The Alpha’s Surgeon

21

The morning air outside the shack was warm and lazy, filled with the hum of cicadas and the scent of fried dough drifting from Momma Anna’s kitchen window. Aspen trotted ahead, tail wagging, ears perked, while the others lingered near the parking area.

Rae rubbed a hand over her face, still half-asleep from being dragged out of bed at four in the morning by said wolfdog. Del, unfortunately, looked bright-eyed and full of energy—already dangerous signs.

As they reached the trucks, Del elbowed Rae hard enough to make her stumble. “Ow—what was that for?”

Del wiggled her brows, smirking. “You were staring again.”

“I was not,” Rae said, glaring.

“Uh-huh,” Del teased, nodding toward Trey, who was leaning casually against Will’s truck, arms folded, sunlight cutting across his jaw in that annoyingly cinematic way. “You sure about that, cher?”

Rae rolled her eyes. “You’re seeing things.”

Before Del could respond, movement near the edge of the gravel lot caught Rae’s attention—a man stepping out of a dented red truck that looked like it had survived the same fire it started. Her body went rigid instantly.

“Miles,” she muttered under her breath, a curse slipping out in Cajun before she could stop it.

Remi, standing beside Will, frowned. “Wait—the truck guy?”

Del’s smile faltered. “Yep. That’s him.”

Will and Trey both turned to look. The man in question—Miles—was leaning casually against his beat-up truck, wearing the same arrogant smirk that had once driven Rae to light the thing up like a bonfire.

Aspen’s ears twitched, picking up Rae’s sharp intake of breath. In a heartbeat, he was at her side, hackles bristling. A low growl rumbled in his chest, deep and warning.

“Easy, Aspen,” Will said, tone calm but wary.

Rae clenched her jaw, not taking her eyes off Miles. “He’s fine,” she muttered. “He just—”

But she didn’t finish, because Aspen decided “fine” meant time for action.

Before anyone could move, the wolfdog lunged forward with startling speed.

“Aspen!” Rae yelled, but he was already sprinting across the gravel, a blur of fur and fury.

Miles barely had time to register what was coming before Aspen was on him—snarling just enough to be terrifying without touching him. The man yelped, stumbling back so fast he hit his own truck door. In a panic, he dove inside, slamming the door and fumbling with the ignition.

Aspen stood there, tail high, barking once—loud and triumphant—as the engine roared to life and the red truck peeled out of the lot, throwing dust and exhaust into the air.

The silence that followed was thick—until Elijah started laughing. Hard.

“Oh my god,” he managed between breaths. “He just chased that guy into his truck like a horror movie!”

Trey was grinning, shaking his head. “Remind me not to get on that dog’s bad side.”

Will exhaled slowly, half amused, half resigned. “Or Rae’s.”

Rae dragged a hand down her face, muttering in Cajun. “That’s what I get for saying he was fine.”

Del was doubled over laughing now. “You trained him too well.”

Remi bit her lip to hide a smile. “Or maybe he’s just got excellent taste in who to scare.”

Aspen trotted proudly back over, tail wagging like a flag, tongue lolling out in satisfaction. He looked up at Rae expectantly, clearly waiting for praise.

Rae crossed her arms, glaring down at him. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

He barked once, pleased with himself.

Trey chuckled, brushing dirt off his jeans. “Pretty sure that guy’s never coming within a mile of you again.”

“Good,” Rae muttered, smirking faintly. “Saves me the trouble.”

Del leaned over, grinning. “You know, for once, I’m not even mad at him for acting on impulse.”

Will sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with a smile. “Alright, before anyone else gets chased off the property, let’s get to the cabin.”

Remi laughed, opening the truck door. “And maybe keep the wolfdog inside this time.”

Rae gave Aspen a look. “You heard the Alpha—inside. No more unauthorized hit jobs.”

Aspen tilted his head, then barked once like he disagreed, before hopping obediently into the backseat.

Trey shot Rae a smirk as he climbed into the truck behind her. “You sure he’s not your spirit animal?”

Rae grinned over her shoulder. “Wouldn’t that make me even scarier?”

Elijah laughed under his breath. “Oh, we’re already convinced.”

As the trucks rumbled to life and pulled out of the lot, Del leaned toward Rae, whispering, “You know, he really is perfect for you.”

Rae side-eyed her, but her lips twitched despite herself. “Don’t start.”

Aspen barked in the back, tail thumping against the seat.

“Too late,” Del said, grinning as the convoy headed toward the cabin—leaving Momma Anna’s shack behind and one very traumatized ex speeding down the opposite road.