Page 119 of The Alpha's Fated Destiny

I’m beginning to feel a different sort of fear. “What happened?”

She shakes her head. “It’s nothing. How did you escape? Karina said that there was no way you could get out of the place she had…”

“She put me in a cage under my hometown.” I run my hands over her shoulders, arms, my voice anxious. “What is wrong, Sophia? Whatever it is, just tell me. Don’t keep me in suspense.”

We have stepped away from the others and Sophia finally looks up at me. “I didn’t go after you.”

The guilt in her eyes is enormous, and I realize that it is weighing down on her.

“You mean when Karina’s men took me?”

She hesitates. “I wanted to go after you. But I didn’t. She used a portal to transport you. I knew I would be going on a wild goose chase, so I returned to the pack. I didn’t even try to look for you.”

I cut her off before she can begin spiraling. “I’m glad. I’m glad you didn’t come to look for me because that is exactly what Karina wanted.”

My mouth is dry as I look at the tired and guilt-ridden eyes of my mate. “That is the one thing I prayed for the most, that you would not come after me. Karina told me what she had planned out for you. She told me that she would force you to surrender. And I was terrified that you would.”

“I didn’t, surrender that is,” Sophia whispers. “If it had been you, you would have done it in a heartbeat. I tried to do the logical thing. I tried to consider the pack. I convinced myself that if I stopped the war, I could look for you. But none of it matters. When you needed me, I wasn’t there.”

I force her to look at me, my thumb and forefinger holding her chin and lifting her face. “You did the right thing. You did what I wouldn’t have been able to do. You’re right, I would not have been able to control my impulses, and I would have gone after you. but if I had done that, I would have ruined everything.”

She doesn’t look convinced. “You’re just saying that because…”

“If you hadn’t stepped up and done what you did, the three alliances would have been destroyed,” I tell her firmly. “You would never have found me. Karina would have imprisoned you within your own mind.”

She looks away, her eyes wet. “You don’t understand, Alex. You’re always there. If anything happens to me, I know you’dsearch for me. I know you’d come. And when it was my turn to do that, I failed you. I failed you.”

“You didn’t fail me.” I take her in my arms, breathing in her scent and wanting to laugh at how soft my mate’s heart is where I’m concerned. “You don’t have to prove your love to me, Sophia. I know how much you love me. I can feel it in your every breath. You are part of me now. Our bond tells me how much you care.”

Pulling back slightly, I look down at her. “You once asked me why Brian thought you had leadership potential when you didn’t see it. Now you do. You didn’t let your emotions guide your decisions. You put the lives of everyone in front of your desires. You were logical, you were practical. I’m sure it sucked doing that. I have plenty of experience, and it is the worst feeling in the world. I’m proud of you.”

Jared chooses that moment to butt in. “I wouldn’t feel so bad, Sophia. You had more faith in him than we did. Karina was convinced that you would be traumatized, but Sophia told her she was underestimating you. It was very romantic.”

Saul and Patrick loop their arms around Jared’s neck, dragging him away. “Sorry. I forgot this one needed watching.”

I look at my mate. “This was necessary, Sophia. You knew that coming after me was dangerous and could destroy everything. You made the absolute right decision. Don’t second-guess yourself. You saved us from a terrible fate.”

I don’t have her completely convinced, but she does accept my words. “I’m glad you’re safe. How did you get out?”

It’s my turn to wince. “About that. I had some help.”

“Help? From whom?”

“You won’t like this next part,” I mutter.

Turning around, I look in the direction I left Tina and call out, “Come on out.”

When Tina walks out, the first person to let out a strangled sound is Elsa.

“Tina?” Sophia looks furious. “What are you doing here?”

Elsa rushes past us, grabbing her daughter’s face. “What happened to you? Why do you look so weak?”

Tina doesn’t push away her mother, tears in her eyes. I remember how cold and ruthless she had been toward Elsa, so to see her accept her mother’s embrace is a little surprising. But I guess everyone needs their mother. I know how much Tina’s behavior hurt Elsa. She tried not to talk about it, but it had been obvious.

Sophia looks at me. “What happened, Alex? Why is she here?”

“It was Tina who saved me. She knew where I was, and she helped me escape.”

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