Page 21 of Swipe Right on the Alpha
“Can I…?” Aiden asked, hand lifting uncertainly.
Dylan nodded, remaining perfectly still as Aiden’s fingers gently touched his transformed face. The texture was different—skin slightly rougher, the partial muzzle covered in fine, soft hair. His eyes were the most striking change, the amber color now luminous with elongated pupils that contracted slightly at Aiden’s touch.
“Does it hurt? The shifting?” Aiden asked, fingers trailing down to Dylan’s shoulder where the tribal tattoo seemed somehow more integrated with his altered form.
“Not anymore,” Dylan answered. “When we’re young, learning to control it, yes. But now it’s as natural as breathing.”
Aiden’s exploration continued, curiosity overcoming hesitation as he traced the changes in Dylan’s form. When his fingers brushed against the pointed ear, Dylan made a sound low in his throat—a rumbling that Aiden recognized from their intimate moments.
“Sensitive?” Aiden asked, a hint of his usual playfulness returning despite the surreal circumstances.
“Very,” Dylan admitted, eyes darkening slightly. “All senses are heightened in this form. Touch especially.”
The information registered with implications Aiden wasn’t quite ready to explore. He stepped back slightly, trying to process everything he’d learned.
“This is why you’ve been so careful with me,” he realized aloud. “Why you always hold back during sex. You were afraid of shifting accidentally.”
Dylan nodded, looking somewhat abashed despite his intimidating appearance. “It happens sometimes, with strong emotion. I’ve been… very careful.”
“And the mate thing? Theo mentioned it’s ‘a process involving intimate aspects.’” Aiden made air quotes around the phrase.
Dylan’s transformation began to recede, features shifting back toward human as if the conversation required a more familiar face. Within moments, he stood fully human again, though still clad only in boxers.
“It’s a bond,” he explained, reaching for his discarded clothing. “Physical and metaphysical. For werewolves, it’s permanent—a lifelong connection. The final stage involves… a claiming during intimacy, usually during the full moon when our wolves are strongest.”
“Claiming,” Aiden repeated. “That sounds vaguely medieval.”
A hint of color touched Dylan’s cheeks as he pulled his shirt back on. “It’s a bite, actually. Not to break skin necessarily, but a marking that my wolf recognizes as completion of the bond. After that, we’d be connected in ways that are difficult to explain to humans. Emotional awareness of each other, some physical benefits for you like extended lifespan, accelerated healing.”
“And those other werewolves tonight—they were here because…?”
Dylan’s expression darkened. “Unmated humans with true mate potential are rare. The old laws protected humans during the courting period, but some packs are pushing for changes that would allow… competition for potential mates. It’s barbaric and most of us oppose it, but Conrad’s pack has been testing boundaries.”
Aiden absorbed this information, trying to make sense of the supernatural politics suddenly relevant to his life. “So I’m what—a prize to be claimed?”
“No,” Dylan said sharply, moving closer. “You’re my mate. My choice. And I’m yours. It has to be mutual—willing on both sides—or the bond won’t form properly.” His expression softened. “I was never going to rush you into anything, Aiden. I wanted you to know everything first, to choose with full understanding.”
The sincerity in Dylan’s voice was unmistakable. Despite the overwhelming strangeness of the situation, Aiden found himself touched by Dylan’s concern for his agency.
“I need time,” he said finally. “To process all this. It’s a lot to take in.”
Dylan nodded, though disappointment flickered briefly across his features. “Of course. I can take you back to the city—”
“I didn’t say I wanted to leave,” Aiden interrupted. “Just… time to think. Maybe explanations without territorial disputes interrupting.”
Hope returned to Dylan’s expression. “You want to stay?”
“I came all this way for answers,” Aiden pointed out with a small smile. “Might as well get the full supernatural education package while I’m here.”
Dylan’s answering smile was blindingly genuine. “I can do that.”
Chapter 12
Hours later, they sat on the couch before the fireplace, empty mugs on the coffee table bearing evidence of their lengthy conversation. Dylan had explained werewolf biology, pack dynamics, the broader supernatural world, and answered Aiden’s increasingly specific questions with patient detail.
“So the app matched us because…?” Aiden asked, legs curled beneath him as he faced Dylan.
“Compatibility on multiple levels—physical, emotional, psychological,” Dylan explained. “But also something more metaphysical that science hasn’t quite explained. Something our wolves recognize instinctively.”
