Page 68 of Alpha Fate

My breath keeps shuddering as I try to draw it in, my shoulders shaking. Sierra pulls back and strokes my disheveled hair from my face.

“It’s going to be okay.” She smiles gently. “You’ll see. Just give yourself some time to get over the shock, and then things will start to be clearer. By tomorrow, you’ll be smiling again.”

Somehow, I doubt that, but I manage a nod.

“Now, what were you going to tell me?” Sierra looks into my eyes.

“Tell you?” I sound bemused because I am. Nothing makes sense right now.

“Yes. When you got back here, you said you had something to tell me.” She cocks her head. “It sounded important. What was it?”

I keep staring at her for long moments before I answer. “Oh.” My voice is tiny. “That was… It was nothing.” My heart breaks as I say it.

It wasn’t nothing; it was everything.

Gage. My future.

All my hopes and dreams rolled into one.

But now, all of it is over.

Chapter 22

Gage

I can’t stop grinning as I enter Jagger’s office. He’s hunched over his desk, scowling at a pile of paperwork. Doesn’t even look up as I walk in.

“What’s so important that you couldn’t wait half an hour to see me?” he grumbles. He’s been grumpy as fuck since moving in here. Probably because he was used to more physical activity when he was more involved on the security team. I’m betting he didn’t expect that being our Alpha would take him away from that so much.

“Half an hour?” I raise an eyebrow. “You had me sitting out there for two. What the hell did you have to do that took so long?”

Jagger sighs, shoving the papers aside. “Do I need to explain myself?” He rubs his temples. “This bullshit is mind-numbing.”

“Yeah. Well, you’d better get used to it. This is your life now.” I laugh, too elated to be bothered by his bad mood.

“Whatever. Get to the point. Why did you come here?”

I take a seat across from him, trying and failing to contain my excitement. “I wanted to talk to you about Savannah.”

Jagger’s scowl deepens. “What about her? Are you still set on this bond thing of yours? Because I said yes.”

“Step ahead of you, Law. We’ve already bonded. We’re more than compatible. She’s my mate. It’s fated.” I can’t keep the pride out of my voice.

“Jesus, you work fast.” He blinks in surprise.

“Why wait? When you know, you know.” I lean back in my seat, feeling a warm sense of satisfaction roll over me. It’s more than simply post-coital bliss. I feel like I’m finally complete.

He looks at me sharply. “You’re sure about this?”

“Without a doubt.” I nod. “I’ve never felt anything like it. Like she was made for me.” When he keeps looking at me skeptically, I continue, “How long did it take for you to know that Sierra was the one for you?”

He can’t fight me on that point. I doubt she’d been here more than a week before his scent was all over her. If he’s honest with himself – and all of us – he’d probably felt it the instant he laid eyes on her.

Just as I had with Savannah.

Except I’d been convinced I was looking at another male’s mate – I thought she was Sierra. No wonder I didn’t recognize it when our wolves connected with each other. The way her scent had hit me like a tidal wave. The way her touch sizzled on my skin.

Jagger is silent, then a hint of a smile tugs at his mouth. “I guess you’re right.”

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