Page 55 of Alpha Mates

“Look, I messed up,” I admit, worsening the bond’s tear, “but I have to find him to fix it. Please. Where would he go?”

She glares at me for what feels like an eternity before she finally relents. Her shoulders sag. “There’s a hill near the borders. He used to go there with his brother before …” She doesn’t need to say the rest. Everyone knows what happened to Oliver. “It was their spot.”

“How do I find it?” I ask, already shuffling back so I can leave.

“There’s a stream close to here. Follow its path to where it splits, then look for a large boulder,” she explains quickly. “Head west from there until the trees break. You’ll find him.”

“Thank y—”

“Aiden.” She grabs my arm before I can take another step. My body turns to stone as her nails dig deep enough to pierce skin and draw blood. “Let this be the last time you need my help,” she whispers coolly, her eyes like shards of ice. “If you hurt my son again, I promise to dig the six feet myself. Do you understand?”

I laugh because I have to—and because there’s no other sane reaction. “I am not a pup or a member of your pack.” I remind, peeling her hand off me. “Nevertouch me again.”

Dropping her wrist, I leave her where she stands and bolt, shifting mid-sprint. The sound of flowing water pricks my ears from a mile away, and Ifind the stream without trouble. I keep to its path, eyes sharp for the split, while my mind replays those tense moments in the car that somehow went all wrong.

One minute, we were closer than we’d ever been. Julian was kissing me andbitingme, giving me fucking hickeys, and the next, there was that tear. The memory makes my steps falter, and worsens the pain.

I hadn’t meant to hurt him, not when it was the first time he’d made a move between us. It all felt so good, but things were moving so fast. I’d kissed plenty of girls before, but never a guy. I panicked, my nerves got the best of me, and then I messed everything up.

I haven’t made Julian cry since we were kids.

My chest clogs, but I bury the guilt for now. I’ll find him, fix this, and I’ll never make him cry again.

Darting through the woods, I follow the stream until I finally reach the fork. I spot the boulder between two trees and run straight past it as I head west. The closer I get, the brighter our bond burns, so I keep my eyes peeled and my ears perked for any signs of my mate.

As the trees grow sparser and the pack’s border looms, I slow to a trot. He wouldn’t go out on his own, right? Julian’s many things, but he’s not an idiot. I remind myself of that as I shift and carefully trail the area. I grab a pair of tucked-away shorts waiting in one of the trees’ hollows, and tug them on. Slipping past the last of the trees, I spot the small hill ahead—

And the golden-haired figure at the top.

Relief pours into me, making my next breath a heavy one as I start forward. I’m halfway up the incline when Julian’s head snaps up, revealing confused, red-rimmed eyes behind wild strands of his long hair.

“How did you—” His words trail off as his eyes dart between mine. The confusion clears to make room for the hurt.

“Julian,” I start, but he’s already scrambling to his feet, retreating.

“Don’t,” he says, holding a hand up. “Don’t, Aiden.”

I stop, despite wanting to do the very opposite, and watch while he tries to wipe his face clean.

“Julian, just let me explain,” I beg, taking a small step forward—only for him to mirror it with one back.

“I don’t want you to explain!” he groans while he shoves his hair back from his face. “The last thing I want to do is listen to you explain.”

With it drawn back, I see the way his eyes shift past me, already looking for an escape. That, I can’t let happen. Julian’s too damn fast. There’s no catching him if he bolts now, and there’s no chance in all the hells that I’m going back to his crazy mother if I lose him again.

The next time his eyes shift, I dart forward, taking advantage of his disarray to grab his wrists. He tries to step back, to pull away, but it’s nothing like in the kitchen when he’d played at wanting to be free. This time, he really tries to get away from me, and I know I can’t stop him forever.

“Listen, Julian,” I beg while he strains against me. I try to catch his gaze, but he’s as stubborn as ever. “Please justlisten.”

“So, I can hear you tell me you don’t want me?” His voice breaks as his struggles slow. “I don’t want to hear that, Aiden.” His fight sputters like a flame before his head drops and he finally slumps in defeat. “Don’t reject me.”

It’s a quiet plea, but one that’s so broken that its jagged edges scrape along my heart until I can barely breathe.

“I’m not going to reject you,” I swear as I pull him closer. “I told you that the day I found out we were mates, and I meant it. I’m not going to reject you.”

Julian shakes his head as he finally looks at me, his blue eyes puffy. “You did today. I tried to kiss you, and you rejected me.”

“That wasn’t a rejection,” I groan, and he’s quick to frown.