Chapter 14

Sophia Hope

I don't understand what is going on in Alex's head.

He rejected me, and I've accepted that fact. I am moving on now, trying to focus on myself.

It's not easy, but I am trying to graciously accept Noah's advances toward me. My wolf still yearns for somebody else, though, and every time Noah approaches me or gives me a courting gift, my beast refuses to acknowledge it. I don't know how to make it understand. We can't force somebody to care for us. And I don't want to beg somebody for their affection. It is what it is, and when a situation can't be altered, it is best that one simply adapts.

And I'm trying really hard to adapt right now. If only my wolf would be a little more cooperative.

I've been dropping by Rita's cottage, and she's been quite curious about the whole situation. But I've kept my words simple. "He rejected me because he has a fiancée."

She has tried to probe, but I've remained silent. I don't want to have to rehash this entire thing again. What would be the point? My situation won't change.

However, it seems that only one of us wants to move on. For the past week, I have constantly felt Alex's presence. Everywhere I look, he's somewhere in my line of sight. It is quite annoying. It can't be that hard to just stay away from me. Julia is coming to the bar a couple times a day, too, but I steer clear of her. When she approaches the bar, I ask somebody else to take over as I head into the kitchen to help out.

The servers who usually speak to me with a cold, distasteful attitude have become surprisingly more accommodating. I don't understand the change in behavior, but I have begun to notice it from more than just them. The shifters who visit the bar have always had a condescending tone toward me, their words layered with some level of disgust and ridicule. I came to terms with it years ago. I couldn't talk to them about it because there was no point; they would still have been cruel toward me. But now, they talk to me with respect. Do I dare to call their attitude almost friendly? The only thing that has changed between then and now is that Noah has started courting me.

If that's the cause for their shift in behavior toward me, I find it laughable.

Now that the Alpha's son thinks I am good enough for him, I am suddenly good enough for the rest of the pack?

Every time one of them smiles at me, anger burns within me. This politeness, this kindness is not because they feel bad for how they used to treat me. It's because somebody important is suddenly paying attention to me.

However, the one thing that is bothering me the most is that Julia is constantly trying to approach me. Although Elsa is a little upset with me, I did bring it up with her. I don't want to talk to the woman. I don't want to interact with her. And I don't want to be reminded how inferior to her I am.

I've never had any problems with my self-esteem. I raised myself, neglected by the adults in my life and despised by the other children, and in my worst times, I comforted myself. Despite everything I faced—rejection from my pack, horrific bullying from my peers, cruel barbs thrown my way in an attempt to make me feel worthless—I stood strong through it all, determined to prove to everybody who considered me lesser than them that they were wrong. But when I am faced with Julia, I can't help but feel small and insignificant.

I don't understand it. I wasn't the kind of girl who dreamed about a prince on a white horse coming to rescue me. I always knew nobody was coming for me. I had to make it on my own. Other girls my age, in the orphanage, would daydream about their fated mate sweeping them off their feet. Not me. I was sure that even my fated mate would find some flaw in me. So why did I change? When mine did show up, why did I let him affect me so much?

Every time I see Julia, all I can think is that I wasn't good enough for my fated mate. It eats at me, a childlike hurt demanding to know why I wasn't chosen. Why wasn't I loved?

And I don't know how to soothe my own pain. I don't know how to tell the most vulnerable part of myself that my world isn't ending. Because it sure feels that way.

Unfortunately, I still feel nothing when I'm with Noah. His attention is flattering, and he says all the right things, but there is no spark when he touches my hand, no excitement when he smiles at me and leans in close. There's an emptiness within me. I smile when he talks, but I don't mean it. I laugh when he tries to be funny, but the sound is hollow. I react how I assume he wants me to react. I don't even know why I'm encouraging him.

I guess, at this point, I just want to be loved.

And he wants to love me, so why not let him? Maybe down the line, I really will fall in love with him.

But it feels wrong. This whole thing feels wrong. And what makes everything so much worse is that Elsa does not support me. I can't understand why she doesn't like Noah. He hasn't done or said anything to me to make me think he's a danger to me or a dangerous individual in general. He has no incentive to be with me; he just wants to be.

I've seen him around the other shifters in town. He's always fair and just, never flaunting his status as the Alpha Successor. I am starting to believe that he really is going to be a better Alpha than his father. I've never seen him be harsh to anybody or threaten anyone like his father openly does. So, why does Elsa say he is dangerous?

