Until I Make You Mine: Happily Ever Alpha World Read online

  Until I Make You Mine

  Happily Ever Alpha

  Jenika Snow

  Contents

  Synopsis

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  UNTIL I MAKE YOU MINE

  Copyright © April 2019 by JENIKA SNOW

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Published by Boom Factory Publishing, LLC.

  Cover Designer: Designs by Dana

  Editor: Kasi Alexander

  Content Editor/Proofreader: All Encompassing books

  JENIKA SNOW CONTRIBUTOR to the Original Works was granted permission by Aurora Rose Reynolds, ORIGINAL AUTHOR, to use the copyrighted characters and/ or worlds created by Aurora Rose Reynolds in the Original Work; all copyright protection to the characters and/ or worlds of Aurora Rose Reynolds in the Original Works are and shall continue to be retained by Aurora Rose Reynolds. You can find all of Aurora Rose Reynolds Original Works on most major retailers. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, distributed, stored in or introduced into any information storage or retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic, photocopying, mechanical or otherwise, without express permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, story lines and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, events, locales or any events or occurrences are purely coincidental.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction, transmission, or distribution of any part of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

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  I was too young to know what love was, but when I first saw Shiloh I knew she’d be in my life forever. I knew I couldn’t give her up.

  She’d been the little girl wearing pigtails who’d just moved in next door. And as the years passed and we became the best of friends, how I felt for her changed.

  I fell in love with her.

  I should have been man enough to admit my feelings, to tell her that I wanted her as mine, but time ran out. She was leaving me, and the very thought of not having Shiloh in my life was akin to my heart being ripped from my chest.

  Possessive and protective. Those two things ran deep within me where she was concerned. Without her I was only half a man.

  Be with the girl I loved or stay back and help run the family business? Those two decisions weighed heavily on me.

  But telling her I loved her could have Shiloh distancing herself even more. It could ruin everything we had. My decision would end up hurting someone in the end.

  That was a risk I had to take.

  That was the only way I’d know if we would get our happily ever after.

  Chapter One

  Kace

  Soft and sweet with a hint of innocence. A small gasp leaving her. Her arms wrapping around my shoulders, bringing me closer, holding me tight.

  That’s what I envisioned—fantasized about—when I thought of kissing Shiloh.

  But that had changed over time until I’d seen her as my best friend, the other half of me. All I’d wanted to do was keep her close, to make sure she was safe. I didn’t want her hurt, didn’t want to see her cry. Because seeing her in pain caused me pain, had me crying, wanting to lash out.

  And until she’d come along, I’d never believed in soulmates. What did I know about that kind of stuff? I was a kid who stayed out too late, got dirty, and didn’t listen to my parents. I wasn’t thinking about girls, about having someone close to me always.

  But as soon as I’d met Shiloh, I knew that everything I’d ever known about myself was wrong. Something had opened up inside of me, like an epiphany, my life coming full circle.

  I’d been a twelve-year-old who played kickball in the street in front of my house. She’d been the new neighbor. A little ten-year-old girl with a raggedy ponytail hanging crooked on the side of her head, dried ice cream on her face, and the brightest blue eyes I’d ever seen.

  I remember that day like it was yesterday, how she’d come out of her house, her parents unpacking the moving van, a flurry of activity coming from her place.

  She’d had a little plastic bag filled with loose candy, reds and blues, oranges and greens all mixed together, yet she only picked out certain colors to eat. She’d stood on the corner of her driveway as she watched us play.

  Even then, without saying one word to her, without knowing who she was, she’d seemed so strong as she silently watched us, intelligence in her gaze as she followed the ball with her eyes.

  Shiloh had intrigued me instantly and I knew that one day I’d make her mine.

  I never thought she’d leave me. I hadn’t even envisioned it because all I’d ever seen was her as mine. But she wanted to go to college, wanted to leave town.

  And here I was, working in the construction company my old man owned, raised to take over the business one day. What classes I would take would be done at the community college, my business associates degree easily obtained there. It was easier that way, because then I’d be able to shadow my dad, learn the tricks of the trade and all that shit.

  I hated it. Because if Shiloh wasn’t here with me, it was like living in hell.

  “You gonna play your hand or what?” Alec said, and I blinked a few times, being brought back into the present. I saw Shiloh in the kitchen with Alec’s girlfriend, Mona, and I felt my heart drop to my belly at just the sight of her.

  She’d walked into Alec’s parents’ place and I’d instantly been distracted from everything and everyone. It wasn’t just her presence, but the fact I knew she’d be finding out if she got into her dream college and would be leaving me.

  That had a low rumble leaving me.

  “What the fuck? You hiding a lion under the table or some shit?” Alec started laughing and I looked at him, narrowing my eyes.

