Page 39 of Fall of the Alpha

Bella nodded, letting him lead her out of the hall.

Aria

Watching Alek watch Bella, Aria couldn’t help the spurt of jealousy that sparked inside her. She was starting to feel possessive of Alek, especially when it came to another Omega. Bella had not been his partner when he’d thought he was a Beta, but he obviously felt protective over her.

Had he wished she was his partner?

Aria knew their first introduction to the Territories had been… unusual. Not nearly as bad as what the old Warlord might have done, but bad enough that it had worried Cora and Trace about the path the Wolf might go down. He seemed to have reined it in again.

Because of Bella.

What was so special about her?

At least Cora and Trace didn’t seem interested in her.

They made their way over to Aria and Alek, Cora’s eyes taking in the whole scene. Aria smiled at her, determined not to show her jealousy. She had no reason to be jealous.

Cora and Trace sat down in the seats across from them.

“The Wolf has agreed to your safety, regardless of where you decide to make your home,” Cora said to Alek without any preamble. “You are still welcome in Riversong, though you could stay here if you wanted.”

Alek started in surprise, his gaze swinging away from the departing Wolf and Bella and focusing on Cora.

“He did? Why?”

That was a good question.

Cora’s eyes flicked to the left, and Aria looked over to where Jordan was sitting with his new Omega on his lap. Trish had settled into her new life, though a little uneasily. Aria hadn’t spent much time with her. Another Omega, Lara, had been helping with her transition.

“He was reminded by a friend that the father is not the son,” Cora said finally.

Jordan, being the son of the Warlord that the Wolf had overthrown to become the Alpha of the territory. He’d thrown in his lot with the Wolf in a bid for revenge for his mother’s death, which he’d blamed his father for.

Did the Wolf think Alek could become another Jordan?

Worse—did this mean that Alek would stay here? With Bella?

Alarmed, Aria turned her head to see Alek’s expression, wondering what he was thinking. Under the table, his hand came down on hers, wrapping his fingers around hers to press into her palm.

“Thank you,” he said. “I’d rather go to Riversong with you, though, if I’m still welcome.”

Cora smiled as Aria relaxed, and Trace nodded.

“I’m glad to hear it,” she said simply.

So was Aria.

24

THE ALPHA’S QUEEN

Bella

Feeling agitated, Bella shifted back and forth on her feet as she stared at the Wolf, the door to his quarters sliding shut behind them. She wanted to ask what was happening, but she wasn’t sure she was allowed to.

She was intimidated by him; there was no getting around it. Despite the way her body yearned for his touch, and she was sure he would welcome hers, she didn’t know what her place was otherwise. Her own father had certainly never encouraged her to speak up, and while her mother had been a good listener, she also bowed to her mate’s whims. While Bella knew her father loved her, he also loved his position and his power, and he did not take well to being challenged.

Surely, an Alpha would take it even more poorly.

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