He doesn’t raise his head. The question lingers in the air. And I want him to answer. I want to know why he can’t leave me be.
Reject him.
But my wolf cries in protest.
After what feels like an eternity, he glances up, and I’m met with his haunting eyes once more. My breath becomes caught in my throat, and I shudder at the way he looks at me.
“I told you, it’s the bond,” he rasps through gritted teeth.
I blink at his words. “Well, try harder. I-I’m doing just fine.”
He steps into me, forcing my back into the wall.
Caleb’s eyes are lit up, and I keep my head raised high. “I’d watch how you speak to me, pups.”
My nose wrinkles at him, and I ignore the close proximity. “As I said before, you’re not my Alpha. And never will be.”
His mouth opens to speak, but instead of hearing his voice, I hear Ava’s instead. “Everything okay in here?”
Caleb rips himself away from me within the blink of an eye as he turns around to face her. I’m catching up on my lost breaths. “Yeah,” he says gruffly. “Just making sure Evan is okay.”
Ava doesn’t look convinced as she flicks her eyes between us, and I pray she doesn’t figure it out. I want to keep it my secret. But I know how perceptive she is.
I watch as Caleb leaves the living room and Ava walks towards me. “Are you sure everything’s okay?”
“Yeah.” I force a fake smile.
“Was he bothering you?”
I shake my head.
Her brows crease. “You don’t need to lie to me, Evan. If he?—”
“Nothing is happening, Ava,” I say bluntly. “I promise.”
“You seemed weirdly close,” she confesses. “Almost like…”
Oh, Goddess. Here we go.
My hands tremble as I clutch them tighter in my hoodie pockets.
After a few moments, she pulls back as she flicks her eyes over my face. “Wait…” she trails off. “Wait. Wait. Wait.”
“Ava,” I start to panic.
“Goddess,” she murmurs before pressing a hand to her lips.
No. No. No.
“Caleb,” she gasps, lowering her fingers. “He’s your mate. Isn’t he?”
I move so quickly that my wounds ache as I place a hand over her mouth. “Shh,” I hiss. “Don’t say it out loud.”
Ava pulls back an inch. “Fuck. I knew it.”
“You cannot say anything, Ava,” I plead. “Promise me you’re not going to say anything.”
She shakes her head. “I’m not going to tell anyone.”