  I tossed my cards in the center of the table and flipped him off before standing and heading into the kitchen. Since her high school graduation this past spring, I’d been consumed with the fear of Shiloh leaving. I’d kept that worry to myself, bottling it up, working extra hours with my father, and avoiding her.

  It was a counterproductive move seeing as that was time I couldn’t get back with her.

  But I hadn’t been able to think of how to go about telling Shiloh that I cared about her, that us being friends, going to movies, eating dinner, even playing games of basketball, had meant a lot more to me than it probably did to her.

  That needed to change before she left. Because I’d come to the realization that not having her in my life would be too hard.

  I walked up to the kitchen, but right before turning and heading inside, I could hear Shiloh talking with Mona.

  “So you have a date with him?” Mona said.

  My heart dropped to my belly.

  “I mean, he asked me to dinner and I was kind of put on the spot. I didn’t know what to say.” Shiloh said, her voice instantly having my body tightening. “And he looked so nervous that I felt bad saying no.”

  My heart raced. She always had that effect on me, bu
t it wasn’t until years after we’d first met that I’d realized why I reacted like I did.

  I loved her. I was in love with her.

  “Girl, I probably would have done the same thing. Especially if he was Ian.” Mona laughed. “He’s got that geeky sexiness going on.”

  Shiloh laughed and I felt my eyes narrow.

  “I didn’t know what to say. I was so taken aback that I found myself agreeing before I could really think about what was happening.”

  I heard this little growl and realized it had come from me. Jealousy slammed into me, twisting up my emotions, making me want to find the little bastard who’d asked Shiloh out.

  “So when is the date with Ian? Where are you guys going?”

  Shiloh didn’t answer right away.

  I had my hands clenched at my sides. All I wanted to do was go in there and demand that she cancel her plans. But I had no claim over her, had never even told her how I felt. She could do what she wanted.

  I stood there and stayed silent, holding my breath as I waited to see what she’d say.

  “It’s not a date. He wants to take me to that new café in town.”

  Mona made this strange noise almost as if in disapproval. “He wants to take you to a that little cafe? I’d say retreat now. That sounds like he wants a date-date.” Shiloh and Mona started laughing.

  “He seemed nice enough. Besides, it’s just dinner.”

  “You better tell him that so he doesn’t think it’s something more.”

  I looked around the corner and could see Shiloh and Mona leaning against opposite ends of the counter. Shiloh was looking down at the glass she held, this faraway expression on her face.

  “I told him it’d be nice to go out with a friend. He didn’t seem surprised by that, so maybe I don’t have to spell it out anymore?” It was a genuine question.

  “Some guys you do have to spell it out.” Mona snorted.

  “To be honest, I’ve never actually been on a date, and I don’t want my first one to be with Ian.”

  “You’ve seriously never been on a date before?” Mona sounded shocked.

  Shiloh shook her head. “No one’s ever asked and well...” She didn’t finish what she was about to say, because the guys hollered out as one of them won the card game.

  “Ugh, guys and their games,” Mona said and smiled. Just then, Alec hollered out for her. She exhaled loudly in irritation. “I’ll be back.”

  I watched Shiloh for a few seconds, her unaware that I was there. Her brows were knitted, this look of confusion on her face. I wanted to smooth my finger down the space between her eyes and get rid of that little bunched-up expression.

  I cleared my throat and stepped fully into the kitchen so she could see me. She lifted her head, our gazes clashing.

  And then she smiled at me.

  I actually lifted my hand and rubbed my chest, that one look doing something powerful to me.

  “Hey, you,” I said and leaned against the counter, crossing my arms over my chest and trying to act like I had my shit together, like I wasn’t pining after the one girl I would probably never get.

  But the thought of her leaving, going away from me, had that fear dissipating, and bravery taking its place. Although I was still scared, not sure if I’d ever actually have the balls to come clean and tell her the truth, knowing what the alternative was wasn’t something I wanted to experience.

  “Hey back at you.” Her voice was soft, like a melody that could grab hold of my heart and squeeze it.

  We stayed silent for a couple of moments, and although it was none of my business, although I should’ve kept my mouth shut, I cleared my throat, about to ask her about Ian.

  “So I couldn’t help but overhear you and Mona talking about you having a date.” I tried to keep my voice level, to act as if the thought of her going out wasn’t affecting me as strongly as it was.

  I wasn’t her boyfriend, and had no right to act like a jealous one. But the truth was, I’d seen her as mine for a long time, just didn’t have the balls to say anything about it.

  Her cheeks got pink, as if she were embarrassed I’d brought it up, and I felt my heart drop a little more. Was she excited about going out with Ian? Fuck, why had I never asked her out?

