Chapter13: Kissed By An Alpha

*Rose* As Mark walks me out of the dining hall, amidst several other couples who are also leaving, I can’t help but raise my free hand to my nose. That Emily is awful! Why did she have to do that? Pointing at her nose to remind me that mine is too big? “Is everything all right?” Mark asks me, concerned. “Oh, yeah,” I say, smiling at him and pulling my hand away. “I’m just… uh… itchy.” His eyebrows knit together. “Are you okay? Allergies?” “I'm fine,” I tell him. I want to do more to reassure him, but I can’t even think of what to say. “Well,” he adds, “I was going to ask if you wanted to join me in the garden for a bit before we, uh, come back inside… but I don’t want you to be uncomfortable if you’re allergic to something outside. Or is it a food allergy?” “Cats,” I blurt out. “I’m allergic to cats.” He slows his pace and turns to look at me, not any less confused than he was to begin with. “But… there were no cats at dinner.” Of course, he has a point. I stammer, my mouth moving, but