Page 31 of Swipe Right on the Alpha
“Well, I did just mate a werewolf alpha,” Aiden pointed out with a hint of his usual humor. “I think I’m entitled to some smugness.”
Dylan laughed, the sound freer and lighter than Aiden had ever heard from him. “How do you feel physically? Any discomfort?”
Aiden took internal inventory. The bite stung pleasantly but wasn’t painful. His body felt different somehow—energized rather than exhausted as he might expect after such intense activity. “Good,” he said, surprised by the truth of it. “Really good, actually. Like… I don’t know, like my blood is carbonated or something.”
“The bond’s energy,” Dylan explained, fingers gently exploring the mark he’d left on Aiden’s shoulder. “Your body is adapting to the metaphysical changes. Some humans feel disoriented or exhausted afterward, but you seem to be taking to it naturally.”
“High compatibility,” Aiden recalled. “That’s what the app said, right? 99.8% match.”
“The highest I’ve ever heard of,” Dylan confirmed, pressing a gentle kiss to Aiden’s forehead. “My perfect mate.”
The simple declaration, combined with the emotions Aiden could now feel flowing through their new connection, created a surge of answering love so intense it was almost overwhelming. “I love you,” he said, the words inadequate for the depth of feeling behind them. “Wolf and all.”
Dylan’s smile was blindingly happy. “And I love you. Human social media disaster and all.”
Aiden laughed, settling more comfortably against Dylan’s chest. “Speaking of social media disasters… how exactly do I explain a permanent bite mark on my shoulder to my followers? ‘Mountain Man got a little enthusiastic’ seems like an understatement.”
Dylan’s hand came up to trace the mark possessively. “You could always tell them the truth. ‘I’ve mated a werewolf. #SupernaturalLove #MoonMate #WolfBond.’”
“Ha ha,” Aiden said dryly. “I’m thinking high collars and strategic camera angles are in my future.”
“Or,” Dylan said more seriously, “you could take a break. We could travel for a while—I’ve been meaning to visit the European packs, strengthen those alliances. By the time we return, any questions about mysterious neck markings will be old news.”
The suggestion held appeal beyond just solving the immediate issue. “A supernatural European tour?” Aiden mused. “That actually sounds amazing. Though I’d need to pre-record some content, arrange sponsorship posts…”
“We can figure out the details,” Dylan assured him. “The important thing is that we’re in this together now. Whatever comes next, we face it as mates.”
Mates.The word settled in Aiden’s chest with a rightness he couldn’t have imagined six months ago when he’d drunkenly downloaded what he thought was just another dating app. From dating disaster documentarian to werewolf mate—definitely not the career trajectory he’d planned.
Yet lying here in Dylan’s arms, their new bond humming between them with contentment and promise, Aiden couldn’t imagine any other path. His life had transformed in ways his followers would never fully understand, but the story—their story—was just beginning.
And some parts of it would remain private, just for them. Wolf and all.
Chapter 17
“And we’re live in three, two, one…” Aiden counted down with practiced ease before smiling into the camera. “Hello beautiful humans! Coming to you today from our apartment in Milan, where we’ve been based for the past month exploring northern Italy and eating our body weight in pasta daily.”
The backdrop behind him showcased a stylish apartment with large windows framing a stunning view of the Milan skyline. Aiden was comfortably settled on a modern couch, looking relaxed and genuinely happy in a way his long-time followers had been commenting on for months.
“Today marks exactly one year since I downloaded LunaLove and matched with the infamous Mountain Man Dylan,” Aiden continued, his hand absently touching the silver wolf pendant that now permanently resided around his neck—a gift from Dylan that concealed a tiny vial containing a drop of his blood, a traditional werewolf token that allowed mates to sense each other across greater distances.
“To celebrate, I thought I’d answer the top five questions you’ve been bombarding me with since we started this European adventure six months ago. And yes, Dylan has approved this Q&A, miracle of miracles, so we’re actually sharing some details for once!”
The comments section immediately exploded with excitement:
“FINALLY SOME DYLAN CONTENT!!!
“Is he there?? SHOW HIM!!”
“That pendant never leaves your neck… is that his collar?”
Aiden laughed, reading a few comments aloud. “The pendant is not a collar, though thank you for that mental image I’ll never unsee. And yes, Dylan is here, though he’s camera-shy as always.” He shifted the angle slightly to reveal Dylan’s arm and shoulder at the edge of the frame, the rest of him strategically out of view. “Say hi, babe.”
A deep, warm voice responded off-camera, “Hello, Aiden’s followers. Thanks for your continued interest in our relationship.”
“He’s been practicing that line all morning,” Aiden stage-whispered to the camera with obvious affection. “Okay, onto the questions before he escapes completely!”
Aiden pulled up his phone, scrolling through saved questions. “Number one, by overwhelming majority: ‘Are you and Mountain Man married?’ The technical answer is no, not in the legal human sense.” His fingers absently touched the pendant again. “But we had a… commitment ceremony of sorts before leaving the States. Dylan’s family has some traditional customs that are important to them, so we did a private ceremony according to those traditions.”
