Page 7 of Alpha Reid

“Hey, how’d you sleep?” I ask quietly once I’m in front of her. Fuck, she’s even more gorgeous up close. Since it’s damp, her hair has taken on this deep auburn hue, making her light blue eyes stand out even more. My fingers itch to reach out and touch her, so I shove my hands into my pockets.

“Great,” she coos in response, the ghost of a smile still on her lips. She reaches up to comb her fingers through her damp hair, glancing over my shoulder and fidgeting uncomfortably.

I look back to see the guys still staring in her direction and I quickly clear my throat, stepping beside Serena and yanking a hand out of my pocket to place on the small of her back. “Guys, this is Serena,” I say as I guide her forward a few steps. I lean in toward her, and even though her delicious scent is so overwhelming that I can barely think straight, I manage to introduce Gray, Brock, Jax, and Theo, pointing each of them out as I do.

“Nice to meet you all,” Serena replies politely, then looks back to me, her voice just above a whisper. “Hey, um… as much as I’m loving this t-shirt, do you think there’s a chance I could get some pants?”

My smile falters and I suddenly feel like an asshole for not thinking of that.Of course she wants some real clothes- I should’ve had them waiting for her this morning.

“Yeah,” I mutter, embarrassed by my failure to consider her needs. I’ll have to make it up to her somehow. “Sorry about that. C’mon.”

With my hand still on the small of her back, I lead Serena down the hall at the base of the stairs, to the wing of the packhouse where my beta and his mate reside. My beta Cyrus isn’t here- he’s off doing his morning rounds in our territory to make sure everything’s in order- but I find his mate, Taylor, in her daughter’s bedroom.

I knock on the doorframe to announce myself and Taylor looks up, bouncing little Sadie on her hip. “Hey Tay,” I greet with a smile. “Apologize for the intrusion, but I was hoping you could help me out…”

Taylor’s eyes light up when she sees Serena standing beside me and she rushes over, an excited smile on her face. “Hi!”

I chuckle at Taylor’s enthusiasm, angling sideways and gesturing to the red-haired beauty next to me. “This is Serena, she’s going to be staying here with us. Do you have something she could borrow clothes wise until we get her some of her own?”

Even though my request probably comes off strange as hell without context, Taylor doesn’t ask any questions- she just nods, reaching out to take Serena’s hand. “Of course! I’m Taylor. We’re excited to have another girl around, aren’t we, Sadie?” She peers down at her daughter, then looks back to Serena, still grinning.

I see a smile cross Serena’s lips, her shoulders relaxing as she allows Taylor to pull her by the hand into the room. Cy really lucked out by finding Taylor; she’s just got this way about her that puts people at ease. I’m thankful she’s around to help Serena feel comfortable here.

“I’ll leave you to it,” I say, pushing off of the doorframe and stepping backwards into the hallway. I’m not even sure if either of them hear me- Taylor is already chattering away to Serena.

I make my way back to the kitchen and as soon as I enter, Jax whistles, a goofy grin stretching his cheeks. “Daaaaamn,” he drawls, stepping forward and clapping me on the shoulder. “You left out the part where she looks likethat.”

“She’s…” Theo starts, trailing off and waggling his eyebrows. “Damn.”

“Yeah,” Gray agrees with a laugh. “That about covers it.”

I chuckle, raking a hand through my hair. “I know, right?” I suck in a breath, drawing my lower lip between my teeth and wincing. “Fuck.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Serena

Taylor’s the type of girl that’s so outgoing and over-the-top nice that it almost seems disingenuous- because nobody’s that sugar sweet, right?

Wrong.

The more I talk to Taylor, the more I realize this isn’t a front; it’s really who she is. And I’m not gonna lie, I’m a little jealous. I wish I could be more like her. Maybe I could’ve been, if life hadn’t stomped all over me. If I hadn’t seen what I’ve seen and done what I’ve done.

She leads me down the hall from her daughter’s room to her own, and on the way, Taylor tells me all about her mate, Cyrus, who is also the beta of Reid’s pack. Apparently the adjustment to parenthood has been rough on both of them, but Cyrus has stepped up more than she ever expected him to. Her hazel eyes light up when she talks about her mate, her wavy shoulder-length honey brown hair bouncing as she speaks animatedly.

“So what kind of clothes are you looking for?” Taylor asks once we’re inside her room, handing off her round-faced baby girl to me. She takes a step back and gives me a once-over, bringing her hand to her chin. “Something comfy? Dressy? Let’s start with this, what are you dressing for?”

I shrug, sinking down to sit on the edge of the bed. “I’d like to go for a run,” I say, arranging little Sadie on my lap facing me. She looks a lot like her mama- big hazel eyes and honey brown whisps of hair on her head.

“Casual, then,” Taylor says with a snap of her fingers, heading for the large dresser positioned against the wall across from the bed. “Athletic wear.” She pulls open a drawer, reaching in and rifling through the clothes.

“That’d be perfect,” I agree, shifting my attention to Sadie and making a face to entertain her.

Taylor starts to select items of clothing, forming a neat stack on top of the dresser. “So how long are you staying?” she asks over her shoulder, making conversation as she rummages through her drawers. “Are you from Denver?”

“I don’t know,” I mumble, adjusting her child on my lap. “And no.” I make another face at Sadie she gives me a big, gummy smile.Damn she’s cute.

“So then how do you know Reid?”

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