Page 47 of The Alpha's Chosen Fate

I’d forgotten to grab one, too lost in thought and the desire to scrub away the remnants of the tussle I’d gotten in down by the lake.

I took my time combing out my hair and then gave it a quick blow dry so it wasn’t dripping down my back.

My clothes, most of which still had tags, were all either in the closet or the chest of drawers.In the other room.

I grabbed the terrycloth robe hanging behind the door and tied the belt tightly.With a silent prayer, I opened the door to confront my captor.

I had my issues with the Alpha and his Luna, but my heart truly broke for him when he’d told me about losing his son.I wanted to hear all of it, no matter how tragic the story was—for either of us.

Briggs was standing near the window, peering down into the yard.

"We need to talk," I told him.

He turned and crossed his arms."Alright."

I played with the lengths of the robe’s belt."I want you to tell me the rest, to tell me everything.The parts you left out.And most especially why I’m really here.”

The big Alpha licked his bottom lip.“You know why you’re here.”

“Stop being so damned obstinate!You didn’t want me before, why do you want me now?”

The muscle in his jaw flexed."Ivy, I always wanted you.You're my mate."

I glared up at him."You made it pretty fucking clear to me that I wasn’t going to be your mate.That I wasn't good enough for big bad Alpha McClellan.That you wanted someone else.Tell me, was it Ruby you really wanted or could it have been any she-wolf, so long as it wasn’t me?"

Briggs visibly shook."You are the only one I’ve ever wanted, Ivy.You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Then enlighten me!"I threw my hands up in frustration."Why reject me so cruelly in front of the whole pack and then drag me back the second Ruby was out of the picture?Was no one else willing?”

“Stop—”

“I guarantee that skank, Scarlett, would gladly sign up for the job.Or did you burn too many bridges after bedding most of the pack’s female population?There was still one you hadn’t screwed and it just so happened to be me?"

His eyes flashed with barely restrained fury.“Don't talk like that.You don’t understand!”

“Whatdon’t I understand?”

Onyx looked out at me through Briggs’s eyes.Rieka whimpered for him.

"I did what I had to do!”he snarled, leaning in until our faces were inches apart.“I would do anything—and I meananything—for you!I did what had to be done and it’s fucking wrecked me how much I hurt you!There is nothing I want more than you.Nothing I haveeverwanted more.”

The air between us crackled.My skin felt hot and fevered, my head dizzy.

Rieka responded to the proximity of our mate despite my brain's protests.I could feel our bond pulsing, drawing me in.

Numb it, Rieka.It’s too much!

I—I can’t, she whined.

And so I fell, taken down by the pull of the invisible cord tying us together.Hell, taken down by incessant need to be the object of my mate’s obsession.

Briggs's mouth crashed against mine in a brutal, savage kiss.A kiss full of repressed longing and barely leashed aggression.

My traitorous body melted against his hard planes and angles, my wolf howling in bliss.His tongue plundered my mouth as he hauled me tight against him.

The bond roared, vibrant and scalding.Wanton desire flooded my veins in a disorienting rush.All thoughts scattered and there was only his lips, his hands, his scent.

Him.

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