Page 5 of Swipe Right on the Alpha
DYLAN: WE’RE IN A PUBLIC RESTAURANT
THEO: Just casually brush against him. Or “accidentally” spill something so you can touch him. You need to confirm.
Dylan shoved his phone away as Aiden returned to the table, that intoxicating scent preceding him. Throughout dinner, Dylan found himself cataloging details: how Aiden used his hands when telling stories, the specific pitch of his laugh when something was genuinely funny versus politely amusing, the way he absently touched the compass tattoo on his forearm when thinking.
Despite his awkwardness, conversation flowed more easily than Dylan had expected. Aiden was quick-witted and engaging, drawing Dylan out with questions about his “wildlife work” and family (“So is it like a family business, this forest monitoring thing?”).
Dylan carefully navigated around supernatural landmines, describing pack dynamics as “close-knit family groups” and territory disputes as “land management challenges.” When Aiden asked about his living situation, Dylan described his cabin without mentioning the specialized reinforcements for fullmoon nights or the running trails designed for four-legged pack members.
By dessert, Dylan had relaxed enough to ask, “Doesn’t it get tiring? Creating content from your personal life?”
Aiden paused, fork halfway to his tiramisu. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m stuck in a loop of dating disasters because that’s what my audience expects.” He shrugged, vulnerability disappearing behind a practiced smile. “But hey, bad dates pay the bills.”
“And what happens when you have a good date?” Dylan asked, holding Aiden’s gaze. “Does it still become content?”
Aiden’s heartbeat quickened—a sound only Dylan could hear. “I… guess I haven’t had to figure that out yet.”
The check arrived, and Dylan insisted on paying despite Aiden’s protests. As they walked out into the cool evening air, an awkward tension settled between them—the unspoken question of what happened next.
“I’m parked over there,” Aiden said, gesturing vaguely toward the far end of the lot.
“I’ll walk you,” Dylan replied immediately, his protective instincts flaring.
They moved in silence through the dimly lit parking lot, close enough that their hands occasionally brushed. Each accidental touch sent electricity through Dylan’s body, his wolf pushing closer to the surface with each step.
When they reached Aiden’s car, he turned with a smile that was softer than the ones he’d worn all evening. “This was… not a disaster. I’m actually not sure how to process that.”
“No content for your followers?” Dylan asked, moving slightly closer.
“Oh, there’s definitely content,” Aiden replied, his eyes dropping briefly to Dylan’s mouth. “Mysterious mountain manwith old-fashioned manners and biceps for days? My comment section will go wild.”
Something possessive flared in Dylan at the thought of Aiden sharing their evening with thousands of strangers. Without conscious decision, he stepped forward, crowding Aiden against his car. “Maybe we should give them something worth talking about,” he said, his voice dropping to a rumble.
Aiden’s pupils dilated, his scent shifting to something spicy and enticing. “Bold move for someone who could barely maintain eye contact over appetizers,” he whispered, but his body told a different story—leaning in rather than away.
“I’m full of surprises,” Dylan murmured before closing the distance between them.
The first touch of their lips sent a shock through Dylan’s entire system. His wolf surged forward with a possessiveMINEthat nearly escaped as an audible growl. Aiden’s lips were soft, yielding for just a moment before he pressed back with equal intensity, his hands coming up to grip Dylan’s shoulders.
What started as a relatively chaste goodnight kiss rapidly transformed into something else entirely. Dylan pressed forward, one hand finding the small of Aiden’s back while the other cradled his jaw. Aiden made a small, needy sound that broke the last of Dylan’s restraint.
Dylan deepened the kiss, his tongue seeking entrance which Aiden granted immediately. The taste of him—wine and sweetness and something uniquely Aiden—made Dylan’s head spin. He was vaguely aware they were in a public parking lot, but his wolf didn’t care, wanting only to claim, mark, possess.
Aiden wasn’t passive in the exchange. His hands roamed over Dylan’s chest and shoulders, exploring the muscles beneath his dress shirt before one hand slid into Dylan’s hair, gripping just tight enough to make Dylan growl low in his throat.
At the sound, Aiden pulled back slightly, eyes wide and lips swollen. “Did you just… growl at me?”
Dylan struggled to regain control, his wolf dangerously close to the surface. “Sorry,” he managed, voice rough. “You just… do something to me.”
Rather than being put off, Aiden’s pupils dilated further, his heartbeat racing. “That’s… unexpectedly hot,” he admitted, before pulling Dylan back in for another kiss.
This time, Dylan let his hands wander, tracing down Aiden’s sides to his hips, then boldly cupping his ass and pulling their bodies flush together. The friction drew groans from both of them, and Dylan could feel Aiden hardening against him.
I need to stop before I do something I can’t explain,Dylan thought hazily as his canines began to lengthen slightly—a physical response to intense arousal that no human date would understand.
With immense effort, he pulled back, breathing heavily. Aiden looked dazed, his lips red and hair disheveled where Dylan’s hands had mussed it.
“That was…” Aiden began, then laughed softly. “Not what I expected from someone who sniffed me as a greeting.”
