AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Two weeks ago, back when I was young and stupid, I had hoped we could start our mating without any arguments.
After all, our mating dance had been full of them—probably because we’re both alphas and neither of us are ever going to willingly admit defeat. He wanted me to say yes to forever, I wanted him to say ‘I love you’ first, and it’s still a shock to me that we ended up getting what we wanted.
Then Jack Walker had to come along and mess things up again for me.
For all of my twenty-six years, he’s been a pain in my ass. When he had Barrow leave that note behind on his behalf, my first instinct was to rise to his challenge and confront him. It didn’t matter that it was literally meant for Ryker, the same way Shane’s ruby was meant for me. We both know that I’m Walker’s true target.
My mate adamantly refused to let me go. Once I was thinking clearly, I knew he was right.
Still, it’s no wonder I can’t rein in my wolf.
I have to admit that Ryker’s not quite pushing me, choosing instead to convince me in other ways that he knows what he’s doing. If there’s one thing he’s learned, it’s that if he pushes me, there’s no knowing if I’ll push back—or if he’ll push me away. So what if we’re fully bonded now? Old habits die hard. He puts his paw down when it comes to going after Wicked Wolf Walker without a plan—hence the map and the marker—but he’ll let little things slide.
Like my run.
Maybe it’s my turn to try to do the same thing.
“Let’s compromise,” I tell him. “I’ll do whatever I can to help you out when it comes to pack duties, and then you can come with me on my runs at night. We can make it a date. After dinner or something like that.” A burst of inspiration hits me. “We can use it as an excuse to reinforce the territory borders. Then you won’t have to worry about me.”
I know Ryker goes out every night with some of the council. If I go with him, I can feel like I’m doing something while Ryker will be able to calm his overprotective instincts as he runs right next to me.
“Just me and you?” He makes a rumble of pleasure in the back of the throat. “Like an Alpha couple?”
I nip his earlobe. “That ‘s what we are, isn’t it?”
Turning his head, Ryker angles his chin, stealing a quick kiss that, as soon as he breaks it, has my tempered aggression quickly turning to lust.
I’m just about to shift so that I can straddle him when, all of a sudden, Ryker leans forward, gripping the clipboard.
Huh?
His eyes are sparkling. Right then, I figure I’m in trouble.
“All right, my mate. You want to know what will help me get out of the den earlier?”
My stomach sinks. I think I know where he’s going with this, and I should’ve known better. How could I forget that Ryker is the most calculating male I’ve ever met.
Knowing I’ll probably regret it, I nod. “Yeah. Sure.”
He presses the clipboard into my hand. Reluctantly, I take it.
Glancing down, I see that it’s a list of about twenty different packmates.
Yup. Totally regretting this.
“Okay. What’s this?”
“An Alpha has to make himself available to the pack.”
I’m not getting his point or what it has to do with this list of packmates. I mean, that’s what a den is for, right? It’s a place in the Alpha’s cabin that’s open to any and all packmates. There’s an open invitation for the Mountainside Pack to sit down and meet with Ryker so long as he’s in the den.
“I know that. Still doesn’t answer my question.”
“Alpha couple, right?” He nods at the clipboard. “Those are the ones that have requested to sit down with you, Gemma.”
Wait—what?
“Me? Why me?”
