Page 63 of Alpha Mates

“Tradition,” he answers.

“How many times must I tell you,” Emitt begins, straightening like a chicken about to crow. “We can’t call it a tradition when it’s just us. It’s more like a custom, a ritual, a h—”

“Tradition sounds better,” Aiden says. He falls against the wall, folding his arms over his wide chest while he looks at me. “Basically, every Wednesday, we get pancakes and waffles and drench them in an unhealthy amount of syrup.”

“Oh.”

I’m not sure what I think about this custom. It’s nice, I suppose, but it also sidetracks my plans to spend the morning with my mate, so I at least know that I don’t like it very muchright now.

“We’ll go some other time, Emitt,” Aiden says, but I find myself shaking my head.

“You guys should go.”

“We should?”

“It’s tradition,” I tease, and I’m rewarded by the way his eyes crinkle, even if I’d rather us spend time together. “I’ll just meet you at school.”

“Or you can come with us!” Emitt butts in, and both our heads swivel towards him. “It’s not a private thing, or at least, it doesn’t have to be. When I came over, I thought you’d be joining us anyway.”

Logically, I should feel honoured or happy to be included in their “tradition.” Instead, discomfort rises at the thought of sharing a meal with the pair when I barely know Emitt. Change doesn’t become me.

“It’s fine. I—”

“Julian doesn’t—”

I look at Aiden, cutting myself short just as he does.

My frown deepens when whatever hedoesn’tsay is somehow conveyed to Emitt, whose mouth circles around a quiet “oh” without Aiden utteringanother word.

“I don’t what?” I ask.

“It’s nothing bad, just—” Aiden runs a hand through his dark hair and sighs. “The place we go, it’s not in our markets. It’s a pit stop we make before school …outsideof the packlands.”

Much like last night, my body stiffens, forcibly constraining me inside while I try not to panic at the prospect of going places we aren’t supposed to beyond our packlands. The rule was school and back, no “pit stops.” But then again, my answer was no anyway, so what did it matter?

Only it does matter when I’m beginning to realise that Aiden’s personal life takes place in a world way larger than mine. He goes out, tries new things, and he doesn’t think twice about it. How are we ever going to get closer while I’m stuck in my minuscule bubble?

“Okay,” I say, trying and failing not to sound so stiff. “That’s fine. It’s on the way to school, so I … don’t mind.”

“You don’t mind?” Aiden asks, his mouth loosened with obvious disbelief.

“That’s what I said,” I confirm.

“Great! I’ll wait in my car.” Emitt beams, off before Aiden can say a word, which is a good thing because it takes a while for him to get the first one out.

“Is it really okay?” he asks after I’ve closed the door. “I don’t want you doing anything you don’t want to, Julian.”

My heart quickens, pumping fresh serotonin into my system. My next breath stalls because apparently, I really like Aiden worrying over me.

“I want to,” I promise. “It’s fine.”

He studies me a moment longer before his whole demeanour brightens, exposing how much he wanted this, which solidifies that this was the right decision.

“I’ll be ready in five,” he promises before rushing towards the bedroom like a pixie on fire while I work desperately to push down the rising tide of unease so I don’t ruin this.

It will be fine. If something does threaten us, there are three of us and we’re all strong. But more than likely, nothing will happen. We’d make a stop on the way, I’d get to know Emitt, and I’d spend some time with my mate.

A win, win, win … right?