Page 106 of My Broken Mate

I remember the moment in the café a couple of days ago when the girls tried to pressure me into helping them, and I couldn’t even say no. I hate that my being exploited in a toxic relationship is a very valid fear for those around me. However, I am not in a toxic relationship. “Remy is nothing but respectful towards me. He doesn’t hide his affection when we are out. He is vulnerable with me,” I say, flushing when I notice how Eve looks at me. I wonder what kind of expression I make when I talk about Remy. “He doesn’t lie to me, and he listens. He stands up for me.”

“Is that true?” Eve asks quietly.

“Yes. You don’t know him like I do,” I say.

Eve is quiet for a while. “I think no one knows him like you do,” he suddenly says. “That’s going to be a hard pill to swallow for Gabe.”

“What are you still talking about?” Joel complains. “It’s time for our battle!”

Eve and I exchange a gaze. “Let’s humor him,” Eve sighs.

I chuckle. “Okay.”

Eve tosses me a glance. “Joel is right, by the way. This is good news. I, for one, am happy you found your mate.”

“I just hope Alpha Sean won’t hold it against us,” I say, with an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. The way he looked at us wasn’t a particularly fond look, although it wasn’t angry either.

More like disappointment.

“Maybe he thinks Remy can do better,” I mutter. “Or… I don’t know. He is always so proper and serious.”

Suddenly, Joel laughs loudly.

“What’s so funny?” Eve asks. “Kata is sharing her worries with us. Can’t you take that seriously for once?”

“If only you two knew,” Joel chuckles.

“Knew what?”

“Win against me, and I might tell you,” he says, his grin all too evident in his voice.

Eve and I exchange a look and nod. We both summon our strength trying to tackle Joel, but we face no chance, and unfortunately for us and our curiosity, he doesn’t share his secret either.

Chapter thirty-two

Temper

*SEAN*

10…9…8…

The vein on my neck has been throbbing ever since we stepped into Joel’s apartment. I am good at keeping the pretense, but years under my father’s cruel mentorship have also made me very perceptive to what’s happening around me.

I have spent the last two years controlling each of my steps. Even when I just reach out to grab something from a cupboard, I make sure my movement is controlled. I don’t raise my voice, and I make sure to keep any negative emotion out of my tone or expression.

Yet it doesn’t change anything.

It’s a fact that both my brothers live a second life, a second personality that they keep far away from me. Maybe I am doingthat, too. Am I? I don’t know. Aside from occasionally meeting with Joel, I am the same as always. Smile, nod, talk, walk in control.

9…8…7…

I steady my breath, willing the annoyance down, not to lash out at the first person to cross my way. Levi is driving us back to the pack, none of us saying a word.

“Did you—” Levi clears his throat. “Well, did you have a nice evening?” he says cheerfully.

Remy is looking out of the window, his eyes tracing something in the distance. I am not even sure he is listening. As for Gabriel, he just shifts around nervously. When the silence gets too suffocating and Levi grips the wheel tighter, I decide to give him an answer. “It was good,” I say shortly.

Levi nods, pearls of sweat on his forehead.