Mine, Forever Mine

Chapter 34: Thanks Echo

What do you mean by both?
I mean...
Echo! Answer!
You're compatible with both of them. But you have to choose, again.
Now I know what She meant.
Yeah.
I look up from the table at Alek and he looks at me from the corner of his eye. I blush and look down, hating that he caught me looking at him.
Why didn't he respond the way Ash did?
He's trying to deny it. Guarding himself from something. That something I don't know.
I'm going to find out for myself then.
Don't you dare.
Why not?
Leave him be. He'll tell you when the time is right.
Who are you?
Echo...
No. The Echo I know would jump at the chance to mess with someone.
I told you. I've been changing. And this time, for the better.
Not for me.
Yes. Now you can't blame me.
Whatever.
I look up and everyone is staring at me. "Alexa, do you know what you're going to order?" Kane asks me, and I look at my closed menu. "Uh yeah." I say and the waitress sighs, annoyed. "I'll get the chicken dumpling soup. Please." I say, noticing she was looking at Alek flirtily. I glare at her and she rolls her eyes, taking our menus.
Chill out, Alex.
Shut up, Bren.
Nah. Don't feel like it.
I'm warning you.
Sure you are.
Ugh!
I glare at him and he smirks. I roll my eyes to find Alek and Ash glaring at Bren.
Great.
You brought this on yourself, missy.
Shut up, Echo!
I was sitting in between Alek and Ash with Bren directly across from me. Kane looks between the four of us and I look away. "This is very interesting." He murmurs and I try not to look at him. I look to my right side to see Ash texting on his phone. I look to my left, and see Alek's hands clenched into fists and his jaw was ticking. I hesitantly place my hand over his, and he jerks away. He looks at me and I blink, then turn away. Ash looks down at me and I shrink into the chair. I bite on my lip and my phone starts vibrating. I pull it out and check who texted me.
Unknown Number.
I open the text, unsure of who it was.
Look, I'm coming soon. And I want to know how our pup is.
Jake?
And quickly he answers back.
Obviously.
Oh.
Is it mine?
About that...
What?
I... I lost it. I lost our pup.
I'm sorry. But did you say our pup?
Yeah. I got the results. It was partial yours.
That... That's great.
But... I lost it. A few days after you left.
I'm sorry...
Don't be. It wasn't your fault.
He leaves me on read. I put my phone away and look up. Ash is looking straight at me and I stare back at him.
Who was that?
No one.
Tell me.
It's nothing.
Alexa! Tell me!
No! Okay! It's personal.
Whatever.
He turns away from me and I sigh. The waitress soon brings out our meals and we thank her though she gives me the stink eye. Echo slowly rises then I feel a hand on mine and I look to see who it was. Alek. He quickly removes his hand and I bite my lip. I nod at Kane and we start eating. Ash and Alek eat on their own, and I raise my eyebrow at Kane.
They're Alphas of their own pack.
Oh. One question though?
Yes, what is it?
Why is Alek so guarded?
I can't answer for him, since I don't even know what happened. But it happened when they were younger.
Oh, it's cause I want to get closer to them.
I understand that, but it's better to ask the person.
Yeah, I guess.
Eat up. I've got something planned after this.
Ok.
I finish my soup quickly and my phone vibrates again.
Where are you?
At home with the pack. Why?
I'm standing right behind you.
I turn and true to his word, Jake was behind me. I stay frozen and he smiles. "Come on. I've got to talk to you." He says, holding his hand out. I place mine in his and we walk a distance away so they hear us. He sits down first and I sit across from him. "So, what happened after I left?" He asks. "Well, Liam was stressing me out more than before. I started bleeding and they took me to Lance. He told me I lost our pup. And the results." I say softly. "It was more of my first mate's but it was still partially yours." I continue and he grins then it fades. "I lost our pup, because I haven't gone through my third heat." I confess and his eyes widen in shock. "I... I didn't know. I'm sorry." He says and I shake my head with a small smile. "It's okay. I've found my True Mates." I say and he looks at me. "Who?" He asks, his face void of emotion. "I was sat in between them." I reply and flick my eyes away from his. "I'll stay away then." He says and I hear him get up. I don't stop him and he leaves. I walk back to the table and find them finished. Kane drops two one hundred dollar bills on the table then notices me. "What did he want?" He asks, a hint of a growl in his words. "He asked about what happened. I told him. He left." I say and he nods. "Ash, here demanded that I bring you back." He says and Bren nods. I look at Ash and he shrugs. Alek stays away from everyone and I think about asking him why he's guarded.
Leave him alone. He'll tell you when he's ready.
I understand that, but I'm curious.
I know, but something terrible happened to them both. Alek and Ash coped in their own ways.
What happened to them?
It was how they became the Alphas. They were younger than Kane when they took over.