Page 58 of Alpha Fate
“So…push you to the top of the mate list,” he murmurs thoughtfully. His grin is wry when I raise my eyes again. “Never thought I’d see the day. The lone wolf settling down.”
That’s bullshit. I was never into the whole “lone wolf” thing. But I’m not going to split hairs now.
“Will you do it or not?” I fight down my impatience. I’ve made this decision; now I want to see it through.
“Yeah, yeah, keep your fur on,” he says. “I’ll approve it, but Sierra’s gonna have my balls for this.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Fuck! I love that woman, but she can be…tricky.”
I frown. “Why’s she so against me and Savannah?” I’d hoped that by now, Sierra would have warmed to me a little. I get that she was annoyed with me for making a play for her, but I don’t think I pushed the envelope. Certainly not enough to warrant this ongoing hostility.
Jagger sighs, interlacing his fingers and setting his elbows on the tabletop before him. “It’s complicated.”
“You think I don’t know how to deal with ‘complicated’?” Jeez. I don’t think there’s a wolf in this place who hasn’t dealt with a lifetime of complications.
He chews on the inside of his cheek, deliberating over his answer. “I already told you that I thought you should take it easy on her, Heller.”
“I don’t intend to make life hard for her, Law. On the contrary. I want to make it better.”
“I’m sure you believe that, but after what she’s been through…”
“I know what she’s been through. I was there, remember? I helped her through it. We…connected.”
“Connected.” He looks at me.
“You know what I’m talking about, Jagger.” I lock eyes with him. “You’ve felt it yourself. When you found Sierra.”
Something flickers in his expression, a softening of his eyes, I think. Maybe I’m getting to him. “And you think this is the same?”
“I do,” I say with such certainty that I surprise even myself.
Jagger takes in a breath, and I get the feeling that there’s more. Something he hasn’t been telling me. As if he’s come to a decision, he goes on, “She still doesn’t remember her life before here.”
“I know that. It doesn’t matter to me. I’ll help her remember.” I set my palms flat on the table, grounding myself.
“What if those memories aren’t…what you were hoping for?”
“Why shouldn’t they be? If you can deal with Sierra’s past, I can cope with Savannah’s.” I don’t know why he’s being so pigheaded about this.
“Because there’s more to Savannah’s past, Gage.” He takes in another deep breath, and fuck, I’m going to strangle him if he does that again. “Sierra says Savannah had a mate before, back in Wildview,” he forges on.
I stare at him, stunned. She already has a mate out there?
“I…I…” I can’t find words.
Bert picks that moment to pull up at the side of our table. “Mr. Heller!” He beams.
“Not now, Bert!” I hold up a hand. He backs away quickly, aiming a curious look at us over his shoulder.
I ignore him, lost in the confusion bubbling in my head. Jealousy and anger boil up inside me. Consuming me.
I can’t believe she didn’t tell me…
Jagger is still talking, but I’ve stopped listening.
All I can think about is finding Savannah and getting answers.
But do I even need any? What would she tell me? That she’s been playing a game all along? That while I’ve been feeling something building between us, she’s been promised to another?
“She’s been lying to me.” Something sharp is twisting in my chest.