The Alpha Triangle

Alpha Beta Cabin

My heart thundered as I surged forward, air burning in my chest. And then I leapt, hitting the ground on all fours. My wolf burst free without a stumble, paws finding their rhythm as if they’d always belonged there. The forest blurred, damp soil and decaying leaves rich beneath my pads.

I had only been to the cabin once in my life, but the fond memories made it easy to recall. Within moments, the hidden wooden structure appeared before me, tall and timeless among the trees.

I skidded to a halt, turning just as two wolves bounded into view behind me.

I was almost certain the two wolves trailing me were Wes and Liam. They skidded to a halt faster than I did, then jogged up quietly to join me. My eyes flicked around, searching for any loose clothing since I hadn’t packed a thing. A small tote sat on the porch, and I assumed it held what I needed.

Before I could move, Wes bolted past me in a flash, up the steps. His human form was imposing, but his wolf… massive. Jet black with a small patch of white on his chest, sleek and commanding. Stunning. I glanced back at Liam, curious, and wasn’t disappointed. His wolf was leaner, a few inches shorter than Wes, steel gray in color, with massive paws sinking into the damp earth. I could have sworn he was smiling. If wolves could smile, that is.

A soft motion drew my attention, and I looked up just as Wes shifted back into human form. My jaw tightened. Naked and impossibly sculpted, he looked like a god. Muscles layered on muscles, a few long, dull scars across his chest diagonally toward his hips. My lips parted, and my gaze locked onto his. A devilish grin tugged at the corner of his mouth, one eyebrow c****d teasingly. Mortified, I snapped my eyes to Liam.

The click of the tote broke my attention, followed by Wes’s velvety voice.

“There are several sets of clothing in here. Liam, shift next, then step inside while Freya goes.”

Liam obeyed, bounding up the steps as Wes slipped a slim pair of shorts over his thick thighs. Wes glided back down, standing in front of me to block my view of Liam shifting. I wasn’t curious about Liam like I was about Wes; my gaze stayed locked on him. My stomach twisted. I wanted to know what he was thinking, what he felt.

“Alright, lovebirds, I’m headed in! Hurry it up!” Liam called from inside.

Wes’s expression darkened, his eyes rolling back in disapproval. Slowly, he asked, low and deliberate, “What are you waiting for?”

I narrowed my eyes. A deep rumble resonated from his chest before he muttered, “Fine. I won’t look… but I’m not leaving you out here alone.”

He leaned against the corner of the cabin, shoulder against the wall, watching the trees surrounding us. I could see the tension in his biceps as he gripped his left wrist.

I forced myself to focus. Carefully, I climbed the steps and shifted into human form. This time, it was smoother, faster. I dug through the tote, pulling out a pair of short leggings and a sports bra. As I slipped the pants on, I glanced over my shoulder. Wes hadn’t moved.

A pang of something strange tightened in my chest. Did I want him to look? Did I want him to admire me as I had admired him? How many women had done the same thing I was doing? How many had seen him naked? Heat and anger mingled, rising inside me. I let out a sharp huff, tugging the top on and starting toward the cabin.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Wes scrambling toward me. With his massive frame flailing, he looked almost cartoonish. A short, breathless giggle escaped me.

I tried to shut the door behind me, but Wes’s hand blocked it.

“What was that about?” he growled. “You can’t shut me out that easily, love.”

I wanted to snap back, to let out my frustration, but I knew it wasn’t the time. I stepped further inside, and a loud, commanding “Wes, come in as well” left my lips.

The front room looked exactly as I remembered. My chest tightened with a mix of nostalgia and sorrow. I had loved this place once, and now… it was complicated.

The cabin had three floors. The main level was an open layout with a living room, dining room, and kitchen. It also had a laundry nook and a large bathroom. I remembered my parents mentioning that the Alphas stayed on the top floor, while the Betas stayed in the basement. I had been too young the last time I was here to see either space. I only remembered the main floor clearly, the top was a mystery, and the basement wasn’t a place I had ever been allowed.

Liam had already made himself at home, sprawled across the large couch in the living room. I rolled my eyes and walked toward him, intent on flopping down on top of him. Both to annoy him and to force him to share the space. But before I could make contact, a strong hand yanked me backward. I sucked in a sharp breath as Liam scrambled upright, eyes darting between us.

I was spun around to face Wes. His voice was low and cold.

“How many times are we going to do this dance, love? No one is allowed to touch you. And you aren’t allowed to touch anyone else.”

Before I could even form a response, Wes’s lips crashed into mine.

The world ignited. Sparks swallowed me whole, my body roaring to life beneath his touch. Wes was my first kiss and I knew, instinctively, he would be my first for everything else too. It wasn’t that I hadn’t had the chance before, I’d just never wanted anyone badly enough to kiss them back. But Wes? He stole the air from my lungs.

He parted my lips with his tongue, nipping my bottom lip with sharp precision. A hiss escaped me. Approval, need, hunger, and I silently begged for more. Time stilled, the cabin, the world, Liam, all of it disappearing, until Wes pulled away.

The sudden loss hit me like a blow. My lips burned, my body screamed for more, but then reality rushed in. He was too confident. Too sure. He kissed like a man with experience, not hesitation. How many mouths had he kissed? How many women had melted the way I just had under him?

Rage replaced desire, bubbling hot in my veins. Instead of stepping closer, I dropped down beside Liam and rested my head on his shoulder.

Wes’s growl tore through the room, low and feral. His fists clenched as he stalked forward, his gaze burning into me.

Liam shifted uncomfortably beneath me, then suddenly vaulted over the back of the couch, putting space between us. Wes froze mid-stalk.

“I’m not sure what this is all about,” Liam said quickly, already striding toward the basement stairs, “but count me out. I’m tired, and I need to find my room.”

His footsteps disappeared down the steps, leaving the air thick and tense between Wes and me.

As soon as Liam’s footsteps faded, Wes dropped his gaze to me. I was lounging on the couch, trying to look casual, as if his approach hadn’t fazed me at all. That was a lie. In a heartbeat, he had me trapped.

He planted a knee on either side of my small frame and slotted his hands at my temples, pinning me in place.

“Why do you keep challenging me?” Wes asked, a raw edge of hurt in his voice.

I immediately regretted the bite in my words and wanted those sparks back. I wanted him to touch me again. He waited, patient and huge above me, so I gave him the answer I had.

“You don’t act like someone innocent,” I said.

His brow drew together. I kept going. “That kiss wasn’t clumsy. It was precise. Like you’d done it a hundred times. How many women have you been with? How many of them have seen you like that?”

Anger threaded my voice and I didn’t fully know why I was throwing it at him. Wes let out a short chuckle, amusement flickering across his face.

“Don’t patronize me,” I snapped.

He looked at me. “I’m sorry,” he said. Then, softer, almost tenderly, “You’re my first, Freya. No one’s touched me like you have. Maybe that’s why I’m possessive.”

Relief flooded me so suddenly I hadn’t realized how on edge I’d been. He lowered his face toward mine; his breath fanned my lips. Instead of pressing them to mine, Wes rose in one slow motion and hauled me to my feet.

“Let’s find our room,” he said, voice thick with lust.