Page 80 of The Alpha's Fated Destiny

He has to be.

Chapter 18

Sophia

Alex is avoiding me.

I can sense it.

Usually, he’s hovering around me all the time, but I’ve not seen him at all. Granted, I’ve been training with Marlene, but it’s odd not to see him watching me like a hawk, his arms crossed over his chest in that intimidating manner of his. The lack of scrutiny shouldn’t bother me, but it worries me anyway.

What makes it worse, is how I am actually enjoying my time with this training. It was Tina who first introduced me to my magical abilities. She did teach me a little, but most of that I know, I learned through the art of trial and error. This is the first time I’m getting proper instruction on how to use magic. It’s an incredible experience, even if it is slightly frustrating at times. Marlene doesn’t care whether I know something. She’ll make me practice it dozens of times till I can do the same spell with my eyes closed.

While it is a little tedious, I’m learning so many new things. It does help tremendously that I learn fast. I was always a fast learner. Even as a child in the orphanage, I was ahead of my class because I simply had to see something done once or twice before I picked it up. It was a point of contention with thewoman who ran the orphanage, because Robert wanted me to be held back. As a child, I never understood why I was being punished for being ahead of the class.

It wasn’t that I hadn’t been able to link my punishment with my success; I just became stubborn, refusing to obey.

Another thing Marlene has taught me is that simply trying to visualize what I want done is not the most efficient way to use my ability. It feels good to learn and grow stronger. Marlene is a good teacher. I only wish I could show Alex all the neat things she’s been teaching me. But my mate is nowhere to be found. I remember that I saw him talking to Marlene yesterday.

The same mate who never wants leave my side when we are sleeping, only arrives in our room once I’m knocked out each day, exhausted from a day of training. It’s been three days of the same behavior and now my wolf is pining for Alex.

I crouch by the stream, splashing cold water onto my face. The witch has had me learning how to cast balls of fire. I’m not exactly immune to fire as the burned edges of my fingertips testify.

I look at my reflection in the water and wonder whether I should feel guilty about enjoying this time here when I have my mother to worry about. Life in this coven is so peaceful. Even though the other witches are aware of who I am, they laugh with me and treat me like one of them. There is no one eyeing me warily or looking to use me. There’s no conflict here.

“Here.”

I hear a heavy thud on the ground beside me, and when I look up, I see Logan standing beside me. A second later, a delicious smell reaches me and my mouth waters.

Chicken.

Roasted chicken.

Both in awe and shock, I look up at Logan. “What is this?”

He sits down next to me and opens the paper in which the roasted chicken is sitting, hot and fresh. “I know witches don’t eat meat in the Central Alliance. I thought you might be craving some. They wouldn’t allow me to hunt meat in the forest, so I bought some chicken at the human village nearby.

“With what money?” I’m taken aback.

Logan shrugs. “I did some odd jobs for the witches, and they were happy to pay me.”

Oddly touched, I rip off one of the chicken legs and hold it out to Logan, who shakes his head. “You eat. I know you’ve been practicing magic. It looked hard.”

“Come on.” I dangle the chicken in front of him. “There’s no fun in eating alone.”

He gives me a small, reluctant smile, and accepts the chicken leg. I tear off the other one and bite into it, suppressing my groan of delight at the flavorful meat.

Logan barely touches the meat in his hand, his eyes on me. “We still have four more days here. I will get you some more.”

He seems quite pleased that I’m eating the chicken. He kind of reminds me of Drew.

The thought of my neighbor and friend who is now dead and buried, makes my heart ache and the smile disappears with my face.

“What’s wrong?”

Suddenly the chicken doesn’t taste as good as I gaze at it, my heart heavy.

“Nothing. I was just reminded of someone.”

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