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