The Defiant Alpha (West Coast Wolves #2) - Susi Hawke Page 0,3
parent's approval if we're too young. Unless we're lucky enough to meet our true mate, but fate’s a crapshoot."
“True mate? What? Let me guess, they love you truly? No… I know. They’re true blue and faithful forever?” I played like I was joking, but I adored the idea of finding someone who would love me for me and never leave. Protect me from ever being hurt again? Um, yes please.
“Yeah, you get the idea. Imagine someone who’s your perfect match, who loves you from the moment they see you and catch your scent, and who will never hurt you because it would cause you too much pain. And you feel the same because your wolf recognizes their scent as mate. Bing-bada-boop, instalove and happily ever after.”
“Seriously, Alex? So easy? My nose knows and I’m living a fairytale?” I was ready to believe, but I needed to clarify the details so I could share the fantasy with my brothers later.
Alex’s warm chuckle made me smile. “Seriously. If you can wrap your brain around it, there’s the myth. Except it’s not really mythical so much as hard to find.” Alex sounded wistful, as if the idea wasn’t so bad to him either.
“Huh. Well, if I absolutely have to have a mate, then I’d want one of those. Not some rich alpha who would bid for me in an auction. Do you think the fates were nice enough to make one of those mates for me?” I hated how needy I sounded, but this talk of true mates was making me feel lost and lonelier than ever. Voices in my head, or even the company of my brothers, didn’t keep me warm every night I spent on a hard cot in this tiny, cold room.
“I don’t know, Thirteen. I hope so… but while the fates might be nice enough to create your perfect mate, they don't usually go out of their way to bring you together. And as for you getting a mate who buys you? Not on my watch. We’re getting you out of there before you’re taken. Fuck me, I bet the whole reason you guys were kept in there was to sell you off one by one. I’m glad I met you and can help make sure it doesn’t happen. Yeah… they can go fuck themselves with a fully loaded bag of dicks if they think they're auctioning you off like a damn cow. ”
His righteous indignation settled and soothed both my heart and my wolf. Neither of us had liked thinking of ourselves as a commodity, let alone how the practice might be considered a tradition among our kind. As for the true mate stuff, I’d save the idea to ponder after I’d tasted freedom.
"Glad to hear it, Alex. Since we’ve solved the mystery of why my brothers and I were raised here in captivity, it gives me great pleasure to thwart their plans. So what do you say? Think you can help me escape tomorrow night?"
"Tomorrow night? Holy shit, we’re moving fast." He paused long enough to realize why urgency was key. "Oh, snap. You said you're leaving Monday, right? And today's Saturday. Fuuuuck. Okay, let's do this. I can handle a distraction and probably get at least half of your guardians away from there if that'll work? Plus, I can get my friends here as backup. If you don't mind me having them loop in their pack alpha, I'm sure we'll have even more people here to help."
"I know you've mentioned distracting them in the past, but I don't think you understand how powerful they are. And with plans in place for me to leave, a distraction will probably make them more suspicious. Trust me, Alex. I don't want to risk any of your friends. They won't fight as wolves unless necessary. At least, I don't think they will, since every one of them carry guns. No, I have a better way."
Alex was quiet. "Listen, I get what you’re saying. But there's stuff about me you don't know yet. Believe me when I tell you I'm probably the best person to help you because I’m more familiar with this area than you know. I should've told you sooner, but I was scared you wouldn't trust me."
"Save your secrets until we meet in person, okay? I promise nothing you can tell me will affect our friendship." I really hoped I was correct. My brothers hadn't liked the idea of me mindspeaking with an outsider, but Six's gut said