Page 19 of Examining the Bond

“Are you going to ask me for a favor?” Her voice turns skeptical. “Because you don’t have to take me to dinner to?—”

“No, no favors,” I cut her off. “I just need to get out of the house, that's all.”

There's a beat of silence before she replies, “Sure. I’ll see you there.”

CHAPTER NINE

SKYLAR

Ritual is smack dab in the middle of downtown Boston, tucked between an old theater and a corporate building. The exterior is plain and unassuming, just a brick wall with a small sign above the door, and it hardly conveys how stunning the place really is. Modern furniture, contemporary chandeliers, marble floors, and the underlit bar make it look like some high-end eatery in California, not a hole-in-the-wall in Massachusetts.

It’s always been—and probably will always be—my favorite place to grab a steak and a glass of wine.

Lana beats me there and waves me over as soon as I step through the door.

A few curious glances slide my way as I cross the restaurant, but they look away right after. Enough alphas frequent Ritual that my presence is hardly enough to bat an eye at, which I like.I normally get a few strange looks for being a female alpha when I’m out, so it’s nice to blend in for a change.

“Show up when you can,” Lana jests as she stands to hug me, a wide grin plastered on her face. The top of her black messy bun almost reaches my chin. “It’s not like I have plans after this or anything.”

“There was traffic, my bad.” I take a seat across from her at the little table and reach for the menu out of habit, even though I always order the same thing. “Besides, you didn’t have to come.”

“You know I’m kidding,” she says, rolling her eyes. “We’re overdue for dinner anyway.”

I watch her adjust her hot pink glasses, which match her floral dress perfectly, as she looks over her menu. Her makeup is done, but I can still see the bags under her eyes. She looks exhausted, probably working herself to death since her business exploded online.

Maybe she needed a night out as much as I did.

A male waiter in all black glides over to take our drink order. He’s a tall, gangly beta with short hair and a polite smile. “May I take your drink order?”

“I’ll have a gin and coke,” Lana pipes, and I fight the urge to laugh. She’s not much of a drinker, but that’s been her go-to since the day she turned twenty-one.

“And for you, madam?” His tone shifts as he looks at me, sounding a little more professional. I don’t miss the way he straightens a little taller, and I fight the tinge of annoyance itching at me.

Sometimes, I envy the fact that Lana is a beta. She isn’t constantly reminded how unusual she is at every turn and doesn’t have to deal with the awkward special treatment I get when people realize I’m a female alpha.

I force a smile. “A glass of Harlan Estate Cabernet.”

With a nod, he turns and heads off to another table.

“You look good,” Lana says, snapping me out of my thoughts. “But that shirt’s getting a little tight, don’t you think?”

I follow her line of sight to my torso, where the fabric of my blue shirt is clinging to my frame, accentuating my muscles. I guess I have made some gains since she last saw me. Plus, I’d been in a sweater that time, not a tight ass button-up.

“Nah, I think it fits better now.”

“You’re such a brat.” She purses her lips.

I choke on a laugh. Being called a brat by anyone else wouldn’t fly. In fact, the words probably wouldn’t even make it out of their mouth before I inserted my fist. But I can’t expect much else from Lana; she’ll never see me as anything but her annoying little sister, which I’m kind of happy about.

At least she won’t be a fake, shady bitch like most people just because of my designation.

Our drinks arrive and we order our food, my stomach already rumbling. I listen to Lana go on about her difficult clients from the day. Her one hour appointment took three because they wouldn’t listen to instructions and kept bickering about positions.

“You need an assistant to keep people in line,” I suggest. “What about that guy you were dating? Leo? Theo?”

She groans and massages her temple. “We broke up a few weeks ago. I couldn’t deal with his whining anymore.”

“Damn.” I swirl my wine around the stemless glass before taking a sip. “Sorry to hear that.”