I've tried to look at the situation from her point of view, but I just can't put my finger on it. I have a feeling Elsa is simply being paranoid. Maybe she does not believe that somebody like Noah would want me, but I don't think that's the case. At least, I don't want to believe that Elsa would think that of me.

My shift ends early today, and Noah has asked me out on a date.

I hand all the pending orders over to the bartender who's going to cover the night shift, and I head out. I make a quick stop at my apartment to change into something more suitable for dinner. My wardrobe is mostly blouses, t-shirts, and jeans; I've never had a reason to buy a dress. I'm kind of regretting that now as I stand outside wearing the nicest blouse I own and the cleanest pair of jeans I could find.

I feel even worse when Noah shows up in a tuxedo. The prince and the pauper.

I wonder if he's going to comment on my attire, but he beams at me. "You look beautiful."

I find it hard to believe him.

"Are you sure I'm not underdressed for where we're going?" I ask hesitantly.

He shakes his head, taking my hand as he walks me to the car. "I never have a problem with how you're dressed. Let's just go and have a nice time."

He always goes the extra mile to make me feel relaxed. I like that about him.

I haven't been told where we're going for dinner, and when he stops the car on the side of the road and leads me into the forest, I am mildly surprised. "I thought you said you made a reservation."

He smiles at me. "I did. It's just not at a restaurant."

I'm wary of what awaits me. I don't know how to tell Noah that I don't want to go into the woods with him. Entering a forest with my date, alone, at night, sounds like the beginning of a horror movie.

However, he guides me into a clearing where there are fairy lights decorating the trees and a small table with a white tablecloth and candles on it, surrounded by a circle of rose petals. It's a beautiful setting, and I feel a little flustered.

"You didn't have to go all out," I say, overwhelmed by the whole thing.

"Of course I did." He squeezes my hand. "I like surprising you like this. And I had all your favorite dishes made."

I didn't even know I had favorite dishes till he leads me to the table and a server appears with a large tray with covered food. When he starts setting down the platters, revealing pot roast and lamb stew with rice, I feel my mouth water. The scent is tantalizing, and I glance at Noah a little apprehensively.

"You did all this for me?"

He laughs. "One day, you'll have to stop being so surprised at these little gestures. Although, I kind of like seeing that stunned look in your eyes."

His warm smile makes me flush, and I find it hard to meet his gaze. It's not that I'm not happy, or as close to happy as I can be; I just feel uncomfortable. He's putting in so much effort for me, and I don't think I can respond with the same enthusiasm.

"I've petitioned my father to see if I can assume control of this town," Noah tells me as the server pours us some wine. "I don't think I want to be away from you just yet."

"What do you mean, assume control?"

He gives me an enigmatic half smile. "Well, as Alpha Successor, I have to supervise several parts of the territory at the same time. I'm supposed to make one area my headquarters, and I'll completely control it. It's part of the Alpha training process. So far, I haven't asked for a specific spot, but I've done so now. I'm just waiting to hear what my father says."

The idea of having Noah here should make me happy, but instead, a ball of tension forms in the pit of my stomach. When I'm with Noah, I feel like I'm not myself. I'm more subdued, and I have to pretend to be someone I'm not. I don't think he would like the person I really am, with my sharp tongue and reckless behavior. Not to mention the cage fighting.

The idea of having him around all the time makes me feel exhausted just thinking about it.

Noah is still talking. "I don't know what my father will say, though. He's quite attached to this place."

That has me sputtering a little. Alpha Black? Attached to Oakrest? He hasn't stepped foot in this town since shortly after sending me here nine years ago. Unless he's attached to a dot on a map, I'm pretty sure he doesn't give a crap about this place.

I do wonder at times whether Noah and I are talking about the same Alpha.

Noah blinks at my reaction. "You don't think he's attached to this town? He handles all the documentation from here himself."

I shrug. "I haven't seen him come here in years, Noah. And this isn't the most thriving area, now, is it?"

"That is true," he admits. "In which case, I probably will get permission."

I hold out the bread basket to him. "If you do, what will happen?"

He looks pleased. "We'll be able to see each other all the time. Well, most of the time. I'll have to go check the other territories on the weekends, but during the week, I should be here." He butters a piece of bread before continuing. "By the way, I've looked into getting a witch to come down here to see if you have an affinity for magic. She should arrive next week."

I am pondering this development when my sharp ears detect movement in the woods. I don't get a chance to react because just then, two men burst into the clearing, looking frantic. I recognize them as members of the pack security team. Noah is on his feet in a heartbeat, his voice a growl. "What is the meaning of this?"

