Chapter 25

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288 Vouchers Chapter 25: Ayla ‘What?” I replied. “Nothing is going on.”

‘Are you sure about that?” Emma asked, taking a sip of emonade. “Alpha has been spending an awful lot of time here. Plus, he has you staying here. He’s hired a home nurse. He’s covered your medical bills.”

‘He did what?”

“You didn’t know he covered the hospital bills?”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “No, I did not. He really didn’t have to do any of those things.”

“Well, he has,” Emma confirmed. “Don’t get me wrong, Alpha is great, and he would do anything to take care of any pack member. But you being an outsider and a rogue ―

– it’s a little unprecedented.”

no offense “Yeah, I thought that too,” I said, picking up my glass. “But it turns out my father saved his life when he was a kid. I had a picture of him in my car, and Kingston found it. So, I guess he just feels obligated to help.”

“Wow, isn’t that some twist of fate, huh?” Emma commented.

“Yeah, I guess so. Plus, it was kind of his fault I crashed, so there’s probably a little bit of guilt there, too,” I added.

“Well, there should be,” Emma said with a smile. “I’m glad he was there to help. And I’m glad he convinced you to stay. You‘ ve already become my favorite patient. And not just because 1/5 you’re my easiest by far.”

We both laughed.

“So, do you have any ideas what you will do once you’re mobile again?”

“I’m not sure,” I said, taking a drink. “I’ve thought about enrolling in a university. I didn’t get a chance to go to college after I graduated, which kind of sucked because I got a couple scholarships offered.”

“That’s awesome,” Emma exclaimed. “Why didn’t you take them?”

“That’s a long story. In the end, it just wasn’t in the cards for me at the time,” I said.

“Well, then you should definitely go for it now.”

“Yeah, it’s still on the list. I was also thinking about starting my own publishing company. I know the industry well and have some good contacts,” I threw out there. “But these are all just ideas. I’ll need to take care of the whole rogue situation before any of that can be addressed.”

“Alpha has offered to bring you into the pack, hasn’t he?” Emma asked.

“Yeah, but he wants to make a thing of it. Do the whole ceremony thing and all that.”

“You don’t sound too enthusiastic about it.”

“No, it’s fine and kind of sweet,” I rushed. “I just think it’s a bit much, I guess. It’s just not something I’m used to.”

2/5 O “Then tell Alpha that,” Emma suggested. “If he wants you to do something you’re uncomfortable with, he should know. He‘ Il respect it.”

“You’re probably right,” I said with a smile.

“And you’re sure there’s nothing more going on with him?” Emma asked intently.

I rolled my eyes. “No, nothing else is going on.”

“Yet...” Emma gave me a wink, making us both laugh again.

I guess I could see why Emma thought something was going on between me and Kingston. But I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. I was still bound to someone. Whether I could or even wanted to be with him didn’t really matter. It was hard to picture myself having feelings for anyone else while the bond was still in place. And that wouldn’t be fair to Kingston if he thought something more was happening.

Not that I didn’t like him.

I did. I liked him a lot. He was kind and thoughtful. We had great conversations. He made me laugh. He was very attractive. If we were in any other circumstance, I could easily see myself falling for him. But knowing my luck, Kingston. probably wasn’t even interested in me that way.

Or wouldn’t be... even if I could have feelings for him.

Could I have feelings for him?

“You’re blushing,” Emma commented. “What were you thinking about?”

“Nothing,” I said, feeling my cheeks get hotter.

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r Chapter 25. Ayla 288 (Vouchers “Mhmm,” Emma hummed. “So, what do you two have planned tonight?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Kingston wanted me to think of something for us to do together, but I have no idea what we can do sitting around here.”

–

“We just met, and I like you – plus you’re my patient – so I’m going to pretend you didn’t just walk into that one,” Emma said through giggles. “But since it seems taking advantage of our gorgeous Alpha isn’t on your radar, what about a game night?”

I thought about it for a moment. “What kind of game night?”

“Anything you want. You could do board games, card games, trivia games,” Emma listed. “Oh, or a murder mystery game.

They’ve got some really fun ones for adults these days. That sounds like something that could be right up your alley, being a writer and all.”

“I’m not a mystery writer, Emma,” I clarified.

“No, but you know how to tell a good story, and that’s really the key to those things.”

“Yeah, that does actually sound like fun,” I said.

“Good,” Emma said with a huge smile. “I’ll message Alpha to pick up a game and something nice for dinner on his way back. It’ll be the perfect first date.”

“Date?” I exclaimed. “No, no, we’re just hanging out since I’m stuck here until I’m healed enough. I don’t even think Kingston thinks of me like that. Besides, he knows I... He knows recent events mean that I’m not exactly available.”

4/5 III O 5/5 Chapter 25: Ayla 288 Vouchers “Girl, you’re adorable,” Emma said sweetly. “He absolutely thinks of you like that. He may be taking it slow because of whatever you’ve been through, but he’s definitely into you.”

Okay, what was I going to do with that information?

The ache from the bond was still just as present as before, so it wasn’t like I could just forget about it. Well, except when I was with Kingston. Although, that effect seemed to only occur when he touched me.

Maybe he had that effect because I liked him? Or because he liked me? Or both?

I didn’t know, but maybe it meant something.

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