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

“I can’t think of a reason why you can’t,” I shrug.

I really can’t think of a reason. I’ve tried.

He sits down next to me and spreads his arm over the back of the bench. “This town isn’t a bad place, is it?”

I watch the children run around and play on the swings. “It’s alright. A little dull, but fine.”

“Are you happy here?”

When I glance at him, I see the sincere curiosity in his eyes.

“No.” The answer feels torn from me.

Noah blinks. “You’ve never applied for a transfer.”

“Because I can’t.” I pull my knees up to my chest and rest my arms on top of them. “You know why I was sent here. Your father told me this would be my prison for the rest of my life.”

Noah doesn’t reply right away. I glance at him from the corner of my eye only to see him staring straight ahead, his jaw set. “Father did tell me what happened at the orphanage. But I didn’t realize he’d given you a life sentence.”

I let out a quiet sigh. The idea of having to spend the rest of my days in this dismal town is depressing. Perhaps I should take Alex up on his offer. I can always back out once I manage to save up the exact amount of money I need to escape this pack and this place. Of course, if I buy my freedom from the South Alliance, I won’t be able to stay on this continent anymore. To remain here, I need to be a part of one of the Alliances. The rules are different on other continents.

“Have you made any friends here?” Noah asks suddenly.

“Not really,” I admit. “I’m not really accepted in this town, being an incomplete wolf and all. If I try to take part in any pack activities, I’m ignored.” I throw him an accusing look. “That must amuse you.”

I don’t know where that last part came from, perhaps a place of bitterness and anger. But Noah’s head lowers, and he leans forward, intertwining his fingers.

“I know I put you through hell, Sophia. But I’m no longer a child. I’m fully aware of what I did to you. I’m trying to make amends here. You’re not obliged to forgive me, but can you please try to look past the child I was and see my sincerity? I’m going to be the Alpha one day. I want to be a better one than my father.”

His voice is quiet and low, and I feel a little bit ashamed of my attitude. “Sorry.”

He shakes his head. “I’m not asking you to apologize. Like I said, I can understand your feelings. It’s easy to hurt somebody, but trying to win back their broken trust is never an easy journey. Father wanted to come here himself when he heard of the black wolf sighting, but I offered to come in his stead. I wanted to see you.”

Mention of the black wolf makes me go still. I try to keep my voice normal as I ask, “Any luck with the search?”

“Nope. At this point, I’m inclined to believe that Freddy truly was exaggerating. However, even under harsh interrogation, he has maintained his story. I’ll need to give my father some answers when I get home.”

He folds and then unfolds his hands. When I don’t say anything, he keeps talking.

“I went through extensive Alpha training when I turned fifteen. I was taught by two of the pack elders. Even my own father wasn’t allowed to interfere in my training. That’s how it always is: two pack elders are selected to train the next Alpha. I didn’t realize what an immature and selfish person I was till I started receiving the training. Words like ‘fairness’ and ‘justice’ never existed in my vocabulary, Sophia. There was a lot I had to reflect on. I also had to consider the reasons why I treated you the way I did.”

I wrap my arms around my knees, pulling them closer to me. “You don’t have to talk about it.” Talking is not going to change the past, after all.

It seems that Noah wants to, though. “You’re right. I don’t have to talk about it, but I think you need to hear this, Sophia. When my mother died, my father brought your mother home just a few weeks later. I was not allowed to see my father for months. Then, out of the blue, I heard that a child had been born and my father was taking care of her. I met you and your mother two months after your birth.”

My eyes widen and my head whips around to face him. “Say that again.”

He looks startled. “Which part?”

“About you seeing my mother after I was born! Alpha Black told me she died during childbirth.”

“No, she was alive. She died when you were a few months old.”

“A few months?” I echo, shocked. “How did she die, then?”

He shrugs. “I really can’t tell you. I guess there were some complications during your birth that didn’t get resolved. All I know is that I was sent away when she got sick, and when I returned, you had already been sent to the pack orphanage, and your mother was dead and buried.”

I stare at him. “So, my mother held me when I was born?”