Page 63 of The Alpha Wolf Defying Fate

‘Yes,’I replied.‘I can smell it, but only barely. It’s far to faded to say that anyone is close. This print, it looks fresh.’

Ayden let out a sigh and shook his head at us. “No one but us and some animals are nearby. I reached out for miles, but these prints are fresh.”

“Do you think they belong to Minerva?” Rory asked, as we all stood up.

“Who else could it be?” Ayden replied. “We haven’t come across any other people here.”

“Didn’t you say your uncle was brought here by your ancestor?” Rory pointed out. “We can’t be certain that it wasn’t another ancient who lives here.”

Ayden shook his head adamantly. “No, I can’t explain it, but I know it has to be the witch. Something deep inside me recognizes her somehow. Maybe it’s my uncle’s stolen magic calling out. But I know it’s her.”

He looked at me, his eyes filled with so much hope. “We’re on the right path.”

I slowly smiled as I realized that I felt it as well. The strong sense that we were going the right way. A sense I had often felt myself as we traveled, though I had worried it meant I was feeling myself fall into some dark fate. But to hear Ayden say he felt it chased away the dark fears as we both smiled with relief that the journey was almost over.

Never mind what we may find in the end. What we may have to do when we faced off with the witch who had affected both of our families in some way? We would get to that when it was time, but for now we couldn’t help but be excited at the closing end to our long travels.

“Well, what do we do now?” Baer asked, breaking the moment with his question.

Ayden turned and pointed ahead of the path to where buildings stood in the distance. I squinted just enough to see hay stacked roofs and white stone buildings. Far from the ingenuity we had seen in the last forgotten city we encountered.

“There is a town ahead. By the time we reach it the sun will be setting so we should make camp there. If we’re lucky we’ll find more provisions and beds to use there like the last time.” He said with a point of his finger. “Let’s get a move on so that we have enough light to explore it first. Who knows, maybe this place will have electricity.”

“Somehow I doubt it,” Rory said as she and Baer took the lead.

I fell into step with Ayden, giving as much space between us and them as I could. Just because we had that distraction didn’t mean I didn’t have words to say to him.

“I don’t need them worrying about me anymore,” I said sternly.

“Why are you telling me this? I don’t control their feelings,” he replied.

I scoffed. “I know you sent them to me. I know you told them about that dream and the voice. You told them everything that I trusted you with and all it did was make them worry more about me. And now, more than ever, we all have to be at our best.”

“How do you expect to be at your best when you are dealing with everything by yourself and not talking to your cousin about any of it?”

I looked over at him and shook my head. “I thought I was dealing with it with you. My mate.”

I watched as he closed his eyes, regret flashing across his eyes.

“And what if I need their support? It’s hard to be the only one who knows what you are going through when I can’t help you. I reached out for more support because I thought it was the right thing for you.”

“Oh,” I said, a sense of anger rising in my chest. “I’m so sorry that I’ve inconvenienced you with my problems. I promise, it won’t happen again.”

I began to stomp away from him as the anger in my chest grew hotter. Behind me, I could hear Ayden’s steps quicken to keep pace with me.

“That’s not what I said! Rigel! Stop!” He reached out and grabbed my arm to stop me, but I ripped myself out of his grasp.

“No,” I said firmly. “You’re right. Everything I piled on you, it wasn’t fair. You already almost died because of me, and it’s only going to distract you more knowing about everything else. I won’t trouble you with any of it anymore. Not until we are done with Minerva and whatever else. Then, we can decide where to go with this bond from there.”

I stormed off before he could reply, as tears threatened to pool in my eyes.

‘You didn’t even give him a chance,’my wolf said with a whimper.

‘You heard him just as well as I did. He can’t handle our problems; he’d rather my cousin take care of it.’

My wolf huffed in my head, an image of her shaking her head with the sound appeared in my mind.

‘That is not what he said, Sasha. And if you were thinking clearly you’d know that.’

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