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

indifference as he had shown all that time to Kelsey. I

fool of myself. I didn't want to be mean about it. But I was too scared to risk 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 couldn't love enough

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 didn't care. It was my favorite. I knew my siblings wouldn't tell me because it was over the fifty-dollar per-person limit we maintained to

go all out for Christmas, but it wasn't like that.

64.6%

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

so happy to have you here with us this year. We love you. You're

a death glare that made me smile. I hugged my sweet sister-in-law. She may have been strong and powerful, and could kick my

was understandable, but sometimes it's like out of left field and I don't even know

and Dad launched into various stories of when she had been pregnant

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

jerked my way and he stared at

mouthed to

his head, but he kept watching

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

knew I'd have to tell them before Patrick arrived. Maybe my trip would be cause enough to get me out of dinner. At that point

to you for a minute?" I

"Yeah sure, what's up?"

Can we go to your

He sounded skeptical, but we made our way