Page 100 of Alphas Never Hide

Much, much later.

Because, right now, our bodies were chasing pleasure.Ourmagic shimmered around us.Unlikewhen we had sexthe first time, there was no separate color for him and me.Rightfrom the start, it was our joined magic.Ayellowy green that reminded me of pack runs through ancient pine trees.Itwas home.

Ryleywas my home.

“Biteme, now,”Ryleydemanded.

Hethrew his head back, exposing the beautiful column of his neck.Myteeth sank into his tender skin and the world exploded in a flurry of pleasure and beauty asIreleased deep inside him.

Hisbody tightened around me as he came too.Ipulled back, but there was a tugging sensation that stopped me.Inmy post-orgasmic daze, it took longer than it should have for me to realize that must be my knot.

“Oh.”Heshivered as his body tightened around me. “That’s…”

Hesounded drunk.

“Ry?IthinkIknotted you.”

“Yes.”Heshivered again, like he was experiencing little climactic after-shocks. “That’s…Feelsso good.”

Igrinned.Ryleywas rarely at a loss for words.Iwas rather proud of myself for fucking him senseless.Wrappingmy arms around him,Irolled us, soIwas on my back with him draped over me.Ilapped at the bite mark until he was groaning and tilting his head to the side to give me more access.Ididn’t know how long it’d take for my knot to go down, butIwas going to relish every second.

Chapter Forty-One

HAYDEN

Istepped out of the shop and closed the door.Thesun would be setting soon.Italways set early this time of year.Soon, it would be dark at closing time, but not yet.

Mychest warmed asIlifted my face toward the sky and inhaled.Magicstirred in my blood, letting me know theEternalMagicwas right here with me, along for the ride.She’ddone that a lot lately.Istill wasn’t sure what to think about it, butIdidn’t fight her as much asIused to.

Ilet a partial shift roll over me and the magic inside me grew more heated, sending a tingling sensation out from my chest, filling my torso, down my limbs, until it made my toes and fingers curl.Ihad a good feeling about tonight.

WhenIwas sure no curious mundane eyes were watching,Icrossed to the gate in the perimeter fence and slipped through.Assoon as the gate clicked closed behind me,Ishifted to my wolf form and shook out myfur.EverytimeIshifted, this new body felt more and more familiar.Istretched to loosen my muscles before trotting down the lane that’d take me to the outskirts of town.

Inthe few days sinceI’dbeen out here, the last of the leaves had fallen from the deciduous trees.Nowthat they’d fallen from their branches, the once brilliant yellow aspen leaves and larch needles were browner and duller.Thedormant grasses and forbs in their various shades of beige weren’t as crisp and rigid under my paws as they had been a month earlier, beaten down by paws and frost and late autumn rain.

Hiddenfrom view now, safe within the embrace of the woods,Ilifted my face to the sky again.Thistime, though, afterIinhaled deeply,Isent a deep, inviting howl into the air.

Come, it said.Comerun with me.

ThenIlistened.Thefew wild animals who weren’t already safely tucked into the nests or dens for the winter scurried away, but they weren’t whoIwas waiting for.

Ahowl in the distance rippled through the air.There.Thefirst of my pack responded.Thenanother.Andanother.Footstepsraced toward me.

Anticipationbuilt until the first eager bodies broke through the trees in a flurry of fur and feathers.

“Oak,Mercer.”Inodded toward them. “Thankyou for joining me.”

“It’sbeen a long time since the pack went on a run together,”Oaksaid. “I’mlooking forward to it,Alpha.”

Ididn’t have the chance to respond before more people joined us.Untilthis moment,Ihadn’t realized how muchI’dworried no one would show.It’dbeen, asOaksaid, a long time.Peopleweren’t used to it anymore.

Ihoped to change that, and tonight was the first step.Itwas time to embrace some of our old traditions again.

Thewoods were filling fast with every kind of supernatural, and the moreIsaw, the more my magic sang.Icould feel not only my own joy, but theEternalMagic’sjoy too.Thiscoming together, despite our different supernatural abilities and backgrounds, was the true magic ofWillowLake.Thiswas the beauty of finding people who became family.

Ryleyappeared with his brother, the mages, and the other human pack members.Theywere among the last to arrive.He’dbeen meeting with a few local supe business owners, talking about how he could help them create websites onSupenetand increase their business.Bythe look on his face,Iknew it’d gone well, butIsuspected the way his face was rosy with excitement had more to do with tonight’s run.Hecast a quick glance around at those gathered and flashed me a thumbs-up.

Everyoneturned expectant eyes toward me.