Page 117 of Alphas Like Us

It’sironic.

Because hurting Jane and Farrow is a direct shot to my heart. So really, that asshole got what hewanted.

Jane pries a piece of frizzy hair off her pink lips and only looks at me. “I have no use forcondomswhen there’s no dick in the world, small, regular or large, that I’d trust to enter myvagina.”

I shake my head. “You could,eventually—”

“These condoms will expire by then.” Jane raises her mug. “So let them not go to waste, Moffy. They should be used by people who can have glorious and beautifulsex.”

While I’ve been basking in a newfound world of sexwithout compromise or fear, my best friend has taken five million steps backward because of this fucking asshole. And I want her to be safe and feel loved andfree.

Farrow straightens off the doorframe. “You’re really planning to be celibate for the rest of yourlife?”

Jane lifts her blue eyes to him. “I can live fine without falling in love, so I can live just as easily without apenis.”

Farrow arches hisbrows.

“You love sex,” I tell my bestfriend.

“I love to masturbate.” Jane sips her coffeeagain.

“Same,” Lunanods.

I rub my face with my one hand. Not sure how I should feel. My neck is hot, and Farrow looks partially amused, partially ready to wrap this up. I didn’t get him off yet, and the mood has been pretty much slaughtered. But I’ll reviveit.

Jane motions for Luna to descend the staircase. “Come to my bedroom, Luna. I’ll teach you everything the men can’t.” Janie glances back atme.

I mouth,merci.

She taps her cheek and mouths,feel better.She’s referring to my burn from thecoffee.

I almost smile, and when I return to my bedroom with Farrow, my mind reels through the whole day. “Was everything okay with the hospital?” I ask while we draw together. He took the call while I did the Instagram Live, and I forgot toask.

He unbuttons my jeans. “They wanted to make sure I could comply withHIPPA.”

“Isn’t that the thing that protects a patient’sprivacy?”

Farrow starts to smile. “Thatthingis alaw.And yeah, it’s there to ensure healthcare providers will keep medical records and other health informationprivate.”

I think harder. “They called because you were doxxed,” Irealize.

Farrow looks surprised that I figured it out, but also he looks like he loves me. Likereallyloves me, and I wrap my arm around his shoulder as he tells me, “They were afraid I wouldn’t be able to maintain privacy for a patient, but I talked them down.” He eyes my mouth as much as I eye his. “Everything is fine, wolfscout.”

But I sense an uneasiness. “Really?”

He nods, clutches my jaw, and whispers against my lips, “I hopeso.”

20

MAXIMOFF HALE

“This is mything,Moffy. You can’t haveit.”

We’re at a 1920s speakeasy-themed bar. It’s nearly empty. I sit on a round leather stool, and my best friend rattles a silver cocktail shaker on the other side of thecounter.

Jane’s mixology instructor is an actual bartender, dressed in a fedora, bowtie and suit vest. While he slices limes next to her, I catch him scrutinizing her, then me. Not pretending that this conversation doesn’t interesthim.

I focus on Janie. “I’m not trying to take your thing,” I say seriously. “But maybe we can try to find a passion together seeing as I ampassionlessnow—”