Page 16 of Alpha Reid

The four of them pile out of the room, and I breathe a sigh of relief once they’re gone and I’m no longer in the hot seat. I rise from the bed, taking a few steps and stooping to pick up the skimpy pair of panties from where they landed on the floor when I tossed them away. I hold them up in front of me, feeling a blush creep across my cheeks again.

I wonder what Reid would say if he saw me in these.

My heartbeat quickens as I draw my lower lip between my teeth, biting down.

I wonder what he’d do.

I press my thighs together tightly, suppressing the ache between them.

I wonder what he’d feel like.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Reid

I’m closing the front door behind my friends and their mates when I hear a creak on the stairs behind me. I don’t have to turn around to know it’s Serena- both because she’s the only person staying upstairs in my wing of the packhouse and because my wolf perked up as soon as her sweet scent registered. I keep discovering aspects to the mate bond that I never anticipated, like how my senses all seem heightened when it comes to her. I’ve been hyper-aware of her presence when she’s near, oddly attuned to her body language like I can almost read her well-hidden emotions.

I turn to look her way, my eyes wandering her form as she hits the bottom step. She’s evidently gone through some of her new clothes- she’s changed into a pair of navy blue high-waisted yoga pants and a white cropped hoodie, her long red hair swept up into a neat ponytail. I’m not sure how it’s possible for her to be dressed so casually and still look like a goddamn runway model, but she does, and I’m completely captivated.

I must be staring at her wordlessly for a moment too long, because Serena narrows her eyes, tilting her head as she looks back at me. “What?”

Her question knocks me out of the trance I’m under and I give a little shake of my head, mumbling “nothing.” Then I draw a breath, scrubbing a hand over my face and wincing. “Sorry about the girls, I didn’t know they were coming over or I would’ve at least warned you.”

She shrugs, the ghost of a smile dancing across her lips. “No worries. They were nice.”

“I know they’re a lot,” I chuckle wryly.

“Nothing I can’t handle.” Serena wanders toward the kitchen, shoving her hands into the front pocket of her hoodie. The way that it’s cropped leaves a little strip of her flat stomach visible, just enough to tempt another glance.

“You hungry?” I ask, watching her intently as she wanders toward the fridge. She moves so fluidly, like a dancer.

She swivels in my direction, sweeping her tongue between her lips. “Starving.”

My wolf rises up inside of me in response to the quick flash of tongue, teeming with excitement, but I’m quick to shove him back down and keep my composure.

“You like pizza?”

Serena’s blue eyes light up. “Love pizza.”

I can’t keep the smile from creeping across my face. Any positive reaction from her has me feeling like a hero and makes my wolf stand up and preen.

“Well then c’mon, little wolf,” I drawl, flicking my head in the direction of the door. “Let’s go get a pizza.”

I grab a jacket from the coat tree beside the door, slipping it on and reaching into the pocket for the keys to my Ford Mustang. I’ve always had a thing for fast cars and the Mustang is my latest acquisition, shiny and black with white racing stripes. Serena follows me outside and I click the key fob to unlock the doors, climbing into the drivers’ seat as she slips in on the passenger side.

We make casual conversation on the short drive to Dino’s, the little pizza place in the town square owned by one of the families in my pack. They mostly do carryout, though there’s a counter and a few tables inside for those who choose to dine in and they’re almost always occupied. I park the Mustang out front and lead Serena inside, and as soon as we walk through the door, every eye in the place flies in our direction.

“Alpha!” Dino greets from behind the counter, wiping his hands on his flour-covered apron and striding closer. “Welcome in, what can I get started for you?”

Dino’s eyes flicker from me to Serena several times, sizing her up with interest. Admittedly, I haven’t showed up here with a girl on my arm in…ever?So I suppose I don’t blame him for his curiosity. He isn’t the only one, either- I feel the tension rolling off of Serena in waves as I glance around the interior of Dino’s, realizing that everyone here is checking out the bombshell beside me, trying to figure out who she is and what she’s doing with their alpha.

My wolf pushes forward with a need to comfort our mate and I sidestep closer to Serena, slipping my arm around her shoulders. I feel her relax slightly under my arm and my wolf settles. It surprises me how natural this gesture feels; how right, despite having only just met.

“Are you sticking around, should I clear you a table?” Dino asks, darting a glance at the grouping of tables in the back. They’re all occupied, but any of the patrons would gladly give up their spot for their alpha. I shake my head, not wanting to displace anyone or put Serena through further examination.

“Nah, we’ll take it to go,” I reply, glancing down at her. “Is that good with you, Red?”

She looks up at me, her wide eyes colliding with mine. Fuck, I could drown in those clear blue pools. “Yeah, sounds good to me,” she says quietly, and I swear she tucks closer into my side. My chest rumbles as my wolf growls in satisfaction.

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