Page 65 of Torn By The Alpha

Chaos had erupted while he was gone. A couple of tourists had managed to get themselves lost while they were hiking on the mountain. Ian and a couple others were heading out to search for them.

“I’m coming,” Zac said.

It would be a good chance for him to clear his mind and think about something besides Olivia.

Everyone split up when they got to the trail. Ian and Zac decided to head north.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work. Going through the mating ceremony would be a huge change in my life. I couldn’t do what I wanted, when I wanted. There wouldn’t be any more going home and just sprawling out on the couch with a beer and watching a ball game. I would always have someone there. I would have to coordinate my life with hers and be all domesticated and shit.

He didn’t have a chance to think about how he felt about being domesticated because they picked up the scent of the hikers.

They stopped just outside of the area where the hikers were huddled together under one of those aluminum blankets. It could get chilly on the mountain, and the sun was starting to go down. Mundane wolves were howling in the background and some of the nocturnal animals were starting to wake up.

Zac and Ian shifted and put on the clothes they had carried in a bag with them. The last thing any scared people needed to see was a couple of wolves bursting in on the scene and worse yet, a couple of grown, naked men.

“Hey, guys,” Ian called out after they were fully clothed. “We have been sent to find you.”

Zac sent a telepathic message to the others, letting them know that the hikers had been found.

“My name is Ian, and this is Zac. We’ll help you get back,” Ian said, his voice calm and reassuring.

They hesitatingly stood, as though they expected that Zac and Ian would attack at any minute.

They’ve been watching too many true crime shows, Zac said, telepathically to Ian.

He grinned but didn’t reply.

“We just veered off the trail a little. We wanted to take a picture of a deer with her fawn. The next thing we knew, we were lost,” the woman said, in a tiny voice.

“It happens,” Zac said. “Grab your gear.”

They led the hikers back down the mountain to their car. The pair were practically sobbing with relief when they got back to the parking area.

“Thank you. Thank you. We’ve learned a valuable lesson,” the woman said, spontaneously throwing her arms around Ian and then Zac.

“You’re welcome,” Ian said.

Zac was tired when he got back to the office. Anger flared up inside of him when he saw Tami sitting at her own desk.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded.

“I’m organizing the files. I’m going to help train Xavier so he knows how to take care of everything,” Tami said. “Please, Alpha, I meant no harm. Please give me another chance.”

“I don’t think so,” he said. “You’ll do great in your new position that you start next week.”

A sob caught in her throat as he went into his office.

His father walked in a few minutes later.

“How are you feeling?”

“A little sore, but good. Ian and I went out on the mountain and found some missing hikers today. I think that a hot shower and bed are on the agenda for the night,” Zac said.

“What are you going to do about Olivia?” John asked.

Zac scratched his head and asked, “What do you mean?”

“You need to forget about her. She caused a lot of trouble. First, she gets taken by Marsden, and then her alpha comes to kill her, which results in you, Ian, Sean, and the others getting injured,” John said. “She is bad news.”

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