Page 22 of Alphas Never Hide

“Wherethe fuck do you think you’re going?”Haydendemanded whenIwalked toward his bed.

Ilaughed. “Hey, that’s my line.”

“Youare not sleeping in my bed.”

Iignored him and grabbed my pants.Ididn’t bother changing my shirt, or rather theT-shirtI’dborrowed from him.Ifwe were going out to the woods again, it might help ifIsmelled a bit more like wolf and less like prey.Itugged on my pants.Damnit.IwishedIhad my shoes.IeyedHayden’sfeet.Hewas wearing work boots, whichIsupposed was what he wore in his garage.Anolder, more worn-out pair of running shoes was in a pile in the corner by the bed.They’dbe too big for me, but they’d be better than nothing.Ireached for them.

“Whatare you doing?”Haydendemanded.

“Ifyou are going, so amI.”Ipulled on one shoe and tightened the laces.Iwiggled my toes.Yeah.Waytoo big.Itwas only a matter of time beforeItripped over them and fell on my face.Ohwell.Ireached for the other one.

“No, you aren’t.”

“Yes.”Ishoved my foot in the shoe and tied it quickly beforeHaydenrealized he could sprint to his truck and leave me in the dust.Instead, like a true gentleman, he waited for me to finish.Hemust have been exhausted to let the opportunity slip by, but weren’t we all?Iscrambled to my feet, ready to follow the ridiculous wolf wherever he thought he needed to go.Awave of dizziness whooshed over me.Ireached for the countertop to steady myself and missed.

Oomph.Thunk.Ouch.Fuckingshit weasel.

Haydenrushed over and kneeled at my side. “Areyou okay?Whathappened?”

Insteadof helping me off his linoleum floor, he pried open one of my eyelids so he could lean over and peer into it.

“Whatare you doing?”Iswatted at him, and he let go of my eyelid.

“Iwas checking your pupils.Ithought you might have some undiagnosed brain problem.AndIheard something hit the cupboard.Ithought it might have been your head.”

“I’droll my eyes, but you’d probably thinkIwas having some other neurological issue.Doyou know what to check for?”

Hesat back. “They’resupposed to react to light.”

“Inother words, you really don’t know,”Imuttered.Yes,Iwas aware thatI’dasked the doctor the same thing aboutHayden’spupils.Ishook out my hand.Itsmarted whereI’dhit it against the cupboard, butI’dlive.ThenIheld it out to him. “Helpme up.”

Hedid asIasked, getting to his feet and extending his hand.Hishands were larger than mine, and stronger, too.Islipped my hand into his and shivered as his calluses rubbed over my smooth skin.Therough texture felt surprisingly reassuring, somehow.Stronghands like his would be good at keeping a person safe.

AndIbet his hands would feel good in lots of different places.

Ashe hauled me to my feet, the way the muscles in his forearm tightened and flexed mesmerized me.Iwas such a sucker for a man’s forearm.Honestly.Wasthere a porn channel dedicated to men rolling up their sleeves?Ifthere was,Haydenshould upload some videos.He’dmake a killing.

Onceon my feet,Iswayed again.Mostof the dizziness had passed, butIwas still unsteady.That’swhatIgot fornot sleeping properly in weeks.Andnow this damn wolf was keeping me awake even longer.

Hayden’sbig hand cupped my elbow as he guided me to the closest seat, which happened to be his bed.Hecrouched in front of me.Hiswide shoulders filled the narrow walkway between the bathroom wall and the kitchen counter.Hisface was right in front of mine.

Icouldn’t help but look at him.Reallylook at him.TheinjuryI’dgiven him earlier was mostly healed.Theswelling had gone down and the mark where my hoof had cut through his skin was fading to a pale pink.Soon, that would be gone too.

Andyou know what?

Hereally was handsome, in a rugged way.Evenback in the forest when he was grubby,I’dsuspected he would be.I’dnever been into those outdoorsy, build it, fix it, grease-under-their-nails men before.Mytypical dates were desk jockeys like me, butIcould make an exception for this guy.Wecould have a little fling whileIwas here.Nothingpermanent.Nothingserious.Justa bit of fun.

“DoIneed to callDocRoberts?”Haydenasked.Aripple of magic fluttered through the air, emanating from him.Everyonehad called him alpha earlier, andIhadn’t been sure what to think, but the alpha power he was throwing around right now confirmed it.Haydenwas all alpha.

“I’mfine.”

Heraised an eyebrow.

“I’llbe okay,”Iamended. “Nothingserious.I’mfine.”

“NowIget why everyone was getting pissy with meearlier whenIsaid that,” he muttered.Hisgaze caught on mine. “CanItouch you?”

“What?”Ileaned away. “Youwant to feel me up?Now?Imean, sure,Imight have possibly thought about having sex with you, but that’s a weird way to ask.”