His Nanny Mate (Moana and Edrick Morgan) novel Chapter 82

#Chapter 82: Protective Alpha

Moana

“We’ll take all of the dresses that she just tried on.”

My eyes went wide and my face went pale. I knew that Edrick would insist on purchasing something for me today, but… Everything? I tried to protest, but he wouldn’t hear it. As I sheepishly walked back into the fitting room and took the expensive dress off, my heart was pounding.

Once I was dressed again, I came out and handed the dresses to the grinning saleswoman, who was likely more excited to get a large commission for this purchase than anything else. I still felt utterly shocked as we made our way over to the counter and Edrick paid without batting an eye. I didn’t know how I would make this up to him, but I knew that I would have to figure something out.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” I said quietly as we walked out of the store. “How can I make it up to you?”

Edrick stopped and turned to face me. Even through his mask, I could tell that he was frowning.

“You’re carrying my baby,” he replied matter-of-factly. “I’m the one who’s making it up to you.”

I didn’t know what to say. Edrick’s sudden, kind words sent a shock through my body. What happened to the cold, unfeeling Alpha CEO I had met just a couple of months ago? Suddenly, however, Edrick’s eyes narrowed a bit as he studied my face intently.

“You look a little pale,” he said. “Are you okay?”

I hadn’t realized it before, but trying on so many dresses took a lot of energy out of me, and I hadn’t eaten in a while. “Um… I’m a bit hungry,” I admitted, realizing now just how faint I felt.

Without a word, Edrick nodded and hooked his arm through mine — another unexpected display of affection that I wasn’t prepared for, but before I could think about it too much, he began to guide me toward the food court. “There’s a place here with excellent sandwiches,” he said. “We’ll get something to eat there.”

“Th-Thanks,” I stuttered as I followed him. Time and time again today, I was shocked by Edrick’s kind and generous attitude so soon after the tabloid incident that was, in my eyes, entirely my fault. Even as we walked, I could feel some other shoppers’ eyes on us as they noticed the werewolf-human couple with masks on walking around, but it didn’t seem to faze Edrick in the slightest. He seemed so nonchalant that I was frankly confused as to why he didn’t appear to be very worried about someone looking too closely and recognizing us. Had he made some sort of deal with the tabloid CEO to not post photos of us anymore? It was a possibility, but there were other tabloids that could easily post our pictures, and I was shocked that he didn’t seem to care. It was almost as though the entire experience changed something in him.

When we arrived at the food court, there were a plethora of restaurants to choose from. Edrick gave me a chance to take a look at the other food being offered, but I began to feel a little sick from the smell, so he guided me over to a bench a little ways away.

“You can wait here,” he said, setting our shopping bags down beside me as I sat. “I’ll get us some sandwiches. I’ll be right back.”

I nodded, and before I could say anything else, he quickly jogged off to the food court. I glanced over my shoulder to watch him as he went; in his white polo shirt, I could see his bicep muscles straining against the short sleeves. I also couldn’t help but notice some other young women ogling him, and I quickly looked away before I let myself get too jealous.

As I waited, I took that time to close my eyes and take some deep breaths. Not even a few minutes passed, however, before I felt someone sit down next to me. I opened my eyes, expecting to see Edrick, but felt a knot form in my stomach as I saw that it was a different man.

He smelled like alcohol, and he was staring right at me.