Page 55 of The Alpha's Chosen Fate

The way she had to forcethat nightout of her mouth, the way her lips pinched, was a flashing red warning of where her mood was currently headed.

Once I showed her what was inside, her surliness would be blunted.She might even be pleased.

Careful, Onyx cautioned.

The necklace will smooth this over, I thought with confidence.Women love jewelry.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

I wasn’t naive enough to think baubles and trinkets could completely wipe away the past.They could only help, though, right?

“I had it tucked away in my safe well before the Mating Moon.I want you to have it now."

Slowly, I opened the box, revealing the intricate jade and stainless steel choker inside.

Ivy's eyes widened.She reached out to touch it, her fingers tracing the delicate metalwork.

Abruptly, she snatched her hand away.

“What’s wrong?”I asked.

"Is this—is it the same necklace you put around Ruby's neck?"

"No, of course not.This one isyours.”

She stared at me, clearly insulted."No thank you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean what I said.No thank you, I don't want it."

Beautiful stubborn female.

“Ivy, it's similar to Ruby’s, but it is not the same necklace.”

Her wolf’s guttural snarl had Onyx pacing.

“You’re not listening, Alpha McClellan.”

“Briggs.” My jaw tightened so fast my teeth audibly clacked.

“Listen carefully to my words,Briggs.I.Don’t.Want.It.”

A sharp pang seized my chest.Irrational anger boiled and foamed under my skin.How could she not want something I’d so carefully designed for her?

“Why not?”I snapped.“It’s yours.I had it made for you.”

My mate’s little hands went to her hips.“Did you have one made for Ruby, as well?At the same time, perhaps?”

“No.”

“When did you buy hers?Why was hers also jade?”

It was customary for a male to gift jewelry of some kind at a mating ceremony and I needed something to keep with pack tradition.The exchange with Ruby meant nothing to me.

I could have told Ivy the truth, that once I’d decided what had to be done I’d returned to the jeweler and picked the first thing I saw in the on-sale display case.That both necklaces were the same stone was purely coincidence and not planned.

I scrubbed my face irritably.“Does it matter?”

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