The Alpha’s Fated Choice (Alpha's Fated Encounter Trilogy #1)

I could have stopped after that first time. When I was able to snatch back control, I could’ve stopped him. But I wasn’t ready to. I wanted more. I wanted to be greedy. I didn’t know that hours could pass simply exploring each other’s bodies. I didn’t realize his kisses could be so sweet and his touch could be so addicting.

Perhaps I can share a little bit of his misplaced guilt. I’m the one who took advantage of him. My wolf is satisfied, satiated, and incredibly happy. But I can’t bring myself to feel any of that. Because now that the layer of anger has finally been stripped away, I just want to weep. The same way I wept when Alex told me in that heartbroken tone that he was helpless against the circumstances.

I don’t want to suffer anymore. I want to be free of this. It’s not Alex’s fault that he can’t be with me. Maybe he does care about me to some extent, but I will never ask him to sacrifice his people for me. I haven’t reached that level of selfishness quite yet. But he needs to leave. For me to pick up the pieces of the broken person I’ve become since he stepped foot in this town, I need him gone. The only way I can get him out of here is to find the Silver Wolf for him. He’s been searching in the wrong place all this time, and he needs to know that.

I slowly get to my feet and pick up the shampoo bottle. As I lather my hair, I’m deep in thought.

Someone slipped me an aphrodisiac. At least, that’s what Alex told me. I already knew what aphrodisiacs were. Who doesn’t? But I never thought I would ever ingest one. I also didn’t know how severe the effects on shifters could be.

It wasn’t Noah. I know for sure it wasn’t him. We were in the coffee shop together, and I saw him bring my drink over to me. He didn’t tamper with it. I was watching him the whole time.

No. It was Rita.

But why? Why would she drug me? Was it a mistake?

That’s the only thing I can think of: that she never intended to give it to me. I’m so confused. I’ll have to ask her.

If I hadn’t fled Noah’s apartment, I might have ended up sleeping with him. My wolf growls at the idea, and I roll my eyes. “Well, you made sure that didn’t happen, didn’t you?”

The huff of pride I receive in response makes me frown.

Alex is gone when I get out of the shower. Walking into the empty bedroom, I look around and feel a sense of loss. Of course he’s gone. I told him to leave.

Dimly, I wonder how my bed got fixed. I remember that it broke yesterday.

My body feels sore and deliciously used. A groan escapes my lips as I pull on a pair of soft leggings and a yellow T-shirt that says “Rainbow Monkey.”

First things first. I need to call Rita. I need to ask her why she gave me the aphrodisiac. I pick up the landline, but my fingers linger on the buttons. Is this really a conversation I should be having over the phone? I won’t be able to gauge her emotions this way. I hang up the receiver.

No, I need to talk to her face-to-face.

But before I do that, I need to do some research about the Silver Wolf.

I have a late-night shift tonight at the bar, so I still have a couple of hours. Grabbing my things, I head out. We have a library here in Oakrest, and it’s time I make use of it.

As I’m locking my door, I hear Drew’s voice call out my name.

“Sophia?”

I turn around and vaguely recall running into him on my way back to the apartment. He’s coming up the steps, a strange expression on his face.

“Sorry about before,” I say sheepishly. “I wasn’t—”

“Who was in the apartment with you?” Drew asks abruptly.

I blink. “What?”

He takes a step toward me, and I feel a ball of tension form in the pit of my stomach. “Who was in the apartment with you, Sophia?”

I give him a wary look. “Why are you asking?”

The expression on his face can only be described as anger. “I was knocking on the door for quite a while. You were not alone.”

“No, I wasn’t,” I reply calmly. “And it really isn’t your business, is it?”

He flinches at my words, then looks away. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound…I was just worried about you. You were…You looked unwell when I saw you.”

He’s struggling to find the right words, and I feel a stab of shame as it hits me that he was able smell my arousal. I wish the floor would open up and swallow me whole.