My Unexpected Alpha

Chapter 7: A Morning Run

Abby:

Beta Dillon knocked on my door around 7am the next morning. I was already up and making coffee in my adorable cottage kitchen. Wiggling a large ceramic coffee cup in his direction, I asked, “Want one?”

“Sure,” he said, sliding into a chair at the table. I poured us each a cup. After years of friendship, I knew how he liked his coffee. Two sugars and milk for him. Only oat milk for me. Dillon was likable, even if he was a little reserved and I loved him like a brother. 

“I’m headed back this morning.” He said before he took a sip of his coffee.

“Feels soon.” I remarked, studying his face. If I didn’t know better I thought he looked a little worried. 

He shrugged his shoulders in response and we drank our coffee in companionable silence. After a while Dillon said, “It feels soon to me too. I don’t like leaving you up here. But I need to get back. There’s… a lot of changes happening.”

I understood. Welcoming a new Luna to the pack was work. Good work, but work all the same. And it left a pack vulnerable until the Alpha and Luna’s mating was complete. 

“I’ll be fine.” I said, reaching across the table, giving his hand a squeeze.

“I know,” Dillon said, giving me a little smile. He finished his coffee and stood up. “You’ve always been strong and able to take care of yourself. All the same, stick close to Wyatt and Allie. They're good people who will have your back.”

“What about Alpha Nick?” I asked as I walked him to the door. 

“I don’t know him.” Was all Dillon said before he gave me a hug and walked out.

…

I threw on a gray sports bra with black leggings and met Allie out front a few minutes later. The morning air was crisp and cool and held just a hint of the summer warmth that would creep in by noon. Iron Moon was so far north that even in June it was probably only 60° at 8am.

“Good morning!” Allie called in a sing-song voice. This girl was always happy and it was contagious. “Jennah is going to meet us in the clearing just over there.” She said, motioning behind my cottage. 

Allie led the way and soon we had stepped through the tree line into a lush, grass-covered clearing. Jennah was waiting. We smiled hello.

“We usually leave our clothes here and then shift to take the path to the south. It loops the whole lake and ends right back here.” Allie said.

“Do we have to worry about humans?” I asked, “I know Wyatt mentioned there are a decent number that live in the territory.”

“We don’t have to be cautious around Last Lake.” Jennah said. “Only werewolves live on this lake and there are some pretty heavy enchantments to deter humans.”

I lifted an eyebrow. So Iron Moon had some magical abilities. You needed a witch or a wizard for enchantments. While it wasn’t unheard of for witches and wizards to work with our kind… it wasn’t common. This information clearly wasn’t widespread knowledge because my pack had no idea Iron Moon had a witch or wizard allied to them.

Jennah just shrugged and we all stripped off our clothes, leaving them in three neat piles before shifting into our wolves and running out down the southern path.

Allie’s sandy brown wolf led the way and Jennah’s deep chocolate wolf brought up the rear. It actually felt very protective and I wondered for a brief moment how purposeful that was.

That thought soon slipped from my mind as the path wound to be right along the lake. I couldn’t take my eyes off the water! It was so beautiful and tranquil. The air felt so clean in my lungs as we ran. I can’t remember the last time a run had been this enjoyable. My wolf loved it.

A split second later, I was bowled over as a huge chestnut wolf came out of nowhere, tacking me to the ground, pinning me down. 

I barely had time to think, What the f**k?! Before I was whimpering, looking up at this monstrosity. He was truly the largest wolf I had ever seen.

Allie and Jennah paced nervously on either side of the path. Clearly they knew this wolf. Was this Alpha Nick?