Page 23 of Fated Alpha Protector

“See you at dinner, Father,” I bid him as he left the training center's dressing room. Slipping on my sneakers, I make my way out in search of Mia.

With my parents back, I can't keep her in the main house. I hadn't thought as far as that – if my parents came over.

I have to find Mia. To tell her not to reveal who she is to my parents.

Ana…

‘Ana…’ I send my sister a mind link.

‘Yes, Brother?’ she replies. There's a gruffiness in her voice, indicating that she's in her wolf form. Though I didn't see her at training, I know she's out with Mia. Showing her around Overton.

But that means…

‘Is Mia with you?’ I ask, pressing a finger to my temple.

‘Yes, she is,’ Anastasia replies. ‘We were racing.’

‘Racing?’ I jerk abruptly in surprise. ‘You're both in wolf form?’

Anastasia's response echoes in my mind, knocking around my skull like a marble between a metal bucket. I'm rushing out of the training center, bolting for the stone path leading toward the woods.

Panic erupts from the recollection of what happened to Mia before. I run into the forest, about to invoke my wolf when I hear rustling up ahead.

Slowing down, I see two wolves emerging from the shadows. One is Ana, the other is the dark chestnut brown wolf with a silver streak across its back. But we're not in the clear yet.

Ana nods as a gesture to give them privacy. I turn away, listening to the sound of her flashing back to human form.

The second flash that slices the air warps my sense of time. It freezes time over, and a split second turns into an eternity. Every sound slows down to my eardrums. Every passing speck of oxygen can be felt.

I'm compelled to turn just in time to meet Mia's eyes. Everything around us fades, until it's only her and I. Not her naked form nor the forest's green riches is evident in my vision.

It's just her, with her captivating brown depths pulling me in.

I'm drawn to her by a magnetic force that has me taking a mechanical step forward. She doesn't move, simply stays frozen in place as if she waits for my closeness.

That's exactly what I give her. Closing the distance between us, I drown my senses in the sweetness of her scent.

It's so distinct, it sends sharpness through my jaw as if it touched my sweet-tooth. Frowning deeply, I take another step forward when I'm interrupted.

“Theo?” It's Anastasia.

Snapping my head in her direction irritably, she hops over. Whatever invisible bind had me in a trance, it's cut now with Anastasia's interruption.

“Yes, Sister?”

Anastasia offers me a wide grin, while Mia dresses.

“Why were you looking for us?” she asks.

“Mom and Dad are back,” I informed her matter-of-factly. Mentally, I'm searching for that scent in the air. The one lost the moment Mia put her clothes on.

“They are?!” my sister claps her hands joyfully.

“Why don't you go ahead and meet them?” I suggest.

Anastasia throws a glance at Mia. “Mia, I–”

“It's okay, Ana,” I assure her. “I'll walk her back. Just remember, Mia is your guest. A friend from college from a pack in South America.”

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