Page 34 of Freeing My Alpha

Amy cackles, and my heart soars; she’s okay.

As we separate back into two pairs, Amy gazes at me with fresh, wild eyes. “Will you both come with us when we bring her home, then?”

I break into a wide smile, gripping my giddy heart. “We’d love to.”

After meeting and re-meeting Amy and Kira, Lexi is finally scheduled to go home with my best friends today. Noah and I stand by Amy and Kira’s sides, providing moral support for their shaking hands as they sign the final adoption paperwork. Our names are listed beneath theirs in their updated last will, assigning us to their little one, for life.

My heart pounds into my throat. I’ve never done anything that felt so life-altering before, aside from committing myself to Noah.

Glancing at me with wide eyes, Noah shakes his head in disbelief. Holy shit. We’re signed up to be parents now, Aliya.

My heart flips. Oh, my God, we are. I pull him closer, giving his hand a tight squeeze. I never thought Amy, Kira, and I would be here so soon either. I feel so lucky to have you by my side to share this moment with.

Noah softens into a red-eyed, beaming smile, giving me a quick peck on the lips.

But as Amy and Kira share one last sweet, tender kiss pre-parents, I weep through my smile, knowing our lives are all changing for the better.

I can hardly breathe as we wait for Lexi to arrive. I can’t imagine how nervous my best friends feel inside, but Kira physically can’t keep herself still, and Amy’s anxious pheromones blast my nose.

The second a Greenfield social worker guides Lexi out by the hand, allowing her to slowly toddle after her, I cup my hand around my mouth. She’s only 21 months old, but she’s hyper-aware of us around her, gazing up at what must look like a group of weirdly emotional giants.

But as the social worker points Amy and Kira out to Lexi, I gently pull Noah to the side with a hammering heart. Let’s give them their moment.

Noah and I cling to each other desperately, helpless to watch as Lexi hesitates in the doorway. Lexi blinks her wide eyes, glancing between the social worker and my best friends.

But something in Amy’s features shift. The room no longer smells of anxiety, instead filling with a sweet, nurturing scent.

Amy gently lowers herself to the ground, softening her voice with a bright, welcoming smile. “Hello, Lexi! It’s so nice to see you again!”

When Lexi breaks into the biggest, cheeriest smile to see Amy, my heart melts. But Lexi takes eager, toddling steps. She doesn’t stop until she crashes into Amy’s outstretched arms, and my best friend’s giddy laughter echoes through the lobby.

As Amy and Kira welcome Lexi into their lives, Noah and I dry our wet eyes, watching in equal awe.

I love you, I mindlink.

I love you so much, Noah mindlinks.

9

Spring has officially left us. Summer heat settles in, evaporating the rainy season and allowing me to wear long, flowing sundresses that catch Noah’s eyes when the wind whips through them.

But today, I’m the one tracking Noah's burly, black wolf during his daily sparring practice. I can't stop smiling like a giddy kid. Normally it takes five wolves to challenge Noah, but with Noah’s shifting schedule, poor Yasmine is left to face him alone in his free hour. He chases Yasmine’s gray wolf like he’s playing a casual game of tag, but Yasmine is gassing out. When she shifts into her human form, groaning and flopping into the grass, Noah comes to his classic, screeching halt, his giant paws blasting dirt in every direction.

Yasmine gasps. “You bastard! I’m coated in mud!”

His ears droop. Then he bats Yasmine back into the grass.

Despite her obvious annoyance, Yasmine bursts into laughter. “Noah! You big, goofy asshole! What’s with you today?!”

He lazily lifts one lip in a weak snarl, and I laugh, knowing how fake it is.

Yasmine meets my eyes, still supercharged with excitement from their practice battle. “Agreed, Aliya. After seeing him chase you around like a puppy, his snarls don’t hit as hard.” She scoops a fistful of mud off her bare shin, slopping it into the grass with a hard flick. “I’m done sparring with you for today, you obnoxious brute of a wolf. Or maybe I’m done for the next two days. It’s just not fair.”

Noah whines, and I rise to meet him. He shifts before I can reach him, taking my breath away as his yellow eyes melt into their familiar soft teal.

Well, almost. I expect them to soften into a near-blue, but they’re stuck a little green.

“Noah? Are you oka—”

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