Page 3 of The Alpha's Addiction
"You ask me that every day."
He grins."Doesn’t mean it’s not true."
"It’s still not funny."
"Depends on who you ask."
"Where are you headed?"I ask, ignoring his smirk.
"Where do you think?Patrol."He jerks his chin toward the southern ridge."What about you?"
"The diner."
"Let me guess.Your daily sweets run?"he asks with a laugh.
I grunt again, this time with a hint of annoyance.
It’s become a running joke among the Alphas.Big, bad Rhodes, who used to scoff at desserts, now can’t go a day without them.And not just any desserts.No, I crave them from a few specific restaurants in town—three of them.I’ve never had much of a sweet tooth.Or I didn’t until a couple of weeks ago when the cravings started.
Pecan pie on Mondays.Strawberry shortcake on Tuesdays.Snickerdoodles on Wednesdays.Cherry pie on Thursdays.
It’s bizarre.My wolf insists on it.And I’m just along for the ride.
“Maybe it’s a sign that you’re going soft,” Cyrus suggests.
I glare at him.“Never that.”
He laughs.“Hmm,” he hums, trying to drive me crazy.
We walk in silence for a minute.I try to speed up to lose him, but it’s no use.
Out of all of the Alphas, I’m probably closest to Camden, the Alpha of the West.We’re both no-nonsense, driven guys.We’ve known each other for years, and I was his biggest supporter when he took over from the last Alpha of his section.
Cyrus and Foster are both a few years older than me, and they’ve been Alphas of their sections for the longest.Cyrus is the optimist of the four of us and the most laid back.Foster is easy-going and patient.He’s the most levelheaded, especially in a crisis.
"You ever considered that maybe your mate’s in town," Cyrus says casually, pulling me from my thoughts, "and that’s why you’ve been acting like a sugar-starved addict?"
My steps falter.
Mate?My wolf asks, perking up inside me.
"What?"
He shrugs."Just saying.Something’s got you all riled up.It wouldn’t surprise me if she’s close."
I shake my head, burying the hope that sparks to life."You read too many romance novels.”
He blushes, not bothering to respond to my comment about his choice of reading materials."Seriously," he says, sobering slightly, "if it is your mate, you should be ready."
"I’m always ready."
Cyrus shrugs, clapping me on the shoulder before he turns and veers off the path, heading toward his patrol route.
My wolf paws at me, whining so loudly inside my head that I wince.
If our mate is here, we’ll find her,I promise him, and he growls in agreement.
As I step into the main part of town, the fog begins to lift, revealing the modest charm of Night Grove Falls.A line of cars passes slowly through downtown, early risers on their way to work or errands.Shopkeepers unlock their doors, flipping signs to OPEN, and smiling at the people passing by.The town is like something out of a storybook—calm and timeless.
