Page 71 of Alphas Never Hide

“Yeah.Why?”Haydenasked warily, looking over my shoulder like he expected to see a flock of peeping sparrow shifters looking in at us.

“Doyou think they’d deliver food up here to our window?”

“Doubtful.”Hewrapped his arms around my waist.Hischest pressed against my back, and he rubbed his cheek against my neck.Itilted my head to the side becauseIloved the feel of his skin against mine.Iwanted more. “What’sgoing on?”

“It’snice up here.Withyou.Alone.”Forall my brave talk in the middle of the night about wanting to beHayden’smate,Istill felt nauseous about seeing his pack today.Thepatch of green in my dark hair wasn’t noticeable, butHayden’shair was a lot lighter and a striking contrast to the mark.Everyonewould know what’d happened as soon as they saw him.

Whatif they turned their backs on him because of me?

Hekissed the side of my neck, making me shiver and press closer to him.Myidea for food delivery by winged courier sounded better by the minute.Orwe could return to bed and forget about food and the rest of the world.Therewas water in the bathroom.We’dsurvive.

“Whatelse?”Fora guy who kept asking questions, he was doing everything in his power to make me forget how to talk.Iclosed my eyes and savored the feel of his lips on my skin. “BecauseIdon’t think that’s everything,” he said softly.

“Probablynot.”Isighed. “AlthoughIdo like the idea of staying in bed with you all day.”

“Ilike that idea too, but not today,”Haydensaid.

Iturned to face him. “Why?What’sgoing on today?”

“Iwant to meet withDoc.Witheverything thathappened yesterday,Iwant him to check my magic.Ifeel stronger thanIhave in a long time.”

“Youthink he’ll let you go looking forRobbie.”

Heshrugged and looked out the window at the woods. “He’sout there.Ineed to find him.”

“Don’tgo alone.Anddon’t go until the doctor says you’re healed,”Isaid, gripping his shirt in my fists.Icould see him ignoring the doctor’s orders and sneaking out.AndIsuspected stowing away a second time would be impossible.Heknew to look in the bed of his truck now. “Promiseme.”

“Ipromise not to go alone.”Thewords looked like they pained him, but he’d said them, andIhad to trust he’d keep his promise.

“Good.Becausewe don’t know how many other traps he’s set out there.”

“I’verun those woods a lot,” he said. “I’vebeen fine.AlthoughIcan’t figure out whyIhaven’t come across his scent out there before.Itdoesn’t make sense.”

“Butyou wouldn’t have been fine yesterday.”

Hisshoulders dropped. “Iknow.”

Mystomach growled.

“Weshould go down and get some breakfast,” he said.WhenIhesitated, he brushed his lips over mine. “It’llbe okay.Iknow it will.Outof all the thingsI’mconcerned about, my pack accepting you isn’t one of them.”

Ofcourse he’d guessed whyIwas reluctant to go downstairs.

AndIhoped he was right, because if anyone was an asshole to him because of me,Ihad hooves andIwasn’t afraid to use them.

Heslipped his hand in mine and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Ready?”

“Iguess,”Ilied.

We’djust stepped out of the room when a door on the other end of the hallway opened.Jeremywas chattering away to his mate and didn’t notice us.Theywere close to the stairs, soIhoped they’d go down without realizing we were here.ButthenAdriansniffed, and his gaze swung right to us.Jeremyturned to see what’d caught his mate’s attention.Damnit.

“Hi, guys.”Jeremy’sface lit up when he saw us. “Iwas talking toAdrianabout today’s events.It’sgoing to be a-mazing.”Yes, he said the word like it came in two parts and had to be fitted together. “Itsucks thatNelson,Teague, andDavieare missing it.Nelsonespecially.Ireally wanted to see how fast he can move through the shadows.Buthe got a lead aboutMorganso he’s off chasing it down.AndDaviewas called away in the middle of the night to one of those children’s indoor playground things.Man,Iloved when my parents took us to places like that whenIwas growing up.Butsome ghosts have moved into this one and they are causing problems.She’scalledTeaguein to help her, but he hasn’t left yet.”Jeremyspoke at a dizzying speed, jumping from one thing to the next.

“Events?”Haydenasked whenJeremypaused to catch his breath.

“Oh!Right!Youleft before the details were finalized,”Jeremysaid. “We’reholding our little miniOlympics, supernatural-style.”

“Today?”