One of them, Tyler, gasps, "The black wolf was spotted near the lake. We had two men following him. He's already taken out one of them."

I see the change in Noah's eyes, and it is a terrifying sight. He looks at me, and there is no longer any trace of warmth in his expression. "I'm afraid I have to go, Sophia. Rain check?"

I nod mutely, my heart thundering. The black wolf? They found him?

Noah runs toward the edge of the clearing and shifts in mid-air into a large, magnificent, brown wolf. The other two men shift as well, but their wolves are a little smaller than Noah's. Those with Alpha blood in their veins tend to be slightly larger in size. Now that I think about it, when I met the black wolf, he was the same size as Noah, if not a little bit bigger.

What does that mean? Is the black wolf also an Alpha?

I get to my feet, suddenly anxious. My wolf is equally panicked. If they find the black wolf, there's no doubt they'll kill him. We have to do something.

I'm about to follow Noah when the server stops me. "I'll take you home." His voice is steady, but it sends a shiver down my spine. There's something off about it.

I look at him more closely now than I did before. He has an unremarkable face, a seemingly very ordinary person, but the hair on the back of my neck rises, and my wolf is baring its teeth, sensing a threat. I don't know what it is about this guy, but I have a bad feeling about him.

I really don't want this man knowing where I live. I don't even want to walk down an empty road with him.

"I can go by myself." I take a step back. He studies me, and I see a flicker of interest in his eyes. I don't like that. "You're not from Oakrest, are you?"

His lips curve. "No. I'm Noah's assistant, Orlando."

"I see. I didn't know he had an assistant. I'll be heading back now."

I don't give him an opportunity to respond. I quickly pick up my bag and hurry out of the clearing. I have no desire to return home, but I have a feeling Orlando might follow me to make sure I go to my apartment. I don't know why, but it feels like he's suspicious of me. Then again, it's not as if I trust him, either.

It takes me twenty minutes to reach my apartment, and as soon as I enter the building, I glance out the window by the entrance. Sure enough, I see Orlando's figure standing in the trees, watching the door I just closed behind me.

I curse softly. Why is he staying there? He should leave.

But minutes pass, and he remains in the same spot.

I have a feeling Orlando isn't going anywhere soon, so I'll have to avoid him. I drop my things in my apartment and use the back door to exit the building. I head straight toward the edge of the forest.

I've spent so many years exploring this area that I know the forest like the back of my hand. And if the black wolf has been spotted by the lake, I know how to get there without being detected. My preference has always been to stick to the trees. Since I don't have a scent that can give my presence away, it's easy for me to move undetected on the branches, among the foliage.

I hear the security team at one point, and my heart begins to thunder. I look down, and sure enough, there they are. They are clearly chasing somebody. I watch with bated breath, clinging to a tree trunk. I hope none of them look up. While it is incredibly dark, and I am hidden by the leaves, there's always a risk of being caught. Once they're out of sight, I stealthily follow them. I can see Noah's wolf in the distance now, sniffing around the stream.

I find myself smiling. The black wolf must have used the water to escape. But when the scent of blood hits me, my muscles seize up in alarm. If he's bleeding, he's going to be caught soon. A few seconds later, the pack security team scatters in different directions. This worries me. I can't look for the wolf if I don't know where the security team members are.

I'm about to follow the scent where it's strongest when I realize something. That scent…it's familiar. It's very familiar.

My blood grows cold. There's no way.

My head whips around as I search the terrain. I have to confirm this. It can't be.

It can't be!

There is a chilly wind blowing, and I feel a shiver crawling up my spine. Where is he?

I follow the scent of blood but come to a halt as something else strikes me. If he is an Alpha, he must be quite cunning. There is one way to conceal the scent of blood. If he washes the wound and covers it with leaves, the scent might fade away. Of course, that only works if he lets the wound coagulate. That means he'll have to be patient and hide somewhere.

Alphas have faster healing than other shifters, though. He should have healed by now unless he's using his blood to send the pack security team in the wrong direction so that he can escape.

Now that my suspicions about the identity of the black wolf have been raised, I'm more desperate to find him. I have to confirm it.

I don't know how grievous his injury is, but the scent of blood is thick in the air, and I can only assume the worst. If it's a terrible wound, it might not heal very fast.

I keep searching, jumping from tree to tree, landing quietly on my feet at each branch, careful not to make a sound. I see no sign of the black wolf.

Where did he go?

I can sense the growing impatience of the pack security team.

