Page 92 of Alphas Never Hide

“That’simpossible,”Isaid, shaking my paw as if that could make it return to normal.

Ilooked at the others who’d gathered around me to see if they had answers.Theyall tilted their heads to the side, exposing their necks to me, and murmured “Alpha”.Forfuck’s sake, not that again.Imean,Igot it.Thiswasprobably an important development.Butwe, me in particular, had other shit to do right now.Ipushed my nose againstRyley’sneck to inhale his scent, making sure he was really okay.Hesmelled healthy and, surprisingly, a little turned on.

“You’reamazing,” he whispered against my fur.

Istepped back. “Stayhere.Staysafe.Ineed to getRobbiebefore he escapes.”

Ryleynodded. “Ineed you to be safe too.”

Ihad no intention of letting anything happen to me.Ihad too much to live for.

“We’llbe right behind you,Alpha,”Vansaid.Hisgaze was full of flames as he transformed into his hellhound form.Allaround me, the shifters did the same.

“Let’sgo,”Isaid, bounding through the woods after the man who’d chosen to be my enemy instead of my brother.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

RYLEY

AsHaydenled most of the shifters through the trees in pursuit ofRobbie, the two-footed supes trailed after them.Asa faun,Iapparently was adept at escaping, butI’dnever be a hunter.Thatwas fine.Ididn’t need to crushRobbie’sneck between my teeth.Icould just wait until he surrendered and then kick him in the balls a couple dozen times.

Becausehe would surrender.Mybadass mate would make him.

Wemade a strange group hiking through the forest.Therewere several of us, but the ones nearest to me were part ofHayden’sclosest group of friends.Ashhad sparks shooting from his fingers,Jeremywas muttering as he scribbled in a notebook, andJakewas worrying his hands like he wished he hadn’t left the inn.Andthen there, at my side, wasConny.

“Weneed to hurry,” he said.Wewere already hoofingit, butConnypulled me along to get me moving faster.Wewere following the obvious trail of footprints, broken saplings, and crushed groundcover. “Theycan’t kill him.Notbefore he tells me whereGretchenis.”

“Theywon’t kill him.”Iwas at least sixty percent certain of that.Ish.AlthoughHaydenwasn’t the only one who looked pissed.Okay.Yeah.Maybewe should pick up our pace.

OnceConnywas satisfied with my speed, he moved closer. “Wasthat your mate?”Heshook his head. “Iguess he couldn’t be.Nevermind.”

“Whatare you talking about?Ofcourse he’s my mate.”Ifrowned at him.

“Buthe’s not a faun.”

“Ithought you said you met your mate.Youshould know our mates don’t have to be fauns.”

“Right.”Henodded. “Iknow, it’s just he’s a wolf.Likea massively enormous wolf.Ithought he was the oneRobhad me play tricks on in the woods, but that guy wasn’t nearly that big.”

Yeah.Ididn’t know what’d happened there either, but it didn’t change howIfelt about him. “Himbeing big means he’s the best one to put an end to all this.”

Jeremycame alongside us.Heglanced up from his notebook and eyed my brother.

“CanIhelp you?”Connysaid.Hesounded as snooty asTheAssPimple.

Jeremydidn’t take offense at my brother’s tone. “Areyou working for the forces of good or evil?”

Connygrimaced, and his face paled.

“Yousee,Adriantold me a faun helpedRobbieabductRyleyearlier.Thatwas you, wasn’t it?”

Myfirst impulse was to step in and defendConny.Hewas still so young as a faun; he shouldn’t even be away from the herd.Butthe fauns might have that wrong too, because he was old enough to get a woman pregnant.Sohe clearly wasn’t a kid any longer; he was going to be a dad.Mybaby brother, a father.

Connylooked at me for guidance.Inodded.Haydentrusted these people, soIdid too.Andwasn’t that bizarre?Me, trusting a bunch of supes.

“He’sholding my mate hostage,”Connysaid.

“Seriously?”Afierce look contortedJeremy’sface. “Itlooks like we’re going on another rescue mission, boys!”