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

“We don’t feel that way about you,” the last of the bunch says, his voice grim. “You’ll have to forgive Nathan. He has a one-track mind when it comes to this mission—”

“Don’t defend him!” Jared says, his lips twisting. “He insulted our Alpha’s mate.”

“She’s not his mate!” A flush of anger creeps up Nathan’s face. “She’s not deserving enough to be called his mate. She’s not even a proper wolf! The Silver Wolf is the only—”

I don’t know what I expected to happen, but Alex releasing Nathan just to punch him in the jaw has me gasping in shock. Nathan drops to the grass beneath us.

“Say that again.” Alex grabs him by the throat and pins him to the ground. “I fucking dare you.”

“What are you doing?!” I ask in alarm. “You’ll kill him!”

Alex gives me an incredulous look. “Have you forgotten that he tried to kill you mere minutes ago?!”

I open my mouth and then snap it shut. He has a point. But, “You don’t have to kill him. Besides, nothing he said was wrong. That is…Part of what he said is true. I mean —” I don’t know why I’m trying to defend Nathan. I guess I don’t want to see anybody die because of me. “And you and I are not…We’re not exactly mates, so…” I can’t seem to get the right words out. Alex is staring at me. As is everybody else. “Just let him go.” I grab his wrist, and he doesn’t resist when I remove his hand from Nathan’s throat. “I’ll just be more careful when I go out.”

“What do you mean by that?” Alex gives me a concerned look.

I look around at his companions and remain silent.

Patrick seems to understand what I’m not saying, and he sighs. “None of us will try to harm you, Sophia.”

I shrug, grabbing the strap of my bag with both hands for good measure. “I should go.”

“Not till he apologizes.” Alex’s voice is icy. He looks down at Nathan, who is pale as a sheet. “If you’re going to hurt the woman I care about, then why should I stand up for the people you love?”

I’ve never seen Alex this angry. The power emitting from him is terrifying and something I’ve never felt before. My wolf relishes in it, preening at the sight of our mate’s strength.

Nathan’s head jerks up at Alex’s words, a horrified look in his eyes. “You can’t go back on your promise!”

“You broke your word, didn’t you? I told all of you not to go near Sophia, and you agreed you wouldn’t.”

“You fucked her!” Nathan screams hoarsely. “Next time you’ll give her your mating mark! What about my sister? Who’s going to rescue her when you’re off with this freak of nature? You said you would mate the Silver Wolf! You have to—”

He’s not allowed to finish the sentence because Jared smacks him across the back of his head.

“Shut up, Nathan! Sophia was right. We should not expect Alex to sacrifice his own happiness. Everything he’s done since he became Alpha has been for us. When was the last time he did anything for himself?”

“But my sister’s life—”

“We know!” Patrick says harshly. “We’re not talking about jeopardizing her life. We haven’t even found the Silver Wolf yet. We don’t even know if we will, or if she’ll be able to help us! Going after Alex’s mate just to get her out of the way is inexcusable.”

Nathan presses his lips together and falls silent.

“I already told you that Alex rejected me,” I tell him calmly, “and I’m helping him look for the Silver Wolf. Killing me is pointless. You’ll just have needless blood on your hands.”

Alex gives me a dark look. “If he kills you, I will kill him. And don’t talk about your life like it’s meaningless, Sophia.”

Nathan flinches, as do I.

“I’ve always known you were a little hotheaded, Nathan, but for you to take this ruthless approach where my mate is concerned? That’s something I’m not going to forget anytime soon,” Alex tells him in no uncertain terms.

“I’m leaving,” I say abruptly. “This is your matter to deal with.”

I don’t let them stop me this time. I walk past them all, my heart still thundering in a feverish rhythm, and head toward my original destination: the lake.

I escaped death by a hair’s breadth today. Nathan fully intended to spill my blood. I don’t have any loyalty toward any of them, but if his little sister is the reason he’s acting so recklessly, I can understand. He has something to protect. In his eyes, I was probably an obstacle that needed to be removed.

I trek through the trees, trying not to think of the way Alex called me his mate.