And fuck.
Daryl.
Their paths seldom crossed on the pack full-moon runs. He’d never seen Daryl’s wolf up close like this. Forgetting about his resolve to keep his distance, Jason padded over to the dark brown wolf standing guard at the back of the group. Not stocky like some beta wolves, Daryl’s wolf was long-limbed and graceful. His fur seemed almost black in the moonlight and looked so soft Jason wanted to press his nose into it.
But he refrained.
Barely.
Piercing blue eyes met his, and he shivered despite the thick fur covering his body. He felt Daryl’s gaze travel over him, like a hand stroking down his spine. Then with a flick of his head for Jason to follow, he set off after the others.
Howls fractured the apparent stillness of the forest, growing in excitement as the full-moon run got underway. Jason felt it inside, growing with each step he took after Daryl.
As they set off at a steady jog, paws silent against the undergrowth, Jason hoped he had enough control not to give in and let his wolf take over. He shot a glance at Daryl, loping ahead a few paces in front, and his nerves settled.
If he didn’t, at least Daryl would.
CHAPTER NINE
The alpha council were already in the woods, as Alpha Cornell had promised. Their scent hung heavy in the air, surprisingly comforting instead of intimidating. Daryl focused on them and Rachel and her unit up ahead. Anything to take his mind off the golden-brown wolf padding along behind him.
He’d known Jason was trouble—loyalty and honesty were Daryl’s Achilles heel, and Jason had both in spades.
Despite all those years with Newell, he was still good to the bone.
Sunshine and happiness.
And Daryl felt himself drawn to him more with each moment they spent together.
He’d purposely faced the other way when they got undressed for the run, putting himself out of temptation’s way. Jason’s gaze on him had proved too much to ignore, and Daryl’s ego had taken over.
With the full moon flooding his body, vanity had made him take his time. Knowing Jason was watching made his wolf preen, made him want to show off a little. It might’ve been cruel to tease him, knowing they could never act on it, but his attention was addictive and Daryl wanted more of it.
Just for tonight.
Now they were outside, in their base forms.
Wolves erred towards instinct, not human rationale.
He knew that Jason was off limits, that he couldn’t risk getting closer to him. But that was all in his head, in his mind where his reasons for that made perfect sense.
His wolf didn’t work that way.
Daryl trusted Jason, liked him, wanted him.
That was more than enough for his wolf to take an interest. He felt it stirring inside as they made their way through the trees. If he wasn’t careful, if he didn’t keep in tight control, it would be easy to let instinct take over and ignore his self-imposed restrictions.
Deep down inside, Daryl wasn’t sure what he wanted.
He shook his head and focused on the rest of the wolves.
Pack.
That was why they were here tonight.
Anything else was a distraction he couldn’t afford.
A flash of white up ahead caught his attention, and he came to a sudden stop as the alpha wolves appeared in the small clearing in front of them. Four more joined them—grey, black, and two tawny-brown ones. The last two looked so alike, Daryl mused they had to be Asha and Anna.
