Rising Alpha

22

“Yeah?” A small smile fills his face and his gaze flickers to my lips. “For the first time in a long time, I like the sound of that.”

He’s trouble. My heart flutters and not for the first time. I’m already falling head over heels for him and it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours.

I tear my eyes from him and focus on eating. We sit in companionable silence as we both eat our meals.

After we’re done, he glances back at me and chuckles. He lifts his hand and points to my lips. “You’ve got some soup leftovers.”

Oh, God. That’s so embarrassing. I put my bowl on the ground and reach to wipe it away, but he grabs my hand.

His voice is husky. “No, let me.” His eyes glow as he leans down and licks my lips with his tongue.

A moan escapes me and my hands weave in his hair. I’ve never wanted a man to kiss more than I do right now. I open my mouth, letting my tongue meet his. His taste is woodsy and reminds me of the outdoors, which my wolf loves.

He growls and drops his bowl, but he doesn't pay attention. Instead he grabs my sides and picks me up like I weigh nothing. He turns me towards him and wraps my legs around his waist. As soon as I'm straddling him, he begins kissing me.

My body arches against him as his lips claim mine. They're soft but commanding which sets my body on fire. I meet his intensity and wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him close.

"You taste like rain on a hot summer's day." He growls and pulls my hair so that my neck is exposed. He trails hot kisses right to where my pulse is beating.

Is he going to mark me? My wolf howls as he gently rakes his teeth along my neck. My body quivers and his erection rubs against my core. I'm not supposed to fall for this. I need to protect the women even if it's on my own. I can't let him distract me right now.

The door swings open and interrupts us.

"Uh... I guess I should come back." Paul's voice breaks through, and I pull back a little embarrassed.

"No, it's fine." I've never been caught in a situation like this. My teenage years were far from normal and my parents being killed was the final kicker.

"We'll continue this later." His gruff voice sends warmth through me. He moves me so I'm sitting next to him like before, but holds my hand. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, sorry I..." Paul pinches his bottom lip and shakes his head. "We were wondering where the men are supposed to sleep. The woman are saying they should take the couch and floor, but I told them that was absurd."

Wow, maybe these men are different after all. "That's what our alpha would expect." "And you guys ran away for a reason." Dom squeezes my hand and winks at me.

"Can you tell them we'll be in there in one second?" I can't have the men go in there and talk about sleeping arrangements. That will make them feel even more unsafe.

"Sure." He opens the door and walks inside.

I begin to rise, but Dom tugs me back on the porch. "Hey, can we talk for another minute before going in? I promise to behave."

Is it bad that I might not want him to? "Sure, what's up?"

"So, did Kevin always treat you all like that?" He stares off into the woods not meeting my eyes.

"I'm not sure. I only became part of the pack around six months ago." I cringe since this conversation is heading to some bad memories of mine.

"Really?" His tone is level, but his eyes widen. "Why would you go join him?"

"It wasn't really my decision." I shiver and try to force the memories away. "He found me in a bad situation, and I thought he was saving me. Little did I know his true intent."

His body stiffens. "What do you mean?"

"Well, my old alpha killed my parents..." Hell, he should get the picture. "And Kevin stumbled upon me in the forest while he was out hunting. He saved me, or so I thought. Apparently, he was the one who wanted to break my spirit."

"Dammit. I should've killed him when I had the chance." He pulls me closer and wraps his arm around me.

For once, I feel safe. "That's why we have to protect these women. We can't let them fall apart because of him."

"Well, he is arrogant, so we have that to our advantage." Dom kisses my forehead and stands. "We need to train y’all in self-defense. He won't expect it and he won't realize that we have rogues here with us."

"Yeah, but what if he's stronger than they are and makes them bow to him?" Kevin is all about feeling powerful.

"It won't happen, they left their packs because they didn't agree with their alphas. They are strong enough to fight it." He's now pacing in front of me, making a small circle.

"This could all be over if you'd step up." He's stronger than Kevin and anyone I've ever met. "You can't be worse than the two alphas I've had."

"Don't you see how wrong that is?" He rubs a hand down his face and sighs. "A real alpha puts the pack’s needs before their own. You guys have never had a true alpha." His warm chocolate eyes meet mine.

For some reason, I believe him. This good-guy persona is not an act. He means what he preaches. He's strong, yet worried he won't be enough to protect us for some reason. He's trusting me to do that right now. That in itself proves what he just said. He's strong enough not to succumb to pressure and to make sure he's up for the part. I had kind of assumed I'd save these women on my own, but now... I'm not so sure.

With new eyes, I take in the man before me and I'm drawn to him more than ever before. As I step toward him, my wolf springs to my mind more clearly than ever before. I belong to him and this broken pack. I've never felt that before, but what happens if Kevin takes it all away?

DOM

W

hen we enter the cabin, the women are sitting on the couch close together on one side and the men are standing a few feet away on the other side of the room. The tension is thick, and the

men are staring down at the floor.

Maybe we shouldn't have gone outside together, but let's be real. I don't regret a single minute of it. We needed time to get to know each other alone, and damn, that kiss. I almost claimed her right then and there, but Paul interrupted us. I'm glad, because I would never want to force the bond on her. Unlike that prick Kevin.