Page 45 of Fall of the Alpha

“You mean your future mate,” Bella’s father said through gritted teeth.

“Of course.” Malachi smiled at him, but it wasn’t a friendly smile. More like a baring of teeth that could easily rip out the Beta male’s throat.

Bella didn’t care about their posturing. Her mother and Trace had disappeared through the door, and considering how little time it had taken him to get to that room, her mother should be here very shortly.

Alek

Watching the mother-daughter reunion made Alek’s chest ache. It had already been odd hearing Paldon agree to give up Grigori without a fight. Knowing his father was probably going to be dead soon.

He didn’t know how he felt.

There was a part of him that was so angry at his father… but death?

Yet, he understood that there were crimes his father had to answer for. Misdeeds he’d never suffered the consequences of. And when it came down to it, logically, he understood his father was not a good male.

That didn’t mean Alek wanted him dead.

And what abouthismother?

As if Cora had read his thought, she moved over to whisper in his ear. “Your mother is welcome in Riversong Territory.”

But not his father. He didn’t blame Cora, but he couldn’t help the rush of guilt that he didn’t feel more upset by the exclusion. He felt worse aboutnotfeeling bad that he didn’t care if his father was included or not than he felt about his father being left out. What did that say about him?

Watching Carina and Bella, his own chest tightened. He did want to see his mother safe. Would she forgive him for not trying to save his father? Would she even want to go to Riversong? He didn’t know.

On the screen, Paldon and the Wolf continued to hash out their agreement while Carina finally loosened her hold on Bella—though she didn’t let go. She pulled away just enough to see Bella’s face, her arms still around her daughter as though she was too afraid to let go.

Aria sidled up to Alek’s other side, so he was wedged between the Alpha female and Omega female. The little Omega put her head against his bicep, and he lifted his arm, only then letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. No wonder his chest was aching. He put his arm around Aria, felt her humming purr, and immediately felt a little better.

“What about Grigori’s son?” Paldon asked, making Alek jump in surprise. After the little care Paldon had shown for Grigori, he wondered why Paldon cared about him. Not that he could care too much, considering this was the first time Paldon had mentioned him, but it was still more than expected.

“He has chosen to go to Riversong Territory.” The Wolf’s tone was clipped. Unhappy. But it didn’t stop Paldon from pressing.

“Alive? Safe?”

A long silence stretched between the two males.

“Why does he care?” Alek murmured, trying to stifle the resentment rising in his chest. Behind him, he could still hear Bella and Carina talking softly. They weren’t paying any attention to the ongoing negotiations. Maybe he should follow their example, yet he couldn’t tear himself away.

These were the kinds of things he needed to pay attention to. That he needed to know. He didn’t know what he was going to do for Riversong, but if treaties were being revised, he could probably offer some kind of assistance. He knew the upper echelons of the Zone One families through and through. He could help.

At the very least, he would help Cora and Trace and the Riversong Territory. He would protect Aria. The best way to do that was to help keep the peace between the territories and the zones.

Even through the screen, he could tell that Paldon was getting flustered. The older male flushed, sitting up a little straighter.

“He is a good Beta, regardless of who his father is.”

After another long moment, the Wolf leaned back in his chair, tilting his head at Paldon.

“Would it change your mind if you knew he wasn’t a Beta?”

Paldon stiffened with a jerk. “No.”

“He’s a Sigma. And I believe he’s chosen to go with the Riversong Alphas. But I will pass along your offer to have him take his father’s position.”

“That’s not—” Paldon cut off with a cough, shaking his head. “I wasn’t…” He shrugged. “If Alek wants to stay in the territories, that’s his prerogative.”

It was hard to tell if he was sincere. Had he hoped Alek would take Grigori’s place? Alek couldn’t understand why, if so.

---