying anything. Then we’d find him in a corner crying because he swore something was chasing him,” I continue, laughing as the memories of Chris huddled in a corner flood my mind. “I miss it sometimes. The Plains.”

“Weird, coming from the guy who used to say how much he couldn’t wait to leave,” he scoffs as he turns and carries on. But before I can fear this brief reprieve is over, he continues. “You were so desperate to be paired off.”

“You seem to forget saying how, ‘each and every one of Goddess’s Resplendent Plains was too small to contain you’,” I shoot back, and he snorts a little.

“Touché.”

The silence threatens to creep back in, but I refuse to allow it as I rush after him. “How have you felt about the talks about kids?”

To my surprise, Alex whirls to face me with a bewildered look. “What kid talk?” he exclaimsloudly.

“It started with Michael,” I remind with a frown. “He was very eager to remind us that as alphas, we’re supposed to provide the pack with heirs. He said that pack members have started asking questions.” I feel my brows drawing together as I stare at him. “Have you not been present for any of this?”