Page 34 of Alpha Rising (Secrets of the Northland Shifters)

I clutched Sam’s sleeve and dragged him several feet away from the dance circle. “If you’re worried about Reese acting like a caveman again, he won’t.” I was fairly sure of that.

“Reese won’t,” Sam said. “But his animal is less predictable.”

I turned over my shoulder, looking for Reese. I spotted him across the room. He was talking to Josh and Robbie, but his eyes were on me. He didn’t look happy.

“This is ridiculous. I was just dancing. How is that provoking?”

Sam looked uncomfortable and bowed his head, wrapping his hand around the back of his neck. “Listen. It’s awkward saying this since you’re my alpha’s woman and all…”

I was now Reese’swoman?

“But these other girls are ‘just dancing.’ The way you move… Christ. Don’t make me say it.”

I waited for the punchline, but it didn’t come. “Sam, I doubt it’s as bad as you think. Reese will be okay. We’ll all be okay.”

Lauren returned with the shots, braced between her fingers. Everyone grabbed one from her, including me, and I downed it.

Sam glanced at the other girls, who apparently had just noticed our conversation. He gave them a chin lift, before disappearing into the crowd.

Abby put her mouth close to my ear and asked, “What was that all about?”

I waved my hand in the space between us, dismissing her apparent worry. “Nothing. He’s just wondering if we should put out more of the hot appetizers.”

The song ended and BTS’s “Dynamite” blasted through the speakers.

Lauren yelled, “I fucking love this song!”

And I was immediately back to stage five and letting itallhang out. Abby spun around, and I followed her lead. Then I swung my ass out in a slow, wide arc.

That’s when a large hand closed around my wrist and I was dragged toward the exit.

I stumbled in my heels, but Reese’s strong arm kept me upright, and once we were out of the dining room and into the hallway, he yanked open a storage closet and shoved me inside.

11

SARAH

“You can’t keep me from dancing,” I said, shoving at Reese's shoulders. We were in a hallway storage closet just outside the dining room where the staff-appreciation party was in full force. I could still hear the music, though muffled, coming through the wall.

“Are you kidding me?” Reese sounded scandalized. Then he flipped a switch, and the lights came on. “I never want you tostopdancing. The way you move...Fuck, Sarah. It’s hypnotic.”

“Did you drag me out of there because you didn’t likeothermen watching?” This primal caveman stuff had its place, but this was ridiculous.

Reese put his lips to my ear and said, “I’m never going to say no to a private dance, but no, this is not about other men. So long as you’ll be inmybed tonight, they can look all they want.”

“Then why am I standing in a closet?” I asked, throwing my arms out in exasperation and accidentally knocking a roll of paper towels off a shelf.

“Because you made me want you.” His jaw muscles flexed under his beard and his green eyes began to glow. “And I didn’t want to wait.”

“Simple as that?” I asked, still sounding huffy.

He smiled. “Animal instincts are simple.”

“You’re in the middle of a work function,” I whispered, though I was sure no one passing in the hall would hear us over the music.

“It’s more like…a family function,” he said.

“Work,” I bit off.

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