Page 50 of Crossed Fates

I didn’t want to know.

Because I wasn’t supposed to care.

And coffee is all that matters anyway,I decided, stalking out into the hallway while tugging the T-shirt down over my thighs. It covered my ass. It’d do just fine.

I yawned, then finger-combed my hair, fully aware that I probably resembled hell turned over.Good thing I don’t care, right?I reminded myself. Again.

I’d decided last night that not caring was the best medicine for this lust brewing between me and Alaric.

If we fucked, who cared?

If we didn’t fuck? Also didn’t care.

Care. Care. Care. Yep. Going to repeat that alllll day. Wait, don’t care. Two words. Damn it.

With a shake of my head, I continued forward, only to pause as Alaric said, “She’s not from our world but from a different realm.”

My brow furrowed.Excuse me?

Just whom did he deem acceptable to share that secret with? I mean, sure, I hadn’t expressly stated not to broadcast my status as an out-of-realm visitor, but as my supposed mate, he should know that information was highly confidential.

“She has a ring from a witch,” he continued, causing the hairs along the back of my neck to rise. “That’s how she comes and goes.”

With a growl in my throat, I stomped forward, ready to give him—and his unsuspecting company—a piece of my mind, only to freeze as I realized said company was Alaric’s father.

Oh.

Ohhhh.

Yeah, okay. I could see why he, uh, felt it was okay to share my secret.

I’d have done the same with my alpha.

Clearing my throat, I tugged at the T-shirt flirting with my thighs and tried to force a smile. “Hi.”Lame-ass greeting, but whatever.“I just want some coffee.” And then a shower, and a shovel, and a grave, and then I’d just make myself right at home.

Alaric stood in his kitchen with his father at the stools on the bar side of the counter. His dad looked at me with interest, noting my bare legs, then glanced questioningly at his son.

“As I said, she’s not from here,” Alaric continued.

Do women in this universe never walk around half-naked? Just curious...

“I see,” his father replied, staring between us. Then he arched a brow at his son. “Well, don’t just stand there. Get the woman a coffee.”

I bit my lip to keep from smiling.My savior.

Alaric grunted and went to work preparing me a mug.

However, Alpha Hawk faced me, his expression serious. “Makayla,” he said, his tone sending a smattering of goose bumps down my arms.Absolutely an alpha, I thought.

“Alpha Hawk,” I returned.

His lips twitched. “Not according to my son. He says Hardt’s the new acting alpha.”

Alaric grunted again.

“You’re alpha to me,” I clarified. “I won’t be using the same designation forBetaHardt.”

Hawk grinned. “Oh, I think you’ll fit in here just fine, Makayla.”