My only hope was that Katarina would be mated as soon as possible, but she was turning 21 soon and hadn’t met her fated mate yet. So I had to take action.
Riley was my first choice. Our packs were just next to each other. He would be able to take care of Katarina and take care of my pack until the rightful heir could claim back our pack. But he was so smitten with Andrea by then that when I made the suggestion a year ago, he just laughed at me and told me he never wanted an Alpha Female. And I knew he wasn’t lying.
So my search for the next Alpha continued.
Lucas’ territory was nearest to the pack, but he was betrothed to Alpha Vesmont’s daughter, and we lost contact over time.
And then Aeon came. Technically, not him. Alpha Argon, Aeon’s father, saw my sister at one of the balls we attended and asked if I would be willing to mate my sister to Aeon. But Aeon would still have the last say because he said his son was refusing every female after the Clair Montrell incident at the Claiming.
I said yes to Alpha Argon. Maybe, despite the distance between our packs, Aeon could make it work. More importantly, I knew him, and maybe he would consider my conditions for mating with Katarina.
But then he refused, stating Katarina didn’t interest him at all, which was no surprise. Despite doing the majority of what his father desired, no one could force him when it came to females.
But I had already made my decision. I wanted Aeon for Katarina and for my pack. So I decided to finally meet him and lay down my proposals.
Maybe out of pity or because he valued our brotherhood, Aeon agreed. He would claim Katarina, but it would all be business—he would mark her, but there would be no mating unless it became consensual.
Aeon would be the Alpha of my pack, buthe would let Katarina make most of the decisions. And I couldn’t be more pleased with that. Everything was settled, and Katarina agreed after I revealed to her everything.
Nothing could get in the way now. And I would be happy to step down before my wolf abandons me for good.
I let out a sigh before my eyes shifted to my youngest sister, Sofia.
She stood up from the bonfire where the younger ones were crowding in. She walked deeper into the forest line on the other side. I knew she wanted to be alone. We just had one of our regular conversations this morning, and what she revealed to me still got me thinking.
She had no idea my wolf was dying, but she sensed my aura fading and asked me why I was keeping my Alpha aura low, which was unusual for Alphas. We could disguise our auras if we wanted to—and that’s how I explained it to her.
Months ago, I told her that once she turned eighteen, we needed to search for her mate. I was giving her three months before I entered her for the next Claiming. She didn’t take it well and tried to run away. It was a good thing that Riley’s Beta found her because only the Goddess knew where she would end up if he didn’t.
I knew I should explain to her why, but I didn’t want her to worry about what would happen to her when I lost my wolf. Until I could find someone to protect her.
But this morning she came to me and asked if I would be okay if it was someone and not an Alpha that would claim her if she couldn’t find her mate on time. A Beta, to be exact. I told her yes. An Alpha or a Beta, as long as it was someone who would vow to protect her when I couldn’t anymore.
And then she dropped the bomb.
She wanted Beta Dominic. And I couldn’t answer her because the Beta was aiming to be mated to Alpha Jacob’s sister. So when I said no for that reason, she said it was either we wait for her mate or it was Riley’s Beta. Then she walked out on me.
Sofia knew what she wanted. And all the time, she would work hard to get it.
Unlike Katarina, Sofia was tougher and had the courage to disobey me. And I knew I couldn’t bend her. It was either we find her mate or I have to make another deal—this time with Riley’s Beta.
Chapter 88
BETA DOMINIC.
Iprepared the bonfire andexcused myself from the young crowd. I went straight to the packhouse to help my parents and the others in the receiving room so they could have their own party, and I also handed over the keys to the bedrooms I assigned to them for tonight. Mom and Dad, and Nicole decided to spend the night here. And Riley had asked his mother and Leandro to stay as well, which Zahra accepted right away.
When I had done my job, I threaded my way back to the forest where I left the Alpha and Luna with their guests. I was almost there when I saw a petite figure walking through the forest, going in the other direction, away from where the bonfire was.
Sofia.
I debated whether I should follow her or just leave her alone. I knew the grounds were safe, but I remembered the sadness on her face that she had all night, and I was curious to find out why. So instead of going back to the bonfire, I went after her without making any noise.
The wind was blowing away from her direction to mine, and since she had no wolf yet, I was sure she would not be able to scent me.
I watched as she found a place in between two trees and sat down, raising her knees as she hugged them.
Is she crying?
