Page 84 of The Alpha's Fated Destiny

“You keep waiting for me to get tired of you?” Alex asks bluntly.

“Yeah.”

“Well, that’s not going to happen.” He kisses the top of my head. “I’ve also spent a lifetime being depended upon, Sophia. My feelings, my needs, they all came after the pack’s. Things changed with you. You started putting me first, and it was new to me."

"I'm your mate. Of course, I'll put you first."

"I know," Alex chuckles lightly. "I've learned that. You'd fight the world if you could for me. But it was strange to me. I was also cautious about burdening you with my concerns. I never had anyone to share my own fears with, and it’s strange to have that now. All I know is how to protect and look after others. It's difficult to unlearn that."

I’m silent.

“I should not have taken my frustration out on you, regardless. You never say anything, even when I’m so unreasonable with you. I don’t want to take advantage of your patience.”

“You’re not,” Alex reassures me. “It's not that easy to wear me down."

"Still." I finally summon up the courage to look at him. "I was wrong. You've been doing everything to help her. But asking me to even consider her not surviving feels like the first step in giving up.”

Alex looks down at me, and for a few moments, he doesn’t respond. When he does, it’s with a sigh. “That’s all right. But you should know that it is not true that your mother has no one aside from you. She has me as well. After all, I am her son-in-law, aren’t I?”

My heart grows lighter at his words, and I play with his fingers, looking at them idly, trying to hold it together. “If the worst ever does happen, you’ll be there.”

His lips press against my cheek. “I will. It’ll be hard, but I will glue you back together. But for now, we will not even think of the possibility of the worst-case scenario. We’ll just keep fighting for your mother.”

My heart feels at peace. Deep inside, I know there’s a chance of things not going the way I want. But Alex will be here.

He will always be here.

Chapter 19

Sophia

A week flies by like nothing.

On the last day, Marlene hands me some food, and some of the young witches, girls my own age, tearfully bid me goodbye.

Alex and Logan are waiting by the edge of the village while Marlene speaks to me.

“Removing the curse on your companion will require at least an hour of work every day. He’s already had the potion, and he should begin to see its effects soon. I placed a barrier around the village, and extended it all the way to the edge of the Central Alliance till the point where you will exit. Cyrus is already looking for you. However, he will not be able to bother you.”

I feel worry for the older woman. “Won’t you get in trouble for helping me?”

Marlene smiles at me. “I’ll happily accept the consequences. I should’ve stood up for your mother years ago. I’m proud that it was my niece who did it. You tell Elsa that. Tell her that I am proud of her and I will come and see her one day. Tell her that she will always have family here whenever she wishes to return. I will not let your grandfather get in the way of that anymore.”

“She’ll be happy to hear it.” I smile back at her.

Marlene cups my cheek gently, her eyes pleased. “It seems things are finally going well for you and your mate. Just remember that you two are together for life. You, my child, have to learn to hold your temper sometimes. And listen to him. His job is to protect you. He may be your mate, but he’s also your protector. The Silver Wolf needs a protector. There will be times you will let your emotions guide your decisions. In those moments, you have to trust Alex’s judgment. And one day, when you give birth to your own child, I hope I will have the honor of teaching her.”

I don’t know why my eyes well up. I hug her again. “I wish I could stay here forever. I have never been happier. Your home was like a whole different world to me, Marlene. One day, when everything settles, do come and visit me.”

“Of course I will,” Marlene says, gently. “Now go. There’s a long journey ahead of you.”

She walks with me to the edge of the border of the village, and then says goodbye to both Logan and Alex. Before we leave, she tells Alex, “I’ve been hearing noises of unrest within the witch covens of the North. You should be careful. Keep this with you.”

She hands my mate what looks like a small marble. “It is a portal. Like my ancestors, I also have the gift of foresight. Unlike them, however, I can’t see the future the way they can, but I can feel what is needed. You will need this marble one day. There will come a day, young Alpha, when you will have to summon me and my coven. Break it then. We will arrive within your very next heartbeat.”

Alex is about to hand it to me, when Marlene shakes her head. “No. You have to keep it. The one to summon me will be you. When the sky is burning, then summon me and my coven.”

She leaves us with this last cryptic message. As we head toward the exit, using suggested Logan’s route, I ask, “The sky isn’t going to catch fire, is it?”

---