Page 44 of Crossed Fates

I shook my head, trying to clear it. I barely knew the woman. And on top of that, she wasn’t even from here.

Damn it.

How would this even work? Further, was she even my destiny? How could my fated mate be from another realm? Maybe another version of her existed inmyworld. A more appropriate choice. More submissive. Willing.

Well, Makayla was willing.

And did I really want a more submissive mate?

My earlier episode suggested I couldn’t handle a docile mate. I needed someone strong… like Makayla.

To hell with this.I didn’t want to think about her. I didn’t want to think about life. I didn’t want to think at all.

My paws pounded over the earth as I skimmed the boundary of the pack, searching for any and all threats, my wolf’s natural inclination being toprotect. It didn’t matter that these wolves weren’t mine. I would forever want to serve them in some way.

This used to be my home.

It could be again, too, a softer part of me thought.

I shoved the voice away, locking it up with the others inside my mind.

And just ran.

I ran until I couldn’t breathe.

I ran until I ached.

I ran until I couldn’t do anything more.

And then I turned back to my cabin, the moon shining brightly overhead. My stomach growled with hunger, and my limbs screamed at me for overuse, but my animal spirit purred with contentment.

At least one of us is happy,I thought glumly as I shifted back into human form on my porch.

Makayla’s scent lingered by the door, suggesting she was already home.

Home, I repeated to myself.Not home.

With a growl, I grabbed the door handle, ready to stalk inside.

Only to freeze as someone called my name from the street.

Hardt.

Ah, hell. I did not want to deal with his bullshit right now. He could only want to talk for one reason. And it rivaled the one my father had earlier.

I wasn’t stupid. I knew the whole pack wanted to know if I intended to ascend. But I didn’t have an answer yet, nor would I have one anytime soon.

“Alaric,” he said again, like I hadn’t heard him the first time.

“Hardt,” I returned, very aware that he’d said my name twice without addressing me asAlpha. That shouldn’t have bothered me since I wasn’t sure if I wanted the job or not, but somehow… with him… it bothered me a whole hell of a lot. “How can I help you?”

“I’m hoping you have a few minutes to chat.”

I don’t, I nearly replied. Instead, I pushed open my door and said, “After you.” Because I didn’t quite trust him at my back.

It was just an instinct.

Probably because I rarely trusted anyone at my back.