Chapter 6 A Choice Between Two Alphas

Irene's Point of View

“I’m going to talk to her first.”

Arnold's voice was calm but firm.

“You can talk to her another time.”

I froze.

I couldn't believe he was speaking to Eugene like that.

Eugene's expression darkened.

“Alpha Arnold,” he said coldly.

Then his eyes moved to me.

“What do you want with my mate?”

My heart sank.

Mate.

Even after everything, Eugene still called me that.

Arnold looked down at me.

“Your mate?”

His eyes dropped to the hand he was still holding.

I tried to pull away.

For some reason, I stopped myself.

Then Arnold looked back at Eugene.

“I thought your mate was the woman carrying your child.”

The words hit hard.

Eugene's jaw tightened.

“You don't have the right to say that.”

“Whether she's your mate or not, it's none of your business.”

His voice was sharp now.

“If I want to talk to her, I will.”

Arnold raised an eyebrow.

“Is that so?”

Then he let go of my hand and stepped back.

The choice was mine.

Eugene immediately looked at me.

“Irene, let's talk somewhere private.”

He smiled as if we were still the same couple we had been before he came home with Ruby.

I hated that part of me still noticed how handsome he looked.

But I wasn't going to make the same mistake twice.

“Come with me,” he said.

He stepped closer.

I stepped back.

“I don't want to talk to you.”

His smile disappeared.

“Irene.”

“Stay away from me.”

Shock crossed his face.

He clearly hadn't expected me to say it.

I didn't care.

For once, I wanted him to understand that I was allowed to say no.

Eugene stepped forward again.

Before he could reach me, I grabbed Arnold's hand.

“Let's go.”

Arnold looked down at my hand.

Then he looked at me.

For the first time, he seemed surprised.

“Didn't you say you wanted to talk to me?”

“I did.”

I tightened my grip.

“Just not here.”

A slow smile appeared on his face.

“Of course.”

He turned and started walking.

I followed.

Behind us, Eugene's voice rose.

“Where do you think you're going?”

He reached for my other hand.

Arnold moved faster.

He knocked Eugene's hand away.

“Is this how you treat people?” Arnold asked calmly. “You keep touching someone after she tells you to stop?”

Eugene's face hardened.

“I want to talk to my mate.”

“I don't want to talk to him,” I said.

I made sure Eugene heard every word.

He went still.

Then I pulled Arnold away.

We walked into the crowd.

I didn't look back.

Not until we were far enough away that I could no longer hear Eugene calling my name.

Only then did I release Arnold's hand.

“Thank you.”

I looked up at him.

“And I'm sorry for dragging you into that.”

Arnold didn't answer.

He was staring at me.

“Did I say something wrong?”

“I have no idea what you just said.”

I frowned.

“Then why are you staring at me?”

“Let's find somewhere quieter.”

Before I could answer, he took my hand again.

“Wait.”

He kept walking.

I tried to pull away.

He didn't even slow down.

“Where are we going?”

He led me away from the main street and into a quiet alley.

I stopped.

“Why did you bring me here?”

“We needed somewhere quiet.”

He turned to face me.

I crossed my arms.

“There is nothing for us to talk about.”

Arnold raised an eyebrow.

“That's not what you said earlier.”

I stared at him.

“You know I only said that because I wanted to get away from Eugene.”

“No.”

He shrugged.

“I don't.”

“I was using you as an excuse.”

“I understand.”

“You clearly don't.”

His mouth curved into a small smile.

“Then explain it to me.”

I narrowed my eyes.

There was something strange about him.

He looked relaxed, almost playful, but I couldn't forget who he was.

The Lycan Alpha.

The son of the man Eugene had killed during the war.

“What exactly do you want?” I asked.

Arnold's expression became serious.

“I’m Arnold.”

“I know.”

“The Alpha of the Lycan Pack.”

“I know that too.”

“Good.”

He looked at me for a moment.

“And you're Irene.”

“Yes.”

“I've heard about you.”

My stomach tightened.

“The rumors?”

He nodded.

I looked away.

I didn't want to hear them again.

“I don't care what people say about me.”

“Maybe you should.”

I frowned.

“Why?”

“Because tonight, everyone is watching you.”

I glanced toward the street.

He was right.

People had already been whispering about me and Eugene.

With Ruby's pregnancy now known, I didn't need another scandal.

“Then I'll go home.”

I turned to leave.

Arnold didn't let go of my hand.

“Wait.”

I looked back.

“What?”

His expression was unreadable.