Page 22 of Challenged Mate
Kayla looked around. Thankfully, Kayla’s earlier glares kept the majority of the curious glances from returning. Still, she turned back at me with a hesitant expression. Clearly, she was debating whether or not she should say the words on the tip of her tongue.
I waited patiently, sipping my sweet drink, not swaying her one way or the other.
Seconds later, she released a loaded sigh, and leaned forward. “I don’t know how much Asher and Chase shared with you about why our pack needs an alliance, and I don’t want to overstep and say something I shouldn’t, but the fact you were slated to become your pack’s alpha means you have immense power—and I’m not talking about magic. That was an unexpected bonus, actually.”
Chase had said something similar during the Alpha Games…in the middle of the capture the flag game.
He’d said my position as the alpha heir was the reason the Wilds alpha chose me for his proposed mating alliance.
I’d pointed out I wouldn’t become the Summit alpha if I mated with the Wilds alpha, but Chase claimed his alpha hadn’t assumed I would lose my position as the future heir if I mated him.
At the time, I found that unbelievable.
Shifters were, unfortunately, a male-dominated species. If a female mated outside her pack, she relinquished her ties to that pack and, instead, became a member of her mate’s pack. It would be no different for me—not even as an alpha heir.
“I won’t become the Summit Pack’s next alpha.” The words pained me to say. “So whatever benefit that role afforded me will have no bearing in this mating.”
Kayla shook her head. “That’s not true. We have no females with an alpha heir’s bloodline in our pack. Your heritage comes with power that our pack can tap into for protection. I’m sorry. That’s all I can say on the subject.”
My forehead creased.
Kayla made it sound like I was a keg of power to be used at the Wilds alpha’s disposal.
I didn’t like the sound of that one bit.
“So, what? Your alpha was determined to be single until he realized he needed help protecting his pack? And somehow I’m going to help with that?”
Kayla cringed at my hostile tone. “Basically…”
I clenched my teeth and stared at the coffee between my hands, reminding myself that I needed to take it easy. Kayla was just the messenger. She didn’t deserve to be on the receiving end of my anger.
I’ll save it for Asher.
Just thinking of him sent my blood rushing and my skin tingling. I wondered what he thought of the alpha’s reason for wanting to mate me?
Asher probably hadn’t cared when he first heard his alpha’s plan. I was a stranger. His loyalty was to his pack.
But now that we shared a fated mate bond, would his perspective change?
It had too.
I mean, it already had.
Asher had promised to lose the Alpha Games. While he hadn’t followed through, I knew—deep down—he’d intended to.
The realization struck me deep in my soul, and my wolf wailed with sorrow at what we had lost.
At one point in time, Asher had chosen me over his pack. But that moment had passed, and it would never return.
“Is there anything you want to know about him?” Kayla asked, her tone cautious.
I jolted. Coffee sloshed onto the table. I grabbed a napkin and wiped it up. “Who?”
“Our alpha,” she said slowly. “You know… since you’re going to be his mate?” She sipped her Frappuccino, watching me warily.
Regret filled me. Kayla had shown me nothing but kindness since we met. She didn’t deserve my attitude.
I forced my frustration down, storing it to be unleashed on a more deserving soul later. “No, thank you.”
