Page 35 of Alpha Fate

Sierra ends it first, turning to Jagger. “Tell her it’s not a good idea, love. You’re the Alpha. You can make her.”

“Doesn’t work that way, beautiful.” He gives a shrug. “I can’t abuse my powers like that. She’s a free woman. She can make her own decisions.”

“And I’m making one now.” Savannah bends down and grabs a pair of trainers near the cluttered dining table. “I’m borrowing these.”

“Savvie, please,” Sierra isn’t giving up. “You don’t know what it’ll be like out there. This place is crawling with dominant males. Not to mention him.” She throws a look at me. “You have no idea what might happen.”

“They’re not savages, Sierra,” I interrupt. “Besides, I’m confident that I can hold off a flash mob.”

“You and what army?” she snaps at me.

I don’t answer that. It’s a ridiculous question.

“Si, I love you for worrying, but I’ll be fine.” Savannah is already at my side, her hand on mine. “Do they do pancakes?” she asks me.

“Yup.”

“God, I’m already drooling. You wouldn’t say I ate a full breakfast barely an hour ago.” She grins at me. And I grin back because how can I not?

“Be careful!” Sierra calls after us as we head out the door.

“They’re gonna be fine, beautiful. Stop panicking.” Jagger is trying to calm her down.

“But we have to take care of her, Jagger! You know why she can’t just go out there.”

“But we can’t stop her from doing what she wants. If things go wrong, I’ll take care of it.”

If things go wrong?

We’re going for breakfast.

What could possibly go wrong?

???

Gage

“What’s that about?” I ask as we head out to the road. The family units are out within the small town that used to bustle with activity when the steel mills were thriving. Now that the humans have left for greener pastures, it’s all ours. I can’t say I’m unhappy about it.

“She’s just overprotective.” Savannah tucks herself closer to me. Now that we’re outside, I’m becoming aware of curious stares. Sierra had a point when she said that there’d be male attention. It takes me a moment to realize that, without thinking, I’m walking taller, my shoulders stiff.

Relax.

But I can’t. I stay tense and bristling until we reach the canteen. And even then, I’m running a wary eye over the occupants at the tables dotted about. The din of morning chatter dies down the minute we walk into the room.

This is what Jagger must have felt like when he brought Sierra in. Poor bastard. I didn’t make things easier.

“Hello to you, Mr. Heller!” A cheery voice has me turning as I scout the place for a table. Preferably one that’s close to the counter where the breakfast dishes are laid out. I don’t want Savannah to be weaving past the others on her way to get her food.

“Bert.” I smile into his jovial face. Our cook takes his work seriously and loves his job. He’d be a great restaurateur if he ever decided he wanted to go into business in one of the cities. Not that he would. We prefer to stick to our kind. Which is how Steel Lakes started.

He glances down at where Savannah has her hand linked through my arm, and his eyebrows shoot into his hairline. “I…uh… Good to see you too, Sierra.”

I can practically hear the cogs whirring in his brain. “Savannah,” I correct him. “Sierra’s sister. We brought her in from Leadmills last night.”

“Right! I heard about that. The rescue mission.” He’s staring at her. “The resemblance is uncanny.”

“We’re twins.” She smiles. “Identical.”

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