Page 3 of The Alpha's Heart

If you’re not high up in the hierarchy or a member of his inner circle, you don’t want to draw his attention. For Kendall to be waiting for me? I’m not sure what it is I did, but I don’t think I want to know, either.

Not like I have a choice. And though I’ve never had a reason to set foot inside of the Alpha cabin in my twenty-three years, just like all members of the River Run Pack, I know exactly where it is. Same with the den. It’s a side door, a light over the top of it, with a worn dirt path that marks all of the tracks from shifters who have visited with the Alpha over the years.

Shifters run hot. I’m an oddity. I’ve always been colder than most, as though my wolf’s fur coat doesn’t help me when I’m in my skin. I have on an oversized sweater that matches the brisk October weather on the east coast. The sleeves are long enough that they reach midway to my hands. Shoving one back, I fist my fingers and knock on the door.

Two seconds later, I wince. Knocking? Really? That’s the whole point of the den, that when the light’s on and the Alpha isin residence, all packmates are allowed to go inside. If Kendall is busy with another packmate, the light goes off. It’s on, and he’s waiting for me.

And if I had any doubt that he was, in answer to my knock, he calls out, “Come on in, Sofia.”

I toss my hair over my shoulder, take a deep breath, and open the door.

Our den is pretty relaxed. I’m not sure what other Alpha’s dens are like, but Kendall has two couches along one wall, two stuffed armchairs opposite of a wooden desk, and a matching one sat behind it for our Alpha. The walls are painted a serene sky blue, and with the window partially open, the smells of the river on the far end of our territory still manage to reach us here.

He’s sitting behind the desk, scribbling something on a piece of paper. I inch my way into the room, part of me apprehensive, while the rest of me feels safe just being surrounded by the Alpha’s aura.

Kendall glances up at me, and my heart lodges in my throat.

It’s an instinctive reaction, and another reason I avoid being close to the Alpha if I can. My wolf cowers whenever his dominance catches her off-guard, and though I recover quickly, there’s just something about him that has me wanting to blurt out every secret I have to the older male.

I don’t meet his eyes. To do so would be a challenge. Not like Kendall is going to think that Sofia Russo is about to challenge him or anything. It’s just better to be safe than sorry, and I fix my gaze on the hollow of his throat instead of his bright gold eyes.

“You wanted to see me?”

“Take a seat, if you would. And don’t worry. No one’s in trouble here.”

My principal analogy is pretty apt. As I plop down on the nearest armchair, all I can think about is that I did something wrong and I just don’t remember.

“I have a pack meet with Seton and some of my patrollers that I need to host shortly, but this couldn’t wait. I’ll make it quick, though, and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. You understand?”

I nod.

“Good. Okay. First. I know you’ve been part of River Run your whole life. You’re an excellent teacher for our young pups. You’re not mated yet, though not for a lack of trying on the parts of some of our males.”

Of course he knows about Guy. An Alpha knowseverythingabout his pack, including what each of us can handle, which is why he’s not bringing up my delta shadow… but I think I get where he’s going with this when he keeps the topic of conversation along the same lines.

“Are you looking for a mate, Sofia?” Kendall asks. “Most mature wolves are eager to find their life partner.”

Am I? “I would love to find my mate,” I tell him honestly. Ihaveto be honest. Kendall would know if I was lying. “I just… I haven’t yet.”

“What if I told you that I knew who your fated mate was?”

My lips part, mouth falling open at the implication. I don’t say anything, though. I don’t knowwhatto say.

Kendall chuckles. “It’s a shock. I’m sure it is. When I got the phone call earlier… tell me. What do you know about the Sylvan Pack?”

I blink. At least I can answerthis. “Nothing, really. I know they’re made up of wolf shifters like us, but they’re on the other side of the country, I think.”

“Louisiana.”

Okay. That’s still over a thousand miles away from here.

“They also recently transitioned from their elder Alpha to a new one. Bishop Dupuis is twenty-one, a dominant Alpha whotook over the pack without a single challenge… and, according to the Luna herself, your fated mate.”

Mywhat?

Nervous fingers fiddle with my long sleeves as I watch Kendall’s Adam's apple bob as he explains.

All shifters know that an alpha becomes a capital-A Alpha after he has the Alpha Ceremony where the Luna blesses him as the new leader of a pack. Other alphas can challenge for the position, but when there’s only one male left standing, the Luna marks him as Alpha, and if he’s unmated? She whispers the name of his fated mate into his ear.

---