Page 34 of Fall of the Alpha

Rather than face that, she listened.

Paldon

I have your daughter. Come on the tenth day of this moon to Gate One if you want to see her again.

Do not bring Grigori.

Grimly, Paldon stared down at the note in his hand. It was not signed, but it did not need to be. He knew who it was from.

And what he was going to do.

21

THE ALPHA’S MATE

Alek

The Wolf’s Pet. It was an apt enough name for how the Wolf was treating Bella. Similar to how Trace and Cora treated Aria. A little different from how they treated Alek.

Every time the Wolf’s gaze touched on Alek, it hardened, but he didn’t say anything, and whenever Bella shifted on his lap, he softened. There was a low, rumbling purr that made Alek want to relax, even though he was doing his best to remain on guard.

“Can you leave your pet here so we can talk?” Cora asked, raising her eyebrows.

The Wolf’s lips curved down, but only momentarily before he gave her a sharp nod. When they got up to leave, Trace remained in place, a silent watcher as always. The other two Alphas turned and left the room, already deep in conversation, though Alek noted the Wolf did glance over his shoulder at Bella before leaving.

Not that he needed to worry. The room was filled with his soldiers. Alek recognized Jordan and Trish at a nearby table, speaking with the other female Alpha he’d seen before, and another Alpha and Omega couple.

As soon as the Wolf was through the door, Aria scooted over to the chair next to where Bella was still sitting, watching him go.

“Hi! I’m Aria.”

Blinking, Bella gave herself a shake, as if she was trying to wake herself up. Something about the Alphas was utterly hypnotic, so Alek could understand. He was a little surprised Bella seemed so serene, but he was also relieved she wasn’t hysterical.

“I’m Bella.”

“I know.” Aria cocked her head at Bella. She was being far more friendly with Bella than she had been with Alek, and he wasn’t sure if it was an act or not.

Keeping an eye on Trace, who seemed wholly focused on his food rather than what the others were doing—though Alek didn’t truly believe that for a minute—Alek also shifted seats, so he was closer to Bella.

“Are you… how are you?” he asked awkwardly. In their current position, he wasn’t sure if asking if she was okay was the right thing to do, but he did want to make sure she was okay. Not that he knew what he would do if she wasn’t, but he’d find something… some way…

One thing he’d learned about Cora and Trace was that they were very protective of Omegas. If the Wolf had abused her, he’d find a way to convince them to help her.

Bella looked up at him, giving him a tremulous smile.

“I’m as well as I can be.” Which was the best answer under the circumstances. “What about you?”

“I’m… fine.” The word was inadequate. He was brutally confused, stressed, and frustrated, yet, in some ways, he felt freer and happier than he had in Zone One. But he wasn’t sure he wanted to admit that to her. Especially after the way Redmond had reacted to his mere presence here.

Bella might be an Omega, but that didn’t mean she was feeling the same kind of conflict he was. He wasn’t sure what she would think of him. For some reason, he didn’t want to disappoint her.

Bella cast a wary glance at Aria, as though she suspected the other Omega’s motives and also that she might be a reason that Alek would lie.

“Aria is from Zone Three,” he said by way of introduction. Immediately, Bella’s gaze sharpened with interest. Finding an Omega who had also come from the zones was, in some ways, even more interesting than an Omega who had been born here. Because, of course, an Omega who had been born here would prefer the territories.

An Omega who had come from the zones… well, that was up for debate. Though Alek knew how Aria felt at this point.

“I was kicked out of Zone Three,” Aria said cheerfully. “Now, I’m with Trace and Cora in Riversong, the territory next to this one.” She glanced at Trace as she said his name and seeing that he glanced up at her, fluttered her eyelashes at him. A ghost of a smile graced his lips before he focused back on his food.

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