Page 45 of My Shy Alpha

The last of Noah’s tense features soften, and I break into a smile.

Thank you, sweet Omega.

My hands are shaking, but I’m impressed by the room’s airy, sweet scent. It’s shocking, actually - these powerful men listened to what I had to say. I guess I can make an impact here.

With a deep breath, Noah turns back to the Elders. “You can’t win a challenge against me for Alpha, and neither can anyone from neighboring packs. If they do challenge us because I’m marked, it’s my responsibility to deal with them. We’re going to be just fine. I’ll make sure of it.”

“So you’d like to think,” Elder Aaron mutters. Concern creases his cheeks in a frown.

Noah shrugs him off, and I bite back a smile.

But Elder Terence leans in, studying my face. “What’s your last name, dear, if you don’t mind me asking? You look familiar, but I can’t place how.”

I have to wipe my sweaty palms on the back of my skirt. “You might’ve known my father. It’s–” I pause, taken aback by Noah’s spike in concern through our bond - strong enough to sear my veins. “What’s wrong?”

Noah stays silent. He tilts his head, listening with all his focus. “Does no one else hear that?”

Yasmine tenses. “Hear what?”

“There’s a little wolf linking me - four to six, maybe.”

As fast as he mutters those words, Noah speeds from the room, and so does everyone else. I scurry after them, struggling to keep up with Noah’s tall legs.

“What’s the kid saying?” Yasmine shouts after him.

“He’s a little Omega, calling for help. I think he’s trapped somewhere nearby, but I don’t know why he called me instead of his parent–”

“Alpha!” A little voice cries.

We whip our heads around, searching for the screaming voice’s source. His muffled, strained cries sound familiar.

When it registers why, my heart drops. “Oh, God, Noah. He’s stuck inside something, I know it.”

16

The wolves break into action, sniffing at their eye level, but I know how young kids behave. Where might I want to squish into and hide?

I crouch, examining the crawl space beneath the building, peeking between tree roots, and shining my phone flashlight into the spaces between boulders for any small entrances. Noah spots me and sniffs lower. Soon, everyone else drops to the ground with us.

Then Amy gasps. We whip our heads to her in unison, rigid with focus.

Only Amy’s bottom half peeks from behind a nearby shed, stooped over the surrounding thicket. Amy parts tall weeds obscuring her view, the frond tips brushing her dirt-stained knees.

We rush over to look at the ground with her, unsure what we’ll find. As we approach, my eyes catch on her tight grip on the shed, her tense knuckles as pale as her cheeks.

“Hang on! We’re here to help, okay? Don’t move!” She says.

My stomach crawls into my throat when I see the wriggling little boy, wedged at least seven feet into a narrow hole in the ground with his arm pinned behind his back. Except he looks like he could be buried any second: mini dirt waterfalls pool past his shoulders with every jerking movement. The hole must’ve been created by a burrowing animal, blanketed by long grasses to create a perfect safe haven - unless you want to be found. Rescued.

Noah grips his hair, looking to the sky for answers, and I know why: that hole is way too small for any Alpha or Beta to fit.

“My wolf could dig him out?” He rasps.

“No, it might sink in and collapse on him,” Yasmine whispers.

Calm washes over me. “I might be able to fit.”

Noah grips my shoulder, his eyes wide. I prepare myself for his incoming disagreement, but Elder Aaron steps in first.

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