Page 53 of My Grumpy Alpha

Suddenly, out of her stupor, Ava shoves me away, her chest heaving, and bolts from the elevator right into his waiting arms. I’m clueless about how to proceed. All I know is they walk off hand in hand.

She looks back at me once, twice, as if confused, then down the hall. I stay in the elevator.

And then I take the stairs.

All I can think is, I’m going down.

Going down and I have no idea how to go back up. I want her. I can’t have her. She hates me, but she’s drawn to me, and now the person I hate most in the world is touching her.

Touching mine.

When I get outside, it’s pitch black except for the moon.

The full moon looms high in the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the city, maybe Fate has a cruel twist in store for me, for her, for Xavier. I stare up at the moon, the stars, and wonder what my fate would have been had I stayed with the pack, had I known my actual origin, had I known the answers to all the questions even my adoptive parents can’t answer.

As I walk down the street toward the apartments, I sense it. I glance over at the local pizza place I like to frequent, Guidos, and I seethem, sitting outside, laughing.

But that’s not all I see.

I see, no, I feel—challenge. A different kind.

Not one with business, with trying to be the best or the richest, the most talked about—no, I feel a challenge over her.

I sniff the air.

It smells like her, but it smells like something else too.

My senses seem to get more acute as I spend time with her. A growl rumbles deep in my throat as my hackles rise. Her laughter making it even worse. He’s challenging me, and I won’t have it.

I won’t.

My heart slams against my chest as my nose fills with their scent. He wants her too.

Oh God. Xavier wants to claim her.

Xavier’s…not human.

As if reading my thoughts, he looks over and flips me off.

And all I can think is—it’s on.

Chapter 20

My Pimp

AVA

I sense him still, which is weird. I’m watching Xavier's lips move and while he smells good, is good looking, and was nice enough to help the rescue that was the elevator, something feels…off.

I nod my head as he smiles at me with that big commanding smile, offering me another slice of pizza.

“Here you go.” He puts it on my plate. I stare down at it and all I can think is, I don’t even like pepperoni, but I’ve been starving for so long that I eat it anyway because who knows when I’m getting my next meal and quite honestly, Eli could choose to fire me anytime.

Speaking of which.

I drop my napkin and look around. I smell him everywhere.

“Xavier, can I ask you a question?”