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

“That’s why,” she points out darkly.

I feel a stab of confusion. “I don’t understand.”

She shakes her head. “You’re going to have to figure it out. I can’t say it out loud to you. And I can’t write it down for you, either.”

For a couple of seconds, I study her, the gears in my head turning, and when I speak, my words are carefully chosen. “Are you saying that this—” I tap the side of my head— “is related to what you’re trying to tell me?”

She nods. “Triggers are in place. They’re to protect you, I guess. I can’t say more than that or you might end up badly injured. I’m talking a possible brain bleed.”

Her words startle me. I really don’t want to experience that agony again, so I hold up my hands. “Give me a minute.”

Triggers? Is Elsa implying that a witch has messed with my head? Or is it something else?

Unfortunately, I have a feeling that if I ask her, I’ll suffer the debilitating pain again. The very idea has me shaking my head. I don’t want to risk it right now.

“Let’s figure this out later.” I let out a nervous breath. “Was Alex here?”

“He was able to calm your wolf,” Elsa says shortly.

“Is he gone?” I look at the door expectantly.

Elsa watches me. “I sent him away. So, how’s it going between the two of you?”

“Same old, same old.” I give her a dry smile. “Wrong place, wrong time.”

“If I were you,” Elsa says, settling her hands in her lap, “I would make it the right time. I told Alex the same thing. Walking away from each other is a huge mistake. No matter what is at risk, he should be with you. For both your sakes.”

I shrug. “Do we have to talk about that? I’ve made my peace with it.”

“No, you haven’t.” Elsa crosses her arms across the chest, looking mildly annoyed. “If you had made your peace with it, Sophia, you would not be gazing toward the door so longingly. You’ve gone and fallen in love with him.”

My mouth flaps open, and I try to form some words of denial, but nothing comes out. “What…That’s ridiculous! I would never fall…Stop assuming things! I’m not in love with…That’s stupid.”

“‘That’s stupid’?” Elsa asks dryly. “Really? That’s your response? ‘That’s stupid’?”

I flush. “Well, it is.”

“You’re not a little girl anymore, Sophia.” Elsa’s voice is sharp. “You think that once Alex leaves, you’ll be fine? I may not be a shifter, but I know how both your wolves are going to react. If you had stayed away from each other, it might’ve been less painful. But now that you two have slept together, it’s going to be much, much worse. And between Noah and Alex, Alex is the better option.”

I’ve never understood why Elsa is so passionate about my relationship with Alex. “It’s complicated, Elsa. He has to put his pack first.”

“You are also his pack,” Elsa snaps at me. “And if he is sacrificing you for his people’s happiness, that’s a huge mistake that he’s going to come to regret. Right now, Alex is your only way out of this town.”

“Do you want me to leave Oakrest?” That’s a first, coming from her.

Her expression grows tired. “If I could send you somewhere far away, Sophia, I would. In a heartbeat. This town and its people are not safe for you anymore.”

“How so?”

She shakes her head and gets to her feet. “I’ve already said more than I should.”

She is stepping away from me, going toward the door, when I suddenly blurt, “You know, Rita said some strange things to me, as well. Before she died. She called me that night.” I don’t know why I am telling Elsa this, but the words won’t stop spilling out of my mouth. “She asked me to come to her house, and when I got there, she was dead. Nobody knows I found her.”

Elsa’s back stiffens. “What did she say to you?”

“She kept apologizing. I had asked her a question about the Silver Wolf, and she told me that it was real. She said that she had lied to me before when she said it was just a legend. She wanted to tell me something else in person, but it was too late.”

Elsa’s voice is heavy with grief. “She was a fool. If she had kept her mouth shut, she would still be alive.”