The Mates of Monsters novel Chapter 5

With my flannel pajama bottoms and loose hair, I saunter down the steps and restrain my feelings of romantic anxiety. It's difficult to be nice to him. All of my strict control over thoughts and feelings and desires annoys me. I hate that I have to do it. I hate that I'm experiencing such things. But, if I want to go home, I have to get through this part. When I reach the bottom of the staircase, I walk down the hallway to the main room. My eyes scan the living-room on my right then they turn to the kitchen on my left. I jump a little at the sight of him. He's leaned against the counter with crossed arms, expecting me.

"So you got my mother," I say and ease into the room. The front door is just beyond.

"I thought you would rather have her get you out of that room," he says.

"I heard that you're leaving tomorrow."

He nods. "We're leaving tomorrow, yes. I have to get back."

"I guess that's fair." I move closer. "Alphas have a lot of responsibilities. You're busy, aren't you?" He watches me. "We'll hardly see each other. It'll be like I'm not even there."

The Alpha smiles slightly while peering to the floor. "I can make time for you, Brigette."

"That's funny. I swear my father said the same thing to me once, and he's only a Beta." I breathe in. "Anyway, I'm going to go pack my things. Don't worry, my mother has been making sure I don't run off ever since I was a little girl. I won't be going anywhere."

When I look back to him, his eyes are already on me. "I'll be walking you over," he tells me, almost regretfully.

"You're kidding?"

He shakes his head and walks out of the kitchen.

"I can't even walk to my house on my own?" I question, my voice growing louder. "What am I going to do? Run into the woods like this?" I motion to my pajamas.

"Come on," he says and opens the front door of the guest house.

I stand still. "Is this how it's going to be? Even when we're at your pack? If it is, you're going to have to drag me out of this town because I won't be coming willingly."

"Brigette," he says, "let's go. It's almost five."

I clench my jaw and storm forward. As I walk through the door, I mutter, "What? No leash?"

Before I can get far enough, he grabs my arm, halting me. My eyes shoot back to his face then to his hand on me. "What did you expect?" He asks. "Did you think you could just say the things you said with no consequences? Do you think I want to walk you around so you don't run off?"

"I'm not going to run off," I dramatize.

"I don't believe you," he says as his eyes bore into my own.