Desired by the Alpha: Book #2 in 9 Novellas by Bella Lore

By Bella Lore

From paranormal romance author Bella Lore comes a collection of nine epic novellas, guaranteed to make your heart swoon and your jaw drop.

In Book #2, DESIRED BY THE ALPHA, Marla is arranged to marry Dean, a mate within her pack. And although he is an honest, kind man, she is already in love with Lucas.

Lucas, however, is a wolf outside her pack—making theirs a forbidden, secret love.

Marla’s mother tries to convince her that she is lucky. Dean is a good Alpha, and she should be grateful to be with him.

But her heart knows the truth.

Can Marla grow to love the Alpha? Or will she always truly belong with Lucas?

Books #3-#9 in the series—FALLING FOR THE ROGUE, MATED TO THE ALPHA, MY TRUE ALPHA, PROMISED TO THE ALPHA, THE ALPHA’S BRIDE, THE ALPHA’S DESIRE, and THE LUNA’S CHOICE—are now also available!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bella Lore
• Release date: Aug 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9781094393469

Book preview

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D E S I R E D   B Y   T H E   A L P H A

(Book #2 in 9 Novellas by Bella Lore)

B e l l a   L o r e

Bella Lore

Bella Lore is the paranormal romance author of the MY TRUE MATE series, comprising four books; THE ALPHA’S MATE series, comprising four books; the REJECTED BY THE BETA series, comprising four books; and 9 NOVELLAS BY BELLA LORE, comprising nine books.

Bella loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit bellaloreauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

Copyright © 2022 by Bella Lore. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Jacket image Copyright conrado, used under license from Shutterstock.com.

BOOKS BY BELLA LORE

MY TRUE MATE

MY TRUE MATE (Book #1)

MY TRUE MATE (Book #2)

MY TRUE MATE (Book #3)

MY TRUE MATE (Book #4)

THE ALPHA’S MATE

THE ALPHA’S MATE (Book #1)

THE ALPHA’S MATE (Book #2)

THE ALPHA’S MATE (Book #3)

THE ALPHA’S MATE (Book #4)

REJECTED BY THE BETA

REJECTED BY THE BETA (Book #1)

REJECTED BY THE BETA (Book #2)

REJECTED BY THE BETA (Book #3)

REJECTED BY THE BETA (Book #4)

9 NOVELLAS

BOUND TO THE ALPHA (Book #1)

DESIRED BY THE ALPHA (Book #2)

FALLING FOR THE ROGUE (Book #3)

MATED TO THE ALPHA (Book #4)

MY TRUE ALPHA (Book #5)

PROMISED TO THE ALPHA (Book #6)

THE ALPHA’S BRIDE (Book #7)

THE ALPHA’S DESIRE (Book #8)

THE LUNA’S CHOICE (Book #9)

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

CHAPTER ONE

Dean looks across the table at me and smiles.

He is one of the sweetest betas in the pack.

I should be happy we are arranged to marry each other.

But I am not.

I have a secret.

It burns inside me of me.

Marla? Are you okay? Dean asks.

I snap back to attention and look at him.

Yes, I say.

You're barely touched your meat.

I look at the fresh steak on my plate.

The hunters brought back deer today.

My favorite food, that I usually devour.

I have hardly touched it today.

Sorry. I was daydreaming.

He looks amused. What about?

I blush. Nothing.

I cannot tell him I am in love with someone else.

I cannot tell anyone.

It is forbidden to seek mates outside the pack.

But that it exactly what my heart desires.

Dean is a good man.

He is kind and honest.

And he will make a great husband to someone.

Just not me.

You are quiet, he says.

Just thinking, I reply.

He takes my hand.

I know it has been a long year, he says.

It has been hard. Losing your father in that battle. Your brother, too.

His eyes show his concern.

I do not want to talk about such dour things.

I am fine, I tell him. I am just ready for the solstice. And to start the rest of my life.

Yes, he says. I am ready, too.

He smiles at me and I feel awful.

I am looking forward to the solstice for a different reason than he thinks.

It is not because of the celebrations. The festival my pack holds every year.

