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

“I could tell.” Noah doesn’t look amused. “Going after a member of the security team was not a smart idea, Sophia. They’re stronger than you.”

“You’re right.” I can’t explain to him what happened to me in that moment. Everything just became too much for me, and I was on the verge of exploding. I glance down at my hand, recalling the rippling sensation I felt. I’ve never experienced anything like it before. It was as if my wolf was desperate to come out. If given the time, would I have been able to shift forms?

“Where were you, though?” Noah asks suddenly “I thought your work ended around one.”

“It did.” I say, trying to keep my voice even and relaxed. “But with Rita’s death…I was very close to her, Noah. The idea of coming back here felt suffocating, so I decided to go for a walk. I ended up sitting by the lake for an hour before I decided to head home. How is the case going, by the way? I heard you’re in charge of it.”

“The investigation into Rita’s murder?” Noah shakes his head. “We don’t have much information yet. But I have reason to believe it was that Northern wolf. Rita lived in such an isolated area. The other cottages on that road are empty. Maybe he came to rob the place. In any case, I’m looking into it. I’m not going to let Rita’s attacker walk free for long.”

I give him a small smile, but now I have a new problem to deal with. If Noah is planning to pin the murder on Alex, he’s going to double down on finding the black wolf. And sooner or later, he’s going to figure out Alex’s and his companions’ true identities. I have to warn them. This is no longer a matter of weeks but days now.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been around much,” Noah apologizes. “I’ve been meaning to ask you what happened the other day at my place. You disappeared into thin air.”

I remember the men standing outside Noah’s apartment, the ones who appeared only after we had gone inside. Why were they there? It’s unsettling, but I choose not to say anything about it. “I was feeling sick. I had to leave.”

Noah studies me intently. “But you didn’t leave through the front door.”

I realize now that he knew about the men in the hall, which is a troubling thought. “The pack security team and I don’t exactly get along,” I say slowly, choosing each word carefully. “I was about to leave the way we went in, but I saw them standing out there, and I freaked out. So, I climbed out the window.”

Noah stares at me, looking bewildered.

“The window? You realize you could have hurt yourself?”

“I really don’t get along with them,” I insist tightly. “They go out of their way to make life difficult for me, so I try not to cross paths with them when I can avoid it. I was fine; I just scraped my knee a little.”

“And then what happened? Were you okay when you got home? Did you need to see a healer?”

I shake my head. “I had something bad to eat the night before. I guess it was just the after-effects of that. I should’ve reached out to you to let you know, but things have been so hectic recently that I simply forgot.”

“I see.” Noah gives me a small smile. “As long as you’re feeling better.”

He doesn’t seem to be in the mood to leave, and I am not exactly planning to ask him to spend the rest of the night here. It doesn’t matter how Noah looks at me or how he touches me; there is no attraction between us, or at least none that I feel. I wonder if it’s because of Alex.

As I take another sip of tea, I realize it has cooled down. The taste has become slightly bitter. I set down the mug and let out a deliberate yawn, hoping Noah will take the hint. Fortunately, he does. Looking regretful, he says. “I should probably let you rest. It’s far too late.”

I give him a grateful smile. “Thanks. I’m still trying to process what happened to Rita. My thoughts are all messed up.”

His face immediately brightens. “If you don’t want to be alone—”

Me and my big, stupid mouth.

“No,” I say quickly. “I appreciate the offer, but I just want to be alone, Noah.”

He doesn’t argue. “I understand. Why don’t you finish your tea, and then I’ll go.”

Noah looks pointedly at my drink.

I really don’t want to, but I guess I have no choice. I reach for the mug, but in my distracted state, I miss the handle by an inch, and my hand hits the side of it with a little too much force. Since it was resting on a corner of the table, it falls to the ground; I try to catch it, but I fail.

“Oh, no!” I cry out in distress as it smashes on the floor. “That was my favorite mug!”

I lean down to pick up the pieces, but Noah beats me to it.

“Don’t! You’ll cut yourself!”

His voice is tinged with anger, and I flinch.

“I—I’ll get a dustpan and broom.” I hurry away, my heart pounding.