Page 52 of Fall of the Alpha

He also thought Grigori would prefer death over the loss of his position.

There was nothing he could do, though.

He opened his arms, and Bella stepped into them. If Alek hadn’t been watching, he would not have seen Malachi stiffen. But the Alpha remained where he was and did not break off his conversation with Cora. Bella squeezed Alek tightly before stepping away.

Letting her go felt like letting go of his old life. Old Alek. Alek, who had told himself over and over again that he was just a particularly large Beta. The Alek who had thought all the danger was in the zones.

That Alek felt very far away right now. That Alek had gone and would never return.

“Take care of yourself,” he said.

She smiled back at him, a light in her eyes that he had never seen before when they’d been in Zone One. Certainly not when she’d been with Kenet. Just like him, she’d come into her own.

“You, too.” She glanced over at the Alphas. Malachi turned his head, as though he’d been waiting for her to do so. He stretched out his hand, and Bella’s smile widened. With one last glance at Alek, she moved to her Alpha’s side. Alek watched as the male’s hand curled possessively around her hip, his shoulders relaxing minutely as she was pressed against him.

Tilting his head back, he looked up at the clear blue sky. The sun was slowly rising, the courtyard currently in the shade, and the air was warming as the minutes ticked past.

It was a beautiful day.

Brianne

Staring at Paldon, Brianne tried to comprehend his words, but none of them made sense. She latched onto the most important part.

“Alek is… a Sigma? And he’s alive?” She’d been afraid, so afraid, ever since her son had disappeared into the territories.

Her mate had come from there. He’d told her how terrible they were, how vicious the Alphas were. From the moment Alek had been taken, she’d mourned him as lost, though she had not been able to completely kill the tiny spark of hope rooted in her chest. The spark that now flared.

Paldon nodded. He appeared older, more tired, and frailer than she’d ever seen him before.

“In Riversong Territory. He’s safe, Brianne. He chose to remain there. He wants you to join him.”

Brianne had not even known the territories had different names. Riversong. That was a pretty name. How could such a terrible place have such a pretty name?

Grigori was going to be so angry.

The thought whispered through her mind, making her flinch.

Her mate had been angry for days, and she’d done her best to avoid him during that time. There were times when everything she did upset him, and from the moment they’d heard Alek was taken, she had not been able to do anything right. But how could she stop crying when her son had been taken, likely torn apart in the territories?

But he was fine.

Alek was fine.

“Alek wants me to go into the territories?” It didn’t make any sense. Why would her son want her there instead of coming back home?

Paldon nodded. His exhausted expression became even more resigned, more exhausted.

“We have a new treaty with them. With the Wolf’s territory and with Riversong.” Paldon rubbed his hand over his face. “Carina is with Bella in the Wolf’s territory. Bella has chosen to remain there as the Wolf’s mate. It’s… part of the treaty.”

Staring blankly at the leader of Zone One, Brianne still did not understand.

“After they took my son, took your daughter, you made a new treaty with them?” And Bella had chosen to stay there? Alek had chosen to stay there?

None of it made sense.

Unless they’d been forced to stay there for the treaty. But Alek wanted her to join him. He wouldn’t ask for that if he thought it was dangerous. Unless Paldon was lying to her. But if he was lying to her, what part was the lie?

“Where is Grigori?” If she left… she could not imagine his rage. He’d been so angry already. If she chose to go into the territories, into the place he hated the most… she did not think she would be able to come back.

---