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

I grip him by his throat and lift him in the air.

His face turns red as I squeeze his neck. “It’s not very smart to threaten my mate, Mr. Rivers. There’s a lot I could do to you, but unfortunately, I don’t have the time. Consider this Sophia’s resignation. Not that it matters.”

I’m not fond of taking lives, especially human ones. But to protect Sophia, there’s no line I won’t cross. And I have no pity for those who try to take advantage of her.

Not wanting to make too much of a mess, I twist his neck. The man goes limp in my hands.

Quite an anticlimactic death, but so be it.

I toss the man’s body aside and start looking through his desk for anything that might link Sophia to this place. The search takes me well over an hour, and by the time I’m done, I can see through the small, high window that the sun is rising outside.

I discover a couple of payment forms with her name on them, and I put them in my pocket. I do a computer search, erasing any mention of Sophia, including from his emails. I find his cell phone in his jacket; I delete Sophia’s number as well as any messages that might connect the two of them. Walking to the door, I take one last look at the office, hoping I didn’t miss anything. I can’t risk spending more time here to do a deep clean, and I will not have another opportunity. The moment Mathew’s death is discovered, the pack security is going to start digging through his things to find the identity of the Wily Vixen. I can only hope I’ve done a thorough job. His entire office is a mess; I went through each file, each cabinet, and each desk drawer, collecting any papers I could find that would implicate Sophia.

I quickly make my way upstairs and over to the other building. The office there is mostly empty. There is only one cabinet, in which I find a file with Sophia’s name on it. I take it with me.

The sun is almost above the horizon as I make my way back to Sophia’s apartment. But as I’m passing the Dancing Bear, I see two members of the pack security team walking on the other side of the street. I duck into the bar, grateful that the door is unlocked this early in the morning.

Elsa is standing inside. She is understandably surprised to see me. “What are you doing here?”

The two men have seen me and are now heading toward us. I stuff Mathew’s papers into Elsa’s hands. “Hide these. Hide them now.”

Elsa gives me one last look before she disappears into her office. The door opens behind me, and when I turn around, the two shifters are looking at me. “What are you doing roaming around at this time of day?”

“What time is it?” I slur my words deliberately. “I was just gonna get another drink.”

“The bar is closed,” one of them says suspiciously.

Elsa walks back out from her office. “Don’t worry, gentlemen. He’s a friend. The bar is always open to him.” To me, she says, “Why don’t you take a seat? I’ll get you your beer.”

“That’s convenient,” the other one complains. “You always kick us out at closing time, and this guy is having a drink before the sun has even hit the fucking sky?”

“He’s a family friend.” Elsa manages to sound annoyed. “Now, be on your way. I have the delivery trucks coming in. I don’t have time to stand around and gossip.”

I’m surprised that neither of the men argues with her. They just shoot me a dirty look and leave.

As soon as they’re out the door, Elsa raises both her eyebrows at me. “Mind telling me what that was about?”

“Long story.”

“I’ll make myself a stiff drink. I might need it.”

She goes behind the bar and picks out a few bottles.

“Pour one for me, too.” I sit down, running my fingers through my hair.

As she prepares the drinks, she asks, “How’s Sophia?”

“Resting for now,” I tell her. “I barely got her out of the cage fighting arena last night.”

A bottle slips from Elsa’s hand, and I quickly grab it before it smashes onto the granite counter between us.

“The what?”

“The cage fighting arena?” I say slowly, stunned. “You didn’t know? I thought for sure you did. You’re always up in Sophia’s business.”

Elsa lets out a deep breath before snarling, “I’m going to kill that girl. I’m going to box her ears till—What the hell was she thinking, taking part in a cage fighting ring?”

“Who said she took part in it?”