Page 80 of The Alpha's Chosen Fate

"You came for me?”

“Yes.”

“After I ordered you to stay in the cabin?”His voice was gaining strength.

“Briggs—”

“You put yourself in danger?Came running halfcocked into a fight against someone who has both directly and indirectly threatened you?”

My palms slapped my thighs like a petulant child.“You’re damn right I did!I followed my instincts, the bond—the one you told me is so important to trust—it told me to go to you.Screamed it, actually."

The thought of arriving even a second later sent a shiver down my spine.

“So I listened to my gut, snuck out, killed that asshole, and got you back here as fast as I could.”

Briggs's lips twitched into a smile, a shadow of his typical arrogance.

“You could at least say thank you, you ungrateful ass.”

His grin widened.“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” I huffed.

“Now, dear Ivy, tell me where my Beta was when all of this was happening.”

"Don't kill him!"I blurted."It was all me.I slipped away behind his back.I’m wily like that."

Briggs's low rumble of laughter filled the space between the rough timber walls.“Wily, huh?”

“Yes.Now promise you won’t kill him.”

"I have no interest in murdering my Beta," he promised."But we'll talk, Colten and I, and come to an understanding.We’ll talk about doing a better job of keeping you safe.Seems you and I also need to have chat about the same thing."

"I assumed you would have something to say along those lines.”

Briggs nodded.He was uncharacteristically calm.Sure, he was healing, but I assumed he’d wake up angry as hell and rant for hours.

“Why aren’t you acting more … pissed off?”

One of his eyebrows lifted.“You’d prefer me to raise my voice again?”

“Not really, no.”

His hand reached out, slowly, and took hold of mine.The bond flared, the pull raw and undeniable.

Overwhelming.

"I'm not blind to what you did, Ivy.Taking down Phelps was no small feat."

His chest rose with a deep breath, the rise and fall more steady now."I watched you, you know.Before you left the pack.And … after.I admire you.Your strength, your resilience.Your ability to help others as a healer.Your ability to put an Alpha in his place.I’m proud that you’re my fated mate, Ivy.Proud of everything you are.”

"Your pride …" I started, my throat tightening.

"Is well placed with you," he finished."As is my heart."

The charged energy between us pulsed through the air.Butterflies fluttered in my stomach.

So much was rushing at me at once.Too much.

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