My Alpha Chose My Sister, So I Chose Someone Else

On the drive back, Vivienne had drunk too much and was beginning to doze off.

"Pavel, I'm so sleepy. How much longer until we get home?"

Pavel smiled.

"Soon. Just hang on a little."

I said nothing. I knew what he meant. He was going to take Vivienne home first.

Vivienne's place was at least two hours away.

I had already braced myself for a long ride.

Instead, the car turned onto Pavel's estate and stopped at the front entrance.

Pavel laid his coat across my lap and lowered his voice.

"Vivienne is tired. I'm taking her up to rest.

"Ten minutes at the most. Wait here for me."

He got out first, opened the passenger door, and lifted the sleeping Vivienne into his arms.

He moved so gently it was almost absurd.

I opened my mouth, but no words came.

In four years together, Pavel had never once let me stay the night at his house.

He always said that since we were not mated yet, word getting around would ruin my reputation.

Wolves live with their future mates all the time, and he still insisted on driving me home no matter how late it was.

I wanted to ask him why it was different for Vivienne.

But by the time the words reached my mouth, there was no point in them.

This was nowhere near the first exception he had made for her.

I waited more than half an hour before Pavel came back.

He got in and offered me a blanket I had made for him myself.

"It's getting cold. Wrap yourself in this."

My gaze dropped to his hand.

There was a bright cartoon design drawn on it in henna.

There had been a stretch when I was into henna art too. I asked Pavel to try it with me, and he turned me down flat.

"Ashlyn, I'm the Alpha of a pack. I don't have time for childish things like that."

I thought that was simply who Pavel was.

Serious, proper, never one to joke around.

It turned out he could be different for the right person.

When I did not take the blanket, he turned to me.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling okay?"

Before I could answer, his phone rang.

It was Vivienne. He picked up at once.

"Pavel, your house is so dark and cold. I'm scared. Can you come back? Where did you put your blanket?"

His other hand, the one holding the blanket out to me, jerked back.

"Wait for me. I'm coming right back."

Maybe the reflex was too quick.

He was already out of the car before he remembered I was there, and something hesitant crossed his face.

"Ashlyn, Vivienne is drunk. I can't leave her alone up there. Can you get a rideshare home?

"She needs this blanket more than you do. Just put the coat on."

Pavel had not hung up, and Vivienne heard all of it from the other end.

"Pavel, will Ashlyn be upset if you don't drive her home?

"I can manage on my own. If Ashlyn wants the blanket, let her have it. I really don't mind."

Pavel answered without a second of thought.

"Don't worry about her. It's just a blanket. Use it if you want it."

My fingertips went cold.

He had forgotten completely that I was the one who made that blanket, and that he had promised me no one else would ever touch it.

Apparently, Vivienne didn't count as anyone else.

I finally understood. In this triangle, I was the outsider, and everything came second to whatever Vivienne wanted.

When I stayed silent, Pavel softened his voice to coax me.

"I already called you a rideshare. Don't make a scene, all right?

"Vivienne is still drunk. Let's not fight right now."

I nodded and got out of the car.

"I know. Go back inside. She's afraid of the cold and the dark, isn't she? Don't keep her waiting."

Pavel gave me a startled look, then carefully settled the coat over my shoulders.

"Okay. Be careful. Text me when you get home. Tomorrow morning I'll go with you to the pet store for Annie.

"Today was different. Next time I'll drive you, I promise. You're the one who's going to be my mate. Don't get upset over something this small."

I watched him walk away and forced the ache back down.

Pavel did not know it yet, but there would never be a next time for us.