Page 44 of Assisting the Alpha
Zaiden’s face splits into a grin and he stands to hug me hard. “Fuck, I’ve missed you. I can’t wait until this is all over and we can go back to our regular Friday nights out.”
“Same.” I hug him back tightly, then sit opposite him at the table, my back to the street. I cast a quick sound distortion ward around us so no one will be able to hear the exact words, but we won’t be oddly silent to the humans at the adjacent tables.
“So, your bodyguard boyfriend allowed this much space between you?”
I grimace. “He’s glaring at you for hugging me, isn’t he?”
Zaiden laughs. “Yeah.”
“He’s just protective. He’s not my boyfriend, though.”
Zaiden raises his eyebrows at that. “No? Because the way he is with you… and the way you smell… that’s more than just friends, bro.”
I roll my eyes and pick up my menu. “I already told you we’re fooling around.”
Zaiden leans forward, forearms on the table. “Yeah, you did, but I saw how he was after you got hurt behind Love Bites, and the fact that he’s barely let you out of his sight since you were jumped on Monday? This might be more than casual for him.”
I stare at my menu, trying to ignore the little flutter that thought gives me and glad when a waitress interrupts to take our order. It gives me a few minutes to think, because as much as I like the idea of a sexy, sweet guy like Ethan as more than a bit of fun, it’s not going to happen.
“How do you feel about him?” Zaiden asks gently when the waitress leaves.
I exhale and play with the salt-shaker. “Honestly? I like him a lot, and yeah, I’m massively interested in more with him. How could I not be? He’s gorgeous, protective, badass, a total sweetheart to me even though his default setting is grumpy,andhe’s amazing in bed. What’s not to like? But there’s no future there.”
“Why not?”
I give him a scathing look. “Because I’d be kicked out of the coven, duh. A relationship with an alpha wolf? They’d never accept it. Nyoka already kicked me out of my apartment early when he found out I was working for Soldati Security. I don’t want to lose my coven as well.”
Zaiden frowns. “Wait, what? When was this? I know your month is up, but you said you found somewhere temporary, I’m guessing with lover boy.”
I wince. Oops. I forgot I hadn’t told him this part. “Um… so you know the night you drove me home…?”
Zaiden leans back, his expression wary. “Yes…”
“Nyoka came to see me that night. Said the task force couldn’t accept me living in the manor when I was working for their rival. Said I had to move out that night. I moved my shit to one of the attics, took a suitcase full of clothes and stuff, and…”
“And what?” Zaiden is looking a mixture of pissed off and horrified.
“Ethan found me sleeping in my car outside the office.”
“What the fuck?” Zaiden’s yell is so loud I wince. “Are you crazy?” Zaiden hisses, thankfully lowering his volume. “It’s not safe!”
“I know.”
“You could have been killed!”
“I know, all right? I know. Ethan insisted I come inside and crash with him. I wasn’t actually out in my car for long.”
“And you’ve been at his place ever since.” Zaiden’s scowl is making me feel all kinds of guilty.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“I would have turned around and come straight back, you know. Helped you pack your shit, let you stay with me, whatever you needed.”
“I know. I’m sorry. It’s just that you were probably home by the time Nyoka told me, and I’d already outstayed my welcome with the pack, so I figured I’d stay the night next to the office and text you the next day. If I really needed to come to your place, I would have done.”
“Would you? Really? Actually?”
I sigh, grateful the waitress chooses that moment to bring our food and drinks.
