Page 26 of The Alpha's Chosen Fate
“There’s nothing confusing about the bond’s existence.Like I said, there’s no use fighting it.”
“I'll fight it until my last breath, you heavy-handed asshole!"
Ignoring my warning to keep his hands to himself, Briggs reached for me.I braced for his touch, determined not to flinch, not to show any sign of a reaction.
Before he could make contact, a blur of movement caught my eye, and suddenly Colten was there.He positioned himself in front of me like a shield and faced his Alpha.
"That's enough, Briggs," he calmly said.
I thought the Alpha might challenge his Beta.But then he took a step back, his gaze never leaving mine.
Colten glanced back at me, concern etched into the lines of his face."You okay?"
Colten was on my shit list, too, right there under Briggs.Those on my shit list didn’t deserve responses.
"Ivy!"a familiar voice called out, cutting through the tension.
My head snapped up, and I spotted Caleb and Emery running up the long drive.I immediately found the energy to run towards them, stumbling on shaky legs.
Caleb caught me in his arms, pulling me into a tight embrace."Thank the Goddess you're okay," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
“Here,” he slipped off his jacket and covered me in it before pulling me back into his arms.“I cannot believe that asshole.”
I clung to my brother, burying my face in his chest as the tears I'd been holding back finally spilled over.Emery wrapped her arms around both of us, and for a moment it was just the three of us, holding each other up.
“I’m sorry,” I sniveled into Caleb’s chest.“I shouldn’t have left you like I did.”
My brother shushed me and tightened his hold.“Nothing to be sorry about.”
“Not that we’re not pissed that you didn’t take us with you.You left me behind to get punished.”
Wiping my tears, I turned my head to Emery.“What do you mean, punished?”
If he hurt either one of them …
Caleb huffed.“Em here hasn’t been able to walk past the Luna or the Beta without flipping them off or insulting them.She gets put on manual labor duty a lot.”
I stared hard at my crazy friend.“You’re not flipping off the Alpha, are you?In front of anyone?”
“Bitch, I don’t have a death wish.I tow the line where I know I can.”
I squeezed her hand.“Looks like you haven’t changed a bit.But please don’t keep pushing your luck, Emery.This isn’t a joke.”
The fiery redhead smirked.“Sure it is.And the joke’s on them.Not only do I get my jabs in where I can, I’m fit as hell.My ass and arms have never looked so good.”
We shared a quiet laugh before the weight of my current predicament fell back down upon my shoulders.
"How did you know I was here?"I asked.
Emery stepped away and glanced at Briggs then back to me.Her emerald eyes filled with concern.
"Alpha sent for us, but he didn't say why, only that it was urgent.We came as fast as we could."
Caleb squeezed my shoulders."Come back with me, Ivy.You can stay in your old room.You don't have to be here."
Before I could respond, Briggs ruined our reunion."Ivy will be living with me, as my mate."
A hysterical laugh spilled out of my mouth."Yeah, right."
