Page 31 of The Alpha's Heart

All these years later and he swears that the best gift he’s ever been given was my name whispered to him following his Alpha Ceremony. He didn’t know me. Knew nothing more than my name. It didn’t matter. The Luna said I was his and that was that.

Is that how it would be for Rafael and Helene?

I don’t know, but I’m sure that’s what Bishop is thinking, especially when he says, “Maybe, cher. And maybe it was meant to be this way.”

“My love?”

Bishop shakes his head. “It’s what the Luna wants. Helene will be protected by an Alpha of her own. And West?—”

He swallows roughly. I soften my voice as I run my fingers lightly over his flannel; I can’t quite touch his heart, but my intent is clear. “What about your Beta?”

“If Helene isn’t his, then that means he has his own fated mate out there. He can find that female.”

He won’t. Whether Helene will accept Rafael’s proposition or not, I can’t say. Like her brother, she’s devoted to her pack, reveres the Goddess, and will always put others before herself. If the Luna says she’s meant for the Alpha of a neighboring pack, I wouldn’t be surprised if she decides it would be in everyone’s best interest for her to accept him. For an empathic she-wolf, it’s amazing how easily she can disregard her own feelings.

But West? I knew from the moment I first saw the future Beta interact with the newly christened Omega that he was desperately in love with her. They were only sixteen then, and it took three years for him to finally find the nerve and tell her how he felt, but they’ve been together ever since. West was so sure that Helene was his fated mate, he chose to wait until the Luna would tell him so to claim her. Finding out that sheisn’t? He won’t let her go. I know that much. Helene is his mate. Even if she isn’t his fated mate, and another she-wolf is, that won’t change a damn thing for the Beta.

I know that. I also know that Bishop does, too.

No wonder he didn’t want to tell Helene and West about the phone call and the prospective mating with the Gravetail Alpha just yet…

But he has to.

“You can’t keep this from them,” I say.

“I wouldn’t?—”

I press my palm against his pec. “I know, my love. And I know how much you want to see both Helene and West happy. Whether that’s together or not… you’re the Alpha. But when itcomes to the heart, Bishop… sometimes there are things that not even the most dominant wolf can control.”

I like his dominance. It might have frightened me at first, but by the time I saw just how far he would go to keep me as his mate… I was already drawn to him. Seeing his gentle side had stolen my heart, but his possessive wolf coming out as he challenged Declan was it for me.

But that wasme. Helene… she has to handle this one on her own, and as though Bishop just needed that push from me to accept that, he finally does with another sigh.

“You’re right. I’m gonna send Tucker to bring Helene to me. I’ll tell her first.”

That’s a good idea. If Bishop goes to see Helene at the Omega cabin, odds are that some of our nosier packmates will overhear their conversation. She’s positioned in the heart of pack land where her omega she-wolf can reach as many of us as possible. Good for keeping the pack close-knit and strong; bad for any sort of private conversations. The den, however, is a place where any packmate can visit to petition Bishop without fear of their concerns getting out to the rest of the pack.

“What about West?”

Bishop exhales roughly. “He’s on patrol. He’ll find out eventually, but once he’s back in Hickory… I’ll make sure he knows that this is Helene’s choice.”

It has to be. She’s the one who is a fated mate now, and she can either accept Rafael and leave West… or she can reject the Alpha-heir and stay with her heart’s mate.

I don’t envy her the decision. For me? There wasn’t one. Not really. I chose to accept my fated mate, and it was the best choice I ever made in my life.

“Would you like me to stay? I can help explain it to Helene.”

Bishop squeezes my side in an undeniably possessive gesture while sending a pulse of love down our bond. “She’ll need youlater, cher. I’m sure of that. But for now… I think I should do this on my own.”

I expected as much of my Alpha. I press a quick kiss to the underside of his bearded jaw. “You know I love you, Bishop.”

“My heart beats for you,” he says gruffly. “It has from the moment we met. It’s never stopped, Sofia. It never will.”

My own heart swells with pure affection for this male. “Just making sure. Some bonds are fated. Some are chosen. Some are forged in time. Whatever Helene chooses, that’s her choice. Same with West. But you and me… we were meant to be. I want you to know that.”

“Ah, cher. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that.”

“Good.” I pat him on the chest again before sliding off of his lap. “And if you ever forget that for a second? You call me. I’ll be here to remind you of that any time you doubt my love for you.”

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