Page 5 of Rescued by the Alpha

If he shifted at that exact moment, his eyes would be blazing with the inner flame he feared would consume them both. The certainty of what Elam’s presence in his life meant could no longer be denied. It might be crazy—was certainly impossible—but true nonetheless.

I’m your Alpha, Elam. And you’re my mate.

The wolf managed to sneak out a low, rumbling growl, Elam’s eyes widening at what had to be a puzzling sound coming from his rescuer.

And you’re all mine.

Nic yanked his hand back, the action abrupt, but it couldn’t be helped. “I…” He cleared his throat again. “Let me get that ice for you and grab some painkiller as well.”

He felt as if he were babbling. Maybe he’s still so addled from his fall he won’t rememberhow loony I’m behaving.

Elam regarded him with curiosity, his brow wrinkling. “Yeah. Thank you.”

Nic gave Elam a quick dip of his chin in acknowledgement then set about his task. He took refuge in the fact that the couch faced away from the kitchen area, so he could gather the necessary items without being observed by his house guest. While wrapping a towel around the ice pack, he considered his next move. They were basically stuck together for at least a couple days, maybe more, and with the living space consisting of nothing more than the one large area with the small bedroom and bathroom, they’d be spending plenty of time together.

Elam can have the bedroom.

Of course, he would still have to leave the door open since the only source of heat came from the fireplace. “Shit.” He’d muttered it under his breath as the reality of the circumstances hit him. The size of the cabin had never been an issue before. He spent almost half his time shifted, and when he’d built the place, he’d only ever had himself in mind. Since he couldn’t give his pack an heir, and no one in the Alliance had ever presented as his mate, he’d willingly conceded his position as pack Alpha to his younger brother and made his own life far from the others. He’d always been out, and because he wouldn’t take a female mate just to hang onto his pack-leader status, he’d done what he’d believed was the right thing to do—regardless of how much it had upset his father.

Nic took a deep breath then brought the towel-wrapped ice, glass of water and pain pills to Elam.

“Here you go.” Nic tensed as Elam slowly brought himself upright, worry coursing through him from the slight grimace Elam made. He gave him the tablets and water, unable to make eye contact.

Nic scratched the back of his neck as he pondered what to do next. “So… I’m sure you must be hungry. But if your stomach is still a bit iffy, I could heat up some broth. You should lie down, though, and hold the ice to your head for a while.” He glanced at Elam. God, he is so fucking beautiful. And Iknow nothing about him. What if he already has someone?

Elam placed his glass on the small table next to the couch and smiled weakly. “Thank you. I’m sorry I’m being such a bother.”

Nic dropped his gaze again. “Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad I came along when I did.” He shuddered briefly, the stray thought of Elam, his mate, freezing to death so nearby before he’d rescued him too terrifying to consider.

“I do need to use the restroom, though. Is it through that door?”

Nic tracked the direction Elam was pointing in. “That’s the bedroom, you need to go through there to get to it.”

“Awesome. Thanks.”

As Nic was setting down the ice pack next to Elam’s glass, he noticed him wobbling as he rose from the couch. Elam listed to one side and in an instant Nic was next to him, grabbing him by the waist to keep Elam from tipping over.

Elam grasped Nic’s shoulders and let out a shaky laugh. “Whoa. Got a little dizzy.”

Nic frowned, his worry over Elam’s condition increasing. “Let me see your eyes.”

They locked gazes, and once again Nic was enraptured by Elam’s eyes, flecks of gold within the caramel-colored brown catching the light from the fire, the compulsion to stare until he drowned in them almost impossible to resist.

I need to knock this shit off or else he’s gonna think I’m some sort of creepy stalker.

Elam’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, a tinge of pink highlighting his cheeks.

Nic narrowed his eyes. Interesting. Not only didn’t he know whether Elam already had someone, he wasn’t even sure he was gay. He’d like to think that fate wouldn’t be so cruel as to give him a hetero mate, but he and destiny had never gotten along that well. He couldn’t say he’d be all that shocked if it were to be true.

“Um…” Elam swallowed again. “Anything wrong?”

Nic gave a slight shake of his head. “No. You look great. I mean, fine.” Now who’s flushing?

“Your eyes seem fine is what I meant, so I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Just rest, like I said.”

Elam removed his hands from Nic’s shoulders as if he’d just realized he’d put them there.

“Good, good. That’s a relief.”