Page 47 of The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate
Sometime after six, as the sun starts sliding down the wall, there is a knock on the door. I close my eyes. I’m really not in the mood to talk to anyone. However, the person on the other side is persistent. I figure they’ll go away if I remain silent.
To my irritation, the doorknob turns. It’s Lydia who steps in.
“You know, you could have answered the door,” she says, studying me. “You missed dinner.”
“I’m working,” I mutter.
“Lucas.”
I don’t look up. “Ask the kitchen to send something up. Can you leave now? Whatever it is you want to talk about, it can be dealt with later.”
I hear her cross back to the door and then the soft, metallic click of the lock.
My head pops up. “What are you doing?”
She ignores my question and comes over to sit in the chair across from my desk. She folds her hands in her lap, her expression the picture of patience.
“Lydia.”
“We’ve been friends for a long time, Lucas. I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s going on.” Her voice is quiet. “You’re the alpha. Why are you hiding in your office like this? You have everyone on edge.”
I stare at her.
She reaches across the desk and takes the bourbon bottle out of my hand. She puts the cap on and carries it across the room, where she places it back in the cabinet. The cabinet door is shut with a small, decisive click.
“Bring it back.” My voice comes out harder than I want. “I was drinking.”
“No.” She doesn’t even raise her voice.
“I am the alpha of this pack! You don’t come into my office and act willful—”
She turns away from the cabinet and looks at me. Her face has softened into an expression I know well. I have seen it across twenty years of bad nights.
“You’re not my alpha right now, Lucas. You’re my friend, and I’m worried about you.” She comes back and sits down. “Lucas, we grew up together. We played together. I scraped my knees on the same stones you scraped yours on.” Her voice stays low. “I have been beside you for every milestone of your life. Do not talk to me about being Alpha Steele. Tell me what’s eating you.”
I sigh, looking away. “It’s nothing.”
“Is it Sienna?”
My head jerks back toward her.
“I’m going to ask you one question.” Her lips are pressed into a thin line. “I want the truth, Lucas. Please.”
I wait.
“Is Sienna your fated mate?”
I don’t need to answer the question. Whatever Lydia sees in my face is answer enough for her. She lets out a small breath that sounds like a shaky gasp.
My head drops into my hands. “Is it that obvious?”
“To everyone else, no.” She pauses, and there is a hint of sadness in her voice. “To me, yes. I suspected something was off. The way you’ve been behaving around her caught my attention.”
I laugh. The sound scrapes on its way out. “You don’t understand. I can’t be with—”
“I do understand,” she cuts in softly. “I know about the curse. Your father told me. On his deathbed. He asked me to look out for you if the time ever came.”
My head snaps up.