Finally, I reach the point where I have to stop. I'm too physically tired now. I don't know where he is, but I can only pray to the Goddess that he is unharmed. I'm about to head home when I hear Noah's voice. He has shifted back into his human form and is on the phone with someone.

"No sign of him. He must've figured out the location."

He pauses for a minute, and I watch him through the thick foliage, holding my breath.

"We'll have to move fast. If my father decides to come down here, this is not going to end well. Are you keeping an eye on her?"

Her?

I get the faintest suspicion that he's talking to Orlando.

I frown. Did Noah tell his assistant to make sure I went straight home? Did he ask Orlando to watch me? I want to ask him what he's up to, but revealing myself will get me in a bunch of trouble. And the Noah I'm looking at right now makes me nervous. He's harsh and cold. Suddenly, I recall Elsa's words about Noah being dangerous. I understand that he's looking for an enemy wolf, so he probably has to behave this way, but it makes me feel unsettled.

Shaking the feeling off, I begin to head home, relieved they didn't find the black wolf. I'll come back tomorrow and see if I can track him down.

The smart choice would be to leave this entire matter alone, but I can't help but remember how gentle the black wolf was with me when I was going through my breakdown. He didn't have to do any of the things he did, and his presence really soothed me. He brought me back from the edge I had been teetering on.

Don't let it be the same person.

But deep in my gut, I just know. I know who the wolf is. The blood can't lie.

He should leave. Noah and his people are going to be more vigilant now. Whatever his purpose was in coming here, it's not worth his life.

I keep moving toward my apartment, but as I reach the edge of the forest, I see a figure staggering on the ground. He's a few feet in front of the tree I'm currently in, clutching trunks for support as he walks, his gait uneven.

My heart is in my throat.

There's no doubt in my mind. The man below me is the black wolf.

I look over my shoulder and confirm nobody's coming this way. Jumping to the ground, I run toward him. He doesn't even sense me coming his way because when I touch his shoulder, he flinches. I spin him around, ready to say something, but I freeze upon seeing his face.

It's Alex.

I already knew. How could I not?

He's badly injured. There's a large gash in his chest, and his right arm is practically shredded. It's obvious he was in a fight and barely escaped with his life.

It takes me a few seconds to piece everything together now that I have the proof in front of me. Alex is the black wolf. So, that night when I was running away, he was the one who approached me at the stream. No wonder he didn't kill me. No wonder he didn't let me leave. He wanted me to go back to Oakrest. Suddenly, there's a whole new nuance to the black wolf's gentle treatment of me.

It still doesn't explain why he sought me out that night or how he knew I would be there, but I know I cannot leave him here. I now have even more reason to help the black wolf: he's my fated mate. Even if he did reject me, I cannot just let him die. Noah will definitely kill him if he finds him. After all, he's the enemy.

Even so, Alex doesn't attack me. He is staring at me, but he doesn't seem to see me. There's a dazed look in his eyes, a lack of focus. I take his arm and put it around my neck; he doesn't protest, almost as if he instinctively knows I won't hurt him. I can be angry with him, hate him even, but seeing him suffering like this is unbearable.

We're close to the edge of town, and I tell him, "Don't worry. I'll take you to the motel. Your friends—"

He makes a distressed sound, but he can't seem to speak properly. On closer inspection, I realize that someone has attempted to slit his throat. The cut is red and deep, but it seems to have healed to some superficial extent.

"You don't want to go to the motel?" I ask, figuring he can at least nod or shake his head if he can't talk. I don't understand why he doesn't want to go there, but he must have a good reason. Otherwise, why would he not want to be where his friends and fiancée are?

We don't have time to waste, so when he shakes his head, I reluctantly inform him, "Well, the only other option is my apartment." He lets out a grunt of approval, and while I don't want him in my home, I don't have much of a choice. It's either that or leave him here to die.

I won't be able to use the front door to the building since I'm pretty sure Orlando is still watching it. But to use the back entrance, we'll have to walk further. Letting out a sigh, I look at my injured companion and ask him, "Can you get on my back?"

He doesn't respond, and his steps are getting slower. I think he's on the verge of losing consciousness. If he passes out now, I don't think I'll be able to drag him all the way home. Maneuvering my body, I shift my weight to force him onto my back. He's heavier than I imagined. It is a struggle to carry him, but I manage. It takes me quite a while to get to my apartment; on the way, I keep sniffing his arm to make sure he's not giving off the scent of blood and I'm not reopening any of his injuries. If Orlando or anybody else smells his blood, it's game over for both of us.

