Page 56 of The Alpha's Chosen Fate
Ivy’s entire body tensed.Electricity zapped between us.
I think she’s going to attack us, Onyx noted warily.
She won’t.I was relatively sure she wouldn’t.
I don’t think you understand females at all.
Onyx’s slight rankled more than it should have.
I slammed the lid closed and returned the case to my back pocket."I'll come back later for our walk."
I strode away from Ivy's room before I could make things worse.
Why wasn't she moved by my gesture?The necklace was intended as a symbol of our connection and my affection and yet she'd rejected it outright.
It felt like a slap in the face after the progress we’d made these past few days.
A part of me knew that I was being unfair.But another part of me couldn't help but crave her acceptance, her affection.
And with every setback, that longing grew stronger, as did my frustration.
I retreated into my study to take a breather and clear my head, growling when I saw Colten lounging on the couch.
“No luck with the necklace?”
“Is it that obvious?”I tossed the blasted case onto my desk, dropping into my chair.
"Briggs," Colten said calmly, his steely gray eyes piercing into mine."You knew this would take time.You can't expect her to just jump into your arms with total acceptance."
“Why the fuck not?I'm her true mate!And her Alpha!At the very least, her wolf should be eager to have me after so long apart.”
The distance between me and my mate was shrinking but I wanted it gone.Erased.Not even an inch separating us.
“I've come clean to her.She knows my reasons and I think she understands them."
“Your pride and arrogance are going to do you in, my friend.”
“Fuck off.I’ve apologized for what happened.She knows I was only trying to save her life and keep the pack from descending into chaos.”
"Have you tried apologizing for simply being an asshole?"
“Cute.”
Colten tapped his fingers on his thigh."Swallow your pride and admit you’re an uptight prick of an Alpha who is used to getting his wayandwho doesn’t know the first thing about making amends with the opposite sex.Especially not for something so hurtful and twisted, like what you both experienced.It will mean more to her than any material gift.”
His words got through the fog in my brain."You’re right.”
The Beta cupped his ear.“I’m sorry, what was that?Did the almighty Alpha just tell me I, his lowly Beta, was right?Quick, hand me a pen and paper so we can mark the date.”
I threw a pen at him.Hard.
Colten ducked and came up smirking.“Don’t get too discouraged, Briggs.I think you’re making headway.”
Taking a deep breath, I nodded.
On cautious footing, I returned to Ivy’s room.
She looked up from the chair, her hazel eyes guarded but curious.Ivy closed the book in her lap and set it on the small table beside her.
