Page 15 of The Alpha's Chosen Fate

It had taken months of stealth and close calls with local wildlife to carve out this meager existence, but it was all I had—all that stood between me and the yawning abyss of despair that threatened to swallow me whole.

The intruder burst through the bushes.I lunged forward to meet him, my jaws snapping as we collided.Blood filled my mouth, hot and coppery, as my teeth punctured flesh.

Don't let go, Rieka urged.

We fought like wild things, two lone wolves with nothing to lose.But in the end, it was my jaws that closed around the intruder's throat, my weight that pinned him to the ground until his struggles ceased.

I released my grip, stepping back to survey the damage.The other wolf lay still, his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths.I oddly had no desire to finish him off in his weakened state.

Probably left his pack to die alone in the woods,Rieka noted.I think he wanted us to help him along with that.

He was old, older than I realized when he attacked.His eyes opened and took me in.

I was struck stupid by the kindred feeling I felt for him.

As the adrenaline faded, exhaustion settled over me like a leaden cloak.I couldn't remember the last time I'd slept deeply, without fear of attack.Couldn't remember the last time I'd allowed myself to shift back into my human form, to feel the wind on my bare skin and the sun on my face.

We’re better protected when I’m in control, Rieka plainly stated.

It had been easy to lose myself in the simplicity of the hunt and the kill.But deep down, I knew the truth.Knew that with each passing day, I was losing my humanity more and more.

We're becoming what we need to become in order to survive.And wewillsurvive, Ivy.We will not live the rest of our existence like this.

I just needed to make it through winter.After that, I could travel further away, maybe find a new pack.

You would have to tell a new Alpha that you’re from Darkwood.

My wolf was right, but I didn’t feel like arguing.We didn’t communicate the rest of the evening, even as we finished our patrol and returned to our den.

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of crimson and gold.I lay at the mouth of the cave, watching the colors fade into twilight, my mind drifting to places I’d rather it not go.

I dreamt of an elderly female wolf with light brown fur and a white streak across her chest—an older twin to Rieka.She attacked an Alpha, not putting up much of a fight.

The female wolf’s lips curled into a wolfish-grin as her life slowly drained away from between the dark Alpha’s unforgiving jaws.

Chapter 6

Briggs

Two years later …

The scent of blood and fear permeated the air as Ruby's screams echoed through the infirmary.I paced anxiously outside the room, listening.

"Hold on, Grace is on her way!Her healing powers will help with the pain," the midwife assured her Luna with a strained voice.

I clenched and unclenched my fists, remembering Theia's words from years ago.The cloudy-eyed Seer's prophecy still rang my ears.

"The mother of your first child will not survive the birth,” she’d said.

Her words had set off a chain of events that broke something in me that I feared could never be repaired.

Ruby's cries intensified, and I felt my control slipping.Onyx pushed forward, urging me to protect our pup, even if our mate wasn't the one we truly wanted.

"Briggs," Colten's deep voice cut through my spiraling thoughts."I came as soon as I heard."

I turned to face my friend.For a moment, I considered brushing off his concern, but I’d done that too many times of late.

"It's happening," I told him.“I think this is the end of it.”

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