Page 39 of Sold to the Alphas

I softened, knowing full well I wasn’t helping. “I’ll make it up to you,” I said, moving closer, my voice lowering to a more intimate pitch. “Later. I’ll take you to explore the fortress, but only when you’ve had some more rest. We’ll figure something out. You’ll see.”

Her gaze met mine, still a little skeptical, but I could see the challenge in her eyes. “Fine. But you better keep that promise.”

I felt a flicker of satisfaction as she relented, but I couldn’t stop myself from worrying, either. I wasn’t ready to let her roam around—especially with how vulnerable I knew she still felt after everything. I needed to keep her safe, close, and protected until I could convince myself everything was settled between us.

But when she finally lay back down, and I felt her warm breath against my chest once more, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of the decision I’d just made. The weight of wanting her more thanI’d ever anticipated, but knowing the danger we were all facing was far from over.

Eventually, after I convinced myself it was best to leave her in bed, I quietly slipped out of the room and headed downstairs to meet with my betas. They’d already sent word that they needed to speak with me about the town’s status and how things were going with integrating the three packs.

The settlement had been built into the side of a large mountain range, and the walls of the fortress were thick enough to withstand even the harshest storms. The central building, where most of us lived and worked, was the heart of the settlement, with various outlying buildings for the betas, healers, and other essential members of our pack.

The atmosphere inside was busy but not chaotic. Betas were moving quickly, carrying reports and messages to each of the higher-ranking alphas, making sure everything was on schedule. This settlement was built to accommodate three packs: mine, Marshall’s, and Finn’s. The goal had been to unite us, but as always, the challenges were more complex than simply sharing a home.

“Alpha August,” one of my betas, Liam, said when I entered the central hall. He held a handful of reports and looked anxious and relieved to see me. “It’s good to have you back. We’ve got updates.”

We walked together to the conference room where the other betas had gathered.

“They’re integrating well, considering the circumstances,” Liam continued, glancing down at the papers in his hand. “Most of thepacks are adjusting to the shared space without incident. The borders are well-guarded, and patrols have been steady. There are definitely still tensions, but we’re working to keep those under control.”

I nodded. I’d expected as much—we might be under the same roof, but old rivalries and territorial instincts didn’t just disappear.

“Anything else?” I asked.

“Yes,” answered Liam. “There are rumors of Carlisle spies somewhere in the settlement. We haven’t confirmed it, but people have noticed some unfamiliar faces around town.”

My gut twisted. The Carlisle pack was dangerous and conniving. I couldn’t afford to let its members sow chaos here, but I also knew we couldn’t act rashly. “We’ll keep it quiet for now,” I said. “We don’t want to cause panic. But I want eyes everywhere and reports on anything suspicious.”

The betas nodded in unison, understanding the seriousness of the order. I had no intention of letting the Carlisle pack destabilize everything we’d worked for.

After the meeting, I returned to Elisabed’s room, my thoughts heavy with everything I’d learned. The peace I’d felt earlier in the morning felt a little more fragile now, but I wouldn’t let anything tear it apart—not when I had so much at stake.

When I entered the room, she was nowhere to be found.

20

Elisabed

I couldn't stay cooped up in that room any longer. August had insisted I stay inside, that I rest, nest, and do whatever I was supposed to do after the heat. But I couldn't—my body felt too restless, too coiled up. I wouldn’t sit around all day waiting for him to come back and tell me what I could or couldn’t do.

I slipped out of the bed quietly, careful not to disturb the blankets too much, and pulled on the clothes I’d picked out earlier.

The house was still quiet, the air thick with the smell of breakfast from the kitchen below. I took a deep breath, the scent of fresh bread and roasted meats making my stomach growl. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was after everything that happened, but it wasn’t just food I was craving. I needed something else, something to fill the space inside me that had been left empty after the adrenaline rush of the last few days.

Slipping out the door, I walked through the winding hallways and into the courtyard. I would just get some fresh air and be back before anyone worried. The sunlight felt good against my skin, warmer than it should have been for this early in the day, but I wasn’t about to complain. The outside world was calling me, and I wouldn’t ignore it anymore.

The town stretched out before me. The empty stalls I saw last night were now part of a bustling marketplace, with vendors selling everything from trinkets and baubles to fruits, meats, and vegetables. People were haggling over prices, shouting over the din of the crowd, and yet an odd sense of peace seemed to settle over the whole place. I could smell the mixture of fresh produce and something sweeter from the pastries, and my mouth watered at the thought of sampling it all.

It was so different from the depressing atmosphere of my old pack territory. Raol’s presence poisoned any sense of peace in my old home, and our community wasn’t strong. I used to work at the only small store where people could get their daily goods, and they traveled for everything else as if trying to find any excuse to leave our settlement. Of course, the omegas could never leave unsupervised, so I spent most of my life watching others escape while I stayed stuck.

I’d always had Mily, though, and she’d always had me. Now, I was here—and alone.

I wandered deeper into the market. I hadn’t seen anything like this since I was a child—maybe not even then. There was something different about the way this place felt, a certain liveliness in the air, like it had a pulse of its own. I wanted to touch everything, explore each corner, and see every stall and face.

As I walked, I lost myself in the sights—bright fabrics hanging in the wind, merchants calling out to passersby, and children darting between adults, laughing as they went. But then, I saw her.

At first, I thought it was just the heat playing tricks on me, some hallucination or wishful thinking. But no—standing by a stall was a face I knew.

My heart leaped into my throat. It couldn’t be.

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