The Alpha King's Fated Mate

Chapter 7

The bustling noise of the café was a comforting backdrop as Isla stirred her iced coffee latte, trying to focus on the mundane, yet her mind kept wandering back to Lucian. She smiled faintly at the memory of his lazy smirk and the feel of his fingers on her skin. Across the table, Bree was mid-conversation, but Isla had completely zoned out, lost in her thoughts.

“So, what’s the big news?” Bree asked, leaning in with an eager smile.

Isla hesitated, her heart racing slightly. She hadn’t planned on telling Bree, but the excitement bubbling up inside her made it hard to hold back. She took a deep breath, her eyes flicking nervously around the café before she spoke.

“I, uh… I slept with Lucian,” Isla said, her voice just loud enough for Bree to hear.

Bree’s reaction was instantaneous. Her eyes widened, and she let out a sharp, high-pitched gasp. “You did what?” she half-yelled, drawing the attention of a few nearby patrons.

Isla’s eyes went wide as she reached across the table, her hand covering Bree’s mouth in a panicked motion. “Shut up!” she hissed, her face flushed with embarrassment. She glanced around nervously to see who was staring, her heart pounding in her chest. A couple of people shot curious glances their way, but thankfully, no one seemed too invested.

Bree’s eyes sparkled with mischief as Isla slowly removed her hand, and she leaned forward, her voice now barely a whisper. “You slept with the Alpha?” Bree’s tone was incredulous, her mouth hanging open in disbelief.

Isla rolled her eyes, groaning inwardly. “This is why I shouldn’t have told you,” she muttered, taking a long sip of her iced coffee to avoid Bree’s probing gaze. But as much as she tried to downplay it, the smile tugging at the corners of her lips betrayed her. Her thoughts drifted back to Lucian, his teasing voice, the way he had looked at her like she was the only person in the world that mattered.

Bree narrowed her eyes at Isla, watching her carefully. “Look at you, smiling like a fool,” she teased. “So, are you guys, like, an item now, or what?”

“No,” Isla said quickly, almost too quickly. She glanced at Bree and then back down at her drink, swirling the ice around with her straw. “We’re just… you know, going with the flow. It’s nothing serious. No strings attached.”

Bree leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms, a knowing smirk on her face. “Sure, sure. Just ‘going with the flow,’ right? And that smile on your face is totally not because you’re thinking about him.” She raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

Isla chuckled despite herself, shaking her head. “We agreed to keep things casual. No feelings, no complications. It’s just… fun.”

“Uh-huh,” Bree said, still grinning. “But come on, Lucian? The Lucian? I mean, the guy is gorgeous, powerful, and the Alpha of the pack. This is huge, Isla.”

Isla shrugged, her smile fading a little as she thought about what Bree had just said. It was huge. Lucian wasn’t just any guy; he was the Alpha, a man with responsibilities and expectations that far outweighed anything she was used to. But for some reason, it felt natural with him. Easy. And that terrified her.

Bree leaned forward again, her expression softening as she reached for Isla’s hand across the table. “But what about Elias? That jerk. How could he cheat on you? I’m still mad about that.”

Isla’s smile disappeared completely at the mention of Elias, her ex-boyfriend, her jaw tightening. She had been so caught up in Lucian that she hadn’t thought about her ex in a while, but the sting of his betrayal still lingered somewhere deep inside. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to push the negative thoughts away.

“I don’t want to talk about that fool,” Isla said, her voice firm as she shook her head. “He’s not worth it.”

Bree’s eyes softened with sympathy, but she didn’t press the issue. Instead, she gave Isla’s hand a comforting squeeze. “You’re right. He isn’t worth it. And honestly? I’m glad you’re moving on. Even if it’s just something casual with Lucian, you deserve to have some fun.”

Isla smiled faintly at that, grateful for Bree’s support. “Yeah, maybe you’re right,” she said, taking another sip of her drink.

Bree leaned back, her expression shifting back to playful curiosity. “So… when do you get to see him again?”

Isla laughed softly, rolling her eyes. “I don’t know. Maybe tonight. But we’re not planning things, Bree. It’s just… casual.”

Bree grinned, wiggling her eyebrows. “Casual or not, I bet it’s exciting. Tell me is his c**k big down there. I mean... How was it?"

Isla choked on her iced coffee, her eyes widening as Bree's question sank in. "Bree! You're so nasty!" she said, trying to stifle a laugh while glancing around to make sure no one had overheard. Her face flushed with embarrassment, but she couldn’t help the grin tugging at the corners of her lips.

Bree waved her hand dismissively, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, come on, don’t hold back on the details now! I’ve heard from multiple girls that he’s, you know, really good." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, clearly relishing in making Isla squirm.

Isla took another sip of her drink, trying to play it cool, but the memory of the night with Lucian crept back, sending a warmth through her that she couldn’t quite shake. "Let’s just say," Isla began, setting her drink down and lowering her voice conspiratorially, "if I had to rate him from one to ten, he’d be an eleven."

Bree’s jaw dropped, and she burst into laughter, nearly knocking over her coffee. "An eleven? Girl, you’re killing me!" she giggled, her face lighting up with excitement. "Now you really have to give me more details!"

Isla was still laughing when Bree leaned forward eagerly, pressing for more details, but the sudden shift in the café's atmosphere made Isla pause. Bree’s face dropped as she noticed it too, and both women turned to look at the entrance.