ALPHA BIKER WHO CLAIMED HIS BROTHER'S MATE

31

MAYA

I reached into my purse, and my fingers shook as I grabbed my phone. The screen was flashing with Jalen’s name. The vibration caused my heart to skip a beat; I had been harassed so much by him in the past twenty-four hours.

"He’s calling again," I whispered, dread thick in my tone.

Delinda leaned against the wall, her eyes tracking the movement of my hand. "Pick it up, and do not sound weak or anything. That is what he would want," she said in an unbothered tone.

I glanced nervously at the clerk, who was hovering a few feet away with a pair of gloves. "She’s right there, Delinda. I can't exactly talk about... this... in front of her. Jalen is their Alpha, and she could rat us out."

Delinda rolled her eyes and let out a yawn. She flicked her wrist toward the woman, and I saw a faint ripple in the air, like heat rising off a summer road. The clerk’s eyes glowed for a split second before she turned toward a rack of veils, moving with jerky motions.

"She can’t hear a thing," Delinda said, crossing her arms. "Pick it up, Maya. Let the bastard speak so I know what strategy to use on him. Put it on speaker."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and swiped the screen. I didn't say a word; I just held the phone to my ear and waited.

"I knew you’d cave, my sweet Maya." Jalen’s voice came through, dripping with a sickening level of triumph. "You were always predictable. You’ll forever be my slut, no matter whose name you try to take. Do yourself a favor and stop leading Rafe on; the poor boy is going to get hurt when he realizes he’s marrying my leftovers. One that still wants me—and people say men are not the prize."

My jaw tightened so hard it ached. I wanted to scream, to tell him he was a pathetic excuse for a man, but I remained silent.

"Come prepared, Maya," he continued, his tone dropping. "It’s going to be a f*****g marathon. Literally.” He gave a humiliating laugh. “I’m going to f**k you so hard you won't be able to move for the next two days. And don't worry, I’ll be there at the wedding to witness the mess I made with my d**k. Rafe was kind enough to send me an invite. Apparently, the big day is in two days. I can't wait to see the look on his face while he walks down the altar, thinking his precious bride has reserved herself since he met her. I promise not to f**k and tell. It would be our little secret.”

The line went dead before I could speak.

My face went hot, a deep, burning red that felt like it was blistering my skin. Tears of pure, unadulterated rage stung my eyes. I felt small. I felt used.

"He... he’s coming to the wedding. I thought Rafe just wanted him to know about it and how grand it was," I choked out, my voice cracking. "Delinda, I can't do this. I can't stand here and look at these dresses after what he just said... Rafe will... I can’t betray him.” My words were barely coherent.

Delinda was in front of me in a flash. She didn't look at me pitifully this time.

“You have a lot of learning to do, girl. You are soft on the inside, but deep here—” she poked my chest. “—the balls are there. Do not let these wishy-washy men push you around. Even Rafe!” She gritted her teeth, and I nodded, taking a deep breath.

Then she patted my cheek. "Now, do you want me to numb it?" she asked, her voice surprisingly gentle. "I can pull his words out of your head. I can make you forget for an hour or two and let you enjoy this shopping spree before we go and get his ass. Do you want that?"

"Yes," I sobbed, closing my eyes. "Please."

She pressed her palm firmly against my forehead. “We still need to talk about the beast inside you, Maya,” she murmured, her eyes searching mine with an intensity that made me shiver. “That hunger you're hiding? That’s for another day. Right now, let’s just give you some peace.”

I felt a sudden, violent pull at the center of my mind. It was like a vacuum was sucking out the poison Jalen had just poured into my ears. The heat in my face faded. The tightness in my chest uncoiled. The memory of his voice became distant, and it didn't hurt anymore.

I blinked, taking a deep breath. The store looked brighter. The lilies smelled sweeter. Everything was just perfect.

"Better?" Delinda asked, winking at me.

"Much better," I said as a strange calm washed over me.

"Good. Now," she turned toward the clerk and snapped her fingers, breaking the silence spell. "Bring out that V.I.P. lace. My girl needs to look like a goddess for my best friend.”

The clerk scurried toward the back as if her life depended on it, while Delinda made herself right at home. She ordered a bottle of champagne and two wine glasses for us. Within minutes, the clerk served the expensive bottle.

"If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right," Delinda declared, popping the cork with a flick of her thumb. The foam hissed over the rim, and she poured me a glass before taking a long swig straight from the bottle.

For the next hour, the world outside simply didn't exist. The spell Delinda had placed on me was like a warm blanket over my soul. I tried on gown after gown—from dresses that felt as light as a feather to voluminous ball gowns with layers of tulle—and finally, the handmade lace gown. It was breathtaking, hugging every curve and trailing behind me.

Delinda didn't just sit back and watch. She tried on some dresses like she said she would, posing in the mirrors and laughing until her face was flushed.

"Look at me, Maya! I’d make a terrifying bride," she joked, leaning against a mannequin. She whipped out her phone and started snapping pictures of us. There were pictures of me in the lace, her in the satin dress, and both of us holding champagne glasses. "Sending these to Rafe now. I’m telling him I’d make a much better bride in my imagination than whatever poor soul actually tries to marry me one day."

We were mid-laugh, practically collapsing onto the plush couch in the center of the suite. I was sprawled out, the heavy lace of the gown fanning out around me. We had finished the bottle, and the bubbles were dancing in my head, making everything feel light and hilarious.

The clerk, who had been hovering nervously around us, finally cleared her throat. The glazed look in her eyes had been replaced by an anxious one. "Um, excuse me," she stammered, looking at the empty bottle and the way we were draped over their expensive furniture. "Are... are you going to pay for those? Which dress did you choose? We have a schedule and other appointments..."

The sound of her voice was like a needle popping a balloon. It was annoying and it made my blood simmer.

"Delinda," I giggled, looking at the witch, "please shut her up. She’s ruining the vibe."

Delinda didn't even sit up. She just lazily swiped her hand through the air toward the woman. Instantly, the clerk lost the ability to speak. The woman’s eyes went wide, her hands flying to her mouth as she tried to scream, but only a muffled sound came out.

"Much better," I sighed, leaning my head back. "Now, where were we? I think I like the lace one, but maybe with a—"

Suddenly, the air in my lungs felt cold. The warm, fuzzy blanket in my mind was ripped away with a violent jerk. The spell evaporated. The memory of Jalen’s voice slammed back into my consciousness with the force of a tidal wave.

My heart began to race, the champagne suddenly turning sour in my stomach. I looked down at my watch and gasped, the blood draining from my face.

"Delinda!" I scrambled to my feet, nearly tripping over the heavy train of the lace dress. "Delinda, look! It’s almost two! The spell... it’s gone. I remember everything."