Chapter 178 One Day as His Girlfriend 1

Eira had barely sat down across from Lila when her phone buzzed.

It was Alpha Killian.

[Time to make good on that favor you owe me. Come somewhere with me tonight. I need your help with something.]

Lila glanced over her shoulder, groaned, and dropped her forehead onto the table.

"He always knows where I am. I swear."

"Do you know what this is about?" Eira asked.

"Vincent’s sister, Lainey, is coming to the estate tonight to see my mom. You remember that whole mess between her and my brother, right?" Lila frowned. "He wants to use you as a human shield. The nerve of him, hiding behind a woman."

A favor was a favor, though, and Alpha Killian had helped her out more than once.

Eira texted back.[Where are you? I’ll come to you.]

[Stay put. I’ll come get you.]

Half an hour later, he found her at a coffee shop downtown. His sister was sitting right beside her.

"You’re everywhere," he said bluntly.

Lila bit down on her straw. "You’re the one who keeps showing up."

Eira got straight to the point. "What do you need me to do tonight?"

Alpha Killian’s silver eyes settled on her.

"We’re going to the family estate. I need you to help me handle Lainey."

"As what?"

"My girlfriend."

Lila nearly choked on her straw.[Whoa. Since when did he grow a backbone?]

Eira studied his face, looking for some hidden motive, but she found nothing.

"How long?"

"Forever!" Lila blurted out. Then she covered her mouth. "Did I actually say that out loud?"

Alpha Killian shot her a look cold enough to frost the windows.

"One day," he told Eira.

"All right, Mr. Sterling."

"You’re still calling me ’Mr. Sterling’?"The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "Better get used to things being different now."

Lila’s eyes lit up.

"So she has to call you by your first name now. Or maybe ’babe.’ Or ’sweetheart.’"

Eira turned to her with a blank expression.

"Sweetheart, eat your food."

Lila wrapped both arms around Eira’s arm and rubbed her nose against Eira’s shoulder. Then she gave her brother a smug look.

Alpha Killian pinched the bridge of his nose. The air around him seemed to drop several degrees. Lila quickly sat up straight.

"Okay, okay. Eira, just try it. Killian is fine. He won’t bite. Probably."

"Lila." He did not even blink. "Have I ever laid a hand on you?"

"No, sir!"

Eira held back a laugh.

"I’ll use your name." She paused for a moment. "Killian."

She said it clearly and without rushing.

A low "Mm" rumbled in his chest.

When no one was looking, the corner of his mouth curved up.

He checked his watch. It was 5:12 p.m.

"Let’s go."

When Eira stood, his gaze fell on the pale line of her neck. Her scarf quickly covered it, and he looked away.

The estate stood deep inside Sterling territory. Beyond the outer gate, the night patrol moved along the borders, guarding them as tightly as the oldest Packs always had. Floodlights shone over the fences.

A security checkpoint stood at the entrance to the drive. The distant sounds of the Pack carried through the darkness.

The Sterlings had protected this land for generations. Nothing that did not belong there was allowed to cross the border.

By the time they turned onto the long driveway, night had fully fallen.

Eira’s phone buzzed again.

[Eira, were you the one who introduced me to Dr. Shaw? Could you help me with one more thing?]

She blocked the number before she finished reading the message.

"Sebastian again?" Lila asked, watching Eira’s thumb move across the screen.

"Mm-hmm."

"What does he want now? Is he still groveling, feeding you a bunch of lies, and begging you to come back while he plays house with Serena Winthrop?" Lila rolled her eyes. "You can see right through his little act."

"It’s about Dr. Shaw," Eira said. "He signed his patents over to another company, not Hale."

Lila’s face lit up. "Seriously? That’s the best news I’ve heard all week. We’re celebrating tonight. Eat whatever you want. Our chef is amazing."

Alpha Killian’s mouth twitched. "Sounds like a plan."

"Without Dr. Shaw’s patents, Sebastian has nothing valuable enough to keep Hale Group afloat. He’s done."

"What if he finds something else?" Lila asked.

"Keep dreaming."

"Not a chance. The universe isn’t about to let that man catch a break."

Alpha Killian turned to Eira and lowered his voice. "He’ll be even more desperate to find you now. Watch your back."

"Finn is already waiting for him to slip up," Alpha Killian continued. "One wrong move, and Alpha Carter hears about it. One serious mistake, and Finn takes his seat on the board."

Eira thought about Alpha Sebastian’s message and frowned. "Chasing me won’t help him. Dr. Shaw already signed the patents over to another company. Even if he hadn’t, I’d never go back and beg the old man for Sebastian."

Alpha Killian raised an eyebrow. A faint look of satisfaction crossed his face.

The car pulled to a stop. The driver opened the door, and Lila hopped out first.

"No rush," she called over her shoulder. "I’ll go give Mom and Dad a heads-up."

Alpha Killian offered Eira his arm.

She hesitated. Alpha Sebastian had never once done that in public. In that small but important way, Alpha Killian was the complete opposite of him.

When she still did not move, Alpha Killian raised an eyebrow.

"Well?"

Eira placed her hand on his forearm. Solid muscle, firm and steady beneath her palm.

"Let’s go, Killian."

He started toward the house, his long strides quickly leaving her behind.

"Eira. Do you know how to ask for what you need?"

The question caught her off guard. "Yes."

"Then ask me to slow down."

His voice was cold, but she did not feel threatened. He sounded like he was teaching her a lesson.

"Killian, slow down."

"Use your words. Always."

He shortened his stride at once and matched his pace to hers.