Page 107 of A Warrior's Fate

The alpha’s choice.

That roaring returned to her blood, much like when she’d heard Belle disclosing her past on guard for Amalie.

Davina’s words itched at her mind again. They were here for Kai’s attention. To be the woman the alpha chose to take as his mate or to be…the one.

That magic spark.

Isla shocked herself as she snarled and fought the urge to start waving her arms around, telling them all to go home.

Thankfully, Eli managed to break her focus with his never-ending remarks.

She felt him nudge her with his elbow. “A little excessive, don’t you think?”

He’d said it as a joke. As if it wouldn’t have taken her several moments to recall his comments from weeks ago. About Kai and his killing of four bak being a bit much.

He’d gestured to the heightened guard presence within the underpass leading to the banquet’s entrance, and the fact they’d been waiting in this line for so long was for security reasons. To be checked out, inspected, and cleared by name and invitation. With so many guests—and so many gate-crashers—it was taking quite a while to get through.

“Necessary,” she said, grateful for the protection Kai had.

“General.”

At the voice from behind them, Isla felt the hair of her neck stand on end. She turned slowly.

“Beta Ezekiel.” Eli beamed, reaching forward to shake Ezekiel’s hand. Immediately, he nodded toward Isla. “I’m happy we crossed paths. This is Isla, the recruit I was telling you about.”

When Ezekiel’s worn eyes fell upon her, she bit down hard on her tongue, resisting her urge to snap.

The last she’d seen him, she’d threatened him, more or less. Told him that he had better hope she never ended up in Deimos to claim what was rightfully hers. That she wouldn’t be here, his queen, to make him get down on his knees and bow to her. He’d called her brazen and stubborn and proud. He’d called her insolent and dim-witted. He’d said she wasn’t right to sit at the helm of his pack…and he was right about some of it, but he was also rude as all hell.

Though she could easily pretend he’d just told her he was shipping her off to a safe house so she could just kick his ass right here, she flashed him a soft grin. So pure, so fake. Ameera would surely love it. She could see it now, where the female general and her beta father shared their looks—the hair, the eyes, the arrogant scowl.

Ezekiel didn’t smile back—Isla hadn’t expected him to. He simply said, “Warrior,” before turning back to Eli. “Delta Sol would like to reconvene with you. He’s on the veranda between the Western Hall and the House.”

Western Hall and House.

Isla noted the names as Eli asked, “What for?”

“Wouldn’t say,” the beta said. “But it sounded urgent.”

“Odd.” Eli furrowed his brows. “I’ll have to clear this line first.”

Ezekiel reached into his pocket and pulled out a stamped placard. “Just give them this. They’ll let you through.” The general took it before his eyes shifted to Isla. Ezekiel caught on and added, “I’ll escort her in.”

Eli had no words of protest, eager to escape the waiting. “I’ll see you inside,” he told her with the smallest touch, and he was off.

As he walked away, now beside her, Ezekiel snickered. Isla wondered if Sol truly wanted to meet with the general at all, or if this had all been a ploy to get her alone.

“Aren’t you two close,” Ezekiel said to her once he turned back to face her. He’d noticed the caress.

“It’s nothing like that,” Isla said pointedly.

Ezekiel hummed, not offering a rebuttal. “Come with me.”

She didn’t want to—but she didn’t really feel like waiting in the line anymore. Not as the number of women by the barricade increased. Not as she had to watch them preen themselves. See their beautiful faces. Be reminded that they all knew this pack better than she ever would.

“Hide your face,” Ezekiel said as they moved along the line by some reporters and photographers that were approved to be at the banquet. To capture the moments.

Isla didn’t want her time here immortalized, so she did so, using the lightweight black shawl Davina had offered just before they left to cover herself.

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