Page 34 of Alpha's Baby Girl
I pulled away from him, annoyed. “I know what I came here for, Fenrys.”
Something about the way he talked had more nerves creeping in. Did he know something was wrong? Had I been too avoidant last night and roused suspicion? Did he think I didn’t trust him?
“I trust you with my life, Thalia.”
I wanted to sayDon’t,but Graham interrupted before I could answer. Fenrys only gave me a long look before we were given the run-down of the trial, and ordered to shift. We both folded our clothes on a nearby bench, but he shifted before I could answer Fenrys about his trust.
My wolf screamed to be let out, to run with the hulking alpha we calledmate. So I let her stretch through me, bending my exhausted body, letting her strength reinforce me so I could shake off the strange episodes of sickness. As I shifted, I closed my eyes, let go of my very human guilt and doubt, and let myself tear off towards the treeline with Fenrys, even as I sensed the weird energy falling off him in waves.
Chapter 18 - Fenrys
I had never been able to run alongside Thalia like this: alpha and Luna, mated wolves, letting both our forms and bond guide us. We were in sync as we sprinted through the woods. When she ran in front, she guided me to water, and when I veered right, she followed without hesitation, scenting the air for food.
The golden streaks in her fur glimmered in the low morning sun. The muscles in her body were powerful, her paws dainty but assured. She carried herself proudly as a wolf, I noticed. I hadn’t had a chance to see this side of her before. But now I could, I barely wanted to shift back.
The thought of having to endure this with three other she-wolves that weren’t my
mate felt excruciating, but to cut the trial short could mean endangering Silverlake Valley from any vexed packs in other towns. Shiba’s family was powerful; if she felt scorned and treated unfairly by not having her full attempts at winning, then I risked backlash.
And yet, as Thalia soared over fallen branches and tree trunks, skirted around rivers with me, and clawed her way into a burrow to show where we would find shelter on a dry night, I knew that she was who I was meant to find in the Mating Games. I might have to still give the other she-wolves their final trial but my mate was right in front of me.
Whatever involvement she had with Kato I would listen to her; I would try to understand, and we would swear loyalty to one another.
Once or twice, I thought I saw a shadow slink through the mountainside up ahead, the flick of another wolf’s tail, beady eyes watching us through the trees. None of my pack were nearby so I kept an eye out but after a couple of sightings, I never saw the lone wolf again. Thanks to Conall’s warning, I was on my guard. Thalia herself kept swiveling her head left and right as if watching for any enemies. Or was she watching for Kato? Was this what she’d planned, to ambush me when it was just us out here?
The worries went to the back of my mind when we caught salmon in a river for breakfast and I pounced on Thalia, a playful growl rumbling between my canines. Thalia yelped, falling onto her back, as we rolled over each other through the steam. We bared our teeth at each other, nosing at one another’s fur. Thalia licked my ear playfully and swished her tail across mine. For the rest of our hour, we curled up in a burrow we dug out together by the river, watching the sun fully rise. She groomed me as I lay next to her, practically purring happily at her.
This could be my future, I realized, so shockingly. It hit me at that moment, the reality of it. I had spent years running from duty and my future, and now she was lying next to me, her wolf so in tune with mine. I nuzzled into her again, nudging her with my muzzle. Soon, we would have to get back so I could run with the rest of the others, but for now, we had this.
What I’d said at the hotel was true: despite her involvement with Kato, Ididtrust her with my life. She could tear out my throat right now if she wanted. She would have a bloody fight on her hands if she tried, but she could have done anything to me in the cave, the lounge, now. She could have planned something during this trial. I had to trust her for my own peace of mind and trust that she wasn’t simply biding her time.
Her golden eyes bore into mine, and I wondered if our cubs would have her eyes or mine.
I huffed at her before nudging the last of the salmon that we’d torn up to share toward her. Reluctantly, we made our slow way back to the hotel and shifted back into human form. Before we dressed, Thalia cornered me, out of sight from the hotel lobby, and kissed me fiercely against the side of the hotel. By the time I opened my eyes and went to kiss her back, she was gone.
Today’s trial was based on my own opinion, taking into consideration the winners of previous trials and how I had bonded with each she-wolf. By midday, I would have Thalia put forward as my Luna. Tonight, that would be solidified in front of friends and family. I just had to hope that shewasgenuine but I would be on my guard and my pack would be there in case anything happened.
***
Dakota was quiet as we hunted for food, and even when I tried to perk her up by nudging into her, she moved away from me as if she sensed her time here was pointless.
Shiba was relentless. She kept attempting to throw me off my path, play fight with me, steal the prey we caught. She showed off, clearly wanting the praise, but she wasn’t my mate, and she knew it. When I brought them both back, they shifted and their disappointment was strong enough that I had to move out of their space. Shiba stalked off, already knowing the outcome. Dakota gave me a wistful smile. I passed her in the hotel restaurant as she hung out with Thalia, who cupped a cup of coffee and munched her way through a piece of buttered toast. I halted at the soft sight of it. I wondered if Thalia would want Dakota in our pack or if it would be a back-handed request. I could see Dakota in my pack, paired with another male. I made a note to personally introduce her to someone. Thalia would need her own friend and I kept the consideration to invite her into my pack, and the town, permanently, after the Games had blown over.
Shiba’s friend was distracted when it was her turn to hunt with me, eyes scanning the treeline ahead as if searching for something. I didn’t press it, but it was clear she was ready to go home as well, admitting defeat. Overall, even if Thalia wasn’t my mate, her behavior and respect made her the clear winner. But that was what these games were about finding my mate. And as I had Thalia’s parents’ invitation ready to be sent, I knew she was the right one.
As Conall had said, we would get through everything together as a pack. She was part of that now.
Chapter 19 - Thalia
I had thought to write Fenrys a letter telling everything: my betrayal, feelings, and suspicions, but I knew he would never stand for losing me, let alone the possibility of a wolf cub. I planned to leave the letter and the bracelet, a confession and a goodbye in one. Sasha hadn’t answered me about Kato, and while I trusted her, my nerves were frayed as I got ready for the banquet that night. I had to save face.
Graham wouldn’t leave me alone, organizing a team to dress all of the she-wolves for the night ahead.
Back in my human form, I felt sick again, the salmon I’d shared with Fenrys and the toast I’d had when Dakota and I had shared breakfast, sat nauseously in my stomach. Dakota had given me a soft smile over breakfast. “It’s you, isn’t it? You’re the one he’s chosen.”
There was no point in denying it. I nodded, downing my coffee for something else to do other than speak.
“I think I would still like to stick around Silverlake Valley,” she said. “Find myself someone else. Someone quieter, perhaps. Or maybe the complete opposite. A man who can take care of me.”
