Rising Alpha

3

We begin moving again and step out behind his house. The largest one in the village, or at least that's what the humans call it. He has a huge back yard, and it's filled with a canopy and twinkling light strands strung from it to his house. There are chairs angled for people to watch the ceremony and to the right is a huge tent for the after-party.

"Now, when we stand there, make sure you turn so the audience can see us. The surrounding alphas and their guests will be in attendance." He tugs me close to him and whispers in my ear. "And pretend to be happy, because God knows I am. You and I will make beautiful babies."

Gag me now. Thinking of making anything with him makes me want to hurl. There has to be a way out of this somehow.

"Now run along and get pretty. I need your best foot forward or there will be consequences." He kisses my check and plasters a sinister smile across his face. "I'll see you soon, love." People are already arriving and taking a seat.

My time has run out. My chance of happiness is gone. I turn on my heels and head toward my house. When I walk past two men, I stop in my tracks. There’s a guy with red hair and matching beard who is tall and broad, but it’s the man beside him that has my heart racing. His shaggy blonde hair and brown eyes warm me. He’s slightly taller than me and muscular. I bet it would be amazing to be wrapped in his arms and breathing him in. My inner wolf howls and it takes every ounce of strength I have to continue on.

DOM

I

slam the door to my red Chevrolet C/K and adjust the waist of my khaki pants. I hate that John talked me into going to this mating ceremony, but hell, what can I do. When one of your oldest

friends calls and asks for a favor, you do it. He saved my ass several times while we were in Iraq so it's the least I can do.

His pack lives in one of the nice neighborhoods outside of Asheville, North Carolina. Like any good alpha, he found a place that is close to a city, but far enough away so they can immerse themselves in nature. His is the first house on the left when coming into the neighborhood so he can keep an eye out for any unknown visitors.

Not even bothering to go to the front door, I make my way behind the house. I'm sure he's out back by the creek. That's where you can normally find him when he's at home and working.

His yard is immaculate and there are various types of perennials, snapdragons, and roses. There is an older woman in the pack who enjoys tending to everyone lawns. She went crazy after her mate passed, and John knew she needed something to distract her. It worked like a charm and five years later, she's still going strong. Even though he doesn't care about his yard, he gives her money left and right to keep her busy. He tends to everyone in his pack that way, and it’s one of the reasons he was asked to be part of the regional office.

It doesn't take long for me to find him sitting on an Adirondack chair with a laptop in his lap. He runs his fingers through his short red beard and sighs.

"What's wrong dickhead?" Something is bothering him. I lean against the house and nod.

"Just not looking forward to going to this." He places his laptop on the ground and finishes buttoning the top two buttons of his shirt.

Anyone who doesn't have a mate hates going to these things. I won't settle for anything less than a fated mate, and of course, I haven’t found mine. It'd be nice to have my perfect other half beside me, and I won't settle for a fill in. That's what most people do nowadays. "Yeah, but who knows. Maybe we'll find ours one day."

"You know I already found mine." He stares out at the creek and shakes his head. "But she died before I was old enough to claim her."

Shit, why'd I say that? "Yeah, man. I'm sorry." That's the kicker, you only have one fated mate. If something happens to them, you're alone for the rest of your life. That's one reason why he takes care of his people and will bend over backwards to help any shifter in need. "Sometimes s**t spills out before I think."

"You don't think I know that?" He laughs and arches an eyebrow. "I've had to deal with your ass for over ten years now."

"Hey, it hasn't been all roses and rainbows for me either." He may be helpful but he's not a pushover. He wouldn't be an alpha otherwise. "I had to pull your ass out of that bar in Lexington that one night before we were deployed."

"Even with how fast we heal, I had the shiner for a week." He chuckles, remembering. He grabs his phone and glances at the time. "Dammit, let's get going. I wish we could get out of this, but I'm the only regional representative in town right now."

"Are you going to open the car door for me since I'm your plus one?" He's the only person I'd do this for, so I’ve got to give him hell. "And just so you know, I don't put out on the first date."

"You're a jackass." He grabs his keys and rolls his green eyes. "I'd be in a better mood if we weren't going to Kevin's ceremony."

"Really? Why?" I don't know this guy from Pete, however; it's odd that John doesn’t want to go. Yes, he goes to a lot of things because he's our regional representative, and he usually doesn't mind.

"He treats his females like shit." He grabs his wallet and puts it in the pocket of his black dress slacks. "That's why I asked if you'd go with me. You might have to hold me back from pummeling his ass."

Why do some alphas think they are above the women? I don't get it. Yes, we may be physically stronger, but hell, I don't even want to think about the pain they have to go through when birthing and taking care of our young. I've seen a mother rip the head off a man for threatening her cub. "How bad?"

As we climb into his Audi A3, he slams the door a little harder than necessary. "Bad. There are rumors of r**e, beatings, and even trying to send some of the young ones that are just of age to a lions’ pride. However, every time we try to nail them, he comes out clean."

"Are you f*****g serious?" What kind of douchebag are we dealing with? "How can an asshole like him be an alpha? I bet he has at least one person on the inside and they alert him."