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

He rubs his hands over his face. “I should’ve helped you. I should have—”

“I would have been very pissed if you had gotten involved, Drew,” I tell him firmly. “It would be better for you not to interact with Freddy or the pack security any more than is necessary. They’ve already made your life hell.”

He looks down at the drink in his hand, a brooding expression on his face. After a moment, he mutters, “I feel like a coward. What would Tim think of me?”

“Better to have a coward for a father than no father at all,” I say harshly. When he flinches and looks up at me, I continue. “I don’t have a father, Drew. Nobody has ever protected me. Nobody has ever shielded me from the world’s cruelties. You are Tim’s shield against this world. He needs you. So, don’t drag yourself into matters that don’t concern you. Just live your life with your son and be happy. After everything that has happened, I’m the last person who expects you to fight for me or anybody else.”

My words must have impacted him because he throws his drink back and then, setting the empty beer mug down on the bar, gets to his feet. “I think I’m going to go home to my son now.”

“What about your date?” I ask, startled.

Drew gives me a small smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll apologize to her later. I just want my boy right now.”

He walks away from me, his shoulders slumped, and I don’t know why, but I feel like I did something wrong.

I get behind the bar and pour myself a drink to calm my nerves. I don’t usually make myself so prominent. I’ve always been careful to keep a low profile, but sometimes injustice gets to me. Freddy and his family are nothing short of tyrants around here. I don’t know why they’re allowed to do stuff like this. If I had not intervened, Freddy and his friends would have taken Eve into the back alley even if she had screamed or cried. Nobody would’ve stopped them. Freddy was right: everyone knows who his father is. Nobody dares cross Freddy.

I consider pouring myself another drink, but instead, I push the glass aside. I would rather keep my wits about me right now.

I cannot deny that I still feel some small amount of satisfaction about having knocked Freddy Henrick down a peg or two. But Elsa has a point. Obviously. Messing with this family is not going to result in a good outcome for me. Depending on Alpha Black to protect me may not work. The man has made his disgust for me more than obvious. But this is the first time in my life that I have stood up for someone. It doesn’t matter that the someone was not me.

Changing my mind, I pour myself a second drink then stare down at the liquid in the shot glass.

Whatever happens, happens. I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.

*** **

I get there sooner than anticipated.

“Sophia,” Jack calls, poking his head out of the kitchen window, “the delivery truck just pulled up. I think Elsa’s in her office. Mind dealing with it?”

I nod at him. “I’ll go take a look.”

Jack is busy on the grill when I enter the kitchen, and his assistant is chopping up vegetables for side dishes.

“If you need a hand, I’ll send Sam with you.”

I glance at Sam, who is hyperfocused on clean, even cuts on the carrots, and I roll my eyes. “Don’t worry. I got this.”

Stepping outside, I close the door behind me. A small, blue van is parked in the alley, but the driver’s seat is empty.

“Cameron?” I call out.

Nobody answers. I walk around the side of the vehicle and can see that its back doors are open.

“Cameron, where are—”

As I round the corner, coming to the double doors at the back of the van, I go still. Cameron, the delivery man, is lying unconscious inside the van, face down.

“Cameron?” Shocked, I lean toward him. Before I can reach him, though, the van door to my right swings shut, and I see a familiar face.

“Freddy,” I breathe, my brain trying to connect the dots. “What are you doing here?”

“I told you it wasn’t over,” he sneers.

I stare at him. “Yes, and by that I thought you meant maybe next week, and you would ambush me somewhere. You don’t even have the patience to wait for twenty-four hours? By the Goddess, you really don’t have an ounce of patience, do you?”

I’m beginning to think that I might need to install a zipper on my mouth.