Alpha Erased (Alpha Girl 9)

“You going to text her to come over?”

“No.” I closed my eyes. “I told her to text. I don’t want to seem too desperate.”

“But you are desperate. Just text her.”

“Merde!” Chris was driving me crazy.

“I’m going to put on music.”

Music. “Wait. I’ll take care of it.” I’d set-up the wireless speakers we’d gotten at the store last night. Music was something that had brought us together. The love we had for it was something that got us through all kinds of crazy, terrifying, dangerous situations. It was how we relaxed.

I synced my phone and hit play.

I just hoped that whatever the fey magic had done, it hadn’t rewired her love of music because I missed it. I hadn’t been able to listen to anything in forever because it just made me miss her more.

Music filtered through the speakers, and even though she was just across the hall, it was too far. I needed her back. Now.

Before I could think too much about it, I texted her.

I was desperate to see her again, and that was okay.

Food’s ready. I have a couple of friends here—Chris and Cosette. They’re really nice. Come hang. I walked to the dining room table, snapped a quick picture, and sent that, too.

And then I waited. Staring at my phone. The three dots kept coming and going with no text.

I should say something.

No. I should let her say something.

No. God. I’m Dastien Laurent. She’s my mate. I could fucking text her if I wanted to. You gotta help us eat all this. I’m giving you exactly three minutes and then I’m coming to get you. Timer starts now. I’m not letting you chicken out.

Maybe that was too forceful, but fuck it.

I set the timer because it’d been all of two seconds and it felt like ten minutes. I needed to actually know how long three minutes was.

The three dots appeared. Disappeared. And then finally a text.

Be right there.

I looked at Chris, who raised an eyebrow. I gave him a nod.

He grinned and rubbed his hands together. “We got this. She’ll be back to herself in—”

“Don’t jinx it,” I snapped at him before he could finish saying it.

Cosette snorted a laugh from her spot on the couch.

I pushed past Chris in the bedroom doorway and went to the couch. “What?”

r />

“Sounds like something Tessa would say.”

I felt my eyes burn with tears, but I didn’t care about seeming weak. Chris put his arm around my shoulders.

“I just really miss her. If something goes wrong—”

“It won’t.” Chris’s voice held not even a single ounce of doubt.