It is because that is the day my lover and I have chosen to leave.

On the solstice, I will be running away.

While everyone is distracted by the merriment, I will steal out into the night.

I am glad you will be my wife, he says.

I look into his eyes and see the sincerity.

I have no desire to hurt him.

I like Dean.

He is a good man.

I am thankful he is part of my life.

I just know that my heart lies elsewhere.

Are you sure you are okay? Dean asks.

I'm fine, I tell him.

Are you sure? he asks again. You seem distracted.

I'm fine, I tell him again.

Okay, if you say so.

I smile, trying to reassure him.

But I don't believe I am fooling him.

May I ask you a question? I ask.

Sure.

Why am I so important to you?

His eyes widen. What?

Why are you interested in me?

Why wouldn't I be? You are a beautiful woman. A strong wolf.

I smile. You are sweet, Dean.

I just wish you would let me in more, he tells me. Maybe if you did, we would have bonded already.

I sigh.

This is a sore spot between us.

Obviously, the bonding hasn't happened.

It never will.

I am saving myself for true love.

But poor Dean does not understand.

He thinks there's something wrong with him.

I hate to think of him suffering that way.

I too nervous, I tell him.

Dean looks at me like he is trying to read my mind.

I know I am giving him nothing.

I can't give him anything.

Perhaps some calming herbs would help? he offers.

No. I don't think so.

I will ask Alpha if he has any, he says.

No! I exclaim. Please don't.

He looks at me like I have lost my mind.

But why, Marla? he asks. I don't understand.

He stares into my eyes.

What do you mean? he asks.

I sigh.

This is too much.

It is like torture.

For him and me.

I cannot force something that is not there.

I decide to tell the truth.

Dean, the thing is, I don't think this is going to work.

What?

You and I.

What's that supposed to mean?

It means that I don't want to bond with you.

He looks hurt. But why?

You are a good man. You are kind and gentle. But I don't feel it. You are like a brother to me.

He looks like I have smacked him in the face.

What are you saying? I love you!

I know, I tell him. But I do not love you.

He stares at me.

We're betrothed, he states, as if it changes anything.

I'm well aware.

Then you will love me.

It doesn't work like that.

Of course it does. It always has. That's how your parents met. How mine did. How every wolf in the pack did.

I shake my head and speak slowly, so he understands.

My heart belongs to another, I say.

His face falls.

He looks crestfallen.

Who? he asks.

I don't want to say.

Why? Because you know I'll beat him to a pulp?

I feel bad for him.

I'm sorry, I say.

He does not answer.

He looks away from me.

I can't stand to see him sad.

I have to follow my heart.

It is the only thing that will make me happy.

I have a plan to escape.

I will follow it no matter how hard it is.

I will do it no matter how much it hurts.

I will escape my pack and my arranged marriage.

And I will go to my true love.

We finish our meal in silence.

Dean looks at me. What are we going to do?

I don't know.

I think we should go and speak to your mother.

Why?

She needs to know what you're planning.

Does she?

It's either that or we tell the alpha.

I swallow hard. If the alpha finds out I've fallen in love outside the pack, he'll be furious.

Of the two options, mother is better.

I stand from the table.

I'll go and talk to my mother, I tell him.

Do you want me to come with you? Dean asks.

I shake my head.

No, I say, I'll do it.

He nods.

His eyes fall.

He looks sad and dejected.

I turn and walk away.

CHAPTER TWO

I walk toward the center of the village where my mother lives.

It is loud and bustling.

My mother's house is small and slightly removed from the others.

It has a small vegetable patch and a wooden fence that surrounds it.

I am feeling a little nervous.

But Dean is right.

I have to do this.

I knock on the door.

She opens it.

Marla! she says. What a nice surprise!

She gestures for me to come in.

Hi, Mom, I tell her. I was wondering if I could have a word with you.

Of course, sweetie, she says.

She smiles and lets me inside.

My mother wants me to marry Dean.

She believes we are the perfect coupling.

Before my father died, he was besotted with my mother.

Theirs was an arranged coupling, just like everyone in the pack.

They grew to love one another, fiercely.

It was beautiful to see growing up.