The Alpha King's Fated Mate
's
soft leather of the booth pressing into her back. Across from her, Colton Hayes leaned against the table with a casual confidence only he could pull off. His dark hair wa
e hung on his every
her tongue. She forced a smile at the appropriate moments, nodding along, but
er in crime. The man she'd somehow
ht her
t way that made her stomach flip. "You're loo
hing. I was just... zoning out.
d, revealing perfect white te
e gave a half-hearte
d. "You work too hard. Remind me again why you
t, Hayes," she shot back, g
a pretended not to notice the curious glances aimed at her. Colton had that effect on peop
the table, the way his arm rested across the back of her chair-were enough to send her heart racing. She knew better than to let herself feel thi
heart hadn't g
from alcohol, but from the weight of everything unsaid. Colton offered to wa
ng her heated cheeks. Colton's hands were shoved into
he said finally, breaking t
"Yeah. Just tir
path. His hazel eyes searched hers, and for a moment, sh
," he sai
ed. "What are yo
Mia. I know you
l him the truth, to spill everything she'd been holding back. But then what? He'd r
She forced a smile a
follow i
p walking. She couldn't. Not if she wanted to keep
on's
lying
r car. He leaned against a lamppost, hands shoved deep in his pockets, his chest tight
between two friends who had been through their fair share of relationship disasters. And for the most part, it worke
ately, things had felt... different. Mia had been pulling away, her usual fire d
it... Hell, he
eath. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. He couldn't afford to get
was impossib
he woman he slept with when they both needed an es
nd started the engine. He couldn't shake the image of h
his penthouse, Colton
let Mia shut him
's
o the couch. Andy, her orange tabby, jumped into her lap, purring softly. She ran
like
e concern in his voice, the intensity in his eyes-it was too much. She
coffee table, pulling
ou left in
ounding. She could ignore him, pretend she was a
I was
came almost
n: "L
gged at her lips
you didn't bel
you're avoiding me, an
m everything-that she'd fallen for him, that she couldn't keep pretending this
ut the safest respon
voiding you. Go
her eyes drifting shut. Sleep didn't come easily, but wh