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

He doesn’t stop moving. He’s basically dragging me behind him at this point, as I can’t keep up with his speed.

His companion darts into my dressing room, but Alex keeps going, leaving the man behind.

“Wait!” I look over my shoulder. “What about him?!”

“He’s going to be fine,” Alex says tersely. “Don’t even think about stopping.”

We run out the back of the building, and I see three familiar faces moving toward us.

“A-Alex…” I stammer.

The three members of the pack security team shift into their wolf forms.

My mind is in shambles. I don’t understand what is happening. How could things go so wrong so quickly? Why is Mathew doing this? And how did he involve the pack security?

Alex doesn’t stop even when faced with this new threat. His grip on my hand tightens.

“Make sure your mask doesn’t fall off. And trust me. I’m going to get you out of here.”

His speed is so fast that even the wolves aren’t able to keep up with him.

They race after us, and then suddenly, out of nowhere, three large, black wolves appear and attack the brown ones. As they fight each other, Alex keeps pulling me away, until we’re out of sight. He comes to a staggering halt before ripping his cloak off. He wraps it around me and then shifts. I understand his intention immediately. He wants me to climb on his back.

I do so, and when he starts to run, my fingers dig into his fur and I bury my face in his neck. I’ve never been so terrified. My heart is pounding, my blood buzzing. My wolf is anxious and nervous, yet secure in Alex’s presence.

I’m worried about his companions. I’m concerned the one we left behind is still stuck inside the building. I don’t understand why that female shifter killed the Beaver. And why was Mathew leading everyone toward me? Nothing makes sense.

We race through the trees, heading deeper into the forest. Alex is not taking me to my apartment; he’s going somewhere else. We head further and further into the woods, and soon enough, Alex slows down, and then I hear footfalls behind us. It’s the black wolves, all three of them covered in blood. I hope it’s not theirs.

When we come to a stop, the three black wolves turn their backs to us and face the other way, on guard. Alex shifts back to his human form, and then he’s cradling me in his arms. After lowering me to the ground, he doesn’t let go. “Are you all right?”

“I think I’m going to be sick,” I blurt before breaking free of him and stumbling to the bushes. Lifting my mask up over my mouth and nose, I throw up.

I can feel Alex’s hand rubbing my back. “Just breathe.”

I still feel groggy and nauseated.

I don’t know what’s happening to me.

“I—”

I barely say one word before I vomit again. My stomach now empty of its contents, I lean against Alex, feeling weak.

“I’ve got you,” Alex says firmly.

He’s not looking at my face, but I immediately pull my mask back down.

“You don’t need to bother with that anymore, Sophia. I figured out who you were a while back.”

I go still. When he reaches out to remove my mask, I don’t fight him.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” I feel awkward, watching him study the worn, old, fox mask.

“I felt guilty about your injuries,” Alex admits. “That day you came back to the apartment, all beaten and bruised, it was because of me. Also, I sort of hoped you would tell me yourself. It was your secret to tell, after all. I knew you’d gone to great lengths to hide your identity, and I wanted you to be the one to reveal it.”

I ignore what he’s implying. He hoped I would trust him enough to put my safety at risk. Fat chance.

“If you knew it was me, why did you come to the arena today?”