Alpha’s Badass Mate novel

---- would be much easier to look at Ashly if they were both standing up. When he shifted in preparation to get up, the plastic crinkled , and he remembered the bag in his lap. "I got candy for your son! But sorry, he is more like your father ; he is such a cute and exact copy of yours," Alex said, lifting the bag as evidence." Did you eat something, Ashly? You need to eat something ; you always skip meals. It's not good for your health." Ashly sighed and dragged a hand over her face.

She shifted her weight, dropped the hand to her side again, and then asked, "What are you doing here, Alex? Don't we have enough already in the afternoon? Look, if you want to insult me, that's ok; I really don't care, but Alex, stay away from my baby, or you know me. I am still the same Ashly who can kick anyone's ass without thinking twice, so tell me clearly what the hell you want." The question stumped Alex for a minute. What was he doing there, at his ex-mate's house?

He didn't remember getting there, and he definitely didn't remember deciding to come. He had candy, though. And Ashly was always skipping meals. It made Alex's inner alpha anxious, and then he wanted to take care of his mate. Except Ashly wasn't his mate. Ashly hated him. Ashly felt betrayed when Alex didn't come back to her when he said he would. Ashly had found someone else and ---- had a child with them. "I'm sorry," Alex said, choking on it. His chest was tight , and his eyes were burning .

His mouth tasted like salt. "I accuse you this afternoon; I am sorry I talk and think badly about you, even though I know you. I am sorry, Ashly. 1 messed up our relationship . Will you forgive me, Ashly? Can we at least be friends ?" "What the hell happened, Alex? Even after many years, I still didn't get my answer: Why did you leave me? Why did your brother call me and tell me to stay away from you? I still want my answer , Alex.

I still want to know why you left me." Ashly had crouched down in front of him. Her eyebrows were doing that thing where they somehow arched and furrowed at the same time. She didn't smell like anything. Alex's breath hitched in his chest. The sob tore at his throat on its way out. "I'm sorry, I don't havea choice. I don't want to hurt you," he said again. Ashly sighed heavily. "Really, what happened ? Why didn't you come back?

And you don't want to hurt me; are you kidding me, Alex?" If Alex could answer those questions, he could, but he can't, at least not now. So he shook his head. Lips pulling back, Ashly bared her teeth with a snarl." Why are you doing this?" she growled. Her face was very, very close. Alex wanted to touch it, so he did- his fingertips brushing the crest of Ashly's cheekbone ---- and then sliding into her soft hair.

Ashly tensed, and then all the tension melted from her at once, and she leaned her cheek into the curve of Alex's palm. "T love you," Alex said. Ashly swore colorfully and in several different languages. She finished by muttering, "Idiot," against Alex's thumb. Alex would really like a kiss from his mate, but he was also content with this -with being allowed to touch Ashly, with being near her, with getting to look at his beloved's face.

Suddenly, Ashly was standing and pulling away from Alex, which was absolutely unacceptable . He started to whine in protest, but then Ashly got his hands underneath Alex's arms and levered him to standing as well, so that was fine. "Tf you scare my kid or throw up in my house, I'm tossing you out on your ass. Got it?" Ashly said, with a growl that was only half bite. Alex hummed in acknowledgement and stumbled over the ten steps to the front door. Ashly had to help him with his shoes.

Together, they got Alex to the daybed in the living room, where Ashly unceremoniously dumped him and declared, "I'll get you water and a blanket. Don't go wandering." She left. Alex felt bereft with her gone, but he couldn't