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

He tosses my backpack at me. “Where are you going?”

The other black wolves shift, and I see Jared, Saul, and Patrick.

“Thanks for all your help. I’m leaving. This is my problem, not yours.”

I’ve only taken two steps when Nathan blocks my path. “Your problem is our problem. You’re Alex’s mate, after all.”

For a moment, I gape at him. “Did you hit your head somewhere?”

His face turns red. “No! But Alex cares about you, so no one here is going to let you go deal with your messed up life all by yourself.”

“Thanks for the concern,” I say dryly, not sure I buy his words. “But it would be better if you leave me and my messed up life alone. Alex and I have already decided that we are not going to be mates. So, unless you’re saying that to rub it in my face—”

“That’s not what he meant.” Patrick speaks up now, putting one hand on Nathan’s shoulder. “This is a decision we all made. Because if we let him, Alex will rip out his own heart and give it to us. What you said the other day was true; none of us were thinking about Alex’s well-being. We were solely focused on ourselves and what would benefit us. And by us, I mean the pack. Alex has never asked for anything in return. He has given up everything for the pack. We’re not going to let him lose you, too.”

Saul nods. “We need the Silver Wolf, yes. And we want to keep looking for her. But we are going to ask her to help us. Even if that means emptying the pack’s treasury if we have to. But we will not sacrifice our Alpha to get her.”

I don’t understand. I look at them, confused by what they’re saying. They don’t mean it. This must be some sick joke.

“Your sister, Nathan…” My mouth has gone dry. “You have to save your sister.”

His hand curls into a fist by his side. “We will find a way. I’ll figure something out. But—” he looks forlorn now— “I was wrong when I said the pack would never accept you. You were willing to help us even though it meant you had to find another woman for your own fated mate. You did it for our pack. And you did it for Alex. You did it for us. You never complained. Our pack would be lucky to have somebody like you as Alpha Female.”

Jared laughs suddenly. “And more importantly, Sophia, our Alpha is madly in love with you. I don’t think he would survive without you. You don’t have to worry about this town anymore. We plan to bring you home with us.”

I look at Alex, unable to believe my ears. There has to be a catch. Good things don’t happen to me like this. And despite what all of them are saying, Alex hasn’t spoken even once. He’s watching me, his expression unreadable.

He approaches me when he sees me looking his way.

“I’ve made a lot of sacrifices for my people, Sophia. But I’ll be honest with you: I asked Patrick to step up as Alpha. The thought of losing you was too much. I couldn’t leave you behind here. I was willing to relinquish my position to my second-in-command in order to be with you. I know things haven’t all been rosy between us, but walking away from you is something I can’t even fathom doing. So, don’t ask me to.”

My eyes feel wet as he takes my hands in his. “I don’t care if your wolf is latent or you have three horns on your head. I know you don’t trust people easily, and I know you most likely don’t trust me, either, after what I’ve put you through, but—”

“That’s not—” I begin, my heart full to the point of bursting.

Alex cuts me off. “I haven’t been fair to you. I know that. And I hurt you when I should have been the one to protect your heart. I know you have a huge heart. You keep hiding it, but I can see it. I don’t want to experience the rest of my life without you by my side.”

“This isn’t…” My eyes flick between Alex and his friends standing behind me. “This isn’t fair. You’re ambushing me. I’m not going to let you—”

My head is spinning. I’m trying not to cry. Good things simply don’t happen to me. And now that something I secretly wished for is happening, I don’t know how to feel. I should still be angry with Alex. I want to be angry with him. But am I? I’m torn between how I actually feel and how I think I should feel.

I’ve been so miserable, so broken, and now he’s saying all of this? It’s not fair!

“What am I supposed to do if you change your mind?” All of a sudden, the words come pouring out of me. “What if you suddenly decide that you want the Silver Wolf after all? You can’t do this to me, Alex. You can’t play with my emotions like this. I don’t—”

“I don’t want the Silver Wolf, Sophia. I only want you.”

“But what if?” I insist, desperate to hear him admit it. All I keep thinking is that these sorts of things don’t happen to me. I’m scared. I’m scared of what he’s offering me because I know, if I reach out and grasp it, I’ll have every bit of happiness I’ve ever craved. But what if I lose that happiness later?

Alex cups my face, his voice gentle. “You’re thinking too much.”

“No, I’m not.” I try to sound firm, but even as I do, my voice cracks. “I have to protect myself.”

“I understand that you’ve done that your whole life, Sophia,” Alex says quietly. “But I can also protect you.”

“I—”

“We’ll give you guys a minute,” Jared says, ushering everybody else away. “We’ll keep guard.”