Hate Mates (The Alpha Shifter)

Chapter Nine

Marcel and the pack agreed to their compromise, but if at any point the pack felt they were lying, or living falsely, the cuffs would return. Alexa wasn’t quite sure what they meant by living falsely because she wasn’t lying when it came to Landon.

She intended to make it work.

At first, when she had suggested they try to get the cuffs removed by showing they were working together to be a couple, that was true. Now, it wasn’t difficult to be around Landon.

They’d been back with the pack for a whole day.

Last night, they had shared a bed after returning from the town meeting. They’d enjoyed food at the diner and then climbed into their bed, which was a lot more welcoming than the cold forest floor. She couldn’t deny that.

Today had been diner duty. Landon had to follow her around, only this time, he didn’t stay cuffed to her side. They worked together to serve the town. There were few order complaints. She didn’t get a single complaint, but Landon was still learning. He was trying, and she found him so adorable. He didn’t break down and cry but apologized and fixed the problem.

She stood at the salt pots, filling them, when Landon came to her side. He put a hand on her waist and pressed a kiss to her neck. “Anything I can help you with?” he asked.

Alexa tightened the lid on the last jar and turned in his arms. “All done.” She dropped a kiss on his lips, and the diner faded.

“Well, Miss Coin, I think this is our very first successful day,” he said.

“Yeah, it has been a lot of fun.” She wanted to be alone with him, but she didn’t say that aloud. This morning, she had woken to his arms wrapped around her, only, they’d been late and his father had been banging on the door to let them know this wasn’t good.

It was the first time she had ever slept in. The first time she’d been late for work.

“I was thinking I’d cook for us tonight,” he said. “The kitchen is already fully stocked.”

They had to share a slice of bread on the way over and had only been able to stop for lunch.

She was starving. “I like that.”

“Good.” He dropped a kiss on her nose and stepped away.

Looking past his shoulder, Alexa was aware of the pack watching them. They were not even subtle about it. All eyes were on them, and she rolled hers, turning back to the jars of salt. She picked them up and placed them on each table.

Each time she approached a table, they all went silent, which told her without even trying they were all gossiping about her and Landon.

She understood the shock. They’d never gotten along. They had always found a reason to fight. Letting go of the hatred and anger was so easy. The truth was, she didn’t hate Landon, and she certainly wasn’t angry at him.

If she thought about it, she was more frustrated with her parents. Their constant bombardment for them to do the right thing, as if they didn’t have a choice.

It was crazy the time they had wasted.

By the end of the shift, Alexa was ready to be alone with Landon, to enjoy some food, and to just be near him for the rest of the night.

They walked out of the door. Landon grabbed her hand and they walked back to their place. Several pack members called out to them, and they held their hands up, waving back.

It felt good. It felt right.

Life felt … amazing.

“Do you think we should visit Cheryl?” Alexa asked.

Their parents hadn’t told them anything, but she still had amazing hearing and knew Cheryl was being kept safe in a secure room.

“I don’t know. Maybe you should,” Landon said. “I don’t want to cause her any kind of confusion.”

“I get it.” She rested her head against his shoulder.

When they arrived at their home, she closed the door. Landon had already made his way into the kitchen. She put her bag on the door, toed off her sneakers, and followed him into the kitchen.