Page 80 of Alpha Theo

The shift itself is easy; my wolf’s exhausted, ready to tuck herself away. I’m shaky as I rise on two legs- my muscles are cramping; my feet and palms are sticky with blood. I’m filthy from my arduous journey across the sprawling six-pack territory.

Fallon jogs across the lawn to meet me, her eyes thrown wide. She’s clutching a navy blue bath towel in her hands. “Brooke?”

“Theo.” I choke. “Theo’s my…”

My twin skids to a stop in front of me, wrapping the towel around my body, staring at me earnestly as she secures it in front of my chest. “He’s your mate, isn’t he?”

I bite my lip, nodding.

Fallon pulls me in, squeezing me tight. “I had a feeling,” she whispers.

“What?!” I push her away, take a wobbly step backwards. The towel slips and I grab for it, tucking an end in to secure it again. “And you didn’t tell me?!” I demand, my voice breaking.

Fallon draws a breath. “I wanted to, but…”

“But what?!”

I feel like the world is closing in on me, like I’m being crushed by betrayal. Fate betrayed me by choosing the one man who hurt me as my mate. My own sister betrayed me by her omission.

“Well I didn’t think he’d go home for the run, I figured he’d stay here like he always does!” Fallon says exasperatedly, throwing up her hands. “And with how upset you were the other night, I guess I thought I’d give you some time before I shared my suspicions…”

I shake my head, tears forming in my eyes.

“How could fate get it so wrong?” I ask hoarsely.

Fallon stares at me, her eyes so full of compassion. “Come on,” she urges, slinging an arm over my shoulders. She leads me toward the packhouse, inside and upstairs.

When we reach the top of the stairs, a very concerned looking Gray appears at the end of the hallway, striding toward us.

“What’s wrong?” he asks. “Is it…?”

Fallon just nods. While she didn’t share her suspicions about the mate bond with me, she evidently shared them with her own mate, because Gray nods back in understanding.

He blows out a breath, stabbing his fingers through his hair as he gazes at me sympathetically. “Come on,” he grumbles, turning around and gesturing. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Gray leads us down the hall to a guest room as Fallon and I trail behind. Once we’re inside, Fallon brings me over to the large bed and I sink down onto it, clutching the towel around my body. She turns back to Gray.

“I appreciate that you’re trying to help, babe, but…”

“Yeah,” he sighs, picking up on her insinuation. “Of course. I’ll be downstairs. Just let me know if you need anything.”

The way she smiles at him makes my heart shatter all over again. How could fate have gotten it so right for my sister and so wrong for me?

As Gray closes the door behind him, Fallon takes a seat on the bed beside me, brushing my hair out of my face with her fingertips.

“How’d you know?” I croak, staring blankly at my sister.

She gives me that tender look again, biting her bottom lip softly. “I didn’t know for sure. I just suspected it after you told me about the sparks.”

My eyes well up with tears. “This can’t be happening,” I gasp, shaking my head. “I can’t think of any two people who are less compatible!”

“Brooke…” Fallon coos, stroking my hair down my back. “I know things are tough right now, but you’ve gotta know that fate put you two together for a reason. You said things were going great between the two of you up until Friday night…”

I narrow my eyes, shrugging her hand away. “What happened to ‘screw that guy’?” I demand. “You’re supposed to be on my side here!”

“Iamon your side,” she sighs. “But Brooke, he’s yourmate. You can’t just throw away the bond…”

“Yes I can,” I grumble, staring down at my lap. “I can reject it.”

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