The Alpha’s Fated Bond

4

I let out a long breath. “But it was more than just that, Sophia. Robert also mentioned that the townspeople had one job, and that was to break your spirit completely. From the way he was talking, it seemed like they were all in on it. I overheard Drew say that everybody had been careful not to push you completely over the edge because they didn’t want to break you and diminish your use for Robert. It didn’t take me long to put two and two together. My gut tells me that every single person in that town was put near you very deliberately. They knew what you were all along.”

Sophia laughs bitterly. “I really shouldn’t have asked. Now I just feel worse.”

“You’re reclaiming your life, Sophia,” I tell her gently. “Don’t forget that.”

She looks at me and asks, “What if I can’t save the pups in your pack, Alex? I won’t be useful to you then.”

The words are a stab to the heart, but I don’t let myself flinch. My voice is calm as I reply, “Then, so be it. We will look for another way. But that doesn’t mean I won’t want you by my side anymore. Whether or not you can use your powers doesn’t matter to me. Don’t think for a second that I want you here with me because of what you are. To me, you are Sophia, my mate and the woman I love. I’ve already told you this.”

I see the flash of fear in her eyes, the doubt.

She swallows. “I keep expecting you to change your mind. I keep waiting for the inevitable.”

The inevitable being me looking for a way to use her, like everybody else.

“I know you are,” I say. “I wish I could prove to you that it’s not going to happen.”

When we left Oakrest Town, she was so happy, but within a matter of days, that happiness has faded away into a quiet, simmering fear.

Patience, I tell myself. You have to be patient with her. Some things have to be proven rather than spoken.

I decide not to continue this conversation as we reach the spring. Sophia is about to take off her clothes when she looks over her shoulder at me, flustered. “Can you turn around?”

She’s pulled my shirt down so that her shoulders are exposed, all that soft, supple skin.

“What?” I ask, dazed at the sight of her.

“Turn around, Alex!” she bursts out, her face a bright red.

I should do as she says, but I can’t resist the opportunity to tease her just a little.

“Why? I’ve already seen you naked.”

“Alex!” If she turns any redder, she’s going to start resembling a tomato.

“In fact,” I take a step toward her, “Maybe I should help you out of these clothes.”

“I will smack you so hard,” she threatens me, and I chuckle, coming to a stop.

“Well, I don’t think I want to get smacked around so soon in the relationship. Doesn’t set a good tone.”

“Why are you being so difficult?” The look on Sophia’s face makes me want to roar with laughter. She looks so adorable, all flustered and worked up. She cannot voice that she’s shy; she just wants to me understand her situation.

“Difficult?” I ask innocently. “Me?”

“Yes!” She glares at me. “Just turn around so I can take off my clothes.”

I match her tone. “I just want to help you!”

“Alex!” She lets out a whine now, looking immediately embarrassed.

Laughing, I turn around. “Fine, fine. I’ll behave this time.”

She mutters some nasty things about me to herself, conveniently forgetting how sharp my hearing is. My grin just grows broader at each creative curse word I hear her utter. The splash of water indicates that she’s in the stream now, and I hear her let out a sigh of relief. We don’t have much time, and she knows it. Within minutes, the splashing stops, and I hear her exit the water. It’s when I hear the rustle of the clothing that I turn around. “Alright, ready to g—”

My eyes widen at the sight of her naked, glistening body, waterdrops sliding down those deadly curves and crevices, her full breasts with those perky pink n*****s pointing at me.

For a moment, I forget to breathe. She is stunning. Perfect hips, perfect breasts, that long gorgeous hair cascading over her shoulders. She looks like a nymph. My heart is beating wildly, my c**k turning hard. She’s both beautiful and desirable. All I have to do is take her in my arms —

“That’s it!” Sophia growls. “You’re so dead!”

I don’t see the elbow coming my way till it makes contact with my stomach, and it’s only then that I realize I already covered most of the distance between us. I let out a groan, doubling over. Her blow didn’t really hurt, but it definitely knocked the wind out of me. She quickly puts on her clothes. “p*****t! I knew you were a perv the day I met you!”

“I’m your mate!” I protest. “You do know what that is, don’t you?”

“Shut up, Alex!”

When I straighten up, she’s blushing hard, a lovely combination of annoyance and embarrassment in her eyes. She buttons my pants, shooting me dirty looks as she does so. I grin, amused by her behavior. I don’t recall her ever being this shy before. But then, I guess the dynamics between us have shifted now.

She’s rolling up the sleeves of my shirt, and I take a step toward her, my wolf pleased with the display of dominance she just showed. However, it has to remind her who the real dominant is in this relationship. Grabbing her by the jaw, my mouth inches from hers, I murmur, “If you remain so shy, Sophia, you’re going to make this a whole lot of fun for me.”

She stares at me, and I can hear the way her heart is racing, that familiar musky scent of her arousal reaching me. I could take her right now and she wouldn’t fight me.

She doesn’t back down, though.

“Pervert.”

I grin. “Only for you.”

That has her flushing again, and she pulls away from me, storming off in the direction we came from. “You’re so annoying.”