Page 9 of The Alpha’s Chosen Mate

He wiggles the cup a little. “White chocolate with a little vanilla and a hint of cinnamon.”

I reach for it, but I’m distracted by the time on the clock hanging behind the counter of the coffee shop.

“Oh no.” I jump from my chair. “I have to go. The vans from the pack will be at the school in ten minutes, and if I’m not there—”

“I can give you a ride to your pack,” Harrison offers.

“No. Thank you, but no.” I grab my backpack and head to the door. “It was wonderful to see you again, Harrison.”

I barely make it three steps before everything in my backpack tumbles to the floor. Everything, including the envelope of money I have hidden in there.

My heart races. For a moment, I’m frozen in place with fear. If anyone from my pack is here, if anyone sees it…

“Let me help.” Harrison drops to the floor as quickly as my books.

I launch into action. I can’t let him find that money either. What if he thinks I stole it?

He stacks the books and journals and papers near him, and I do the same, scooting closer to where that envelope is. We both reach for it at the same time, but he grabs it first. A gaping pit forms in my stomach as he recognizes the green bills inside, exposed by the now-bent flap. He tests the weight and density of the envelope, and his brow arches in a silent question when he realizes there’s a large sum of money held within.

I snatch it from him and shove it in my backpack with everything else, avoiding his eyes. He edges closer to me, and I hold the bag open so he can place the stack he created inside.

“I won’t tell anyone.” He fiddles with my temperamental zipper, coaxing it into finally closing correctly. “But you shouldn’t be carrying that much money around in a backpack with a broken zipper.”

I nod, not trusting myself to say anything. I know my backpack is not the best place to keep my money, but it’s the only way I can guarantee it won’t be found in my room while I’m at school. This way, at least, I always know where it is.

“What are you saving it for?” He keeps his voice low and leans in closer, so our conversation stays private.

“To buy a car when I turn eighteen.” The lie leaves me too easily. Too quickly. My voice is too high-pitched for it to be believable.

The severe straight line of his lips tells me he doesn’t buy it. “How much do you have?”

“Not enough.”

Not enough to run. Not enough to hide myself, to create a new identity and disappear completely.

“When is your birthday?”

“December twenty-seventh.”

“How do you earn the money?”

“I save a portion of my pack allowance every month.”

He somehow knows that’s not the entire truth. “And?”

My volume drops even lower with my shame. “Our warriors don’t like to do certain chores. Some will pay omegas to—”

A barely restrained growl from Harrison knocks me back on my heels. I clutch my backpack to my chest like a shield, unsure what specifically I said that angered him so much.

“Don’t do that anymore. Okay?” He keeps eye contact with me until I nod, then he stands. “Brad,” he barks. “You need a tutor for math, right?”

“Yeah, but Stephanie already said she’d—”

“Emily’s going to tutor you too.”

“I don’t know if I need—” Brad’s eyes go hazy. He frowns, then sighs. “Fine. Emily can tutor me too.”

I jump to my feet. “You don’t even know me. What if I’m terrible at math?”

“Em.”

There’s that nickname again. The one that warms me from the inside out. The one that softens me and has me questioning my view of the world.

Harrison shakes his head and rubs his temples. “Just take the job. Let us help you.”

He knows. Somehow, he knows that the money is my escape fund. And instead of threatening me or exposing my planned rebellion to my alpha, he’s offering to help me save. To help me escape.

Maybe there are some decent alphas in our world. Or at least one decent alpha.