Page 78 of The Alpha's Fated Destiny

She lets out a long breath. “What bothers me is how Grace managed to survive all these years. If her fated mate was killed, she would not be alive. No matter how much she loved her child, she would not have survived. It is the law of nature.”

Shock hits me like a ton of bricks. “Are you saying that Sophia’s father is alive?”

“That, or they never exchanged mating marks, which I find hard to believe. Grace was a smart girl. She would not have walked away from him without receiving the mating mark. When you saw her,” Marlene suddenly looks at me, “did you see a mating mark on her?”

I recall Sophia bandaging her mother’s neck from the injuries Tina gave her, and I shake my head. “Her neck was clean.”

Marlene’s expression falls. “That means they never exchanged mating marks. However, she was at least eight months pregnant when she was captured from what Sophia told me. I assume she was a few months pregnant when they left. She concealed it very carefully. I never knew. Why didn’t they mark each other? Grace knew to do so.”

From where we are sitting, I can see Sophia talking to one of the witches. She is smiling. She seems to enjoy it here. It’s a brief reprieve, but to see her smiling means the world to me. And then something occurs to me. “Her mother put some sort of enchantment on her that prevented Sophia from finding out she was the Silver Wolf. What if Grace did the same for her mating mark?”

The old witch gives me a sharp look. “Are you implying that she concealed the mating bond between her and her mate?”

“What if she did?” I suggest slowly.

“But why?”

I shrug. “I don’t really know. It’s just a thought. Grace seemed pretty skilled at magic that she was able to hide Sophia’s identity for this long. It’s not completely out there that she did something similar to her mate.”

Marlene has a thoughtful expression on her face. “It’s not unheard off.” Her fingers tap her knee. “I’ve heard of a few cases, but those were in the olden times during wars. It was a way to protect mates. When one mate was captured, they would seal their bond. The mating marks would temporarily disappear until they were united. It was to prevent their partner from feeling the effects of the torture. And it lessened the blow of their mate’s death. But it’s never been practiced since the wars ended. Where would Grace get the idea to do that?”

“But it’s possible?” I look at her.

Marlene nods. “It would make sense. Grace not allowing her mate to mark her doesn’t make sense to me. From everything Elsa told me at the time, the two were madly in love. And it’s hard for fated mates not to mark each other. Their instincts fight against their will. But if Grace is alive, then that means Sophia’s father is also alive somewhere.”

My gaze returns to my mate. “Grace was found in an underground dungeon in a terrible state. We’ll have to search for Sophia’s father, then. Robert must’ve stashed him somewhere. If the two meet again, do you think Grace has a chance of surviving?”

Marley nods. “There’s a very strong possibility. Her mate might be able to draw her out of her shell, and his presence will help her recover. Mating bonds are not to be taken lightly.”

I tilt my head back and look at the sky. “At the end of the day, this is just another theory. I don’t want to tell Sophia this and have it amount to nothing.”

Marlene puts her hand on my shoulder. “She will appreciate it if you tell her. Both of you are grappling in the dark when comes to your bond. I talked to her as well. When a Silver Wolf forms a mating bond, the dynamics are vastly different from other mated pairs. You must have noticed by now how gentle Sophia’s heart is. Even under the worst of circumstances, she is someone who still tries to do the right thing. She will search for hope, a way out. That is what makes the Silver Wolf so unique.”

I glance at the witch, who is smiling faintly. “It’s not just her magic. When the Goddess created the Silver Wolf, her intention was to create a being who would look past the violence and embody the best of all her creations. That is what Sophia is. But she’s also an individual with emotions like any other person.”

Her lips curve as she gazes at me. “Your role, on the other hand. is to stabilize her. To protect her. The Silver Wolf is not strong. While she has the strength of a shifter, she is not going to be a skilled fighter. That is not to say that her wolf is not prone to bursts of violence if pushed to the limit. That is where you come in. You have to protect her, not just from outside forces, but also from herself, from her decisions. You are to be the voice of reason.”

I try to smile, but my lips simply won’t do it. “She thinks I’m already too protective of her.”

Marlene chuckles. “Because she’s independent. She seems to have a hard time with someone taking her independence from her. Your bond is still new. There’s a lot of growing that you have to do yet. But there will come a time when you will find your balance, the both of you. You are still learning about each other. But you are her first and last defense. Always remember that. Don’t give into her every decision just because you love her. She is smart, but you have to be watchful. Her heart is soft, so yours has to be hard.”

She leans back on her elbows, sighing. “I was pleased that you didn’t trust me immediately, and I was not surprised that she trusted me almost immediately. She didn’t doubt me for a second. It’s not that she’s gullible, but it is her instinct to be trusting. Don’t hold it against her.”

“How can I hold anything against her when I love her so darn much?” I groan, burying my head in my hands. “She drives me crazy. Even when I should get mad at her, I can’t.”

Marlene chuckles. “Well, that is how mated pairs are.”

I shoot her an exasperated smile. “There’s something else I don’t understand. Why is the Silver Wolf so physically weak? Shouldn’t she be stronger? Sophia does not like violence in the least. Like you said, she is capable of it if the situation calls for it, when she’s pushed into a corner, but she abhors it.”

Marlene crosses her legs under her, a thoughtful expression on her face. “That’s because there’s no single creature on this planet that is not flawed. The Goddess did not intend to create something all-powerful. She wanted to create balance. That is why the Silver Wolf always has a fated mate. There has never been a time when it’s fated mate has not crossed paths withit. Unfortunately, the Central Alliance has made it a habit of ignoring the Goddess’ word. Cyrus and the Alphas before him, have forced every Silver Wolf into mating a man not of their choice. They have controlled every aspect of the lives of these wolves, and I have witnessed the joy and peace in their eyes crumble into nothingness.”

I stare at her, stunned, and then something occurs to me. “What about the males? You said that their fated mates cross paths with them? What happened to them?”

Marlene is silent, her expression dark. When she speaks, there is a heaviness in her words. “The bond between the Silver Wolf and their fated mate is something the Goddess created. It’s very special and nothing can come between the two, not even another mate. Only death can part them.”

My eyes flash in anger. “They kill them?”

Marlene closes her eyes.

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