My Professor Is My Alpha Mate novel Chapter 199

Lila’s POV

“Why do you think he’s going to propose today?” She asked, seemingly confused.

I opened my mouth to tell her about the wedding ring I found, but then Enzo returned to the kitchen.

“Ready for dinner?” He asked. “I’m starving.”

I looked at him briefly before looking back at Dee. She was staring at me with concern and curiosity in her eyes.

“Thanks for your help, Dee,” I said softly. “If I don’t see you again tonight, I’ll see you in the morning.”

She gave me a smile in return and nodded.

I went with Enzo out of the kitchen and out of the packhouse. He kept his arm wrapped around mine and I walked closely beside him. He was giving my body strength and even Val was awake and alert.

“I have a surprise for you later,” he said as we got into his car.

I tugged at my fingers nervously.

“A surprise?” I asked, peering over at him. “For what?”

“Do I need a reason to surprise you?” He asked, raising his right brow.

I shook my head.

“No, of course not,” I said, hoping the nervousness didn’t show through my voice.

It didn’t take long to get to the restaurant. When we were seated, he frowned at me.

“You seem off still,” he said, assessing my face. “Thinner even. Are you eating?”

I touched my face; I hadn’t realized I lost enough weight for it to be noticeable.

“I’m eating,” I told him. “Maybe not as much as I used to.”

“Why?” He asked, furrowing his brows together. “Are you dieting?”

“Not exactly. Professor Xander gives me these protein shakes that fill me up for most of the day,” I admitted, knowing that I couldn’t lie to him.

His brows shot way too far up as he stared at me.

“What kind of shake?” He asked.

“I’m not sure what’s in it,” I said, shaking my head. “But he said it’ll make me stronger.”

“You seem weaker,” he said, cocking his head to the side. “Do you have any of the shake mix with you?”

“It’s in my stuff at the packhouse,” I answered. “I have to drink it every morning.”

“I’m going to run a test on it to find out exactly what’s in it. Don’t drink any more of it.”

Worry started to consume me. Would Xander go as far as to poison me? What was Enzo going to find in this shake mix?

Professor Xander wouldn’t try to harm me in that kind of way, would he?”

“He did break your arm,” Val said slowly. “Max noticed my energy level is low. I have to agree with them; something doesn’t seem right.”

A knot formed in the pit of my stomach at the very thought of it.

I wasn’t going to argue with her or Enzo over this matter. Enzo was watching me carefully, reaching his hand out he grabbed onto mine and held it gently. My heart flipped in my chest, and I sucked in sharp breaths as tingles shot through my body just from his touch alone.

I couldn’t help but wonder if he had the wedding ring with him right now.

“Oh, I never told you, I talked to Brody yesterday,” I said, meeting his eyes. “He didn’t confess to having feelings for me, but he did tell me something else.”

Enzo rose his brows.

“What did he say?”

“He found his mate over the summer,” I told him, much to his shock. “It’s Sarah.”

“What?!” Enzo said, his entire body tensing as my words processed in his mind. I nodded, trying to keep from laughing at his dumbfounded expression.

“Yeah, and she hasn’t sensed it yet because he used his magic to block his scent from her wolf,” I continued.

Enzo furrowed his brows at me.

“His magic?” He asked.

I nodded.

“Brody is partly witch apparently. He doesn’t want anyone knowing,” I told him. “He’s not sure what to do and needed my advice.”

“Yes. Dee and I finished baking everything earlier today. We are going to go there tomorrow to set up.”

“Do you need my help?” He asked, taking another bite.

“It’s probably better if you didn’t come to the sale. I don’t want anyone to be suspicious,” I told him.

He frowned as he thought about it.

“I have to go there tomorrow to pick up a couple of things anyway. So, it won’t be completely weird,” he said.

I smiled.

“I like the loophole,” I chuckled.

He winked at me, sending my heart into the galaxy.

I started to eat my salad and we both fell silent. I wasn’t super hungry, but I knew he’d be upset if I didn’t eat. I had skipped a lot of meals lately because I was so full from that protein shake, but I stuffed my face until I could physically no longer eat.

He wiped his face with his napkin and leaned back in his seat to take me in. I met his eyes, and he leaned forward, reaching his hand out for me to take.

“Remember when I said I had a surprise for you?” He said, lowering his tone so it was only me who heard him. His words were for me alone.

I managed to nod my head once; I felt a tremble in my body and a nervousness forming. This was it… he was going to propose. I just knew he was.

“I spent a lot of my life protecting those I love. I put them before myself because I thought it was the right thing to do. But I was selfish when it came to you. I pushed you away when I should have held you close. I thought by keeping my distance from you, you’d be safe. But you were always in danger; I was just in denial over it. I hurt you worse than anyone and I won’t forgive myself. I don’t expect you to forgive me right now either, but I want to spend my entire life proving to you that I’m complete, head over heels, in love with you. I wanted to make it up to you…”

“Wait, Enzo,” I said quickly, cutting into his words. “Just let me talk for a minute.”

He looked at me confused and when he didn’t say anything, I continued.

“I love you so much and I want to spend my entire life with you. I already forgive you for how you treated me. I know you were only trying to protect me. It wasn’t selfish… it was noble and beautiful,” I said, touching his arm gently. “I already know what you are going to say, and you don’t need to continue.”

He furrowed his brows together.

“You do?” He asked.

I nodded my head once.

“Yes,” I answered. “And I already have an answer for you…” I told him. He looked even more confused by my words, but he remained silent as I continued. “I’m sorry, Enzo. But my answer is no…I won’t marry you right now.”