Page 8 of Freeing My Alpha

This captures every atom of my attention. I dare to look into Noah’s eyes, no longer concerned about how mortified I am. Does he mean this struggle is common? That all Lycans start out feeling lost?

Noah gives me a soft smile, drawing me in for a side hug. “You wanna know what I think is happening?”

I nod, glancing up at him. He gives me a heavy forehead kiss before pulling away, allowing me to stand on my own.

Noah gestures across the rock. “There’s so much clouding your attention that when you try to track scents, it’s all flooding you at once. No one sat down with you and told you how to zoom in.” Noah holds his hand out for me, drawing me closer until our noses are a mere inch from the boulder’s surface.

Adjusting my hand in his, Noah uses my pointer finger to trace the moss. Dozens of little textural bumps ruffle beneath my finger pad, reminding me a patch of moss isn’t just one plant, it’s thousands.

Noah’s deep voice is hushed beside my cheek. “How could anyone expect to notice just one of these little tiny plants when they’re all the way zoomed out, and with a huge boulder full of life blocking their nose?”

What started out as embarrassment blooms into intense fascination. I grip Noah’s hand, guiding him against me until we’re hip to hip. “So I can zoom in with my nose? How?”

He grins. “You absolutely can. Stay right here.”

As Noah backs away, he turns just before he’s immersed in a crowd of pups. He crouches beside one of them, tugged by the sleeve by an excited pup with the most starstruck smile on her face. Noah’s adoring smile warms my heart from here.

Do you remember how I smell? Noah mindlinks.

Yes, I say immediately.

Can you describe it to me? Give me as much detail as possible.

I close my eyes, remembering all I can about Noah’s scent. You smell... sweet. Not like cookies, but like love.

That was cheesier than I meant for it to be. When I open my eyes, Noah’s cheeks are bright red. I cover my mouth to silence my laughter.

W-what else, other than sweet? He asks.

I clear my throat, turning around. I— Well, you smell... fiery, sometimes? But then it can be stronger depending on your mood. Like when we have sex, you smell spicy. I don’t know how else to explain it, other than that it burns me up from the inside out.

Noah doesn’t respond to this.

His golden stare peeks through the crowd of pups, dropping my heart to my knees.

The wind carries numerous scents, but now that I’m paying attention to Noah’s, his scent sticks out like it’s screaming. I perk up with a smile. Actually, that’s how you smell now.

Noah watches me take a deep, slow inhale of his scent, his eyes fixated on my form. The longer he watches, the clearer I can smell him.

“Alpha Noah, your scent hurts my eyes!” One kid whines.

Noah abruptly stands, turning away. “Sorry. I need to take a walk.”

Rainn is red-faced through suppressed laughter as her brother plops Sarah in her arms and makes a beeline for the bushes. When Rainn and I meet wide eyes, we erupt into giggles.

I’m sorry, love. I didn’t mean to torture you, I mindlink Noah.

No, you’re fine. I can’t contain my goddamn wolf around you and these precious pups.

My heart flips, forcing me to clamp both palms over my scent glands. I shuffle my feet through the forest groundcover, unsure where to go or what to do with myself. Pups continue to mill about, searching the immediate area for more deer tracks, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they complained about my scent too, any second now.

Noah’s soft chuckling rumbles in the distance. Goddess, you’re so cute.

I bite my lip, turning every way. Noah is nowhere in sight. Are you watching me?

Yes. Come find me, using your nose. You have a hang of my scent now, right?

My heart thumps, partly at my wolf’s excitement to chase her mate. But can I really do it?

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