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

He looks ashamed as I rub my wrist. His fingers have left marks on my pale skin. Even as injured as he is, he still has his strength.

“How did I get here?”

“I carried you,” I tell him. “The pack security team is still looking for you. In fact, I think they believe you’re dead.”

I see the way he stiffens, his eyes searching mine.

I fold my arms across my chest. “I didn’t tell them you’re here. You’re safe. For now.”

“You know, then?” he asks quietly.

“That you’re from the North Alliance?”

He just looks at me.

I nod. “Yes.”

“Why didn’t you report me?”

I let out a sigh, rubbing my hands over my face. “I didn’t report you before, when I saw you in the forest. Why would I report you now?”

Alex doesn’t meet my gaze. “Given our situation—”

I cut him off. “You don’t know me, Alex, because you never bothered to. Just because you rejected me, it doesn’t mean I want to torpedo your life or get you killed. You have a fiancée. I understand. I have eyes. She’s beautiful and classy, everything I’m not. I can understand why you prefer her.”

I see something akin to confusion in his eyes, which then turns into shock.

“Wait…”

I get to my feet, no longer wanting to discuss this with him. Touching his forehead, I announce, “Your fever has broken. Noah mentioned that you lost a lot of blood. I have steaks in the freezer. I’ll cook them for you, rare. In the meantime, you should reach out to Julia and let her know you’re safe. I tried to take you to the motel last night, but you didn’t want to go there. I can call her for you if you want.”

Alex stops me, his voice grim. “Don’t tell Julia. Whatever you do, you cannot tell her.”

I give him a strange look. “She’s your fiancée. Don’t you want her to look after you?”

He makes a choking sound. “Look after me? Yeah. She’ll look after me, all right.”

His tone is so odd that it has me blinking. “What is that supposed to mean?”

He shakes his head. “Nothing. Could you just reach out to Patrick and let him know I’m here?”

“I can take you to the motel.”

“I don’t want to go to the motel just yet. Not till my injuries are healed.”

I study him. “Are you planning to live in my apartment while you recover? I’m not running a bed and breakfast, Alex. You can’t stay here.”

“I won’t bother you,” he insists.

“It’s not that…” I curl my hand into a fist. “Look, it’s in both of our best interests to stay as far away from each other as possible. It’s bad enough that you come to the bar every day. Now you want to convalesce in my apartment? You’re not helping the situation.”

“Why?” My ears catch the bitterness in his tone. “Am I getting in the way of your dating life?”

I bare my teeth at him. “Yes. Yes, you are. I’m not even going to ask you what you’re doing in South Alliance territory. Whatever it is, I don’t want to be dragged into it. And I’m not going to let you mess with my head, either.”

“You’re acting as if you care about me, and as if my presence bothers you,” he taunts me.

I see red.