Page 6 of Freeing My Alpha

Noah’s back straightens. “I, uh— What was the question, again?”

His little sister sighs, and the pups erupt into quiet giggles.

Rainn shakes her head with a laugh. “Alright pups, I think we all need a change of pace. Let’s continue our hike.”

Noah gives Rainn an apologetic smile. She sticks her tongue out at him and they both laugh.

As Noah helps me to my feet, he forces his stare off me. It might look like he’s just busy analyzing the pups crowding his legs, but I can feel the muffled desperation in his wolf’s core to tackle my antsy wolf.

“Follow your teacher,” Noah softly says to the pups crowding us.

I’m surprised how well they listen, darting after Rainn without complaint. Although, they are looking back at Noah with absolute awe in their eyes. Or no, maybe they’re looking at me too?

Multiple pups slip their arms around one other, glancing at Noah’s arm over my shoulder. They refocus on their lesson with brighter smiles, pride lifting their chests as they not only mimic Noah, but also me, their future Luna. It stirs something in me I thought I could patiently wait for.

Noah does a double take at me, breaking into a wide smile. “What is it?”

“Nothing.” I bite back a smile. “It’s just, we’re getting to live out our wishes to share a childhood. I feel like I went back in time to take a class with you in the forest, and—”

I break into giggles at Noah’s wide, overjoyed grin, unable to speak another word. He leans in, putting a protective hand on my forearm cradling Sarah as he leans in to nuzzle my cheek.

“I’m loving every second too,” he whispers.

Goddess, help me. Sarah looks even more like him now that they’re side by side, and he’s holding her and me in his arms like we’re his. My heart falls over itself until I’m unable to keep looking at my sweet mate.

Rainn guides us down a small trail on the clearing’s edge. A line of curious pups hops into her footsteps in the mud.

“We’re nearing the portion of the forest with extra poison oak. You all remember how to identify it, right?”

“Right,” a chorus of proud voices chimes after Rainn.

“Good! Let’s steer clear and warn each other if we spot it.”

I smile, my heart lifting. Dad left me with the skills to recognize Greenfield Forest flora too. With how haphazardly these pups roam the forest, I can see why they already needed to memorize how to avoid poison oak so early.

“Can someone help me find the next set of footprints for our deer?” Rainn asks.

My eyes zip to the forest floor, scouring the mud beneath the leaves. But then Rainn adds, “Use your nose only!”

My stomach sinks. Noah glances back as my feet slow, and I try to smile.

But I don’t know how to do this. Toddlers track wild deer with their noses all around us with no problem. Maybe I could too, but I have no idea where to start. I was never taught.

You okay? Noah mindlinks. We’re striding ahead, Noah’s focus remaining on the pups as he gives them encouraging nods. “Good job, Beta, that’s exactly it,” he murmurs, drawing a wide grin onto a little boy’s face.

My heart flips. Before today, I could only imagine how sweetly Noah would treat our children, but this is giving me a clearer glimpse that’s so delightful, I almost can’t stand it.

But as his eyes flicker to mine, they’re still greener than usual. “You okay?” He tries out loud this time.

I drop my head, hiding my flushed cheeks. “Sorry. I’m okay. I just remembered something.”

“Yeah?” He draws closer, hugging me against his side.

The wind gushes through the trees, ruffling leaves and pups' hair as far as I can see. They’re covered in mud, but they’re also all smiling.

“Yeah,” I whisper. “I used to love playing in the dirt.”

Noah breaks into the widest smile possible, dissolving all my flustered nerves. We break into soft giggles, huddling in closer. “Goddess, I can imagine you getting your tiny hands all muddy.”

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