The Art Of Sneezing

Chapter 23

I bust open the door and immediately see him with that girl's arm over his stomach. Neither of them stir, so I pelt them with ice. Beside me , Daniel and Tom flinch.

Melissa shoots up with a scream. Alexander slowly sits up, gazing at me with tired eyes. My empty cup lays limply at my side.

"What are you doing, man?" Zach questions Alexander.

"Obviously, I was sleeping until ya'll so rudely intterupted me." His words were harsh and I feel tears prick my eyes. There's Melissa, looking beautiful with her curly red hair, revealing pjs, and skinny body. Here I am, looking like a complete mess next to her. I'm not his mate, so I know he has this fredom. I thought we were really developing a relationsip, but I guess not.

With an embarressed sniff, I turn on my heels and flee back to Alexander's room. I swipe up my phone and keys before locating the garage. I drive down the long road with tears blurring my vision. My phone begins to vibrate and I fumble around for it. I stop my car the end of the driveway.

"Hello?"

"Riley, what's wrong?"

I sit straight up at the voice, "Derek?"

"Yes it's me."

A car zooms down the road. "Do you want to get some coffee?"

"Hali's in ten."

I enter the diner and spot Derek in a booth with two coffees in front of him. I slowly walk over to him. "Hey, sorry I look like a mess."

He turns to face me and grins. "No, you look beautiful." He gestures across the table. "Black with two sugars."

Sipping the warm drink, I sigh. "Thanks, I'll pay you back."

"Don't worry about it." Derek looks at me over his cofee, 3 cream, 3 sugar. "However, I'm worried about you. You don't look . . . emotionally okay."

"Nothing." I say.

"You're mate."

"He's not my m- wait. How do you. . . ?"

Derek points to himself. "Derek Cross. The Cross Pack."

I slap my head, "I'm an idiot." He chuckles.

"So, you're Alpha?"

"No, my dad is still Alpha. Then, it will be Josh."

"How does that work?" I question.

He tilts his head, "Crescent should have told you . He "really" knows what it's about."

"Just tell me, Derek."

"Okay. So, when an Alpha's son is ready to take over the pack, the son challenges his father. They fight until the father knows he cannot win and surrenders to his son. Josh is weak and refuses to challenge dad. He knows he'll lose and then I can challenged dad and win. It has to go in order, you see."

I nod and we lapse into a slightly awkward silence.

"Riley . . . I'm sorry for hitting you-"

"Why did you hit me?" I immediately fire back. "What was making you that upset?"

Derek sighs. "I can't tell you. I'm sorry, Mouse."

"Riley." I spit. "Only my friends can call me Mouse."

Derek nods and stands. "I'm sorry," he says as he leaves the diner. I let out a frustrated breath. Everything sucks and it's freaking BURNING in here!

"Mouse?"

I turn to face the voice. "Alpha Stone," I greet. "You're a long way from home." He points to the seat across from me and I nod for him to sit.

"You know what they say," he begins with a sweet smile. "Home is where the heart is."