Page 73 of Betrayed Alpha Bride

“You’re already married,” Nico laughs. “Isn’t that supposed to be done beforehand?”

“Yes, usually,” I answer. “But I didn’t get the chance, so I’m doing it now.”

“That sounds like a great idea, Dad,” Nico says, grinning. “Mom deserves the best!”

“Do I get a say in this?” Clara asks.

“No,” Nico and I answer in perfect unison. All of us laugh, and I’m so happy my chest aches.

This. This is all I want, for the rest of my life.

“What should we do today?” I ask. “There’s a craft show in town, so there will be some fun stalls, food, and games. Or we could hike up the mountain to one of the lookouts. I can give you a few pointers on tracking, son.”

“We can take a picnic,” Clara says. “And maybe find a spot over the lake?”

“Sounds great, Dad!” Nico says, grinning.

“We can stop in town on the way back for a nice dinner, too,” I answer. “Maybe have a family movie night after.”

Nico’s smile grows, and the love in his eyes is enough to almost knock me off my chair.

“Thanks for coming to find us, Dad,” Nico says softly. “I knew you would, and it would be just like this.”

Clara looks up at him sharply as if he wounded her, but before anyone can react, a soft beep begins to emit from a speaker above the door.

“What is that?” Clara asks.

“Security breach,” I answer, leaping up from the table. I hurry to the panel and flick my hand across the screen to bring up the camera feed.

The first few slides show empty corners of my garden, but the last two show shifters I don’t know stalking into my property. They are still on the outskirts, so I have time to intervene.

They obviously don’t know I have heavy security, and I doubled it up after those drifters got in.

“What’s happening, Galen?” Clara asks, her voice high.

“It’s nothing to worry about,” I say, tapping a few buttons to call for backup. “I’ve got a few wolves stalking towards the house, but I can take them. I’ve sent messages to the others, just in case, but I’m going out to intercept right now.”

“Don’t leave us alone!” Clara cries.

“I won’t. I’m only going to the backyard, just a couple of feet away. If you need me, then holler, but I’m not going to just sit here and wait for them to kick the door in.”

I tear off my robe and walk out into the yard. I stay against the back of the house so they won’t immediately see me when they come through from the woods and wait for the first one to come into view.

As the big, black wolf crawls through the low shrubs on his belly, I circle around the yard, catching him just as he sticks his head out. I get him in a sleeper hold before he can even see me coming and squeeze gently until he passes out in my arms.

Three to go.

Staying in my human shape, I run along the garden bed, keeping to the shadows as the next wolf enters the garden. With a swift kick, I slam my heel down on his skull, and he drops like a stone.

I’m getting into position for the next two when I realize they’ve changed course. I stand quietly, stretching out my senses so I can tell which way they’re going.

Shit! They’re headed for the back door!

With no time to waste, I shift into my wolf shape and bolt across the yard towards the back of the house. There is no point in being stealthy now, so I round the corner with teeth bared, ready for a fight.

What I see as I come into the yard makes my heart sink like a stone. The other two wolves have surrounded Nico, who is also in his wolf shape, spinning between them, snarling and snapping.

A howl rips from my throat as I attack, charging into the nearest wolf and knocking him off his feet. I go straight for his throat and rip open the jugular in one swift move. The wolf yips and kicks his legs a little as his life bleeds out on the ground.

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