Main Flame 190_Alpha's Remorse After Her Death

Julian’s POV

 Seeing Roman again made my blood boil, but finally Rafael’s words from this morning had be abundantly clear.

 Running into them was no coincidence, despite the way Roman was smiling at Amber and telling her,” Rafael invited me to visit his pack as a show ofradery between our two packs. I had no idea you’d be

 here.”

 Everything about that screamed that it was a lie, especially as Rafael had already made that earlier threat against me. He’d been nning on bringing Roman in, just to try to get him between Amber and <ol><li>me. </li></ol>

 I watched Amber closely, seeing if she would fall for the lie. She seemed as ufortable as I felt.

 “It’s been a while,” she said to him.

 “Yes,” he replied. “It has been. A while, I mean. But it’s good to see you.”

 “Yeah,” Amber replied. “It’s nice to see you too.”

 Roman smiled, but it was a bit awkward. “You mean it?” he seemed like he genuinely couldn’t tell.

 “I mean…” Amber hesitated, stumbling with her words now that he had called her out. Clearly, she hadn’t been expecting that. “Yes?” She sounded as unsure as he did.

 Gods, even watching this interaction was painful.

 “We were in the middle of dinner,” I said, gesturing to the table. Yes, the food hadn’te yet, but that was all the more reason for this twosome to disappear.

 “You don’t mind if Roman and I join you, do you?” Rafael asked. His grin was sharp. He knew exactly what he was doing, or at least he thought he did. I wasn’t sure he fully understood all the history that stood between Roman and Amber however, or he might not be so eager to invite the man to be his new brother–inw.

 I certainly wasn’t about to give up the position anytime soon, not to anyone, least of all Roman.

 “I…” Amber started, but then looked at me. There was something pleading in her eyes, like she was giving me a secret message. Help me.

 “I think this booth is really only for two people,” I said.

 “Then we’ll grab a couple of chairs,” Rafael said.

 “I really don’t think that’s necessary,” Amber said.

 +15 BONUS 

 “It will be good to catch up,” Roman said. His awkward smile gained some warmth then. Just looking at 

 him, he seemed to genuinely care about Amber, which made me deeply ufortable. “How is Alice 

 doing?” 

 Amber, too, seemed to soften at the question. “She’s doing well.” 

 “I bet she misses me,” Roman said.

 That soured Alice’s mood. I remembered a cool night in the parking lot where Alice ran to me, crying

 because she did not want her mom and Roman to be together.

 Knowing Alice as I did, I doubted that position of hers had changed much since theirst meeting.

 “I…” Amber looked around, deer–in–the–headlights like, before finally putting her napkin on the table and

 saying, “I’m sorry. I’m just not feeling very hungry anymore.”

 “We just ordered,” I said.

 “I’m sorry,” she said again.

 “I’ll have them make it to go,” I said at once and moved out of the booth as she did. I gave her the keys so she could escape to the car while I spotted the waitress near the hostess station.

 “If Julian wishes to stay, I could drive you home, Amber,” Roman said. “Then we’d have some chances to

 talk.” 

 Again, Amber’s pleading look came back to me.

 “That won’t be necessary,” I said. “I’m more than happy to escort Amber back to the hotel we are both staying in. Together,” I added thatst word for a bit of punch, which, with the way Roman winced,

 seemed to have met its intended mark.

 Amber gave me an annoyed sort of look, but it quickly dissolved into one of gratitude.

 “Gentleman, if you will excuse us,” I said to Rafael and Roman and then ushered Amber toward the front of the restaurant. As she went outside, I went to the desk to see how far along our meals were and to 

 settle the bill.

17kNovel

Main Flame 190