Page 35 of Alphas Never Hide

Itacked on that last bit aboutVanbecauseIfigured that was the only wayI’dgetRyleyto leave without me.Hisgaze snapped to me.

“Ishe here?”Ryleyasked, way too loudly.Somuch for the element of surprise.

“Bequiet!”

Heclamped his hand over his mouth.Hisgaze darted over the woods, jumping from one shadow to the next.Hischest rose and fell rapidly as his breathing quickened.Atthis rate, he’d pass out from panic before he escaped.

Faunswere similar to goats.So, were fainting fauns a thing?Buddyloved watching those fainting goat videos on his breaks.Theymade him laugh his ass off.I’deven chuckled at a few too, butIwasn’t laughing right now.

“Ryley, you’re safe.Iwon’t let him touch you.”Iimbued as much conviction asIcould into my voice.Myalpha energy surged, andIdidn’t shy away from it.Heneeded to knowIwas serious.Confident.IfRyleywas part of my pack, it would have been enough.ButIwasn’t sure if it would work on him.

Hewhimpered and crouched beside me.Hishead was still whipping around as he scanned the area forRobbie.Hisfingers clutched at my fur, pinching and pulling it.Icould have done without that, but the sting of pain heightened my alertness.

Istrained my ears to pick up any new sounds.GivenhowRyleywas panting beside me, it wasn’t easy.

“Stayhere.I’llcheck things out.”

“Fuckno,”Ryleywhispered frantically. “Iknew we should have waited, but oh no,Mr.Lonewolfhad to?—”

“Ryley?”

“Hmm?”

“Shutup.”

Hescowled at me, but at least the first blush of his panic was fading.AsIstepped forward,IexpectedRyleyto let go of me.Hedidn’t.Hecrept along beside me with his fingers tangled in my fur.

Everyfew steps,Istopped to listen and sniff the air.Robbie’sscent was fresh.He’dbeen through here this morning, but not within the last half hour.Hemust have discoveredRyleywas missing and tried to find him.Thequestion now was:Washe still here?

Ifucking hoped so.

Wemade slow but steady progress.Ryley’spanic was still riding him hard, but he had it under control.So, when he tugged at my fur,Istopped and assessed the area again.Whathad he seen?

Asif hearing my unspoken question, he lifted a shaking hand and pointed at a dip in the forest floor where the fallen leaves were disturbed.Iinched forward.

Therewas a trapdoor.Inthe forest.Thatdidn’t belong out here.Thedisturbed ground suggested a screen of broken twigs, dirt, and pine cones usually concealed the trapdoor.Thedoor would likely have remained hidden if the area around it hadn’t been cleared.

WhywasIsurprised?I’dknown there wasn’t another building out here andIcouldn’t imagineRobbieroughing it in the trees.Anunderground den made sense.

Thebigger question was:Howthe hell hadImissed it before now?

Myheartbeat ticked up to a faster tempo.Itried to shakeRyley’shand off, but he refused to let go.Fine.Itlooked like we were doing this together.Icrept around the door in a wide circle, hunting for signs of booby traps.Theconcentration ofRobbie’sscent led away from the door.

Iwanted to follow it.Desperately.

Except, what if more people were trapped in there?

Damnit.

Icircled the door again, this time drawing closer.Ididn’t find any traps.Eitherhe was arrogant enough to think he didn’t need any, orI’dfind something under that door.Isniffed and listened for a long time beforeIfinally shifted into my human form, bringing with it my clothing, and more importantly my phone.

“Idon’t sense any other wolves close.Robbiewas here, but he isn’t now.”

“Areyou sure?”Ryley’sgaze darted around the area.

“I’msure.”

Surprisingly, my phone showed a signal.Sure, it was weak, but it was still there.ImotionedRyleyover and handed him my phone.