Page 36 of The Alpha's Fated Bond

Once I’m in my animal form, Alex approaches me and rubs against me. I lift my paw to study the silver fur before looking around anxiously. Alex lets out a rumble to comfort me.

Picking up the bag with his mouth, he begins to walk before looking over his shoulder at me. I trail after him. Once he iscertain that I’m following him, he breaks into a run. I try to match my speed to his.

Running in the forest in my animal form is something I once only dreamed of. I never thought it would happen. This freedom fills me with an excitement that I’ve never experienced before. I push myself faster and faster, enjoying the feel of the sharp wind against my face, my body swift and limber.

I want to keep running forever.

Before I can help myself, a howl of happiness leaves my mouth.

I expect Alex to stop me, but instead, he howls with me, conveying his own happiness for me.

I don’t know how long we run for, but when we come to a halt, it is in front of a small waterfall. My heart is pounding in my chest as I watch Alex trot over to the small body of water underneath the waterfall and drink from it. I study him before I mimic the action.

The water is crisp and clear and incredibly refreshing. Alex has already dropped the bag beside him, and once he’s done drinking the fresh water, he shifts to his human form.

“Beautiful,” he breathes, running his hands over my fur, awe and delight in his eyes.

In my wolf form, I tower over him, but when he caresses my fur, my wolf preens with pride. Listening to Alex admire it, I can sense the delight it feels.

Vanity is a sin, I tell my wolf, who just huffs and pushes me aside.

When Alex begins unpacking our lunch, I try to shift back. My wolf isn’t willing; it wants to play in the water or run around some more. Ignoring its resistance, I force the change.

“So,” I say, watching him rummaging through the bag, “what are we doing here?”

“Having a picnic.”

Alex’s unbothered tone has me looking around. “Be serious.”

He must have sensed the doubt in my voice because he lifts his head, his gaze meeting mine. “I am being serious. I thought it would be nice to go on a picnic with you. I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted to spend time with you, Sophia. And Lily is wrong: private time isn’t always in the bedroom. I need this, us together, having a nice meal and forgetting our worries for a bit.”

When I hesitate, he lifts an eyebrow. “You don’t want that?”

“It’s just, with everything going on…”

“The world can take a breather for a few hours while you and I enjoy a nice picnic.” Alex takes my hand and pulls me down next to him. He hands me a beef sandwich. “Want to try relaxing for a change?”

There’s laughter in his eyes, and as I take the sandwich from him, I fall a little bit more hopelessly in love with him.

Chapter 8

Sophia

“...stronger…You have to grow stronger, my daughter.”

The voice of the woman warning me is frail. But I can hear the desperation behind it.

I’m standing in the underground dungeon again. The smell is worse, so much worse. My feet take me to the last cell on my right, where I know the silver wolf is laying. She’s barely breathing now, a rattling sound coming from each breath that wracks her frame.

“You have to grow stronger, child. Trust no one.”

She’s not speaking, but the voice in my head has to be hers.

I grasp the iron bars of the cell, nausea building up inside me. “Mom? Are you my mother?”

The wolf stirs.

“Get stronger.”

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