Page 40 of Fall of the Alpha

“Sit.” The Wolf glanced at her, gesturing at the couch.

Rather than sitting on it with her, he took the chair across from her, which made her feel even more unsettled. Because she wanted him to touch her. To comfort her. Which made her feel even more unsettled that she wanted any kind of comfort from him.

She was so messed up. Being here in the Wolf’s territory had messed with her head in every way.

Staring at her, as if he was trying to read her mind, the Wolf tapped his fingers against the wooden arm of the chair. His piercing green eyes seemed to see right through her.

Every thought.

Every worry.

Pressing her hands together between her knees, she was able to keep from fidgeting as she made herself meet his gaze. She didn’t want to appear completely cowed… but she also wanted to know what he would do.

To her surprise, her direct stare didn’t seem to bother him.

“Your father is coming here.” His gravelly voice made the stunning announcement as though he was saying the sun was out.

Bella’s mouth dropped open in shock. Her father? Was coming here? To the Wolf’s territory?

Her fatherhatedthe territories.

When she didn’t respond, other than her shock, the Wolf continued.

“I’ll be proposing an alliance. An extension and expansion of the current agreement.”

Bella shook her head.

“He’ll never agree to it. He already wanted to find ways to pull back on what is in place. He regrets making the agreement.” She clamped her jaw shut when she realized that her father would probably see it as a betrayal that she was telling the Wolf anything about his thoughts.

Especially revealing that he wanted out of the current agreement.

Though the Wolf didn’t seem surprised. A slow smile spread across his lips, curving up just the edges of his lips and making her heart beat a little faster. He really was devastatinglyattractive, and the tiny smile made him even more so. She wondered what it would look like if he ever truly fully smiled.

“He’ll agree to it. Especially if we’re able to seal the amendment with a mating.”

It took her a moment to realize what he was talking about—a mating withher.Her and him. Because while she was his mate, her father would be on his best behavior… assuming he loved her more than he hated the Alphas.

“What if I don’t want to mate you?” She had nothing left to lose, other than her life, which already felt like it was hanging in the balance, so she might as well ask.

The Wolf shrugged one shoulder, and his smile completely disappeared, leaving his expression looking as though it had been carved from granite. The way he usually looked.

“Then you’ll remain here as a hostage, and I’ll still get the amendment. But I’d rather have you as a mate.”

Staring back at him, Bella remembered what Aria had said about the other Omegas. She was going to go into heat, regardless. Would she want an Alpha other than the Wolf to be the one to see her through the heat?

Not really.

She wanted him.

Despite everything.

Maybe because he was the only Alpha she’d been with… but she didn’t want Alek. And she didn’t find herself drawn to any of the other Alphas. Yet admitting she wanted to be his mate felt somehow humiliating. She shouldn’t want it. Not after everything he’d done to her. Not after everything he’d done to Alek.

Had she forgotten that first introduction to the territories? Or had she just stopped caring? And what did that say about her?

Her insides twisted.

“You’re thinking too hard, Pet.” He crooked his finger at her. “Come here.”

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