Page 79 of Alpha Theo

I shuffle uncomfortably, shrugging my mom’s hand off of my shoulder. “I’m just not up for it tonight.”

Mom stares at me, her expression stoic. “Are you sure that’s wise, sweetie? You know how your wolf is…”

I take a shaky step backwards, tucking my hair behind my ears. “I’ll be fine. I can keep her under control.”

Mom keeps her eyes trained on me, looking uneasy. I don’t blame her- she’s seen firsthand how wild my wolf is, how dangerous she can be if I try to stifle her.

“I just really need to get some sleep,” I mumble. “You guys go ahead without me.”

“Okay…” Mom says apprehensively, stepping forward to give me a hug. I stand there stiffly, unable to return it.

My parents shuffle out the door and as soon as they’re gone, I run upstairs to my room, closing myself in. I crawl back in bed, pull the covers up over my head. Try not to panic.

Time passes slowly. I attempt to clear my mind, meditate. Chase sleep. I’m almost successful, too, until…

I hear a faint howl in the distance, cutting through the silence of my bedroom. Then another. My wolf stirs inside my chest, then starts going berserk, clawing at my insides, fighting to get out. It’s so painful to fight her back, keep her in. I writhe underneath the blankets, gritting my teeth, trying with all my might to force her to recede.

It’s no use. She wants out, and if I don’t give her what she wants there could be consequences. I throw myself out of bed, stumble to the door. Run downstairs, through the living room, into the kitchen. I pull open the slider door right as another howl cuts through the silence of the forest behind my house.

My skin tingles- my shift is so close. I curse my wolf as I pull my shirt off overhead, then my sports bra. I drop them on the patio, and I barely have time to slide my leggings down before the tingling gets stronger, the air around me shimmering with my shift. I groan as my bones snap, rearrange. The next thing I know, I’m looking down at sandy-colored paws.

I fight to stay present as my wolf stretches, strides forward into the grass. Throws her head back to howl to the moon. Then we spring forward, tearing toward the thick brush at the edge of the forest.

I shouldn’t have held my wolf back. As soon as I’m in the forest, I feel blissful, delightfully overwhelmed by the sounds and smells of nature. This was exactly what I needed- to let go and run, joyful and free. My paws pound the earth as I sprint through the forest, leaping over tree stumps and dodging fallen branches.

Suddenly, I scent something strange in the air. Strange, and…delicious. Intoxicating. I skid to a stop, throwing my head back in an effort to identify where it’s coming from. Every hair on my body stands on end. My wolf cedes control slightly so we’re both equally present, both frantically searching for the source of that incredible scent.

I follow it, and it feels like it’s physically pulling me, yanking me in one direction. My whole body is buzzing with excitement and delight- I feel half drunk as I sprint, the scent getting stronger the closer I get.

I skid to a stop again, completely overwhelmed with a feeling of euphoria as I stare at a huge silver wolf standing a few feet away from me. To my surprise, my own wolf suddenly recedes- the air shimmers and my body tingles and suddenly I’m in human form again, rising to stand on two legs. I stare across from me at the crouched human form where the other wolf stood, watch him rise to his feet.

Theo blinks at me through the darkness, his hazel eyes locking with mine.

“Mate.”

The word is barely out of his mouth when I feel the mate bond snap into place between us, pulling me to Theo like a bungee cord. It’s warm, enchanting, enticing. I’m drawn to him with every fiber of my being- it’s physically painful to hold my ground, resist the pull.

He takes a step toward me, the moonlight illuminating his naked form.

“No,” I breathe, shaking my head.

Theo stops in his tracks.

I’m hit with a flood of emotions. They’re my own, but they’re amplified tenfold- all of the anger, the hurt, the humiliation that I’ve been feeling over the past few days rushes over me, makes me feel like I’m drowning.

“No! Not you! It can’t be you!” My voice is strained; it sounds far away, like it isn’t even my own.

My wolf pushes forward again and I give in, shifting. For once, we’re on the same page- Theo hurt us. We don’t want this. As soon as my paws hit the ground I spin around, leap into the brush.

I run. Away from Theo, straining against the pull of the mate bond I feel tugging me back in his direction.

I hear him call after me, but I don’t turn back.

~

By the time I reach the packhouse in Goldenleaf, I’m so exhausted that I’m on the verge of collapse. My paws are torn open and bleeding, my throat feels like sandpaper. I ran for miles and miles- through the forest, through other packs’ territories. I let my wolf lead me, knew she’d bring me to my sister somehow. I can’t believe I finally made it.

I drag myself through the treeline behind the packhouse and throw my head back, let out a howl. As I slowly approach, I see my sister appear at one of the big glass doors, pulling it open. Only then do I shift.

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