Mated to the Alpha

16

As he watches me closely, an intense urge to go to him fills me up. I swallow hard and then open the door, cursing softly the whole time. “Oh f**k, oh f**k, oh f**k, oh f**k,” I whisper over and over again as I slide the door open.

I’m the kind of kid that was scared of grasshoppers. I hated swimming in lakes because the thought of a fish brushing against my leg really freaked me out. And birds… God, don’t get me started on birds!

So, this is a big step. I’m approaching a grizzly bear. Willingly.

But surprisingly, I have no fear.

My hands aren’t sweating and my legs aren’t shaking. I feel safe. Secure. Like this bear would rather die than hurt me.

There’s a protective air around him that’s surrounding me like a warm blanket. It’s pulling me toward him. Luring me to the safety of his body.

“Hello,” I say in a low voice as I approach him. He lowers his head, watching me carefully, inhaling slowly. Loudly. He’s pure alpha power. He’s incredible.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” I whisper. He takes a step forward and I freeze. “Shit.”

Okay, now I’m a little afraid. Okay, a lot afraid.

What the hell was I thinking coming out here?!? This is a freaking grizzly bear!

And he’s walking toward me.

My heart is hammering in my chest with every thunderous step he takes.

I close my eyes as he arrives. My hands are squeezed into fists by my side. My back is ramrod straight.

I feel his hot breath on my body as he lifts his head. He smells me all over. “Oh crap,” I whisper. So, this is how I’m going to die.

I jump when I feel a cold wet nose in the palm of my hand and my eyes fly open. He’s nuzzling his head into my hand like a dog and I realize that he wants to be pet.

“Oh, okay,” I say with a gulp as I dig my fingers into his thick soft fur. He starts rumbling in satisfaction as I scratch behind his ears. He’s actually kind of cute. Big, but cute.

The fear washes away as the seconds tick by. He’s just a big soft teddy bear with a rough exterior. Like Rylan.

“So, apparently, we’re mates,” I say as he nuzzles his head into my stomach. I laugh when he lifts me off my feet for a second. “That’s not such a bad thing, is it? Not many girls have their own grizzly bear to watch out for them.”

He jerks back and his face twists up with a pained roar as he steps away from me.

“What is it?” I ask as my hand flies to my mouth.

He’s shaking all over—roaring and fighting something I can’t see.

I don’t like this at all. I’m already protective of my protector.

“Are you okay?”

His big body starts shaking and trembling and then shrinking in on itself. With a loud tear, Rylan explodes out of him.

He’s breathing heavily and looking at me with dark eyes. Oh, and he’s completely naked. Lucky me!

“I’m sorry,” he says in a scratchy voice.

“For what?”

I go to him and take his hand. His skin is burning hot.

“I shouldn’t have let him come out,” he says with his eyes full of shame. “But he was so aggressive this morning. He slipped out of me when I came to throw the garbage in the bin.”

“He wasn’t aggressive at all,” I tell him, already defending my bear. “Not with me.”

He takes a deep breath and walks over to where his clothes are shredded on the ground. He starts putting them on, but he looks ridiculous with them all in tatters. It’s not a good idea to giggle with him so upset like this, but I can’t help it.

He looks at me and then laughs too.

“You’ll have to get used to this,” he says as he lifts up his arms. His shirt is hanging down in pieces.

“I think I can get used to it just fine,” I say as I stare at his abs through the shredded fabric.

He shakes his head and laughs.

“Does he do that a lot?” I ask.

“What?”

“Slip out of you?”

He sighs as he picks up the rest of the pieces that used to be apart of his shirt. “No. It was you that caused it.”

“Me?”

“He’s pissed because I haven’t marked you yet.”

My neck starts tingling more than ever and my hand darts up to the spot.

I gave myself over to Rylan last night, but I have more to give. I want him to have all of me. I want him to take everything. Every part of me he desires. Every inch of me he needs.

“I’m ready.”

His eyes widen but every other part of him is completely still.

“I’m yours to take.”

He runs a hand through his dark hair and sucks in a breath. “Are you sure?”

I grab my shirt and pull it off. I’m not wearing a bra so his heated eyes drop down to my naked breasts as I toss my shirt behind me.

“I want to be yours, Rylan. In every way.”

I gasp as he comes forward and takes me into his strong arms. I’m already so wet as I rip off his shredded shirt. It falls off him easily and he’s kissing me deeply as I run my hands over his hot skin.

I whimper into his mouth when I feel how hard his c**k is, pressing against my stomach as he pulls me closer.