Page 67 of Alpha Mates

While I’ve never been attracted to Julian or men in general, the bond changed that because I amveryattracted to Julian Heil.

He lingers in my mind, refusing to leave as the bond thrums between us. I already want to see him and after a full day, I know I’ll be itching to kiss him again.

I’m smiling when the bell rings, already planning all the things I can do to Jewels.

Lunch couldn’t come soon enough.

Turns out it really couldn’t.

I pace the three feet available in the tiny broom closet where I’d stupidly chosen to wait for Julian. My fingers twitch at my sides, from impatience or claustrophobia, I’m not sure, but I know I’m slowly losing my mind.

Following the absolute shitfest that was our first day at school being mates, we agreed to ignore the insistent pull of the bond as much as possible, but if we really couldn’t stand it, we’d meet up.

It would’ve been much easier if we had the same classes, but we only share Biology. He does all the hard shit, and I do the ones that don’t fry my last neuron. I’d only made it through two classes before reaching the end of my wire. I’d had Emitt find Beckett to pass the message along—I need to see my mate.

Nerves course through me as I crack my knuckles. Sure, we had an agreement, but that nerd reveres this human mind-prison, and I’m disturbing his class. But he’d also asked me to be honest with him about what I was feeling. So here I am … trying.

On my fifteenth lap of the small closet, the door cracks open, and a head of golden hair pokes in. The sight of him knocks the weight off my chest.

“Hi,” he says, eyes bright.

“Hi.” I step back. “Get in here.”

Slipping in easily enough, Julian closes the door behind him and glances disapprovingly around the room of cleaning supplies and toilet paper. His nose crinkles.

“Why did you pick somewhere with such strong—” He pauses when I pull him so close that not a single breath we take isn’t shared. “—scents.”

“I wasn’t really thinking about location,” I admit as Max settles inside me, the ache of the bond finally dulls with Julian in my arms. “I just wanted to see you.”

“Oh,” Julian whispers, and I would bet an arm and a leg that he’s blushing. He hides it by rubbing his cheek against mine. “I wanted to see you too.” He starts down my throat, but barely reaches my collar before his entire body goes rigid.

“What is it?” I ask—a second before he shoves me back hard enough to rattle the shelving behind me. His frown this morning is nothing compared to the hateful thing I face now, something I haven’t seen since the coronation.

“What the hell was that for?” I ask while I try to bite back my own temper. Maybe I did something he hadn’t liked? The thought has Max whining pitifully before Julian’s agitated expression clears, but only for a split second before his walls are up again.

“Nothing. I’m going to be late for class,” he mumbles, squeezing out the door before I can stop him.

I stand there, mouth agape, lost like a fish out of water.

I replay the last few minutes, but even with a close eye, I can’t see what I’d done to make Julian so angry. Wasn’t he the one who wanted us to try and be honest with each other? He said we were doing this together, but he’d just acted like I was harassing him.

Irritation roots deeps, leaving me bitter. I grab my bag from the floor and stalk out of the closet, barely sparing Emitt a glance as he scrambles to follow me from across the hall.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I snap.

Emitt’s smart enough not to push.

Time stretches itself out for the rest of our classes, leaving me to wonder what the fuck went wrong with Julian and me. I still can’t piece it together, but the longer I think about it, the more irritated I become.

I have half a mind to skip lunch by the time the bell rings, but I made a promise, and despite his bullshit, I still want to see him. Fucking mate bonds.

“You promise not to leave me alone with the guy?” Emitt asks, thumbing at his bag straps as we walk towards the cafeteria.

“Yeah, whatever.”

“Can you sit next to me too?”