Page 61 of Alpha Mates

I shake my head, but my smile remains exactly where it is. “Aiden, we are not skipping—”

“What’s the harm in skipping one day?” His pout is back in full force. Yep, definitely not adorable at all.

“A lot,” I say. “I’m not missing any more work. I know you don’t care for it, but I actually really enjoy what I learn from the humans.”

“Goddess, you’re such a prude. You’re going to become a librarian, you know that?”

“And you’re going to become a homeless man,” I retort. “Do you know that?”

“At least I’ll be your homeless man,” he says with a stupid smile that’s inexplicably contagious.

“Lucky me,” I deadpan, making him snort.

“Okay, fine. If you’re not in the mood to cry, that’s all good with me,” he says, lifting his hands in surrender. “But once you’re done with all your important work, why don’t we go out?”

“Go … out?” I say. “Like to the markets?”

“No, like out of the pack.” Even as he says it, he slides a hand through his hair to scratch the back of his head. “Sometimes Emitt and I go past the borders to blow off steam. With the day we had, I thought maybe we could do that.”

Aiden stares at me expectantly, but all I hear is “beyond the packlands.”

I hum to buy myself some time as I face the sink. We weren’t supposed to leave except for school, and sure, we were alphas now and could change that, but the rule wasn’t arbitrary. There are dangers out there that can be avoided by simply staying within our packs.

The fact that Aiden slipped out before, and regularly, was beyond worrying. We’d gone after our coronation, but given the circumstances, I’d assumed that was a one-time thing. Apparently, it wasn’t.

I’d left the pack many times, but only ever to one destination and straight back.

Two now, if we count Walmart, Alex inserts readily.

Twodestinations. But this still feels like an invitation for trouble.

“It was just an idea,” Aiden says as he joins me at my side. “I’m fine with staying in.”

I glance at him. “Really?”

“Yeah, I’ve had a long day chasing after you. My legs are about to give out,” he says, chuckling as I shove him away. “You do your important work, Jewels. I’ll watch some TV.”

“Okay,” I say, gnawing on my lip as he walks away. A weight sets itself on my chest and refuses to move. “I-I’ll join you once I’m done?”

Aiden turns, his smile much bigger this time. “That sounds good to me.”

I grin back, but once I’m alone, it fades. Should I have said yes? Should I have gone wherever he had in mind instead of hiding behind rules?

Werewolves stay in packs for a reason—we’re stronger together. Safe from witches, hunters, and everything else behind our borders, which is how we’ve survived this long. But still, there’s this familiar, itching thought. The world is so big, with so much to see and experience, not to mention all the realms beyond ours. All with their own treasuries of culture and history.

Aiden had already shown me so much, granted it was only a supermarket, but still. It had sparked ideas for better ways to sell and trade food in the markets in just that single visit. I can only imagine what else I could improve in the pack with more exposure.

But it wasn’t just the new things. I had fun that night. Real, unadulterated fun when it was just Aiden and me, without our betas watching over us, or the packs’ eyes on us, or my parents’ judgement. And I know I’d have evenmore fun now that we’ve grown closer.

Closer, Alex snorts.Is that what we’re calling the way he fondled your ass?

Yes,I reply sharply, even though that was not what I’d meant in the slightest.

Alex cackles but leaves me be on that particular subject,If you really want to go, maybe we should.

But we have work to do—for school and the pack.

That’s true,Alex obliges with a huff,but do not forget ‘the work’ we have to do with our mate as well. A good bond requires effort.