Page 66 of My Grumpy Alpha

“About your feelings.”

I jerk back, ten licorice pieces in my hand.

“You’re different.”

"I’m the best.”

“Because I need it.”

He pauses briefly, then shrugs.

“You are different though, aren’t you, Eli?”

He knows.

Holy shit, he knows.

His eyes flash blue.

Thank God.

I take more licorice.

He laughs.

“Have a good night, and take care of Ava, she’s special.”

I stop midstep and look over my shoulder.

“How do you know her?”

He shrugs.

“I know a lot, see you next week, better hurry, it’s another full moon.” He looks at my old therapist with a sad, pathetic look on his face.

“Makes some people crazy, am I right?”

“So crazy!” She agrees.

I bolt with five pieces of licorice in my mouth and barely make it to my apartment in time to toss the rest on the counter and pretend to look unoccupied, grab a book, hold it upside down twice before figuring out that I just kept turning it, only to have the lock sound.

I'm calm. I’m serene. I'm not angry.

But the minute I smell him on her, I lose my shit, throw the book against the wall and stalk toward her.

“Did he touch you? Tell me now! Did he fucking touch you?”

She stumbles back, her eyes clear.

“Once, my hand, when I spilled my beer, and—“

I kiss her.

I can’t help myself.

The moon is there, but quite honestly, the pain is bearable.

It’s switched to something else.