The Code of The Alpha

Chapter Fourteen - Running in the Rain

"Thank God I didn't let security go through these before they handed them off to me," he said as I yanked the panties from him.

"Luca will love those," Bates commented. "Well... not until after you're inducted, at least."

I glared at him.

"Strike a nerve?" He asked, laughing.

I sighed and closed the box.

"It's okay. It struck one with Luca too," Bates continued.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Neither did he."

I walked around him to the refrigerator, grabbing almond milk to make cereal with.

"Cereal?" I offered.

"With almond milk? No, thanks."

I rolled my eyes and pulled out the carton of regular milk also.

"Mini-Wheats," he told me, "and they better be chocolate."

"You're a child," I said, walking into the pantry.

As if Luca had them there especially for Bates, I grabbed the unopened box of chocolate Mini-Wheats from the shelf, along with my cereal.

"How far you can go before it's considered consummation?" Bates pondered aloud.

"Probably not far," I muttered, placing the box of Mini-Wheats on the table next to him.

"Do I not get a bowl or spoon?" he asked.

"It's Get-it-Yourself Day."

Bates huffed before getting off the stool and pulling open the utensil drawer.

"I see the abstinence thing has adversely affected your mood," he noted.

"Your Alpha has adversely affected my mood," I corrected him.

"That's right, because he's not your Alpha yet."

Bates snickered when he saw my unamused stare.

I poured my cereal into a bowl and doused it with almond milk before taking a seat next to Bates at the counter.

"He's so moody," I explained. "We argued about this four days ago and I haven't seen him since."

Bates laughed awkwardly.

"Luca's probably not mad at you, he's just a busy guy," he tried to explain. 

My eyebrows furrowed.

"Too busy to see his mate who is living in his house?" I asked.

He shrugged.

"Maybe."

An awkward silence washed over us as I chewed my cereal slowly, watching Bates stare at his bowl in thought.

"I think Luca deserves some credit," he said suddenly.

I raised an eyebrow.

"He's going through more than he'll let on," Bates explained.

I put my spoon down.

"Like what?"

The side door opened suddenly, startling both Bates and myself.