Don't Leave Me, Mate (by AlisTae) novel Chapter 35

35

Stephen looked in Ian’s direction. He was indeed staring at Ava. He did not know what was wrong with Ian. Over the past few days, he had started to behave strangely.

What stunned him were Ian’s dark eyes. They were calm. He was silent as well.

Was it silent before the storm?

After diverting his attention away from Ian, he responded to Ava by saying,

“Don’t worry. I told him to stay away from you.”

Ava sighed with relief. She did not want to see Ian. Talking with him was like asking for her own humiliation.

“Let us have a conversation about it with our parents directly and see what outcome they come up with,” Ava told Stephen to change the topic.

“Sure What about the day after tomorrow? Let’s have a family dinner,” Stephen said with excitement.

“Family dinner?” Ava mumbled while looking at the floor.

The experience of having a family was completely foreign to her. She only had her mother, whom she called her family. She was unable to have the opportunity to spend the rest of her life with her father. Neither did she have any siblings. So she did not know what a family dinner would feel like.

There were times when she questioned whether or not she could actually give her father’s place to Harper. Because after all, how could someone give their father’s place in their heart to someone else?

She felt a hand on hers as it rested on the counter. She came out of her thoughts and looked at her hand.

Stephen patted her hand. “I knew we were strangers until a few days ago. But trust me. My dad is a responsible man. He always sees you as his daughter because you are his mate’s daughter. I will never treat you badly and will always protect you as my own sister. You will live in a house of gammas. We will try to give you and your mom the best lives.”

Ava looked at Stephen. His words really touched her heart. Though he was not her biological brother, she felt a connection with him. It was as if he were her real brother.

As she experienced feelings of emotion, she bit the bottom of her lip. Stephen lowered his head to look at her face carefully. When he saw her teary eyes, his eyes widened. He hugged her and said,

“Hey! Lil sis. Don’t cry. Did I say something wrong?”

Ava shook her head and hugged him back.

“Thanks, Stephen.”

Stephen rubbed her hair like a big brother should do to comfort a little sister.

“I will always be there for you. Don’t worry. Your life will not be the same as before. Your mom will not have to worry about your protection anymore.”

Ava broke the hug and wiped her eyes.

“I’m going to the washroom.”

“Yeah. You can go upstairs and use any room’s washroom. No one will be there. I don’t allow anyone to use private rooms,” he said, showing her the way to the stairs.

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35

+25 BONUS

Ava thanked him and walked to the staircase. She noticed that a few boys were trying to get closer to her. Stephen approached them from behind and gave them a shake of his head.

“She is here with me. Fuck off.”

They immediately changed their route from there. It looked like Stephen really had a great impression on boys. Why would he not? He was the soon–to–be Gamma of this pack.

“Thanks, Stephen.”

“No worries. Call me if you get lost.”

“Okay. Can you tell my friends I am going upstairs?”

“Sure.”

She climbed the stairs and walked for a short distance before arriving at a room. As soon as she opened the door, she realized that it was a bedroom. She closed the door, but did not lock it.

She went into the bathroom, which was attached to the bedroom.

When she was done using the washroom, she glanced in the mirror to look at herself.

Due to the fact that she had shed tears earlier, her mascara was slightly smeared around her eyes.

She opened her bag and pulled out a tissue. She dabbed the corners of her eyes.

After she was done, she was about to leave the washroom when she got a call.

She took out her phone from her bag and noticed her mother calling her.

She took the call and began combing her hair with her fingers, which had become tangled after dancing.

“Yes, Mom.”

“I’m at home, and you are not back yet. Where are you?”

“Mom, I am still at the party. Should I come back now?”

“No. If you are having fun, you can stay for a while longer. But I wanted to ask…”

Ava frowned at her pause. “What Mom?”

“Have you found your mate there?”

Ava exhaled when she heard her. Her mother always wanted her to find her mate. She did not want her daughter’s life to be like hers, where she had to marry someone else because she had met her mate too late.