Chapter 187 My Girlfriend

Alpha Killian’s hand slid around Eira’s waist and pulled her firmly against his side. His silver-gray eyes locked on Alpha Sebastian, cold and openly challenging.

"Eira’s my girlfriend now."

The words hit the room like a gunshot.

The Carter siblings stared at him.Since when?

Barry nearly choked. He had stood at Alpha Killian’s side for years, and the Alpha had never breathed a word about Eira. But the announcement was classic Alpha Killian. He never told people what he planned to do. He simply informed them after it was done and expected everyone else to catch up.

Barry took the news in stride.

Alpha Sebastian looked like he had been hit.

His face darkened. Red flashed across his eyes as his wolf slammed against his control.

"That’s not possible." His voice came out raw. "You can’t be with her."

He stared at Eira as if she were the only person in the room who could undo Alpha Killian’s claim.

How could she be Alpha Killian’s mate? How could she sit there and let another Alpha touch her?

Eira barely seemed to hear him.

Her gaze had dropped to Alpha Killian’s arm around her waist. He had held her like this once before, at Sterling Estates. Now he was doing it again in front of everyone.

His body heat seeped through her coat. His hand rested over her waist, warm and steady, as if he had every right to keep her exactly where she was.

His fingers tapped lightly against her side.

Eira looked up.

Alpha Killian glanced toward Alpha Sebastian, then back at her.

[Eyes forward, sweetheart. He’s falling apart, and you’re staring at me.]

Eira had a rare talent for pushing a wolf to the edge without raising her voice or lifting a finger.

Alpha Sebastian watched the exchange, his breathing turning rougher by the second.

His eyes pleaded with her.

Tell him this isn’t real.

Eira gave him a small, calm nod.

"Yeah. That’s right."

For now, at least, their twenty-four-hour girlfriend story was still holding together.

Something inside Alpha Sebastian split.

His hands curled into fists. His nails dug into his palms, but he barely felt it. His wolf wanted out. It wanted Alpha Killian’s throat, consequences be damned.

If the room had been empty, Alpha Sebastian would have attacked him.

Instead, he stood there and watched Alpha Killian keep Eira tucked against his side as if she belonged there.

Eira did not spare Alpha Sebastian’s pain a second glance.

"If you came here hoping I could help with Dr. Shaw’s patent, you might as well save yourself the trouble and leave," she said. "He already licensed it to another company. The deal is done."

The news hit the room like a wrecking ball.

Finn’s eyes widened."Dr. Shaw already signed it away?"

Alpha Sebastian’s jealousy twisted into panic.

He had thought he still had room to negotiate. He had thought he could fix the deal, win back Eira, and keep Hale Pack from falling further behind.

Now the Carter siblings had heard everything.

Alpha Carter would know within the hour.

His chance to move Hale Pack up the Council rankings had gone up in smoke.

Fine.

Let the deal go.

Let the Council hear about it.

Right now, he cared about only one thing."Eira, about the dissolution..."

"You want to argue over whether it’s legal?" she cut in.

Her voice remained calm. Not angry. Not hurt. Not even bitter.

That calm hurt more than shouting ever could.

"Ask your parents," she continued. "Your father has your Mate Bond Dissolution Certificate."

Alpha Killian’s arm tightened around her waist.

It was a small movement, but Alpha Sebastian saw it.

A warning.

A claim.

Eira was not standing alone anymore, and Alpha Killian wanted everyone in the room to understand that.

Alpha Killian gave Barry a brief glance.

Barry stepped forward with a polite smile that held no warmth.

"Alpha Sebastian, you’re not welcome here. You can walk out on your own, or I can have two of my people walk you out. You’ve already made enough of a scene. Don’t make this worse for yourself."

Alpha Sebastian looked past Barry to Eira.

She did not look back.

Her attention stayed on the hand at her waist, on the Alpha standing between her and the man who had once called himself her mate.

That final rejection broke whatever restraint Alpha Sebastian had left.

His eyes burned red.

"You’re really choosing him?" he asked.

Eira finally looked at him."This was never about choosing between you and him. I chose myself."

Alpha Sebastian went still.

Alpha Killian’s mouth curved faintly, but there was no humor in his eyes."You heard her."

The words were soft.

The threat beneath them was not.

Alpha Sebastian gave Eira one last desperate look, searching for even a trace of the woman who had once waited for him, cooked for him, and defended him.

He found nothing.

He turned and walked out.

The Carter siblings followed, both of them too stunned to care about lunch anymore.

A moment later, Barry’s phone buzzed. The grocery delivery had arrived.

He returned with a paper bag filled with hot sauce and crushed red pepper flakes.

"Got the stuff you wanted, Alpha." Barry lifted the bag. "You still eating?"

Eira looked at the hot sauce and laughed softly."Absolutely."

"Good." Alpha Killian’s mouth curved.

His hand stayed at her waist as he guided her back to the table.