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

It’s Noah.

His arms are crossed over his chest, his eyes closed and head lowered. His back is leaning against the brick wall that borders the beach. He must have carried me here at some point during the night, putting his jacket over me to protect me from the cold. When I reach out to touch his hand, I feel how chilly it is.

How long has he been out here like this? I look around and realize that the sun is rising.

I begin to move, taking the jacket off so I can cover him with it, but he immediately wakes up. His first action is to stop me.

“Keep it on,” he says calmly. “It’s cold out.”

“I know,” I reply, feeling awful. “Your hands are freezing.”

He smiles at me. “I don’t really feel it.”

I give him a disbelieving look. “Liar.”

He holds out his hands to me. “Why don’t you warm them up for me, then?”

I take his hands between mine, and I can feel him watching me. When I glance at him, his cheeks are red, and he can’t seem to stop smiling.

Does he really care about me this much? Why? There’s nothing I can offer him. My own fated mate doesn’t think I’m worth anything. Why does Noah? I can’t bring him any benefit. I’m not even as educated as he is. He deserves someone like Julia.

Noah suddenly takes his hands away from mine and presses his finger to my forehead. “Whatever you’re thinking, don’t.”

“Why were you out here?” I ask him, adjusting my position so I’m sitting next to him.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” He reaches over and tightens the jacket around my shoulders, covering my chest to keep me warm. “It was midnight when I found you. You could have gotten sick, sleeping in the water like that. Or you could’ve drowned.”

I look toward the ocean. The idea doesn’t seem very unappealing. But I don’t say that to Noah.

“I just felt like sleeping under the stars.”

I can tell he doesn’t believe me. His hand cups my cheek, his thumb caressing my skin, his voice gentle. “You mean, you wanted to cry under the stars?”

I avert my gaze.

“Who broke your heart, Sophia?”

“Nobody. I was just thinking.”

I see regret in his eyes when I look at him. “Was it because of the conversation we had earlier?”

I wish I could say yes, but he looked after me all night long, and the last thing I want is for him to feel guilty for no reason.

“It was a tough day,” I say, resting my arms on my knees.

Noah puts his arm around my shoulders, pulling me in to his chest. There’s nothing romantic about the gesture, and I sense that he’s merely offering comfort in the form of physical affection.

“Whatever it is, Sophia, I’m confident you can work through it. And if you need my help, I’m right here.”

I look up at him, my eyes searching his for something. I don’t know what. My heart is beating slowly, painfully. “Why are you doing all this for me? You apologized, and I forgave you. Why are you wasting your time with me, Noah?”

“I don’t think being with you is a waste of time. I enjoy spending time with you and looking after you.”

I scoff, wanting to believe him but scared to do so. “Impossible.” I fall silent, feeling hollow. After a moment, I add, “I can’t give you anything. I have nothing.”

“There is one thing you can give me,” Noah replies quietly before pressing his finger on my chest, right where my heart is. “You could give me this.”

“You want my organs?” I ask abruptly because the alternative is absurd.