Page 84 of Alpha Mates

The questions carried on well into the morning, and by the time I returned home, I barely fumbled through a shower before collapsing back into bed beside Aiden. I’d felt him leave a few times to put out his own fires, but he’d crashed back beside me eventually. And now, it’s allegedly nearing sunset.

“Julian,” Aiden huffs, just as I’m about to doze off again. “I’m hungry!”

He wiggles, trying to free himself, but the leg I’ve slung over him keeps my body pillow exactly where he is.

“You can’t keep me hostage like this!”

“But I’m sleeping,” I mumble into his chest.

“But you’re not,” Aiden protests. “You’re speaking right now. We’re literally having a conversation.”

“Semantics.”

“Julian.”

“Fine, be selfish,” I yawn as I roll over, snatching his pillow from under his head to take with me. I hear his appalled gasp while I fluff it.

“You little—” he starts, but I don’t hear the rest of it as I smush my face into the soft treasure covered in his scent.

I’m already drifting off again when I feel him climb off the bed, leaving me to my peaceful sleep. But then hands latch around my ankles. My eyes pop open a second before I’m dragged down the length of the bed.

“Aiden!” I yelp as I try to crawl away, but it’s too late. He frees my ankles and grabs my waist to haul me over his shoulder. The world sways and I land against his ass. “Aiden,” I groan, pushing away, looking up at the bed he’s already walking us away from. “No!” I wail, slamming my fist against his back. “Stop, you monster!”

Aiden cackles, turning into the hall and cutting off my view of the bed. I slump against him, bouncing with each step.

“What happened to helping me relax?” I groan, my arms hanging limp.

“I did my job too well, I guess,” he replies with a pat to my leg. “You haven’t eaten all day.”

“All we do is eat,” I complain, and he laughs. “I’m not even joking.”

I thought I had a pretty balanced diet before, but I’ve since learnt that I don’t eat nearly enough for a wolf of my rank. Aiden takes his mealtimes and their portions very seriously. And as his mate, I’m forced to entertain three full meals a day, no exceptions, which means my fate is already sealed. I’m resigned to it by the time Aiden sets me down onto one of the kitchen stools.

Still, I glare at him like a sulking child when he beams at me.

“It’s for your own good,” he says with a pat on my head.

I slap his wrist away, relishing his wince. “That was for your own good too.”

“Wicked,” he hisses, backing up, but his eyes stay warm where they linger on me. “What do you want for breakfast?”

I sit up straighter. “Salmon!”

I’d had my doubts about trying fish last night, but Aiden vowed he was a skilled chef when it came to salmon. I agreed to give it a chance even though I’ve seen him cook, and I wouldn’t call any of that “skilled.” But my mate proved me wrong when he served me a steaming plate of perfectly cooked salmon to go with my sticky rice and aubergine.

It had all but disappeared after my first bite, because I’ve never tasted anything like salmon. Not. A. Single. Thing.

“You can’t have salmon for breakfast,” Aiden states while he opens the pantry doors.

“Why not?” I ask, frowning as he sets out two cereal boxes.

“Because you ate all we had last night,” he gripes, turning in time so I can see his frown. “Did you forget how many times you made me cook more for you? Did you think we had a never-ending supply?”

“Oh …” I say quietly.

“Oh,” he mocks, and I scowl. “You’re having your stupid Lucky Charms.”

“How is this a full meal?” I grumble as he slides the box my way.