Page 16 of Lost Fate

That, however, is impossible. If there is such a thing as a female alpha, I’ve never heard of it. Alphas are always males.

I don’t know what that means for me. Well, it’s more like I don’t want to know.

Now that I’ve put it out in the world, though, Leander is going to put together the same dots that I’ve been afraid to. He looks me over and then gives a sharp nod.

“Okay then.”

I turn to look at him. “Okay?”

“Yeah. Okay.”

“Leander…”

He turns and puts his hands on my shoulders. “Ember. I know. But that… it doesn’t change anything.”

“Um. I’m a problem, Leander. I can’t be in a pack if my instinct is constantly to challenge the… beta.”

I’m not talking about challenging betas. Leander, however, nods. “Or maybe you could. Maybe you could be a beta, or an alpha.”

The words make my heart flutter. “An alpha?” It sounds so appealing, I’m almost afraid of how good that idea feels.

Leander must have some idea about how I’m feeling, because he gives me a nod. “That would be cool as hell. But it wouldn’t change anything important.”

“It would change my whole life, Leander,” I say softly. Being a female alpha, or beta even, is unheard of. It would just be another reason for me to stick out like a sore thumb. Ember Greene. Always different. Always alone.

His smile is broad. “It doesn’t change how I feel about you. No matter what, Ember, I think you’re pretty fucking amazing. If you’re the only female alpha that I’ve ever heard of? It fits. It’s perfect. Because it’s you,” he murmurs.

The emotion that’s ricocheting through me feels like it’s going to burst out of my skin. I can’t handle it. I love it. Both are true at the same time, and I don’t know how to handle it.

So instead, I give Leander a look. “You want me?”

He nods. “Hell yes.”

“Fine. Catch me,” I say.

Then, I shift. And as I sprint away, I don’t look back. But pure joy powers my legs. I might not be looking back, but I know Leander’s there. And yeah, I want this.

Now, it’s time to make him mine.

By the time I’m back at the cabin, I’m breathless. I ran as fast as I could through the woods to get here, and I stopped focusing on anything except the pounding of my feet. I think that I must have beat Leander here.

I peer around, looking for him. I take a step off of the porch. “Leander?” I call.

I don’t even turn back before I feel him behind me. And when his lips meet mine, he takes me completely by surprise.

I growl, half turned on, half startled. When he grips my hair in his hand, though, the half that’s startled immediately switches sides.

The kiss is…

It’s nuclear.

It’s everything that I imagined in the water. Leander kisses me like he’s getting paid by the minute. His hands roam over my body, tracing reverent lines like he’s trying to memorize my shape. I love it.

I don’t know how we get inside, but we do. Leander growls as he tosses me down onto the bed, and I fight against him as he looms over me.

“Leander,” I pant as his lips trace a path down my throat. “I need…”

I need him to win.

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