Page 37 of Crossed Fates

Considering what the pack was going through, I doubted they’d be receptive to an outsider joining them right now. Not that I really wanted to talk to them either. I preferred my solitude. However, Alaric’s name from their lips had me pausing to shamelessly eavesdrop.

“Paul.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you think Hardt will challenge Alaric?” a woman asked.

Hardt?

Quietly, I prowled to the edge of the tree line and peeked through to see a couple—one man and one woman—sitting on a blanket, lounging in the sun.

“Maybe.” The man, who I assumed was Paul, appeared thoughtful. “I mean, Hardt’s always been here for the pack. And Alaric… left.”

She nodded slowly, then asked, “Didn’t you two used to be close?”

He ran his fingers through his thick black hair and lifted his eyes to the sky while he contemplated. “Yeah, in high school. But he barely talks to me now when he visits, so I guess we weren’t that close. Honestly, I’m surprised he didn’t find another pack. Why is he even here?”

Maybe because his brother died, asshat?I swallowed a huff of annoyance and turned away to continue my meandering, no longer interested in what these two had to say.And how about saying, Thanks for coming, Alaric. Welcome home.

Exiting a copse of trees, I realized I’d ventured into someone’s yard, so I scampered back into the foliage. But I stopped again at the mention of Alaric’s name. Pivoting back, I spotted two men standing at a grill with another handful of people sitting in deck chairs nearby. Funny thing about shifter communities—a wolf wanders by and people barely notice.

“Do you want to follow Alaric as alpha?” one of the men—a tall, muscular blond, like a Viking—queried in a haughty tone.

The other man—shorter, but no less built and a cute, freckled ginger—sighed and shifted his weight from foot to foot. “He hasn’t been around much in the last few years, but Alpha Tyler trusted him.”

Viking grunted and flipped the meat on the grill. “Maybe, but does that make him alpha material? I mean, what does he know about being an alpha?”

Ginger scowled, and I nodded in agreement even though they couldn’t see me. “He grew up here. And you know Alpha Hawk taught them both until they were bitten and Tyler took over.”

Viking shook his head, his chin lifting to a stubborn angle. “Do you really want to follow a leader who was so jealous of his brother that he had a tantrum and took off when he didn’t earn the spot as alpha?”

Ginger looked unsure again as he ran a hand through his pretty hair. “We don’t really know—”

“That’s my point! We don’t know Alaric. Do any of us really know him?” He directed the last question to the group, who had been sitting quietly, listening to their exchange.

Eventually, everyone shook their heads.

Having heard enough of their nonsense, I trotted off. I felt a little offended on Alaric’s behalf. I barely knew the man, and I could already tell he was born to lead—to be an alpha. And underneath the grief and anger, I’d sensed that he’d missed his home. I didn’t know the story of why he’d taken off and hadn’t often returned, but I would’ve bet my favorite knife that he had a damn good reason.

“What if he doesn’t want the job?”

Another set of voices interrupted my alone time, and I sighed.

“Hardt will probably take it. He’s beta.”

I didn’t stay to hear more of their conversation, but the question percolated in my mind.Does Alaric want to be the Silver Lake Pack Alpha?

As his supposed mate, I personally rebelled against the idea of being tied down. I also had no desire to inherit the responsibilities that came with being in charge of a pack. I loved my job, and too many people needed me.

Alaric seemed to be in a similar situation—working for E.V.I.E., fighting the bad guys, living the life of a lone wolf. Would he give it all up?

Good thing neither of us wants anything to do with this fated-mate bullshit,I thought. My wolf snarled, and I rolled my eyes. She had fallen for it hook, line, and sinker.

I wandered for a little longer until a strange sensation skittered down my spine.

Alaric.

How I sensed his presence, I didn’t know.