Page 83 of The Alpha's Chosen Fate

Ivy turned to face me fully.She sighed.“I’m not exactly sure how to answer the question.”

My insides turned to cement.Her ire I could handle.This … resignation in her tone?It hurt and I didn’t understand why.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to say.Dreading it.Hating it with every ounce of my being.

I’d been wrestling with this for days, mulling my mate’s circumstances over and over and over again.Every one of my instincts was screaming at me not to do it.

But I had to.

"Ivy, if you’re not happy here, if you don’t think you can …” I cleared my tightening throat.“If you want to leave, leave the pack, I won't stand in your way."

The words fell like two tons of lead from the sky, tearing a hole straight through the middle of my soul.

Her eyes widened in shock before narrowing suspiciously."What?"

"I mean it.If staying here, with me, isn't what you want, just tell me.I give you my word I won’t stop you from going."The words tasted bitter on my tongue, but I forced them out anyway.

Ivy stared at me, her expression a mix of disbelief and anger.The artery in her neck pulsed wildly.

“After everything we've been through?Now you want to offer me an out?"she hissed.

“Ivy—”

“What the hell are you doing, Briggs?”

I met her gaze, trying to convey my sincerity."I don't want you to feel trapped.I know I didn't give you a choice before, not when I rejected you and not when I had you dragged back.I regret making you feel like you had no control over your own life.I don’t ever want you to look at me like you used to, like you hated me more than anything in this world."

She shook her head, her voice rising."So, what, you're just going to cut me loose so you don’t have to deal with my mood?"

"No!That's not what I’m doing."I took a step forward, then stopped, running a hand over my face."I just want you to be happy, Ivy.Even if that means letting you go.Even if it’s not with me."

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

I swallowed hard, my chest tight."If there’s too much pain and hurt for you to get over, I don’t want to cause more by keeping you."

Ivy let out a shaky breath, her anger giving way to something more vulnerable."I know I’m still inside my own head with everything, but I can't just walk away.And Icannotbelieve you’re trying to kick me to the curb."

Hope flickered deep in my chest, but I tamped it down.“I assure you, little mate, I am not trying to get rid of you.”

“Then why are you doing this?”

"Because I—" I swallowed the knot of emotions rising in my throat."I rejected you—”

“For good reason!”

“—forced you back here.That wasn't fair.Obviously, I broke something … between us.I can't bear the thought of you staying out of obligation.Of resenting me.There’s space between us and it’s growing.I’m thinking it will always be there because of what I broke."

Confusion clouded Ivy’s gaze, a storm brewing in her depths.

"I love you," I insisted, every muscle tense with the effort of holding myself back."I love you too much to trap you.Now, please, tell me what you want."

"You first," she challenged.

I clenched my fists at my sides, each word scraping against my soul like shards of glass."I want you as my wife.My mate.My Luna.I want you in every conceivable way I can have you.”

I stepped into the moonlight spilling across the wooden floor, my eyes never leaving hers."You’ve had too many choices taken away.You should stand beside me because it's your choice.Because you want to, not because I've caged you and forced your hand."

The thoughts in my head darkened and swirled.

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