Billionaire Alpha's 99 Deadly Games

Chapter 136

"Merry Christmas," Kyle said, plopping down next to me.

I smiled at my big brother. "Merry Christmas."

"Crazy year, right?"

"Definitely. I mean, who would have thought this time last year that you would even be thinking about kids, let alone have one on the way, Daddy," I teased.

He looked at his mate and the love apparent on his face was fascinating. A year ago I hadn't known Kyle was even thinking about a mate, let alone had found her and kept it to himself for two years.

"How'd you do it?" I asked him.

"Do what?"

"Keep it from her. How did you live over two years of your life seeing your mate every day and not act on it? Not show even a hint of recognition?"

He frowned at my question. "It was a sacrifice I had to make, and in hindsight, knowing what I do now, I'd never have waited to talk to her, E."

I felt like he was trying to

onvey to me more than his words, but I didn't want the truth of them to resonate with me. I wanted his secret on how to deal, so that when the inevitable time came, I could

much indifference as he had shown all that time

a life with him knowing I could lose him to something as stupid as the challenges. I knew my heart couldn't take it. I wasn't strong enough. I

as we sat around opening presents. I got a beautiful blue cashmere sweater, two new books I'd been wanting, a couple of gift cards, a planner for the coming year, and various other odds and ends. My favorite was a diamond heart necklace. It was stunning, but simple enough to wear every day. I adored it, but there was no tag on it and no one would confess who it was from. I

would go all out for Christmas, but it

64.6%

whereas Christmas was a more low-key, individual family affair. It was intimate and I loved it. It was a

so happy

my sweet sister-in-law. She may have been strong and

over the oddest things. I mean that was understandable,

all laughed and Mom and Dad launched into various stories of when she had been

him to family dinner tonight? I just hate knowing he's all alone

my way and he stared at

mouthed

his head,

How? No, there was no way he could possibly know Patrick was my one true mate. I was just being paranoid. And when Mom readily agreed that no one should be alone on Christmas, I immediately began thinking

arrived. Maybe my trip would be cause enough to get me out of dinner. At that point it was

talk to you for

"Yeah sure, what's up?"

not here. Can we

made our