The Alpha's Mate

Chapter Ten

Noah Everett

My head is throbbing, and my eyes feel like they are glued shut. I'm not sure what happened, or when i fell asleep. I remember Branson talking to his sister, and panic settling in my bones. Then my wolf was on the surface and I'm not sure what happened after that.

Finally, peeling my eyes open, I take in the strange room.

Berries.

My head turns to my mate, who is sleeping beside me. There's a couple inches separating us. Glancing over, around the room I notice it's dark out. I dig around my pockets, and glance to the night stand. I don't see my phone anywhere. Pushing up into a sitting position, Bran groans.

"Go to bed" he murmurs, tugging the blanket higher up his body.

"Do you know where my phone is?" I whisper, not trying to wake up the whole house.

"Maybe in your truck? Dunno. Go back to bed" he scoots back, his body just a whisper away from mine. My skin buzzes, and I swallow down the excitement.

Laying back down, I stay on my back. I don't make any moves to get closer, but I do soak in his heat, his scent, before it's pushing me back to sleep.

—-

Branson woke me up at 7, because he had to get ready for school. He woke me up so he could get out of bed, and then I was forced to stay for breakfast, because Uncle Ze insisted I stayed.

Everyone is on edge around me, and Layla wouldn't look at me during the whole breakfast. When I tried to talk to her, she mumbled something and literally rushed out of the room.

Xan is stiff, and keeps glancing at me out of the corner of his eyes, like I'm a bomb about to go off at any moment.

When Branson came down, he didn't say anything to me. He sat with me, too close for comfort. Although it settled the slight anxiety I've been feeling. Then he said bye, and left for school.

Which leads me to now, sitting awkwardly in the dining room, with Xan working on some school work in front of me.

"What is it?" I finally ask, and his body goes rigid, and his eyes flick up to my own.

"Huh?" he asks, his eyes searching the room for someone else.

"Why is everyone on edge?" I push, and Alexander sighs, leaning back in his seat.

"We're not," he murmurs.

"You're watching me like I'm going to murder you any second" I tell him, and he lets out a short breath.

"You lost control last night, tried to attack Layla. We couldn't separate you from Bran. He went to the bathroom and you nearly killed pops. You sat outside the bathroom door like a dog. And when he came out, you literally carried him back to his room." Xan blurts it all out. Like word vomit. I actually don't think I've ever heard him talk that much.

My brain takes a few seconds to register what he just said.

I carried him to his room?

Xan blows out a breath, nodding "Yeah, some would say it's crazy behavior" he glances down at his lap, chewing on his lip.

"I need to talk to Lay, and Branson" I murmured, pushing to my feet.

"Why did you freak out like that?" Xan's voice is gentle, and I swallow the nerves in my throat.

"Because he wanted to reject our bond, for your sister's sake. Because he puts everyone before himself, and I want him to choose this- us. Even though it's so messy- so complicated. Because I choose him" my words wobble, and my stomach clenches at the truth they hold.