Page 33 of The Alpha Wolf Defying Fate

“Not like no one has ever seen me naked. But it does seem close to sunrise. So, we should at least go back to camp and rest,” I said, choosing to not mention the darkness I saw in Sasha’s veins. “What was the deal with Aurora’s reaction? Don’t you all shift together?”

Baer shrugged. “Yeah, but Sasha is always private with her shifts. I think she’s a little self-conscious of her birth mark personally. Our first shift one of the others pointed it out and ever since then she has always shifted separately and joined us in wolf form to run.”

I frowned, the conversation inadvertently back to the very thing that was concerning me now.

“The Fates give us all choices you know,” Baer suddenly said.

“What?” I looked back at him with a deeper frown.

“Choices. Everything The Fates do involves choices. Our paths aren’t set in stone like a lot of people like to act. It’s string, and string can be pulled and plucked but they all end the same way.”

“What are you getting at?” I asked.

“I’m just telling you; we all have choices we have to make when it comes to our fate. You and Sasha are no different. All you can do is hope that you make the same choices, despite the obstacles that The Fates may throw your way.”

We walked the rest of the way to camp in silence, Baer’s words now mixed with my concerns of the darkness I saw in Sasha.

What choices were The Fates putting before us now? Was this proof that not only were we destined to be mates, but that we would also be enemies, should we make the wrong choices?

I knew a riddle of a seer when I heard one, and it was clear that Baer was trying to tell me something that The Fates weren’t ready for me to fully understand just yet.

As we reached our tents, Baer cleared his throat and waited until Aurora unzipped the flap and allowed him inside. I could see Sasha already asleep, her face so peaceful, yet my mind was jumbled with questions. Questions that now evolved around choices that I would face.

‘The only choice is our mate,’my wolf interrupted my thoughts.‘All other choices are wrong.’

‘Not if Sasha turns to dark magic. They aren’t all like Alkmene. In fact, Alkmene isn’t even always like Alkmene.’I argued.‘I have to think about more than just myself. We have a pack and coven of our own to protect. I can’t take a dark witch as my mate.’

‘She isn’t dark,’my wolf growled.

I shook my head.‘Not yet anyway. But I know what I saw.’

I could feel his unrest at my response as I zipped my tent and found myself a pair of sweatpants to wear until the sun rose.

‘Don’t worry,’I said to him.‘I won’t make any decisions without evidence that she has fully gone to the dark side and it’s the best choice for everyone.’

I could feel him grumbling in my mind, though I could tell that he wasn’t fully satisfied. It was at least enough to keep him off my back for now.

“Fates,” I whispered into the darkness of my tent. “Whatever plans you have for me, don’t keep me waiting for answers for too long. I’m not the most patient guy around, though, I think you already know that.”

I felt a gentle breeze push against my tent, as if The Fates were responding to my prayer. One could only hope that is.

Chapter Sixteen

Sasha

Aydenhadbeenavoidingme ever since the other night by the river. Though not with his eyes. I still felt them on me every moment when I wasn’t watching him.

I wanted to ask him about our next step with the mate bond. I wanted to know that he hadn’t just used me to scratch an itch and was already bored with me. But every time I tried to get him alone to talk, somehow, he managed to bring Baer or Rory right back around us.

“If he wants to be a one and done all he has to do is say so,” I grumbled to myself.

‘Our mate wouldn’t do that, Sasha,’my wolf chastised me.‘He was so frightened when we nearly died. I felt his fears and his desire for us to live. He loves us.’

I scoffed. “Love? It hasn’t been that long since we stopped fighting like cats and dogs. Love is a bit of a stretch.”

‘Love is unrestrained by the opinions of mortal beings like yourself,’my wolf growled back.

I rolled my eyes still, though the thought of him loving me made my heart flutter.

---