Page 2 of The Alpha's Fated Destiny

“But what about your revenge?" Sophia looks away from me and I don't have to see the emotion in her eyes to know that she's feeling guilty for something she can't control. "Don’t you want to rule the North? It was your birthright. Your father was King of the North Alliance before Karina killed him.”

I shake my head. “Revenge takes many forms. Just because I want Karina to pay for the massacre of my pack, doesn’t mean I want the title."

My mate doesn’t look entirely convinced. "I thought you wanted to seize control of the North again. After all, Karina…"

I study her, wondering if she realizes how her mere existence has changed my entire world and my perception of it. "There was a time when I did. Now, while I want my revenge, I also want to be with you. And since you are the Queen of the South Alliance, I cannot see myself vying for the leadership of the North. I don't want to be separated from you. I can have my revenge without being greedy for the throne."

Sophia gets to her feet, approaching me. Her arms settle around my neck as she hooks her fingers together. My hands come to rest on her waist as I search her eyes.

"If the King of the North and the Queen of the South are mates, wouldn’t the two alliances become one?"

After a prolonged silence, I ask, “Were you always this clever?”

She chuckles, laughter dancing in her eyes. "I try to hide it. I don't want to give you a complex."

"Very funny," I drawl but I yank her closer to me, our bodies now pressed together. "Do you know that you've begun to smile more and laugh more than you used to back when we first met? It's been what, three months now?"

"Has it?" Sophia murmurs, thoughtfully. "Being around you makes me happy. I feel complete, cringey as it sounds."

"Very cringey," I agree and groan when she pinches me lightly.

"You shouldn't be so violent with me," I rub my shoulder where she pinched me. "It makes my wolf want you even more."

Her flushed smile says it all.

Our bond has grown deeper since Sophia gave me her mating mark. It's only been ten days, but her constant presence within me, as a result of the bond, has done a lot to help with the grief that I've been carrying within me. The grief of losing a girl whom I had raised and who had been both a younger sister and a child. I had to end her life with my own hands, having realized too late her obsession with me and the destruction she had caused to our pack as a result.

These past couple of weeks have been hard for us all. My mate lost someone as well. She still has a hard time talking about Drew, and I try not to mention him. Her grief is different than mine.

When I lost my parents, I still had some of my pack left alive, and they had cared for me and helped me through the darkest times. Sophia was forcibly orphaned when her father was killed by Alpha Black, the leader of the Red Rock Wolf Pack. Her mother was imprisoned as soon as Sophia was born, and Alpha Black raised my mate with the intention of taking her as his own mate once she was of the right age. Sophia was deliberately isolated and Drew was one of the few people whom she had cared for. His death had shattered her.

She's tried to hold herself together but she's unable to hide her grief entirely.

The only thing I can do is to be there for her and piece her back together when she breaks. There is a rough road ahead for her, what with Sophia having been appointed the leader of the South Alliance. She's trying not to show it, but she's quite anxious about how she's supposed to handle such a position. She, more than anyone, is aware that the only reason she's been given this title is because she is the Silver Wolf, a mystical creature who is a shifter with the ability to practice magic.

"Why don't you lie down for a bit and I'll get you something to eat?" I suggest, seeing how pale she looks.

"I'm okay," my mate insists.

"Sure you are," I agree affably, picking her up with ease and carrying her to the bed. "You're perfectly okay. In fact, you're so okay that a nap will just make you more okay."

She scowls at me. "Your jokes are broken."

"It's okay," I reply pleasantly.

She throws a pillow at me in annoyance and I duck out of the way before retrieving it and tucking it under her. "Sleep. We'll work on your aim later."

I'm sure she would punch me if she wasn't so exhausted.

I leave the room once I’m absolutely certain that she’s dozed off.

The guest houses provided to us by the Greyson Wolf Pack are built like entire suites with a kitchen, a bedroom, a living room, abathroom, and a private backyard. I’m grateful for the privacy. I also know that the guest houses are at the far end of the town, away from the nursery and where Karina's people who are assigned to the nursery reside. Alpha Greyhound is taking a huge risk in housing us. If the Queen of the North Alliance discovers he helped us, there is no knowing what she will do to him and his people.

As I walk in into the living area, I see Alpha Dorian Greyhound lingering by the entrance.

“Dorian?"

Dorian Greyhound is a tall man in his late forties. He gives me a brief nod. “I was hoping to catch you. I heard Sophia has been busy removing the evil magic from the children."

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