Page 27 of Swipe Right on the Alpha
Mason appeared at the bottom of the stairs, his knowing smirk indicating he wasn’t fooled by the excuse. “Uh-huh. ‘Trouble with the cork.’ Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”
“Shut up,” Aiden muttered, grabbing two bottles from the rack. “How’s it going up there? Any disasters yet?”
“Actually, everyone’s getting along suspiciously well,” Mason reported. “Olivia and Elena are exchanging yoga techniques, Sam’s deep in conversation with Marcus about conservation policy, and Jess is flirting shamelessly with Liam, who seems both terrified and delighted.”
“That sounds about right,” Dylan said with a small smile. “Liam’s the youngest in our… group. Still learning the social graces.”
Mason’s expression turned more serious as they headed back upstairs. “Your friends are intense, man. In a good way, mostly.But they all watch you like you’re the center of their universe. It’s a dynamic I’ve never seen before.”
Dylan and Aiden exchanged a quick glance, communicating silently in a way they’d developed over months together.
“We’ve been through a lot together,” Dylan said carefully. “Created strong bonds.”
“And they all just naturally accepted Aiden into the fold?” Mason pressed. “No hazing, no skepticism about his intentions?”
“They trust my judgment,” Dylan replied simply.
Mason looked between them, clearly sensing layers to the conversation he couldn’t access. “Well, whatever you all have going on, it seems to be working. I’ve never seen Aiden this grounded before.”
The observation hung between them as they rejoined the gathering, Aiden feeling a complex mixture of emotions at his friend’s perceptiveness. The secret of Dylan’s nature created an inevitable barrier between his human friends and the full truth of his relationship, a reality he was still learning to navigate.
As the night progressed, Aiden found moments to observe both groups interacting, noting the careful accommodations made on both sides. The werewolves restrained their natural physicality and pack behaviors, while his human friends accepted the occasional oddities—references to enhanced senses or unusual traditions—with the assumption they were merely inside jokes or quirky habits.
It wasn’t perfect integration, but it was a beginning—a template for how Aiden might balance these worlds if he chose to fully commit to life as a werewolf’s mate.
The thought no longer terrified him as it once had. Over the past months, he’d witnessed the reality of pack life beyond the initial shock of supernatural revelation. He’d seen the loyalty, the support system, the deep connectionsthat transcended ordinary friendship. There were challenges, certainly—supernatural politics, the responsibilities of Dylan’s alpha position, the necessary secrecy—but the benefits were equally significant.
Near midnight, as the gathering showed no signs of winding down, Aiden found himself on the back deck with Dylan, taking a moment of quiet together while their friends continued socializing inside.
“This is going better than I expected,” Dylan admitted, his arm around Aiden’s waist as they looked out at the moonlit garden. “Your friends are… accepting.”
“They don’t know they’re accepting werewolves,” Aiden pointed out wryly. “That might change the equation.”
Dylan’s expression grew more thoughtful. “Does it bother you? The secrets? Not being able to share everything with them?”
It was a question Aiden had been considering for months, with increasing urgency as his relationship with Dylan deepened. “Sometimes,” he admitted. “Especially with Mason. We’ve never had secrets before.”
“And with your followers? Your content?” Dylan pressed gently. “I know that’s been a challenge too.”
Aiden leaned into Dylan’s solid warmth, considering his response. “That’s been… an adjustment. My brand was built on oversharing, on turning my dating disasters into entertainment. Finding something real, something private I want to protect… it’s changed how I approach everything.”
“For the worse?” Dylan asked, a hint of vulnerability in his voice.
“No,” Aiden said with certainty. “Actually, my engagement is up. Turns out mystery is compelling content too. My followers are invested in the Mountain Man saga precisely because I’m not showing all the cards.”
Dylan’s arms tightened around him. “And if we… took the next step? Would that change things for your career?”
The careful phrasing didn’t disguise the significance of the question. They’d been circling the mate bond discussion with increasing frequency, both aware of Aiden’s lingering hesitations despite his clear commitment to their relationship.
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Aiden admitted. “About what a future content strategy might look like if we completed the bond. I could pivot—focus more on lifestyle content, relationship insights from someone who found lasting commitment, travel features from our adventures together. Less about the disasters, more about the journey.”
“You’ve given this serious thought,” Dylan observed, surprise evident in his voice.
Aiden turned in Dylan’s arms to face him directly. “Of course I have. Did you think I wasn’t considering it? The bond, the future, all of it?”
“I didn’t want to pressure you,” Dylan said softly. “I know it’s a massive decision—changing your entire life trajectory, committing to the supernatural world, the pack responsibilities that come with being an alpha’s mate.”
“I know what I’d be signing up for,” Aiden assured him. “I’ve had a pretty thorough education these past months, between you, Theo’s inappropriate oversharing, and those supernatural guidebooks Sofia lent me.”
