Page 64 of The Alpha's Fated Bond

A moment later, Alex returns with something covered in brown paper. As I begin unwrapping it, he says, “It reminded me of you.”

Alex has given me plenty of things, but it feels like this is the first time he’s gotten me a gift. Excitement courses through my veins.

I remove the paper to reveal a wooden carving. It’s a bird sitting on the edge of a cage, about to take flight.

“It’s beautiful,” I breathe. “Simply stunning!”

“When I saw it, I thought of you.” Alex runs his finger over the bird’s head and its wings. “It feels like you’re spreading your wings. You’re ready to take on the world, Sophia.”

I sniffle, rubbing my eyes fiercely. “Why do you always make me cry?”

Chuckling, Alex pulls me into his chest. “Why are you such a crybaby?”

I kick him in the shin before burying my face in his chest and inhaling his scent. “Shut up.”

But as I peek at the wooden carving, I feel a delicate sort of happiness bloom with me. “We should—”

Out of nowhere, the smell of blood reaches my nose just as it does Alex’s. His whole body goes still.

“What is that?” I move away from him, about to head toward the door, but he is two steps ahead of me.

He throws it open, and I can hear faint shouting from further away in the village. Neither of us hesitates, running outside. We are not the only ones, as other people are leaving their houses, too. The stench of blood is spreading.

Just a short distance from us, I see a man stumbling in the street.

“It’s Nathan!” I shout in shock as I recognize him. I run to the boy, and he falls into my arms, holding his shoulder where his right arm used to be. His face is white as a sheet, and he’s shivering.

As I lower him to the pavement, he stammers, “S-She’s…Alex, I tried—I tried to stop her…”

“Nathan!” Alarmed voices cry out his name as other pack members race toward us.

Alex, however, is standing frozen in place, looking at something down the road.

I lift my head to follow his gaze, and my heart nearly stops.

A woman is walking toward us, her clothes covered in blood. Nathan’s blood.

Julia.

Chapter 14

Alex

Julia is not a weakling.

I’ve seen her fight, and under that elegant and beautiful exterior that she displays to the world lies a vicious beast. She could give Patrick a run for his money. Julia used to be the leader of one of Karina’s squadrons. She was among Karina’s people who invaded our territory. Her fighting skills are unrivaled. As an Alpha, I could take her on, but Patrick or Jared—my strongest fighters—would be outmatched.

I hadn’t expected Nathan to cross paths with her. In fact, I had expected her to be in a weakened state by the time she got here, but I guess I underestimated her. But as I watch her approach us, her clothes covered in blood, anger washes over me. She didn’t even have to shift into her wolf form to best Nathan. I can hear his gasping breaths from behind me, and my jaw tightens.

“Alex.” Julia’s voice is sweet with a sharp edge. “Did you think I wouldn’t come for you?”

I stick my hands in my pockets, standing protectively in front of Sophia. “I was hoping you had been dealt with. What a pity.”

“If only it were that easy to get rid of me.” Julia wipes at Nathan’s blood on her clothes. “You keep forgetting that you are mine. I will track you down to the ends of the Earth if I have to.”

There’s a crowd gathering around us now, lining the street. The pack has always been wary of Julia, and rightfully so. I can seethe tension in their faces. Several of the women have surrounded Nathan, and I hear one of them send someone to fetch a healer.

I don’t reply to Julia, my silence speaking volumes. From the corner of my eye, I see Hilda join the crowd. One look at Julia has her freezing in fear. I want to tell her to get away from here, but I don’t want to divert attention to Hilda.

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