Page 25 of Swipe Right on the Alpha
DYLAN: Theo’s gone overboard with the food again. How many humans are coming exactly?
Aiden smiled at the phrasing—Dylan had begun making subtle jokes about the human/werewolf divide once he’d grown comfortable with Aiden’s acceptance.
AIDEN: Just four—Mason, Olivia, Sam, and Jess. But I warned them to come hungry.
DYLAN: Good. Sofia made her “special” sangria. Remind your friends it’s stronger than it tastes.
AIDEN: Is it actually magical or just alcoholic?
DYLAN: Both. Minor happiness enchantment. Nothing manipulative, just mood-enhancing.
Aiden shook his head in amazement. Six months ago, he would have dismissed such a claim as nonsense. Now, he simply added it to his growing mental catalog of supernatural revelations.
AIDEN: Should I bring anything besides my charming self?
DYLAN: Just you. And maybe that blue shirt I like. The one that brings out your eyes.
AIDEN: The one you ripped a button off last time? I had it repaired specifically for tonight.
DYLAN: I’ll be more careful this time. Maybe.
The flirtatious promise sent a pleasant shiver through Aiden. While they still hadn’t completed the mate bond—a decision Aiden was approaching with appropriate consideration—their physical relationship had evolved to include Dylan’s more primal aspects, a development that had proven mutually satisfying in ways Aiden had never experienced with previous partners.
Turns out werewolf stamina and enhanced senses make for an exceptional lover,Aiden thought with a private smile.Who knew?
As he prepared for the evening’s gathering, Aiden found himself reflecting on the strange journey of the past few months. The revelation of Dylan’s supernatural nature had initially seemed like an insurmountable complication, but it had instead deepened their connection in unexpected ways. Dylan’s relief at no longer hiding essential parts of himself had allowed a new vulnerability between them, while Aiden had discovered his own capacity for adaptation and acceptance.
The most challenging aspect had been determining how much of his relationship belonged in his public content. Aiden’s brand had been built on sharing his dating misadventures with unflinching honesty, yet the most significant relationship of his life was founded on secrets he was bound to keep.
His followers had noticed the change, of course. Speculation about “Mountain Man Dylan” had become a constant in his comments section, with theories ranging from “he’s married” to“he’s in witness protection” to the ironically accurate “he’s not human” (typically followed by laughing emojis).
Aiden had navigated the curiosity by sharing carefully edited glimpses of their relationship—date nights without locations, references to Dylan’s humor or cooking without specifics that might identify him, occasional mentions of their physical connection without the more unusual aspects. It was a balancing act that had actually increased his engagement metrics, the mystery proving more compelling than his previous oversharing.
Mason appeared in his doorway as Aiden was buttoning the blue shirt Dylan had requested. “Ready for the big friend merge?” he asked, leaning against the frame. “I still can’t believe you convinced me to drive all the way out to the wilderness for this.”
“It’s thirty minutes outside the city, not the Australian outback,” Aiden replied, adjusting his collar. “And Dylan’s place is worth the trip, trust me.”
“The mysterious second property you mentioned,” Mason noted. “City house for entertaining, cabin for weekends. Your Mountain Man is either independently wealthy or deeply in debt.”
“Family inheritance,” Aiden explained, which was technically true. The Silverwood pack had accumulated significant wealth and property over generations, all of which Dylan now managed as alpha. “And he’s not materialistic about it. He’d live in the cabin full-time if pack obligations didn’t require the city presence.”
Mason’s eyebrows rose. “Pack? That’s what his friends call themselves?”
Aiden winced at the slip. “Inside joke. They’re a tight-knit group, very loyal to each other.”
“Uh-huh,” Mason said skeptically. “Not cult-like at all.”
“You’ll like them,” Aiden assured him, checking his reflection one final time. “They’re… different, but in a good way.”
“Different how?”
Aiden considered how to explain werewolf energy to someone unaware of the supernatural without sounding insane. “Very physical. Direct. Sometimes intense. They don’t really do social pretense.”
“Sounds exhausting,” Mason muttered.
“Just give them a chance,” Aiden pleaded. “They’re important to Dylan, which makes them important to me.”
Mason’s expression softened. “You’re really serious about this guy, aren’t you? I’ve never seen you like this before.”