  She glanced away from me, and when she looked back in my direction her cheeks were still red, the embarrassment in her expression clear.

  “I’m sorry I said anything. It’s none of my business.” I lifted my hand and rubbed the back of my neck, feeling like a dumbass.

  “No, no, you’re my best friend, Kace. You can always ask me anything.” She smiled. “But it’s not a date. It’s just a friendly meal.”

  Although I’d heard her say it to Mona, hearing her tell me that had pleasure and satisfaction filling me. But those feelings were dimmed by that jealousy that was still front and center.

  Friends or not, I didn’t want her going out to eat with any guy.

  I didn’t say anything because I didn’t trust myself not to look like a total ass. So I nodded and smiled, just staring at her, time seeming to stand still. I could envision that there was no one else in the house but us. I could picture that Alec and the guys weren’t being loud and obnoxious in the other room, that the girl of my dreams, the girl I was in love with, wasn’t about to go on a date—friends or not—with another guy.

  And whose fucking fault was that? This is what you get when you keep your mouth shut and don’t say anything.

  Alec started hollering for me to come join the new game, but all I wanted to do was stay here with Shiloh. I ignored him, just staring at her, knowing I probably looked like a creep not saying anything and just watching her. But I wasn’t able to help myself where she was concerned.

  “Kace. Dude, get your ass out here.”

  Shiloh chuckled softly. “You better get out there before he starts singing show tunes to get your attention.” She smiled.

  I was about to say fuck it, that Alec could do whatever the hell he wanted, that I was staying right here with her. But just then, I felt someone behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see him leaning against the kitchen entryway, his arms crossed, his eyebrow raised.

  “You in here cooking us some dinner?” He laughed as if what he’d just said was the best fucking joke. “You gonna get your ass out there and play another hand or what?”

  I ran my hand over my jaw and looked back at Shiloh.

  “Go on. We’ll talk later,” she said.

  I clenched my jaw and nodded once. It was best that I probably walk away now before I really looked like an asshole, demanding that she not go on that date. So I forced myself to turn and leave, but everything inside of me wanted to go back to her.

  I needed to think of how in the hell to handle this, because her—even just being friends—with any guy other than me was not gonna happen.

  Chapter Two

  Shiloh

  I stared down at the envelope in my hand. My parents were sitting at the table with me, their silence deafening.

  “Honey, the suspense is killing us.”

  I glanced up at my mom, feeling my hands shake as I held either the acceptance or the rejection letter from NYU. This was my dream school, what I’d held my breath for, praying I’d get in to it. And as much as I knew not to let it make or break me, my hope was big.

  There were plenty of other places I could go, but NYU had been on the top of my list since I was a little girl. I knew that if I didn’t get in, it wasn’t the end of the world. But God would it feel like it.

  I took a deep breath and tore into the envelope, my hand still shaking as I pulled out the piece of paper and stared down at it. I was silent as I read over it, my heart thundering, deafening in my ears. And then I looked up at my parents. They both had wide-eyed expressions, my mother having her hands up by her mouth, her nerves clearly just as strong as mine.

  “Shiloh?” My father was the one to speak.

  “I got in,” I whispered and instantly my mother got up and start
ed screaming in excitement, bouncing up and down and clapping her hands. It was as if she had been accepted, and her happiness for me had the tears escaping, falling down my cheeks so I was a blubbering mess.

  My mom and dad gave me a hug, telling me how proud of me they were, that they’d had no doubt that I would get in.

  “I knew it,” my mom said, crying right along with me.

  “I’m glad at least one of us is not freaking out. Because ever since I put in my application, I’ve been a complete mess.” I gave a watery laugh.

  As I pulled away and stared down at the acceptance letter, the first person I wanted to tell about it was Kace. But on the heels of that, I wondered how he’d react. I wondered how I would react.

  I’d be going to school in another state. He had to stay here for his family’s business obligations. The very thought had my belly clenching, this almost-grief settling in. I was so excited I’d gotten into NYU, but also devastated in the same breath.

  “We should celebrate,” my mother said and pulled me in for another hug. “Tonight?”

  I was about to say yes, but then I remembered the dinner I’d agreed to go on with Ian. “As much as I’d love to, I can’t tonight. I promised someone I’d have dinner with them.”

  “Kace?” my father asked.

  “No, a friend. Ian.” Although truth be told I didn’t really see Ian as a friend, not in the sense I saw Mona and Alec. Not in the way I saw Kace.

  “Ian?” My mother knitted her brows. “Like a date?”

  I instantly shook my head. “No. Just friends. Only friends.”

  My mother and father smiled. “Okay, well, tomorrow night then,” my father said and gave me a pat on the back.