Ch. 6 THE MATURE ONE

Emily’s POV

As Alpha James approached the desk, the officer quickly bowed his head in respect. "Welcome, Alpha James," he said, his voice masked with respect.

The officer then turned his gaze to Michael and his friends, his expression hardening. "Step aside," he commanded, gesturing for one of them to vacate the seat. "The Alpha wishes to speak."

But James raised a hand, his features blank. "I don't mind standing," he said, his deep voice cutting through the tension. "Now, let's get straight to the point."

The officer cleared his throat, glancing nervously between the brothers. "Well, Alpha, the situation is this: there was a violent altercation at the bar, and Miss Emily here—" he gestured towards me "—was allegedly swinging a bottle at Michael after he grabbed her wrist and demanded an apology."

I kept my expression composed, refusing to show any outward signs of the fear I felt in James' presence. Michael's friends were quick to cut in, their voices rising in a chorus of accusations.

"That bitch started the whole thing!" one of them spat. "She was insulting and humiliating our Alpha in front of everyone at the bar!"

I met their harsh glares with a solid gaze, my arms folded across my chest. I would not be intimidated, not even by the fearsome Alpha and his loyal pack.

Finally, James turned his piercing gray eyes towards me, and I found myself unable to hold his gaze. "Cat, got your tongue?" he inquired, his tone neutral. "I believe it's time you shared your side of the story."

Steeling my nerves, I met his gaze, refusing to back down. "Michael approached me at the bar," I explained, my voice steady. "I just wanted to be left alone, but he insisted on asking me to dance and wouldn't take no for an answer. I acted in self-defense."

Michael's protests erupted immediately, his friends' voices joining the noise. "You are lying!" he shouted, his face flushed with anger. "She is lying, brother, you should be listening to me, your own brother, not this—"

"Enough!" James' booming voice silenced them all, and they fell silent, shifting uncomfortably under his stern gaze. "You are all acting like children, not the adults you claim to be." He turned to the officer, his expression toughening. "They can all wait outside. I will handle this myself."

Stylishly, I rose from the chair, huffing in anger as I made my way towards the corridor. The echoes of Michael and his friends' taunts followed me, their venomous words stinging like a slap to the face.

"What a stuck-up bitch!"

"I don't see what you saw in her anyway. She is not even as beautiful as those she-wolves, you dismissed to talk to her."

"You are right, those bar whores were much prettier than her, I don’t know what I was thinking." Michael snarled.

I forced myself to ignore their jeers, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing my reaction. Instead, I found a quiet spot to sit on a waiting bench, resting my head against the wall as exhaustion crept over me. The effects of the alcohol were catching up, and before long, I felt my eyelids grow heavy, sleep threatening to claim me.

Just as I was drifting off, I felt a gentle tap on my knee, sending an electric jolt through my body. Slowly, I opened my eyes, only to find myself staring into the piercing gaze of Alpha James.

"Sleeping in the police station, are we?" He murmured, his deep voice mixed with a hint of amusement. "I'm sure the officers wouldn't mind preparing a cell for you."

I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment, and before I could think, I bolted upright, scrambling to my feet in a futile attempt to escape. But James was faster, his hand snaking out to grasp my wrist, pulling me towards him until my back was flush against the wall, his imposing figure towering over me.

Avoiding his gaze, I mustered what little courage I had left. "What do you want?" I asked, hating the way my voice wavered.

He slid two fingers under my chin, gently tilting my face up to meet his. "Where has your confidence gone, hmm?" he murmured, a hint of teasing in his tone. "You were so bold just a moment ago."

I forced my frown to harden, even as my heart raced. "If you have nothing else to say, then leave me alone, I don't have time for all these shenanigans," I retorted, struggling to keep my breathing steady in his overwhelming presence.

But James seemed unfazed, his eyes searching mine. "I have paid for all the damages at the bar," he said, his voice lowering. "And I don't want to see you causing any more trouble." His gaze flickered, and he leaned in closer. "Stay away from me and my brother."

"I have no desire to be near either of you," I shot back, the words coming out more breathless than I'd intended.

James' lips curved into a ghost of a smile, and he trailed his hand up the side of my face, sending butterflies fluttering in my stomach. "Are you sure about that, Braveheart?" he murmured, his eyes fixed on my lips. "Even if I'm your mate?"

I stared at him, stunned into silence. Mate? How could that be? I didn't even have a wolf – how could I possibly be bonded to the Alpha?

But before I could find my voice, James pulled away, shoving his hand into his pocket and retrieving my phone. "Our phones got switched in the car," he explained, handing it to me. "You should call your fiancé, he is worried about you. I believe a she-wolf shouldn't be out so late at night with all the horny he-wolves lurking around."

With that, he turned and strode away, leaving me reeling in his wake. Fiancé? What was he talking about?

I stared down at the phone in my hand, my mind racing. Just what had I gotten myself into?