I reach the rear exit of my building and open the door cautiously. We have an elevator; I've never used it, but today seems like a good day to try it out. There's no possible way I can carry Alex all the way to the top floor. I'm already out of breath, and there is a limit to my strength, as well.

Fortunately, at this time of night, the tenants of the building are usually in bed or out at the bar. I spent a good couple of hours following Noah and his men looking for the black wolf, so it's quite late. I've just unlocked my door when I hear Drew's door open behind me. Without thinking, I shove Alex inside my apartment and slam the door shut, turning to face my neighbor.

Drew studies me. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah. I was just heading home."

"Why are you panting?" He gives me a concerned look. "Your face is all red."

"Is it?" I try to sound normal, but a hysterical sound leaves my lips.

"Is everything alright with you, Sophia?"

"Peachy."

"Peachy?" Drew echoes, blinking.

We stare at each other, and then he shakes his head. "I'm too tired to deal with this. As long as you're okay, it's fine."

He walks down the steps, and I wonder where he's going at this time of night. Tim must be in bed. For him to leave his son alone at night is odd. But I have my own problems to worry about.

I wait for Drew to be out of sight before opening my door. Alex is sprawled on the ground, unconscious. I wince at the sight. "Sorry about that."

He doesn't respond since he's passed out cold. Taking a deep breath, I drag him all the way to my bedroom, where I pick him up and lay him down on the bed. The first thing I do is check his pockets for the small bottle that he once used on my injury. I find it in his jacket, but it's empty. I look at him, my brows knitting together. He must have sustained a pretty serious wound if he had to use it. He probably needed it to stop his bleeding so the security guys couldn't smell him.

I remove his boots and then cut off his shirt, which is already badly torn. His torso has a whole slew of bruises. Some of them are red and purple. He has cuts across his chest and his stomach, and the slit on his neck is quite deep. His left arm is completely shredded. I try to move it and can tell the bone is broken. He must have washed all the blood off himself before using the potion in the vial because it is all quite clean, considering. Still, there is no way his arm will heal quickly from this.

My pulse is racing as I study his still form. What did they do to him? This doesn't seem like a normal attack. It almost seems like he was deliberately tortured.

I retrieve my first aid kit. I don't have much in the way of medicines and bandages, but I do occasionally purchase some healing potions from the local witch.

Not all witches live in covens. Some prefer to live independently. Those who reside in shifter territory usually have contracts with the Alphas to be able to live there peacefully in exchange for their services. Healers and witches often work together to produce potions that are effective on shifters. Witches also collaborate with designers to create clothing that disappears when shifters shift forms and reappears, undamaged, when they regain their human shape.

I look for the healing potion that should work on internal injuries. Dismay fills me when I realize I only have one bottle. I open the cork and press the vial to Alex's lips. However, since he's passed out, the liquid spills down the side of his mouth. I grind my teeth, trying to think of a solution. From the look of the bruises that are growing on his stomach, he needs this potion, and it has to be taken internally. How am I supposed to feed it to him when he won't cooperate?

I stare down at the bottle, and then an idea strikes me. My face instantly starts to burn.

Anything but that.

But I really don't have any other way.

I look at Alex and mutter, "You're passed out. You won't even know what I did."

I lift the bottle to my own mouth and drain it. Then, leaning down, I press my lips against Alex's and force his mouth open. As I transfer the medicine into his mouth, I can feel his throat move as he instinctively swallows.

Embarrassment is vivid as my body reacts to our proximity. My nipples harden, and my lips tingle at the contact.

When I pull back and gaze at him, it hits me that this is the first time we have been this close to each other since he kissed me at the bar. I should not be aroused by the sight of this man when he's passed out and badly injured, but it seems that, somewhere inside me, I am actually shameless.

"That wasn't a kiss." I point a finger at the unconscious man in my bed. "I didn't kiss you. That was just me saving your life."

I feel slightly better for saying that out loud.

I will have to go get some bandages for his wounds. They're going to take some time to heal, and in the meantime, they could get infected. I don't think I will be able to visit the healer's office at this time of night without arousing suspicion, but there's an all-night pharmacy in my neighborhood. I'll just get some disinfectant and bandages. And maybe a sling for that arm. The human pharmacist is not going to ask me any questions.

I close my bedroom door and, grabbing my purse, I start to head out. But as soon as I open my front door, I go still.

Noah is standing there.

His expression is grim. "I think we should talk."

Oh, crap.