Page 5 of The Alpha's Heart

“Sofia. Sofia! Tell me they’re wrong. Tell me it’s not true.”

Ignoring Guy, I give Declan a shaky smile. “Sorry about tomorrow’s dinner. I didn’t feel up to cooking tonight.”

That should’ve tipped off both males that I’m in no mood to visit with them. She-wolves might not eat as much as males do unless we’re expecting pups. We still eat a substantial amount of calories to fuel our regenerative properties, plus our shifts. For me to admit that I didn’t want to eat tonight… that’s a big red flag for a shifter.

Too bad Guy picks up on the wrong thing.

He whips his head toward Declan. “You expected Sofia to feed you?”

Declan holds up his hands. “She’s my friend, Guy. Food is food. That’s all.”

Not to the other male. Guy starts to growl deep in his chest.

Declan drops his hands, scoffing. “Forget it. You’re wasting your breath anyway. Sorry. If you’re pissed off that the female you’ve chased around River Run these last few months might be off the market, it’s that new Alpha you want to be snarling at,buddy.” He raises his eyebrows. “What do ya think? Want to go to Cajun country and challenge an Alpha? Because you know it’s true. Sofia was never yours.”

Declan is messing with Guy, his way of getting back at him for all the grief he put me through. We all know that I never gave him any indication that I would accept Guy as my male, and whatever I do now, it has nothing to do with either of these two.

But challenge an Alpha? Guy might have pinned all his hopes on me choosing to be his mate, but to challenge an Alpha—even a new one—would be suicide. Especially if the challenge is overme. Guy could choose another female. It’s not like he loves me. He hardlyknowsme. He just saw me as an available female, ripe for the picking.

I’m not. I have a fated mate.

And, as soon as I have that thought, I know exactly what I’m going to do.

“He’s not going anywhere,” I tell them both. “But I am.”

Guy focuses on me. “Sofia?”

Declan pinches his lips, hiding a smile. “You’re going to do it, aren’t you? Accept the Alpha’s offer?”

At least one of my packmates is happy for me. “I… yeah. He’s my fated mate.”

“He says he is,” cuts in Guy.

“No,” I correct before he can say anything else. “The Luna does.”

And, unless he wants to be blasphemous, there’s nothing he can say tothat. Good thing, too, because I… this is right. If IamBishop Dupuis’s fated mate, then he’s mine. I want a mate. No denying that. My wolf’s been too picky over the years, almost as though she was waiting to find the one mate the Luna chose just for us without letting our human side in on it.

I want a mate—and it looks like I’m going to go to Louisiana to get one.

CHAPTER 3

BISHOP

I’m going to Louisiana—but I’m not going alone.

I’d argue if I could. Kendall shuts that down directly after I tell him my decision. Until the moment I’m safely on Sylvan Pack land, I’m his responsibility. He refuses to let me put myself into danger. As he reminds me, I’ve never even been out of River Run before. To get to Louisiana, I have to fly, then travel by car to the outskirts of Hickory, the shifter settlement where Bishop Dupuis lives.

Only one problem: I don’t know how to drive.

There was no reason for me to learn. I can run much faster in my fur, and the terrain around River Run is so hilly and wet, it’s pointless to use a vehicle that could get caught in the mud or between trees. I’m a schoolteacher. I don’t head out of the safety of the pack circle for the non-supe world. As intelligent as I am, I’m clueless when it comes to navigating amongst the humans.

All of that is true. You know what else is also true? That Kendall was going to stick me with a bodyguard or two because of some unspoken agreement between Alphas. My Alpha is sending me to my Alpha intended. In their own code, by passing Bishop’s proposal onto me, then telling the other Alpha I’veaccepted, Kendall will ensure I make it to Bishop without a single fur out of place.

He couldn’t bring me. Obviously. The only time an Alpha leaves pack territory is during the annual Alpha meet where every pack leader gets together to discuss issues in our community. That happened in July. Kendall’s not going anywhere for a while.

I thought he might assign me Seton as my chaperone. Our Beta does the duties that Kendall can’t so it would make sense. If only I was that lucky. Seton won’t leave River Run since his mate just announced she’s carrying their first pup.

Luckily, there aren’t that many packmates who are familiar with the humans and their vehicles. When Declan told me over the farewell dinner I made as an apology for blowing him off the night before that Kendall ordered him to go, I was relieved.

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