His Plump Mate (Book 1: The 'His' Series) novel Chapter 179

**TITLE: After His Bite, I Learned to Heal**

**Chapter 178: Possessive Alpha**

“So, he’s the childhood friend with a long-lost crush,” he remarked, his tone dripping with the kind of theatricality one might expect from a villain in a story.

I raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched across my face. “Are you seriously doing this right now?” I couldn’t help but wonder if he was genuinely intrigued or just trying to provoke me.

With a casual lean back, his arms remained crossed, a fortress of confidence. “Just trying to get the full picture. You seemed… comfortable around him.”

His words felt like a jab, and I could almost hear the score tallying up in my mind: +25 Points for the possessive alpha.

“Sebastian? Please, it’s not like that. We’ve known each other since we were children. He’s practically family to me,” I insisted, hoping to defuse the situation.

“Family?” he echoed, the word slipping off his tongue as if it were a bitter pill.

I winced at the implication. “Okay, fine. Mr. Foster it is. I’ll call him Mr. Foster from now on. Happy?” I tried to sound nonchalant, but I could feel the tension rising.

His fingers intertwined with mine, warm and deliberate, sending a shiver up my spine. “I heard you’re planning to meet him again,” he said, his voice a low murmur that hinted at something deeper.

I felt a jolt of anxiety. “It’s just coffee,” I replied, trying to downplay it.

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, almost teasing. “Next time, bring me along.”

Crisis averted.

He raised our joined hands to his lips, placing a soft kiss over my knuckles, his touch sending warmth through me.

Then, with a tenderness that made my heart flutter, his other hand cradled my cheek—warm and slow, as if he were savoring the moment.

His thumb gently traced my skin, the soft brush of his breath charged with unspoken words.

The look in his eyes conveyed everything I needed to know: smug, sweet, and perhaps just a hint possessive—an intoxicating mix that left me both exhilarated and grounded.