Page 42 of My Broken Mate

But something about Kata is so confusing that my mind goes mushy whenever I am in her vicinity.

Fortunately, there is a knock on the door, pulling me out of my thoughts, and a loud voice exclaiming, “I am coming in! Better get dressed!”

“I can’t believe you,” Kata groans when the door opens and Alpha Joel steps inside. He has a broad grin on his face that soon falters into a look of disapproval.

“You reallyarestudying?” he mutters. “That’s so boring, Kata.”

“Oh, shut up,” Kata chuckles, tossing a random pillow at him.

Alpha Joel catches it with ease, grinning again. He is an imposing man. Tall, strong-built, and with that look in his eyes. Decisiveness, responsibility, strength. Sean has the same look. I call it the Alpha Aura. Alpha Joel is not as imposing as Sean, and judging by his looks, more approachable, but he certainly isn’t someone you would want to upset.

“Allow me to introduce my stupid brother to you, Remy,” Kata says, turning back to me and pointing at her brother. “That’s Joel. He is much more competent than he looks.” I am stunned at how she talks to him. So relaxed. She doesn’t seem scared at all, as she jokes about him and with him. Something about that makes my chest stitch.

Alpha Joel brushes through his wild blond hair and smiles. “Thank you for the lovely introduction, dear sister.” He turns to me. “Welcome to my pack, Remy. I hope you like it here, andthank you once again for helping out my sister. It means a lot to Eve and me.”

“It’s a great honor to meet you, Alpha Joel,” I say politely. “And an equal honor to help you out.”

For a moment, he looks at me like I grew a second head. “See!” he finally blurts out towards his sister. “That’s how you are supposed to talk to me. With great respect!”

“In your dreams,” Kata retorts. “Only if you manage to clean up behind yourself for once.”

“Don’t act like you are so tidy,” Joel complains.

“Better than you.”

“Well, that’s true,” he grins again. “Where is the sandwich?”

“Eve went to the gallery,” she explains. “He is preparing for the grand opening of his exhibition.”

“Right.” Alpha Joel grimaces. “I am so glad he doesn’t want us there for the opening. It was challenging enough to see everything beforehand.”

“Eve has an exhibition,” Kata tells me. “It’s a really big one, and he is the main attraction. Joel and I already saw the pieces.”

I am not too versed in modern art, but I loosely remember that I read something about said exhibition.

“Wait a moment, I will look for the pamphlet,” Joel offers before hurrying away.

Meanwhile, Kata grabs the plate with muffins and cookies. “Here, have something to eat,” she says.

I don’t know how to tell her that I just can’t because my body is revolting against everything, even more since I went out with Lyle and went overboard with the food there. “I have to decline,” I say. “But thank you for the offer.”

For a moment, there is something in her eyes, as if she is disappointed, but then she just smiles brightly. “Is that so? Well, I guess sweets aren’t for everyone.”

Right at that moment, her brother appears in the room again, proudly handing the promised pamphlet to me. Fortunately, his phone rings and he leaves us again, meaning I don’t need to react instantly. I carefully study the pamphlet that gives a glimpse into Evander’s artwork. He has a very obscure style, clearly very critical of society, grotesque and dark, but also very creative. Unfortunately, I don’t know much about modern art. Seeing Evander’s work now makes me realize that shortcoming. I have been taught not to say my opinion if I lack knowledge or have nothing smart to say.

The silence lingers around us, though, so I feel enticed to say something polite at least. “This is a huge achievement,” I say.

Kata doesn’t say much. Just takes the pamphlet and looks at it. For a moment, she looks sad, but then she smiles. “Itisan achievement. He is just so talented.”

She puts the pamphlet aside, taking her notebook instead. “Let’s start with our work,” she says. She seems to want to get down to business.

The look she had in her eyes before still lingers with me, weirdly unsettling me in a way I am not used to. But since studying is what I am here for, there is nothing to say or do but comply with her wish. “Of course.”

*GABRIEL*

I hurry down the alley leading to the coffee shop to meet Eve, trying not to bump into anyone. I just wrapped up my last meeting of the day, making extra hours as usual, but I don’tmind them. I love my work, and I love providing for the pack and for my family. However, I hate letting my friend wait. It’s not like I have many of them.

“I am sorry, it’s awfully late,” I blurt out while hurrying towards my friend. He is sipping at his beverage, gazing up at me.