Page 12 of The Alpha's Chosen Fate

“Alpha,” he nodded.

He wasn’t returning with good news.

"Our trackers picked up Ivy’s scent and followed it for about fifteen miles north of here,” he said.

“And?”

“And it disappeared.”

I waited for him to continue, but he just sat there.I rose and paced back and forth behind my desk.

“What does that mean?”I asked impatiently.

“It means she’s smart.She found a creek system and traveled in the water to hide her scent.”

“Did you—”

“Yes.For two days we searched upstream and downstream, and along every offshoot we found.We never found the trail again.It rained yesterday morning so it’s no surprise there was no further sign of her."

"I want her found and I want her found now.”My voice came out harsh and ragged with frustration.

"Briggs," Colten sighed."As your friend, not your Beta, I need to say this.What you did at the ceremony was horrible.If you force her to return, to watch you and Ruby together, then you're not the man I thought you were.You'd be beyond cruel.Ivy doesn’t deserve it."

His words stung.My wolf whined and retreated deeper into my soul, leaving an impenetrable darkness in its wake.

He leaned forward.“I don’t understand why you’ve done this, but I’m begging you to leave Ivy alone.If you’re going to keep Ruby as your Luna, give your true mate as much peace as you can.”

“I still want you to find her.”

“Briggs—”

“Don’t tell me anything.Don’t act on anything.I just need to know she’s alright, that nothing terrible has happened to her.That’s it.”

Colten, my Beta, my oldest friend in the world, crowded my personal space.

“You know I love you like a brother, that I would do anything for you, do only what’s in your best interest, right?”

I nodded.“I know.”

“Good.Then I beg you to hear me when I say this.If you ever ask me for Ivy’s location so you can force her to return to Darkwood while Ruby is still living as your chosen mate, I will leave this pack and never come back.”

Colten’s threat was still ringing in my ears hours later when my head hit the pillow that night.

Alpha Briggs McClellan

Chapter 5

Ivy

For three days, I traversed rivers and streams until I was sure my scent couldn’t be detected.I wandered through dense forest, careful to not cross into other pack territories.

I had always been fast, faster than my brother when we were in wolf form.I was thankful now for my speed as it helped put distance between me and Darkwood.

Eventually, Rieka gave me back some degree of control.With it came the unwelcomed flood of emotions over what Briggs did to us, over how he did it.

Where should I go now?I couldn't return to Darkwood, to the judging eyes of my former packmates.

They looked at me like I was tainted.Unclean.Like I somehow deserved to be cast aside by my own mate.

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