The Alpha Triangle

Unseen Threats

Dark brown, almost black, eyes bore into me, and my heart stuttered for the second time that day. He didn’t look away, not even when Alex called for him to follow. Only when the Alpha turned his head did the guy finally break his stare and move forward.

“Liam,” I said, not taking my eyes off the backs of the newcomers, “who are those two with my father?”

Liam mumbled through a mouthful of brisket. “Heard my dad say two up-and-coming Alphas were gonna be staying with us for a while. Sit in on training, learn how our pack operates. Guess that’s them.”

My father wasn’t a generous man. He prided himself on the fact that our pack operated differently from the rest. He’d never offer outsiders a glimpse into how things ran around here unless there was something in it for him. Two extra mouths to feed meant there was definitely an alliance brewing or some sort of power play behind the scenes.

Once the three disappeared from sight, I pushed my half-eaten food around my tray before finally giving up. My stomach turned with unease and I needed a shower. Liam stood when I did, taking his tray too. We exited the pack house together, both of us quieter than usual. “Want to get cleaned up and meet back at my place?” he asked.

“Sure. Give me thirty minutes and I’ll be over.” My legs protested every step as we parted ways, the uneven dirt paths making each movement a reminder of the earlier fight. Still, the thing that rattled me most wasn’t Madisen’s cheap shot or even my father’s glare. It was him. The stranger with the dark eyes. I couldn’t shake his gaze, not even now.

As soon as I stepped inside my home, I stripped off my sweat soaked clothes and stepped into a cold shower. The water ran down my spine, calming the fire in my limbs. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on the tension knotted in my shoulders. Instead, his eyes came back clear as day, and my breath caught in my throat. The image seemed so vivid it was as if he was in the shower with me.

Startled, I gasped and snapped my eyes open, stumbling back against the slick tile wall. I caught myself just before I fell. My heart raced, pounding against my ribs like a warning.Who was he and why couldn’t I get him out of my head?

I quickly shut off the water after rinsing the shampoo from my hair and stepped onto the rug. Water dripped down my legs, pooling at my feet. I wrapped a thick towel around myself, the soft fabric offering a strange kind of comfort.

In my dresser, I found a pair of gray joggers and a black tank top. After wringing the excess water from my hair, I twisted it into a tight bun, slipped on an old pair of sneakers, and headed downstairs.

A strange energy hummed through my body. I sprinted down the staircase, aiming for the front door, but before I could grab the knob, it swung open, nearly smacking me in the face. I stumbled back in surprise and my father stepped inside. The two wolves from earlier right behind.

“Freya,” Alex barked, “this is Dallas and Wes. Their fathers are alphas of neighboring packs. Don’t be rude. Shake their hands and step aside so we can come in.” I forced a polite smile and did as I was told.

Wes. He was the one I hadn’t been able to shake from my mind. Up close, he was even more striking. His eyes weren’t black, I realized now, but deep brown. They resembled dark chocolate with golden flecks that seemed to shift with the light. His grip was warm, firm, and when I didn’t immediately let go, something flickered across his face.

My father’s patience wore thin. He shoved me aside roughly, and I lost my footing. Before I could hit the ground, Wes caught me by the elbow, steadying me with surprising gentleness. Heat bloomed in my cheeks and I couldn’t meet his gaze again. I dropped my eyes to the floor. “Thanks,” I mumbled.

Alex spoke with the two wolves about our pack dynamics, their sleeping arrangements, and other logistical things that barely registered in my brain. I couldn’t take my eyes off Wes.

He was massive. Easily over six feet tall and built like he could crush someone with a look. What little skin wasn’t hidden beneath black fabric was tanned and perfectly chiseled. His dark brown hair, just long enough to brush the tops of his ears, curled slightly at the ends, giving him a windswept, careless look that worked far too well. He wore all black. A fitted shirt, dark jeans, and laced-up boots that added to the quiet danger of his presence. Everything about him demanded attention, and he knew it. When he caught me staring, he gave a small smirk that made my stomach churn and I quickly looked away.

The second wolf was nothing like Wes. Dallas stood just a few inches shorter and had a stockier build, with softer edges and a more easygoing demeanor. His skin was pale in comparison, his blonde hair cropped short on the sides and longer on top, styled neatly with gel. His deep blue eyes sparkled when he smiled. They were warm and inviting, even if they didn’t hold the same gravity as Wes’s. There was something about Dallas, too. He had a presence, just not one I craved.

When I finally tore my gaze away from both of them, I caught the thunderous expression on my father’s face. Whatever I’d done to upset him, I didn’t care to find out. I mumbled something under my breath and excused myself before he could speak.