Nine.

Aiden

Why the hell did he have to go and say that?!

I glare at Leighton as Bella looks at both of us. Her golden eyes dance between us.

“I don’t have a mate.” She mutters with a frown. “And I probably won’t.”

“You never know what’s around the corner.” Leighton cocks a brow, a crooked smile appearing.

Bella screws her face up. “Thanks for your concern, but even if I was mated. I wouldn’t want the man.”

“Leighton, go make sure we have what we need in the truck!” I mumble. Giving him a warning look, daring him to say another word.

“As you wish.” He gives me a nod and a smirk as he leaves.

“I guess you haven’t told him.” Bella asks as she walks away.

“I assumed you wouldn’t want me too, so I only shared the basics with him. But he is my Beta.”

“You can tell him that I’m cursed.” She shrugs her shoulders and sits down on the bed like it was no big deal. “You might as well tell him that you have a monster living in your care.”

She stares back at me with those golden orbs, like it was some s