Page 73 of Alpha Fate

“Fuck,” I mutter, raking a hand through my hair. Jagger is still silent, no doubt taking this all in. It must be hard hearing that your wife’s twin sister is pregnant when she’s incapable of giving you young. I doubt that he cares, though. I wouldn’t either. Not when the bond is so strong. Even now, I can feel the taut tug of it drawing me. I hate that she’s moving out of my reach. It’s a physical pain.

“Jagger?” Sierra’s voice. “What are we going to do?”

He pulls her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her and murmuring into her hair. I don’t intrude into their moment. I don’t need to. I know exactly what we’re going to do.

Savannah’s out there alone, vulnerable, probably afraid.

And she’s pregnant.

We’re going to find her.

Chapter 24

Savannah

Panic claws at my insides as I run through the dense underbrush, branches slapping against my skin like angry reprimands. My heart hammers, each beat a thunderous drum driven by the urgency of my flight.

And yet, everything around me is so tranquil. The sky stretches above, a black blanket dotted with stars. A gentle wind blows the long grass that I forge through. The world seems oblivious to the storm within me.

And now, I’m lost.

Stupid.

So stupid to leave without a plan. But the need to escape, to find a way to resolve things…it overpowered every rational thought. I should’ve thought this through, should’ve found a map or something – anything – to guide me back to Wildview. It’s been a month, and the only thing I remember about my home is the feeling of safety it once provided.

“Think, Savannah, dammit!" I mutter under my breath, cursing my stupidity for the thousandth time. The only clear moment of thought I’ve had was that I couldn’t travel as a wolf, even though I would be moving faster. There are too many humans in this terrain. Where our pack used to run in the mountains, we were safe in our animal form. If I’m found out here, on the outskirts of civilization, I’d be trapped, or shot, or worse. Humans are afraid of the wild things that inhabit the planet with them.

Still, I should have known better. I should have charted a course to Wildview before making this rash escape. The settlement could be anywhere, hidden among the endless Appalachian hills that could be in any direction. And here I am – racing blindly across unknown regions, driven by fear and desperation.

God…I wish… Oh, how I wish things could have been different.

Gage’s face haunts me – the pain in his eyes when he realizes I’m gone will be unbearable. He’s become a part of me in such a short time, our connection undeniable and fierce. I can’t face him, not with this secret swelling inside me. How could he possibly understand? How could he accept children that aren’t his own? He’s so dominant, so possessive in the most caring way; it would shred him to share me with ghosts of another man’s touch.

I keep moving, muscles screaming in protest, lungs burning for air. I can’t stop now; if they find me, if Gage finds me…

Stop panicking!

It’ll get me nowhere. Probably just drain my energy. Make me weak.

You’re already weak. Running away is weak!

I don’t want to think that way, but part of me is convinced of it. Running from my problems. Running from my sister, who only wants to help me. My heart aches as I consider Sierra – my twin, my other half. She must be frantic by now, riddled with worry. Guilt wraps around my throat like a noose, tightening with each labored breath. She deserves an explanation; she deserves to know why I couldn’t face the world right now.

She’ll understand. She has to.

It’ll all be worth it if I can find Wildview. She’ll forgive me then. I cling to that thought, letting it buoy me. If I can go back to her having found our parents…that will make it all worthwhile.

That’s if you ever find it!

God, I’m an idiot.

Stumbling over an exposed root, I yelp as I land on my knees, skinning them. My palms sting as I scrape the skin from them.

Get up. Get up!

I clamber to my feet and stand for a minute. I need to take a rest. I can’t keep this pace up. It’s foolish to even try.

Slowing to a walk, I limp through the scrub, picking my way more cautiously and trying to catch my breath. I need to take a break.

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