Page 27 of The Alpha's Heart

“No!”

I’m too late. Either that, or Decaln was just too fast.

Alpha challenges have a whole bunch of unwritten rules. The biggest one that every shifter knows? Is that, whatever shape you challenge in, that’s the shape you fight in.

Declan shifted to his sleek and slender grey wolf to jump onto Bishop’s back. My mate howls as his claws sink into his back, Declan’s fangs trying to tear out Bishop’s throat, but he doesn’t fall. Instead, reaching behind him, blood spraying all over the grass, the dirt, and the leaves, Bishop rips Declan’s wolf off of him.

Declan lands withyip, scrabbling to get back into a standing position. I guess it’s a good thing that he’s his wolf. Good for Bishop, that is. I have faith in my Alpha, but even a broken feral might give him a little trouble. A delta in his fur? There’s no contest once Bishop arches his back and, in a split second, shifts to his oversized red wolf shape.

A challenge like this has only one ending. With the pain finally starting to subside, my wolf lending me her senses again, I watch as witness, never looking away as Bishop eventually gets the upper paw, closing his jaws around the back of Declan’s neck.

One bite and my former best friend’s limp body is hanging from Bishop’s mouth.

As soon as he’s sure his challenger is dead, Bishop disappears into the woods with the body. Probably so that I don’t have to look at it any longer than I have to, which is nice—but unnecessary. I’m still a wolf, after all, and even a maternal delta respects a fairly fought challenge.

Especially after the challenger tried tostealher.

I wait for Bishop by the mangled truck. When he’s gone longer than I expect, I drop down on the earth. That’s where he finds me when he comes padding back in his fur.

Once he’s made his way back to me, his snout nuzzles my raw wrists. They’re beginning to heal, and within an hour or so, they will be, but just the reminder that I was taken from him in chains… it hurts him almost as much as it hurt me.

Bishop whines. My big, fierce Alphawhines.

“It’s okay,” I coo. “You saved me. You hear that, Bishop? You saved me when I was too foolish to see the threat in front of me. You’re amazing. I couldn’t ask for a better protector.”

He drops his muzzle into my lap, still as his wolf.

He seems calmer, though, and I keep that gentle tone of voice as I slid my fingers into his scruff, pulling him closer. My wrists twinge a little with the motion, but it’s nothing compared to the fire from before so I suck it the hell up.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left Hickory. It was a mistake. I just… I didn’t want you to have to deal with my trouble. And that was dumb. Real dumb. You ask me for help with the pack every day. You’re responsible for so many. I just wanted to do this so you wouldn’t have to.”

Bishops flicks his ears, growling softly.

“I know. You promised me that I could be safe here. That you would always protect me. But what happened today… it wasn’t me saying I doubt you can. It’s just… I was trying to protect you, my mate.”

His tail flicks angrily. I know what that means, too.

He’s the Alpha. He’s supposed to be the protector. And I get that. I do. I’m happy to let him be my protector. Seeing the aftermath of what he did to that truck… now that I’m okay, Bishop is here, and Declan is gone… I can admit that seeing how strong he is, knowing he’s willing to kill to keep me, toavengeme… I’ve never been more turned-on in my life.

It’s a shifter thing, and though I know we’ll be bonded by the end of tonight if I have anything to say about it, I… I just can’t wait.

Bishop must be able to tell. Though he’s still revving in place, the adrenaline from the fight riding him as hard when he’s a wolf as his beast does when he’s in his skin, his snout drops back to my lap. He digs it into my crotch, and even though I still have my jeans on, he rumbles notably as though he can scent just how much I want him.

Oh, wait. He’s an Alpha wolf with an immaculate sense of smell. Of course he can.

I still have my fingers twined in his scruff. Jerking on his head, I lift him up so that I can meet his wolf’s eyes.

Then, in a throat voice that leaves nothing to the imagination, I wiser, “Come back to me, my love. Ineedyou.”

That’s all I have to say before, suddenly, I have a naked Alpha in my lap.

He didn’t come back on his feet. Instead, as though he can’t bear to be separated from the source of my arousal, he’s crouched low, our faces inches apart as his bare feet dig into the dirt.

If I had any doubt that rescuing his damsel in distress and vanquishing her villain would be an aphrodisiac for my own personal bearded Prince Charming, they’re gone the second my gaze dips low.

My tongue darts out, licking my bottom lip as I get my first sight of Bishop’s gorgeous big body, plus a cock that’s fully erected.

The tiniest twinge of nervousness flashes through me. He’s big and he’s thick there, just like he is everywhere else, and I have a fleeting suspicion that we won’t fit. But then I remember that the Luna wouldn’t have picked him for me if we were incompatible in such a way. Besides, I could survive silver leaving welts and blisters on my wrists. To find out what it’s like to mate this male… the make himminebefore the Luna blesses our mating… it might be worth the pinch.

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