Page 36 of The Alpha's Fated Destiny

Her laughter is soft and sleepy, and she pulls herself up to rest her head on my arm. Some of the sleep fades away from her eyes. “When did you get back?”

"I was right on your heels,” I admit. "You were having a moment, and I realized you needed Elsa, so I stayed outside.”

A shadow falls upon Sophia’s face. “You were outside?”

“I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop,” I reassure her. “I just didn’t know what to do."

Sophia turns her head away from me, and I close my eyes regretfully.

The silence lingers between us, and then I say, “I’m here for you, Sophia. You just have to lean on me. You don’t have to bear everything by yourself. Even if it's something you don't think I'll like to hear, you can still tell me.”

“I don’t…"

She sits up, scooching until her back is against the headboard of the bed. "I don’t mind the burden. I just…I just feel everything else is taking priority over saving my mother. I know your pack has to come first. I know you’re worried about your people. Itjust seems like I'm the only one worrying about my mother. I understand she’s not your mother but…”

I sit up as well. “That’s not it, Sophia. We are not going to delay this any longer. I’ve already talked to Brian. We are just going to drop my people off at Ricker Town, and Brian will stay there. You just have to find a temporary leader to look after the pack, and then we are out the same night. We cannot take Grace with us. We have to leave her somewhere safe. I’ve already had a conversation with Brian and my soldiers. And Elsa is also aware of everything. They are going to stay and guard your mother while we make the journey to the Central Alliance."

Sophia studies me and I take her hands in mine and press my lips to them. “Your mother has always been a priority, Sophia. I know it doesn't seem like that, but she is. And I know things seem to be moving at a snail's pace. They usually do when the life of a loved one is at stake. You want to save her and everything else seems like extra noise around you. But everything had to be done in the right order so that we could ensure your mother's safety. You and I will leave for the Central Alliance once the sun is up. It's not even risen yet. We have a lot of things to get done, but we will get them done in time."

Sophia looks at me for a full minute before sinking into my arms.

I just hold her.

"I've got you," I murmur. "Through thick or thin, you're mine, and I've got you."

It seems she finally believes me.

***

Connor Fenris is like a new man when he sees us off at his airfield. He thanks Sophia multiple times for her graciousness, before flying off. I have to give it to the man. He’s prepared multiple commercial-sized planes to carry my backpack and the soldiers, including Brian, Elsa, and Sophia’s mother. The journey takes us a couple of hours, and when we land, it’s in one of the closest cities to Ricker Town. Sophia doesn’t know the area since she was never let out of the orphanage, but Elsa does. She quickly arranges buses to drive us to the town.

There’s a growing tension within my mate as we make the last leg of the journey.

She’s going back to her hometown. She’s taking her mother back to the place where her life was destroyed.

I take her hand in mine and squeeze it.

"You've got this.”

She gives me a shaky smile, but some of the confidence returns.

Ricker Town is a large area with a population of around five thousand individuals. At least, that’s what it says on the sign that we pass by on the road.

There’s a sprawling forest and a well-maintained town, and it’s obvious to me that most of the residents are pack members.

When we get out at the station, the pack security team is there to greet us.

Their faces are rigid. It seems that word has reached them. They instantly recognize Brian. The lead guard says, "Welcome, King WolfFan—”

Brian shakes his head. “There’s been a change in leadership, as you must be well aware by now. You should be greeting Queen Sophia.”

Every member of the pack security team stiffens. The dislike and wariness in their eyes are evident.

When none of them says anything, Brian asks, his voice dangerous. "You’re not going to greet the Queen of the South Alliance?”

The leader of the security team sneers at Sophia. "Forgive us, but we don’t consider this girl as the queen. She’s a murderer. She’s a fugitive in our pack. Alpha Black…”

“That’s another piece of information you might not have received," Brian says, scathingly. “Robert Black and Noah Black have committed crimes—unforgivable crimes. Noah Black is no longer the Alpha of the Red Rock Wolf Pack. Now, either your pack can pay for the crimes of your Alphas, or they can accept Sophia Hope as their new Alpha. The choice is yours. You have a few minutes to make a choice. Based on whatever you decide, we will either annihilate everybody in this town and this pack, or you will be given the opportunity to start fresh under Sophia’s leadership.”

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