Page 2 of The Alpha’s Chosen Mate

“I’m brave. And strong. If we cross together, with you on my back, then the troll will only smell my bravery instead of your fear.”

“What if he attacks us anyway?”

“Then I will fight him off and buy you time to escape.”

He crosses his fist over his heart as he makes his promise. His head dips into a low bow, as if I’m a princess and he’s my knight in shining armor, my sworn protector, the prince who will rescue me from any danger that may come my way.

“Here”—he grabs the basket from my loosened grip and then turns his back to me—“climb on.”

I hesitate for one second. Then, before my brain can catch up, my feet close the distance between us, and I hop onto his back, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs through his arms and around his middle. I sense rather than see him smile before he heads towards the bridge.

Tension fills my every muscle with each step he takes. He tightens his grip on my legs. The touch is reassuring in its gentle firmness, and beneath the tenderness, there is an inherent strength.

My new friend is right. He is strong. And brave.

He takes his first tentative step onto the bridge. The creak of the wood beneath his shoes forces my eyelids closed. I cling to his neck, pressing my face into the space between his shoulders, shutting out the rest of the world. The rushing, roaring sound filling my ears could be either the river water or my blood pumping through my body. I don’t know, and I don’t care. All that matters is making it across the bridge without disturbing the troll.

Five steps. Ten steps. Twenty steps, and suddenly the ground is softer, muting his footfalls once more.

“We made it.”

His voice breaks through my fear. I glance around and behind us, to the far bank of the river where we first met. It seems so much closer from this side now that we’re safe. Now that I know we made it here without so much as a scratch.

“No troll?” I ask.

“No troll.”

He releases my legs. I drop to the feathery grass, wiggling my toes as the blades tickle my bare feet, and I sigh in relief.

His chin jerks towards the bridge behind me. “I think he’s sleeping right now. I’m pretty sure I heard snoring.”

I snatch the basket from him. “We should hurry then if we want to get the blackberries and make it back across the bridge before he wakes up.”

As I shoulder past him, he slips his hand into mine, lacing our fingers together. “Are there any other dangerous creatures in the forest that we need to worry about?”

With his hand around mine, I feel braver. Bolder. Stronger. I peek sideways at him, a teasing glint in my eyes. “I don’t know. Are you dangerous?”

“Only if someone or something tries to hurt you.”

My cheeks heat. I drop my chin and stare at my feet, certain my face is as red as a cherry tomato. He doesn’t seem to notice though. Or if he does, he doesn’t acknowledge it.

“The blackberries are a bit further in.” I speed up my pace so I’m slightly in front of him instead of side by side. “I can smell them.”

“They smell delicious.”

I steal a glance at him again. He lifts his nose in the air, bouncing it in the way most werewolves do when tracking a scent.

“Are we allowed to eat any?” His voice is a whisper even though we’re clearly alone in this part of the forest.

“I won’t tell if you won’t tell.”

He grins widely and takes off at a run. Our positions switch, so he’s in the lead and I’m the one being dragged along. He’s clearly a better runner than I am, but instead of sprinting ahead and leaving me behind, he maintains an easier pace so we stay together.

The path curves to the left, and there, beneath the towering redwood trees, is the blackberry bramble.

My new friend immediately releases my hand and leaps towards the blackberries, picking several. But instead of placing them into the basket, he tilts his head towards the sky, and one at a time, tosses them into the air before catching them in his mouth.

“Oh, wow!” His eyes widen. “These are the best blackberries I’ve ever eaten!”