Alpha's Twins Chapter 24

Adrian's POV

I was heading to the airport when my phone died—low battery. I sat back with my coffee, staring out the window.

The cold weather matched exactly how I felt inside. Like ice had settled in my chest and wouldn't melt.

I couldn't stop thinking about Natalia. She was stuck in my head, and I couldn't shake her loose.

I didn't want to leave right now, but something had come up back at the pack. Being head Alpha meant I had to deal with it, whether I wanted to or not.

"Take the call," Patric said, holding out his phone.

I glanced at the screen. Lynda.

"Tell her I'm leaving."

Patric sighed and put it on speaker. "Miss Lynda, Alpha is returning to Crystal Blood Pack."

"But he didn't tell me," she said, sounding shocked.

Patric looked at me, confused. I just kept staring out the window.

He cleared his throat. "Alpha doesn't need to inform anyone."

"I-I didn't mean it like that, Beta Patric. Can I talk to him? It's really important."

"Sorry. He's busy right now. We're heading to the airport. Alpha will be available after we land at Crystal Blood Pack."

After a pause, Lynda hung up. Obviously pissed.

I didn't care. Maybe I was being selfish, but I couldn't let her get close to me.

That woman had saved my life, risked everything for me. So why was I thinking about someone I'd already divorced?

Then last night hit me like a punch to the gut.

I'd been furious seeing her run for her life. Those bastards got off too easy. I should have made them suffer.

*How dare they touch her?*

Just the thought of another man's hands on Natalia made my blood boil.

Remembering how she'd left with that Beta Eric, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"Something on your mind? You look worried," Patric said, glancing over at me.

I opened my eyes. Pure rage, that's all he would see.

"When we get back to the pack, you've got a job to do."

He was already listening, ready for orders.

"Beta Eric," I said quietly.

His eyebrows went up. "Want me to dig up something on him?"

I shook my head and looked right at him. He actually flinched at whatever he saw in my eyes. Good. He got the message.

"Everything. I want to know everything about him."

Patric exhaled and put his hand on my shoulder.

"You'll have it on your desk tomorrow," he promised.

He wasn't just my beta—he was my best friend. These past few years, he'd been the only one I could count on. If he wanted to, he could have challenged me for pack leadership. But he was the one person I trusted completely.

"Adrian, looks like she's moved on," he said quietly.

I looked away. "Do I care?"

Patric didn't say anything else.

We got to the airport eventually. I stepped out of the car.

My security detail got out of their vehicles and quickly grabbed my luggage from the trunk.

Hands in my pockets, I started walking.

People around me started whispering.

"Isn't that Alpha Adrian?"

"God, he's gorgeous!"

"I wish I could join Crystal Blood Pack."

I heard the young women talking while the men looked scared. Their chatter didn't interest me.

I knew girls and women went crazy for me—I wasn't blind.

These people weren't my pack members, so they had the balls to gossip. If they were under my authority, they'd be too terrified to even breathe wrong.

But one comment caught my attention.

"Did you see the post his ex-wife made today?"

"Yeah. That Lynda is such a homewrecker!"

I stopped and looked back at the two women talking behind me. The second they realized I'd heard them, they got embarrassed and hurried away with their heads down.

I looked at Patric. "What post?"

Patric was about to answer when an announcement came over the speakers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we've been informed by Air Traffic Control that all flights are delayed due to current weather conditions. We'll update you as soon as we have new departure information."

"Perfect," I said sarcastically. I was already pissed off, and this just made it worse.

Patric's phone rang. He said to me, "Go sit in the waiting area. I'll be back in a few minutes. Let me check on that post for you."

I nodded and found a seat.

*Natalia, what did you do now? Wasn't Beta Eric's announcement enough? What have you pulled this time?*

I watched Patric across the terminal, handling business on his phone.

Then I heard a soft, sweet voice next to me.

"Can we sit here?"