Page 32 of Swipe Right on the Alpha
It wasn’t entirely a lie—the mate bond was indeed a ceremony according to werewolf tradition, far more binding than human marriage. They’d discussed potentially having a legal human wedding at some point, but both agreed the bond was what mattered most.
“Number two: ‘Why the sudden world tour? Are you running from something?’” Aiden read, laughing. “Only my outstanding student loans, which unfortunately follow me everywhere. The honest answer is that Dylan’s family business has international connections that needed attention, and my work is fortunatelyportable. When the opportunity came to combine business with pleasure, we took it.”
Again, not entirely false—Dylan had indeed been strengthening pack alliances across Europe, introducing Aiden as his mate to supernatural communities while conducting traditional pack business. The travel had served multiple purposes: allowing the new bond to strengthen without daily pack obligations, giving Aiden time to adjust to his enhanced abilities, and removing them from the immediate attention of the rival packs that had been causing trouble.
“Number three: ‘What happened to the dating disaster content? Your whole brand changed!’” Aiden’s expression grew more thoughtful. “Life changed, so the content changed with it. Finding a healthy, supportive relationship meant the disasters stopped being my story. But based on the metrics, you all seem to be enjoying the travel content, relationship insights, and glimpses into our life together even more than my previous dating catastrophes.”
What he couldn’t explain was how finding your supernatural mate fundamentally shifted your priorities and perspective. The career that had once been his primary focus now existed comfortably alongside his bond with Dylan and his growing role within the pack structure.
“Number four: ‘Will you ever come back to the States, or have you gone full European expat?’” Aiden read. “We’re actually flying back next week. As much as we’ve loved this extended honeymoon phase, we miss home, friends, and family. Dylan especially misses his…” he paused, carefully choosing his words, “close-knit friend group.”
Through their bond, Aiden could sense Dylan’s amusement at the careful phrasing. Six months of constant connection had refined their bond to remarkable sensitivity—they could now communicate emotional nuances and sometimes even specificthoughts across the link, a development that had transformed their relationship in ways Aiden was still discovering.
“And finally, number five: ‘Are you happy? Like really, genuinely happy?’” Aiden’s expression softened. “That’s unexpectedly wholesome compared to the usual questions about our sex life.” He glanced toward Dylan, their eyes meeting off-camera with a look of such transparent affection that several commenters immediately keysmashed their reactions.
“Yes,” Aiden said simply, turning back to the camera. “Happier than I ever imagined possible. The kind of happiness that makes all those dating disasters worth it because they led me here, to him, to this life we’re building together.”
The sincerity in his voice was unmistakable, his usual performative polish giving way to genuine emotion. Through their bond, he could feel Dylan’s answering wave of love and pride.
“And on that sappy note, I’ll wrap up today’s check-in,” Aiden continued, regaining his professional composure. “We’ll be documenting our final European adventures this week, so watch for updates from Lake Como where we’re heading tomorrow. Love to all of you, and remember—sometimes the wrong app leads to the right person!”
After ending the livestream, Aiden set his equipment aside with a satisfied sigh. “That went well, I think. Minimal supernatural slipups.”
Dylan moved fully into frame now that the camera was off, settling beside Aiden on the couch and pulling him against his chest in a familiar position. “You’re getting good at dancing around the truth without actually lying,” he observed, pressing a kiss to Aiden’s temple.
“Professional hazard of being mated to a werewolf,” Aiden replied, leaning into the embrace. “Though the pendantquestions are getting more frequent. I think my followers suspect it has significance beyond fashion.”
“It does,” Dylan said, his finger tracing the silver wolf that rested against Aiden’s collarbone. “Just not significance they’d understand.”
The pendant had been a traditional gift to cement their bond—containing Dylan’s blood in a silver vessel specially treated to be harmless to werewolves, it allowed Aiden to maintain a physical connection to his mate even when separated. The practice dated back centuries, Dylan had explained, from times when human mates needed protection while their werewolf partners were away.
“Are you really ready to go back?” Aiden asked, shifting to look at Dylan properly. “These six months have been… uncomplicated. Just us, the bond, occasional supernatural diplomacy. Back home there’s the pack, the territory disputes, your grandfather’s council position to consider…”
Dylan’s expression grew more serious. “We can’t avoid responsibilities forever. The pack needs their alpha present, not just checking in via video calls. And the rumors we’ve heard about Conrad’s faction pushing for policy changes with the North American Council… we need to be there to counter it.”
The reminder of supernatural politics brought a sigh from Aiden. During their European tour, they’d received concerning reports from Theo about increased activity from rival packs testing Silverwood boundaries, along with political maneuvering within the governing body that oversaw werewolf territories in North America.
“At least I’m not completely useless in pack politics anymore,” Aiden noted with dry humor. “Six months of supernatural crash courses from European packs has been educational.”
“You were never useless,” Dylan corrected firmly. “But yes, your diplomatic skills have proven surprisingly valuable. The Italian alphas specifically mentioned how impressed they were with your ability to mediate the territory discussion last week.”
Aiden’s integration into werewolf society had indeed been smoother than either of them had anticipated. His natural charm and communication skills, honed through years of content creation and brand partnerships, translated effectively to supernatural diplomacy. As Dylan’s mate, he occupied a unique position—not quite werewolf but no longer fully human, able to bridge perspectives in ways pure werewolves sometimes couldn’t.
“Speaking of pack,” Aiden said, checking his phone, “Theo’s been texting non-stop about the welcome home gathering they’re planning. Apparently, Sofia’s entire coven is involved in the preparations, which either means amazing food or magical chaos. Possibly both.”
Dylan chuckled, the sound rumbling pleasantly through his chest where Aiden leaned against him. “Definitely both. They’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed them too,” Aiden admitted, surprising himself with the sincerity of the statement. “Even Theo’s inappropriate commentary and Elena’s judgy eyebrows.”
The bond had changed more than just Aiden’s relationship with Dylan—it had integrated him into the pack structure in ways that created genuine connections with each member. The metaphysical ties that bound werewolf packs together now included him, creating a sense of belonging he’d never experienced in his human social circles.
“What about your friends?” Dylan asked. “Mason’s been asking when we’re returning in every message.”
“He’s suspicious,” Aiden admitted. “The last video call, he kept asking about the pendant, why my eyes sometimes catchthe light differently, why I seem to hear him before he’s finished speaking. I think he knows something’s changed beyond just being in a relationship.”
Dylan’s arms tightened slightly around him. “Would you consider telling him? He’s important to you, and we can request a disclosure exemption from the Council based on your status as my mate.”
The question wasn’t new—they’d discussed the possibility of bringing Mason into the supernatural secret several times over the past months. The laws governing human knowledge of the supernatural world were strict but did allow for exceptions when human mates wished to maintain close pre-existing relationships.
