Page 52 of The Alpha's Fated Bond

“That’s not true. I drink healing potions all the time. At least, I used to.” I laugh as I remember, “I used to be a fighter in a cage fighting ring.”

Lily gestures with her hand, as if dismissing this tidbit of information for now. “A healing potion is different. Your magic won’t cancel it out because it’s for your health. But if someone tries to harm you with magic, it won’t work. And I’m guessing the potion you were being fed was meant to harm you. So, your magic neutralized it.”

Speechless, I stare at her for a few seconds before struggling to speak. “So, the potion wasn’t affecting me? I forgave Noah just like that? Basically, I’m a schmuck?”

Lily grins. “Kinda. But don’t feel too bad, Sophia. Silver wolves aren’t like other shifters. Mind you, this is coming from what I was taught. But your kind—let’s call you a sub-category of shifters—is incredibly special. You don’t have the same violent tendencies or blood thirst that other shifters have. One of your greatest skills is empathy. And that’s probably why you forgave him. Schmuck.”

Her tone is good natured, but her words have me reeling. They make sense, though. I never felt attracted to Noah. I simply forgave him, and at the time, considering how Alex was behaving toward me, he seemed like a good choice.

But there’s something bothering me.

“But the aphrodisiac…” I mumble. “Noah gave me an aphrodisiac.”

Lily’s eyes widen. “What happened?”

I run my fingers through my hair. “I ended up sleeping with Alex because of it, but how come the aphrodisiac worked and not that other potion?”

The young witch shrugs. “An aphrodisiac is made of specific herbs. It’s not magic. Now, stop obsessing about the past and go look for some mustard and ketchup. You’re here now, with Alex. Nobody’s trying to get into your head anymore.”

I relax. She’s right.

I am with Alex now, and Noah is in my past. Besides, I have bigger problems to focus on: saving the children of this pack and finding my mother.

Chapter 11

Alex

“Julia is alive.”

Patrick’s grim statement has me closing my eyes briefly. “Are you certain about this?”

“Our spies have been hearing rumors of unrest within the town of Oakrest. From what they were able to gather, Julia was captured, but two days ago, there was a breaking of ranks down there. The humans living in Oakrest were warned that there was a prisoner on the loose and to avoid her at all costs. Pictures were circulated around town, and one of our people managed to get hold of a poster they had put up. It’s her. There’s no doubt about it.”

There’s definitely an advantage to having humans in our underground spy network. Especially humans who don’t have anyone else to pledge their loyalty to and whose loyalty can be easily bought. Humans who are ignored by their own governments and are happy to receive money from us in exchange for knowledge. The homeless, addicts, and individuals who are simply trying to survive on the streets. They pass information to our people, who send it on to us.

“Two days ago?” I murmur thoughtfully. “If she’s been in prison for the past couple of weeks, she won’t be strong enough to make the journey through the mountains to the Cross River Wolf Pack. She’ll prefer the easier path, which is the free zone around our pack. We have to stop her.”

Jared looks up from where he’s sitting in a corner of the room. “What are you going to do once you stop her? You should’ve killed her a long time ago, Alex. She’s become a liability. There’s no way she doesn’t know what’s been going on—”

“True,” Saul interrupts him, his fingers tapping the edge of the table. “She must at least suspect. After all, Sophia also disappeared from the town. She’ll be able to put two and two together. Julia has the crazies, but she’s not brain dead.”

“Which is why she’s probably going to want to verify her suspicions,” I add quietly. “She’ll come here first. She’ll be compelled to. Even if she is Karina’s right-hand person, if Julia lets the Silver Wolf slip out of the Queen’s hands, she won’t be very forgiving.”

“Even more than that,” Nathan speaks up, looking directly at me, “her obsession with you will bring her here. She’ll come after Sophia.”

“Ah,” Jared grins. “Torn between obsession and duty. What a hardship.”

“This isn’t a laughing matter, Jared,” Patrick chastises him, his voice hard. “Till Sophia is able to unlink all the pups safely, we can’t touch the soldiers or the nannies. And if they cross paths with Julia and figure out what’s going on, they’re going to find a way to send word to Karina.”

I agree with him. I cross my arms over my chest, a frown forming on my face. “They’re currently buying into this whole story of me housing Sophia and Lily because the soldiers tried to attack them, but this isn’t the first time Karina’s men have hassled our guests…”

“Yet this is the first time you’ve had the guests stay in your home.” Saul studies me, resting his cheek on his closed fist. “You’re stirring controversy all around the village, you know. I’ve had a few females ask me who you’re really interested in: the witch or Sophia.”

I stare at him.

Saul’s smile broadens. “I told them your tastes have always been odd.”

Jared lifts his hand in the air. “I’ve got fifty bucks on them thinking it’s Lily.”

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