Free Her Forbidden Alpha by Tabitha Conall

the Alpha at the time–Darius’s father–talked to them both and convinced them to stay. He said the people in the Holding would never get over their racism if they stayed in their little white bubble. And he was right. And now they all love her.”
    “I take it your father isn’t black.”
    “Dad’s Greek. So he isn’t black, but his coloring is dark.” He laughed again. “It’s okay. Everyone wonders why I’m so dark, even if they don’t feel like they can ask.” He rested his elbows on his knees, leaning toward her. “What I’m saying is, it’s going to be tough for you here, and it might be tough for a while. But you can stick it out like my mom did. And in the end, the people will see you for who you are, not who they think your ancestry makes you.”
    Aislinn clasped her hands together. “If my father ends up killing a whole lot of wolves, the people here will find it hard to accept me.”
    “Darius won’t let that happen. He’s negotiating with your father right now. But definitely, the wolves fear for their loved ones and the desire to protect them is fueling their attitude toward you. We just need to get past this threat and then things can start to change. It’ll be okay, I promise.”
    Aislinn didn’t see how he could promise anything, but she appreciated the effort. She leaned forward and put her hand on his shoulder. “Thank you.”
    He stood, taking her hand as he did so, and clasping it. “No problem.” As he let her go, he motioned toward her plate. “Now eat. I’ll be on duty for the next few hours, so if you want to go anywhere just let me know.”
    “Thanks,” she said again as he left.
    Her hands were still shaking a little from her exchange with Heath, but Zack’s words had calmed her a lot. Still, despite what he’d said, she didn’t see how the wolves at the Holding could ever accept her. Her idealistic ideas about all of them getting along had been shown for what they were–foolishness. She had no choice but to leave. If Darius wouldn’t let her go, she’d have to find a way to escape.
    ***
    Darius stood in the war room, gazing out one of the floor to ceiling windows at the woods in the distance–the same woods the Humans Firsters lurked within.
    Even though Darius had agreed to the meeting with the Elders, he wasn’t sure he’d go. How could he even consider giving Aislinn up? Yet he couldn’t let his people be killed, either. Thing was, he felt pretty sure if he went down this path he’d end up with the worst of both...losing Aislinn while his people nevertheless died.
    “This is for the best,” Killion said.
    Jennalynn had left several minutes earlier, but Killion remained. He’d been quiet up until then.
    “There’s something you’re not seeing.” Killion joined him at the window and stood beside him, looking toward the woods. “You need to go to the Elder because it’ll be good for you either way.”
    “How so?” His voice sounded dry and weathered.
    “If the Elder can break the mating, you can give Aislinn back and save your people.”
    He didn’t want to hear this again. “I know that.”
    “You haven’t thought about what it means. If he can break the mating, you’ll no longer feel this way. It won’t hurt to give her up.”
    “I’ve thought about it.” More than he wanted to. “The thing is, I don’t want to not want her. I can’t imagine not wanting her. The idea is abhorrent, almost as bad as the idea of giving her up.”
    “I don’t understand. Breaking the mating will mean you get everything you want.”
    Darius shifted his shoulders toward his brother. “No, it means you and everyone at the Holding gets what they want. I’m telling you what I want–I want Aislinn. I don’t want to break the mating. And I don’t believe that doing it will save our people.”
    “You think the Humans Firsters will attack anyway.”
    “I know they will. They’ve just been waiting for a good excuse and I’ve handed them one. Who