The Alpha Triangle

Morning Sparks

The sun peeking through the curtains woke me, and I realized I was still in the same position I had fallen asleep in. My heart raced and my breath hitched as I processed how close I’d gotten to Wes. How I’d let my guard down. Carefully, I pulled myself upright, only to notice that Wes was already awake.

“How long have you been waiting for me to get up?” I asked groggily.

Wes slid a hand behind his head, the same one that had held me in place the night before. As he flexed slightly, his muscles shifting under his skin, my gaze caught on something I hadn’t noticed before. A small tattoo. I reached out cautiously, tracing the outline of the unfamiliar symbol, waiting for him to recoil at the sparks that danced between our touch, or for him to explain. He did neither, watching me with fascination.

Once I’d etched the design into my memory, I pulled my hand back and met his gaze.

“My beta mind linked me this morning,” Wes said. “He should be here shortly. There were issues within our pack borders that needed handling first. Now that I’m no longer in Alex’s favor, I’ll need to return home sooner than I planned.”

A sudden, sharp pain gripped my chest, and I felt lightheaded. Wes’s expression immediately softened with concern as he sat up to meet me.

“It’s going to be okay, love,” he said gently. “I’m not going anywhere. We’ll figure this out together.”

His words eased some of the tension coiling inside me, but not completely. I wasn’t sure what was wrong. Only that I felt a deep ache. I had only ever allowed myself to be attached to Liam, yet here I was, mourning someone I’d never truly had the right to keep.

“Luna Layla said you’re welcome in this cabin as long as I want you to be here,” I said. “I don’t know what I’m feeling yet, but I want you to stay. At least until I figure that part out.”

The look on Wes’s face told me everything I needed to know. He wanted me just as much as I wanted him. Even if only for the moment.

“I came to your pack for training and intel, Freya,” he said softly. “I want to be here with you, but if I’m not getting what I originally came for, my father will push me to form an alliance elsewhere.”

It was too early for that conversation, and my thoughts scattered. A pressing need reminded me that I had to move, and I slid off the bed toward the bathroom. As I reached for the door, I realized there wasn’t one. Wes watched, amused, propped on his elbow.

Who designed this place without a bathroom door? I needed to have a word with them later.

Brushing past Wes, who chuckled at my irritation, I hurried downstairs to the main floor. I still hadn’t explored the other rooms upstairs, but there was no time. After quickly taking care of business, I opened the restroom door and nearly collided with Liam.

“What in the hell are you doing?” I asked, venom in my voice.

“I’m not feeling well,” he admitted sheepishly. “I don’t know what’s wrong. I’m worried something happened to my parents. Or maybe I just need to eat.”

I could see the unease twisting inside him. I reached out, brushing his arm in reassurance. His hair was messy, his clothes still what he had thrown on after shifting last night. It was unlike his usually put-together appearance.

“Let’s call your parents. That’ll rule out at least one possibility,” I suggested.

Liam nodded, and we made our way to the couch. I didn’t have a cell phone as I rarely needed one. Most of the people I might call lived within the pack, and when I left, my parents were always with me, phone in hand. I picked up the old landline, its black coiled cord confirming it was still functional. I only knew a few numbers by heart and Beta Lance’s was among them. Occasionally, I called him to check on Liam or see if he was nearby.

I dialed, twisting the cord in anticipation.

“Hello? Who is this?” a gruff voice answered.

“Hi, Lance. This is Freya. Liam and I were wondering how your trip was going and when you’d be back.”

Seconds dragged into eternity before he responded. “Everything’s fine here. We should be back within a day or so. Tell Liam not to worry, or he’ll give himself an ulcer.”

I chuckled, hung up, and reassured Liam. “See? Your parents are fine. Let’s head to my place so I can pack some things. Then we can swing by the pack house for a meal, if you want.”

Liam hesitated, his unease still apparent. “Yeah, I guess that works.”

“Great. Let me get Wes, and we’ll head out. Want to shift or call a car?” I asked.

“Maybe some pent-up energy is making me feel off. Let’s shift. It’ll be faster,” Liam said, turning toward the stairs to the basement while I headed upstairs.

I bounced up the stairs and stepped into the bedroom, expecting to find Wes still propped on the bed, but he wasn’t there. Hesitantly, I crossed the threshold, scanning the room until I spotted him in the bathroom, brushing his teeth.

A few seconds passed before he looked up, foam clinging to the corners of his lips. A small smile tugged at my face as he wiped it away, looking for a brief moment like a rabid dog. Wes was clad only in boxer shorts as he strode closer, and I instinctively took a step back.

He stopped mid-stride and let out a long sigh.

“Liam isn’t feeling well,” I told him. “I need to go pack some things from my house, and I plan to have breakfast with Liam at the pack house afterward.”

Wes continued forward as I finished, and I tried to step back again. Only to feel my spine press against the dresser nearest the door. My blood ran cold. I was trapped as he closed the distance between us.

He didn’t need to corner me with his hands. Instead, he moved until our bodies were just a few feet apart, close enough to command attention without a touch. “I have a bag at Alex’s home I need to grab as well,” he said quietly. “I’ll join the two of you, and my beta will meet us at the pack house. He should be here within the next hour or so.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat. Instead, I stepped around him, heading for the sink to brush my teeth. I rifled through drawers until I found a few unopened toothbrush boxes, selecting a purple one. As I brushed with my left hand, I combed through the tangled mess of my hair with my right.

After a few minutes, I looked presentable enough to make the trip to my parents’ house. I climbed down the stairs, the cabin quiet around me. Outside the front door, I heard slow whispering, voices muted and indistinct. As I reached for the handle, the whispering ceased.

Stepping out, I found myself face-to-face with Liam and Wes.