Page 45 of The Alpha Wolf's Pregnant Bride

They fall back, hastily crossing the river in a unified group.

“Fall back, Moon Shine,”I instruct my wolves through the mind link. “They're leaving.”

My wolf heart pounds in my chest as I stand at the river's edge, watching the rogues disappear beyond the woods. That was a close call, but thanks to the expertise of our skilled fighters, no one was harmed.

Still, it's alarming to have encountered the rogues, who'd been missing in action for months until now. I hand out more orders to my wolves, making sure that we're on high alert now that the rogues have discovered a way to infiltrate our borders.

It's the first time since we were informed about the threat of the rogues that we've come face to face with them. Tensions are high amongst my wolves as we double up on security and ensure that they've left the perimeter.

For now.

It won't be long until they try attacking again.

The night drags on with each of us on our nerves. Double-checking the north border, Jarrod comes by near the stroke of midnight to inform me that the west border is secured.

“Thanks for having my back out there,”I tell him, nodding my wolf head just as exhaustion floods over my being.

Jarrod's wolf eyes are wary as he nods back.

“We will have to inform the Council about this. I've already sent word to Alpha Flynn.”

“We're gonna need to find their location ASAP.”The stress of the night hangs heavy on my shoulders, along with the anguish of not making any progress in terms of locating the whereabouts of the rogues.

Jarrod assures me that he'll speak to Asuka's assistant first thing tomorrow morning. It does little to ease my trepidations, but there's nothing more we can do right now.

While the stresses and worries weigh me down, I glance toward the town, and my heart skips a beat, knowing that there's only one thing that would ease these worries of mine.

I'd glimpsed that comfort in the mere presence of a particular she-wolf and felt it soothe my being when I found myself in her arms. Desperate for the peace she brings, I turn back to my Beta and say, “Call an urgent meeting with the Council. We'll figure out a way to locate Dorian and the rogues. For now, we need to secure our safety before someone else is nabbed.”

“Yes, Alpha.”Jarrod looks up when I begin walking away. “Where are you going, Cyrus?”

“Are the borders on lockdown?”

When he nods, I continue, “Good. Don't skip out on patrols tonight. I need you to cover for me.”

The sternness in my voice is like a command that Jarrod doesn't question as I head back through the woods and enter the small town of Mysthaven in Rosethorn Valley. As if my paws move of their own accord, compelled to find a resting place after tonight's events, I find myself in front of Cassandra's cottage.

I shift into human form just outside the porch, my being fuelled by desperation to feel comfort again. After taking her virginity as a prized possession of my own, I can't let the night end without seeing her.

It's an honor I need to uphold; a gift she'd given me without me being deserving of such a prize. My heartbeatslowed when I opened the front door, unlocked as if she'd been expecting my return.

As soon as I enter her cottage, I sniff the air full of her distinctly sweet scent, filling my lungs with the relief that washes over me at that moment. This is what I denied myself for far too long, always refusing to accept that my attraction to her was valid.

Tonight proved me wrong. Right now, all I can focus on is the breadcrumbs of her scent that leads me to her bedroom, where she's curled up on her bed, hands folded under her sleeping face.

Beautiful… I conclude. She's the type of beauty that has me forgetting all about my troubles as the leader of the pack, wanting nothing more than to be precisely where I find myself now. Stealthily kicking off my shoes behind the door, I pad across the room and pull a blanket over Cassandra's legs.

Smiling to myself, I marvel at her sleeping face, the peace she radiates filling me with calm. Honored by the gift bestowed on me, I know we have a lot to speak about. Until then, I slide onto the bed, my arm folding over her body as I rest my head on the pillow behind her and allow my eyes to close.

A sigh of relief falls from my lips as sleep washes over me.

***

I groan and turn onto my back, my arms stretching above my head long before I've found the will to open my eyes.

“Good morning…” Cassandra's soft, lilting voice is the whisper that coaxes me to open my eyes, realizing where I am as the memories of the night before come flooding into my mind.

I turn my face and meet the radiant eyes of the she-wolf with whom I'd shared a different kind of intimacy.

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