Page 9 of The Alpha's Heart

I wince. Female… well, I guess that’s what I am. We’re not mates, not yet, and ‘intended’ might be a little too soon when we just met and I’m fighting the urge to shift and high-tail it out of here. But would it kill him to use my name instead?

Helene obviously agrees. Using her perfectly manicured claws to pinch the bridge of her nose, she shakes her head. Long wavy blonde hair sways with the motion as she sighs. “Okay. I spoke too soon. When I said ‘use your words’, I meant ‘don’t offend your future mate’.”

“I’m not offended,” I lie.

I’m not his sister. I’m not even sure I’m going to be his mate. Last thing I want to do is anger the big Alpha?—

—and he knows it.

Bishop scowls, fisting his hands at his side. “That’s enough,” he says again, grating out the syllables. “West, would you please accompany Helene back to the Omega cabin? I’m sure Sofia”—oh, look at that, hecanuse my name—“is tired from traveling. Pass it along that the den’s closing down for the evening. Any packmates who need me can go to Harris. I’m going to get my intended settled in.”

Intended… so I am going to be his mate?

A lump lodges in my throat.

I’m going to bealonewith him?

Well, Sofe, what did you think? Bishop went through all this trouble because he wants a mate. As part of the Alpha couple, my job would be to support him anyway I can. Packs are stronger when there is a bonded couple at the helm which is one of the reasons why the Luna prefers her Alphas to take their mates assoon as possible once they’re responsible for a pack. But a true Alpha’s mate is both his conscience and his heart. She keeps him from going feral, a real risk when a wolf is too dominant for his human half.

And how do mates do that? By allowing their male to release inside of them.

Plainly put, mates fuck. I came here knowing that. If I agreed to be his mate, I would have to fuck him. That’s what mates do, after all—and I’m going to have to willingly join him in his bed.

Every mature shifter knows that. Bishop might say he wants to get me settled in. Virgin or not, that just might be his way of making sure I know exactly what I agreed to by accepting him.

Minutes ago, when I first caught his scent and my world shifted beneath my feet, I felt the first true wave of need I ever had. If Bishop had whisked me away and told me to get on all fours, I wouldn’t even have unpacked yet before I was under him. But then he snarled. He glared at me

Hescaredme.

I gulp. I gave my word, but was that a mistake? We can’t be formally bonded until the next full moon when we have the Luna Ceremony, but that doesn’t mean he won’t mate me now.

Do I really want my first time to be with a male who looks like he’s already regretting inviting me onto his territory? And if he is… why do I get the feeling that, as fiercely angry as he is, he can’t wait to move me from the den—which is communal territory—to the actual Alpha cabin, which belongs only tohim?

He doesn’t need to be happy with me to fuck me, I remind myself. And while a fated mate is the one soul that the Luna picks out for us that we’re the perfect match for, mating is all about building the next generation. Shifters need pups to survive. The Luna needs shifters to stay a powerful goddess. Something about my maternal nature and Bishop’s undeniable dominance could mean we’d be good for that.

But love? Who said anything about love?

My heart sinks, and though I want to do anything other than be left behind with Bishop, I wait for the two younger wolves to go.

West is more than ready to. He sends a lovesick glance Helene’s way. He’s a wolf—and, for his age, a pretty dominant one—but there’s something puppy dog-ish in his expression. “I’d love to. Come on, Lane. Let’s go.”

“Hang on, West.” Helene turns to Bishop. “Let me get Sofia situated.”

What?

“Canari…” Bishop rumbles. Canari? What doesthatmean? “You don’t have to manage me.”

Her lips quirk. “I’m the Omega. That’s what I do.”

“You’ve only just been made the Omega yesterday?—”

“But I’ve been an omega she-wolf since birth. Just like our mother. And, speaking as an omega, I think it would be a better idea if you go for a quick run, checking our borders so your wolf knows Sofia is safe here, then come back to talk to her.”

He grits his teeth, a hint of fang showing. “Helene.”

“Bishop.” The earlier tease is gone. “Please.”

Yup. Definitely his baby sister. And, from the research I did when I looked Bishop Dupsuis on the Alpha Collective’s website, the sister he partway raised himself after they were orphaned more than a decade ago.

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