Aidan frowned at him but didn’t avert his gaze.
“Isn’t it nice that you turned out so considerate?” Bradley said the last word with disdain.
“Were you able to connect with the pack?” I wanted to keep this as civil as possible.
“Women shouldn’t worry themselves with pack business.” Bradley’s eyes cut to me. “And frankly, it’s none of your business whether I did.”
Okay, he had at least come off somewhat cordial earlier.
“Wow, and I thought the men in my pack were bad back at home.” Beth stiffened, and her voice rose. “But apparently, more sexist men do exist in the world.”
“Obviously, your pack didn’t teach their women to keep their mouths shut unless spoken to,” Bradley growled and tugged on the sleeve of his shirt.
“What the hell is your problem?” Aidan crossed his arms and scowled. “You aren’t here to eat with us, so please enlighten us as to why we’re here.”
“Well, my meeting was very interesting.” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Not only is Emma your girl, but she’s your fated mate.”
“I already told you that.” Aidan’s voice took on a deep tone.
“Oh, I know.” His eyes narrowed. “But you actually met her six years ago and vanished from her life.”
“And your point?” Aidan whispered.
A warning coursed down my spine. How did he know all of that?
“At fourteen, you knew she was your fated mate.” He glared at his brother in a dare. “So why would you break contact with her?”
“Because I knew you and Dad would never agree to her joining our pack and would refuse to allow me to leave ours,” Aidan said slowly.
And he walked right into his brother’s trap.
“And you think that changes now?” Bradley grabbed his dark beer and took a long sip.
“Yeah, it does.” Aidan grew tense.
“Fuck it.” Beth grabbed a tortilla chip and dipped it into salsa. “I’m starving.”
Bradley pretended she wasn’t even there. “How so?”
“Because you sent me here, and I found her again.” His breathing increased, and his eyes glowed. “I can’t give her up a second time.”
“So, this is what’s become of us?” He set his glass back on the table and shook his head.
“You should be glad I found my fated.” Aidan’s eyes flicked to mine before focusing back on his brother.
I had no clue what he was trying to tell me, and Beth was focused on her chips, so she wouldn’t be any help.
“Under normal circumstances, I would be.” Bradley’s muddy-gold stare turned to me. “But I remember a question you asked me four years ago.”
Aidan became deathly quiet.
“Oh, that’s no fun.” Bradley lifted his drink and pointed it to me. “Emma, wouldn’t you like to know the question he asked?”
“It’s irrelevant,” Aidan growled.
“I wasn’t talking to you.” Bradley sneered at me. “Don’t you want to know?”
Beth stopped eating and leaned back in her seat. “Well, I’m assuming by her not responding that her answer is ‘no.’”
Bradley’s large hand slammed on the table, causing his drink to spill and chips to fall from the basket. “Someone ask me the damn question now.”
Just like the night before, the people seated near us turned to our table for a second.
The four of us remained quiet until they’d returned to their conversations. Someone would have to ask this before he showed his ass even more.
“Stop making a scene.” Aidan grabbed his brother’s arm and lowered his voice. “There are humans around.”
“No one is going to ask, so if you want to tell us something, you’ll have to come right out with it,” I said. This guy had to realize we weren’t going to play by his rules.
“It’ll be nice to put you in your place,” Bradley said, the threat clear. “I found him one night, coming back from the border when he was fourteen. I asked him where he’d been, and he said running and thinking.” Even though he was talking about his brother, he focused all his attention on me. “He asked me: What would I do if I found my fated mate but she was marked as the cursed one?”
Shit, he knew. There was no going back.
“I told him I would stay away until she turned eighteen, and then I’d kill her with my bare hands.” Bradley lifted his hands in his hair. “I asked him why he would ask something so stupid. The right answer was plain as day. He told me no reason.”
Beth laughed way too loudly. “Well, he must have had a vivid imagination.”
“You see, I think there was a reason.” Bradley picked up his drink and downed the rest in one gulp. “So, mind showing me behind your left ear?”
“You’re way out of line.” Aidan stood and stomped a few steps in the direction of the door. “Come on, let’s go.” He walked over, took my hand, and pulled me from my seat.
“Why can’t she show me, Brother?” Bradley’s jaw clenched, disappointment clear on his face. “If you have nothing to hide, it should be a simple request.”
“Let’s go, Emma,” he said and tugged me toward the door.
Beth climbed from her seat and jerked her finger at the alpha heir. “You’re an asshole.”
“That’s a compliment coming from someone like you. Do you realize how embarrassing it was to learn about this from another freshman from another pack? Prescott did what you couldn’t.” Bradley spoke slowly, and his jaw tightened.
I stopped in my tracks. Shit, Prescott was Jacob’s roommate and part of the society.
“Why am I not surprised?” Aidan muttered and stepped toward the entrance.
Bradley rubbed at his forearms. “Oh, and Aidan, if you leave, you’ll be a traitor.”
“If that’s what it means, then so be it.” Aidan turned his back on his brother and went to the door.
“Don’t worry, Emma. We’ll find you.” A sick chuckle filled my ears as we left the restaurant.
He knew it wouldn’t be long before God knew how many would know. We had no choice but to go visit the witches to see if there was any way they could help us.
Chapter Eighteen
Thankfully, the Civic and truck were in the driveway of the witches’ house. I’d been paranoid that we’d been followed, but it appeared we were in the clear.
“Are we sure this is smart?” Aidan’s voice held trepidation. “Witches are known to be violent and hold grudges.”
“All species are known for that,” Beth grumbled in the backseat. “I mean, look at your pack, for God’s sake. You hold a grudge against an entire gender. What does that say about you?”
She had a point there. I felt a connection with each witch. “Look, they are nice. Well, Finn is a little cold, but the others are warm and open.”
“So, maybe we should be leery of Finn.” Aidan glanced at me. “I don’t want to risk you getting hurt or worse.”
“There is a difference between being standoffish and having something bad happen to you.” Aidan might have grown up with hatred in his heart, but it was clear he’d been raised with his family. Amethyst had let me in on the fact that Finn had been adopted. No one could understand growing up different or scarred unless they lived it.