Page 5 of Alpha Mates

“What are you daydreaming about, Jewels?”

Goddess, grant me your patience and mercy.

Reluctantly, I raise my gaze to the source of the vomit-inducing voice that’s dragged me back to reality. Aiden.

He’s standing only six feet away with that smirk I want to tear from his face. Black hair, black clothes, black tattoos—Aiden looks like spilt ink. And as always, the sight of him ruins my day.

He wears his usual tinted shades, the kind I thought were ridiculous until I saw a poorly sighted human in a similar pair. Whether Aiden needs them or not, I don’t know, but they look as foolish as the rest of him. Legs spread and chin lifted, he stands there as if he were Goddess’s gift to this Earth.

“How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me that?” I growl. That stupid nickname’s always been a trigger. “Is it that hard to understand with the limited number of brain cells you possess?”

“Woah! Who snuck a bunny into your breakfast this morning?” he quips, thick eyebrows pulling together in feigned concern. “Or are all those vegetables finally getting to you?”

“No, that would be that repulsive odour you call a scent.”

Aiden only laughs. Teeth gritting, I step forward, meaning to pass him,but he mirrors the movement. I glare at him and his grin widens.

“Get out of my way, Aiden.”

“Or what? You going to force me to eat my carrots?” he steps closer.

I hold my ground. His grin stretches again.

“You know, it still astonishes me that you’re going to be an alpha.Youof all people.”

“I’ll be an excellent alpha. Don’t mistake restraint for weakness just because I choose not to go around killing like a wildmutt.”

Something burns behind Aiden’s shades, growing hotter as his lips fall into a flat line.

“You want to say that again?” Another step.

I take one myself, a warning growl riding my words. “Why? You didn’t hear me the first time? Or are you still struggling to comprehend basic sentences?”

It’s my turn to smile as Aiden’s entire body stiffens, his anger scalding the waves of pheromones he pumps out. I only return them in full force.

We hold each other’s gaze for a bloated moment before Aiden closes the final gap between us with one last step. If we were in either of our packlands, we would’ve shifted already—canines clashing at each other’s throats.

“Because of our fathers, I won’t tear you limb from limb,” he whispers through his teeth. “But when we’re alphas—whenI’min charge—you won’t have your daddy to protect you.”

My jaw locks, and my fists clench. He watches me struggle, smug.

“Watch your back, Julian,” he calls, walking past me to ruin someone else’s day.

I fight the urge to free my claws and carve through flesh and bone, to feel him bleed under me. By Goddess’s grace and my better judgement, I keep myself where I am.

Chest tight, I watch him stomp off before I turn and try to retrace my steps, but the bulldozer’s already rammed through and done its damage. The thought of mates barely lingers in my mind, but with Aiden at the forefront of it, pity soon bombards my chest.

But it’s not for him.

Goddess has a sick sense of humour. And if her track record holds, and someone gets stuck with Aiden Calderon of all people …

Well, I pity the poor soul who ends up mated to that mutt.

Chapter 2

Aiden

Two days. That smart-mouthed, slithering piece of shit has two more days left before I wipe him from this planet.