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

I stare at him for what feels like a full minute. I don’t see any recognition in his eyes, just light irritation. Finally, I let out an unsteady breath, feeling relieved. “Of course.”

I grab a few menus off the table next to theirs and hand them out to each of the men. “I’ll be over by the bar. When you’re ready to order, just call for me.”

I don’t know how I manage to walk all the way across the restaurant with my knees feeling like jelly. Grabbing the edge of the bar for support, I sink down onto one of the stools, my legs quivering.

Once again, Elsa gives me a weird look. “What is going on with you?”

“It’s the heat,” I say without thinking. “It’s getting to me.”

She sets down the napkin she was folding and stares at me. “Sophia, it’s October.”

I blink at her slowly. “My bad. I meant the cold.”

“We’re in the South.”

I lower my gaze, out of answers.

“Have you been drinking on the job?” my boss demands.

“A cup of chamomile,” I admit. “Maybe my brain is allergic to it.”

Elsa’s eyes raise toward the ceiling as if she’s praying for patience. She takes a couple of seconds to compose herself and then gives me a steely-eyed look. “Just get through tonight, will you? And no more vodka for you.”

I am hardly in a position to argue with her. I decide to change the topic to something that has been nagging me. “By the way, those people aren’t from our town, are they? I haven’t seen them around here before.”

“They’re from another pack in the South Alliance. They’re here on business. I think they’re staying at the motel across the road.”

I absorb this information and ask, slowly, “So, their papers were checked and verified? They are who they say they are?”

My boss studies me. “Of course. Oakrest has a high level of security.”

“What kind of business are they here on?” I ask, not believing the story at all. If they are here on business, they had no reason to be at the cage fighting arena last night. On top of that, they were clearly looking for someone. I don’t know who these people are, but they’re definitely not here on business. However, once again, I can’t really say anything. I just have to make sure to steer clear of them. Whatever they’re planning to do, as long as I stay out of the way, it should not affect me.

“I think they’re ready to order.” Elsa taps my arm, and I look over my shoulder to see the entire group watching me intently.

I feel a little more like myself this time when I approach them. They don’t know who I am, and that’s a relief.

Now that I think about it, there are a few things that differentiate me from the Wily Vixen. One of those things is my height. I wear insoles in my shoes when I go about my daily life, and they give me a couple extra inches. My alter ego is shorter than me. And then there is the matter of my long hair. When I’m fighting, I always wear braids close to my head, which help me hide the length completely. When the blue-eyed shifter saw me, all of my hair was tied in a bun and hidden by the hood of my hoodie and my mask. Today, I have my ashen locks in a long, loose braid down my back. Of course these men don’t suspect me. I was just blowing things out of proportion.

With a smile on my face, I ask, “Have you guys decided?”

As they rattle off their orders, my eyes keep shifting toward their leader. Now that I’m not panicking, I realize he’s quite handsome. He has an aloof air about him, but even if I had not overheard two of his men refer to him as “boss,” it would have been easy to figure out that he’s in charge. I don’t know what his name is, and I don’t understand why I am so curious about him. My body feels warm as I stand near him.

I wonder if I’m getting a fever. Perhaps from stress? Another thing to blame on this man.

My eyebrows furrow together. I wish he’d do what he’s in this town to do and leave already. He makes me uncomfortable.

Perhaps that’s why my voice is a little snappy when I ask him, “And for you, sir?”

He narrows his eyes at me, clearly sensing the hostility in my tone. “I’ll have the steak and potatoes.”

“Alright.”

I am about to turn around when he says, “You didn’t write it down.”

“Excuse me?”

“My order,” he says pointedly. “You didn’t write down my order.”