Page 50 of Alpha Rising (Secrets of the Northland Shifters)

“It affects them the most, and they’ve been feeling it more and more each passing day.”

“Theydon’t cower from you.”

He stroked his thumb back and forth over mine. “Not exactly. But they’d bow if I made them.”

“You wouldn’t make them.” I couldn’t imagine Reese ever being that kind of alpha.

“I demand their respect, but you’re right. I don’t want blind subservience.”

Reese released my hand, and we sat for a while without speaking.

The silence gave John Riordan’s words more opportunity to grow louder in my head.I fucked up when I placed you there, but I’ll fix it.

Finally, unable to listen to John’s vow any longer, I said, “I saw you arguing with Melanie.”

Reese bent his knees and leaned back on his hands. “She’s been grieving Dad the hardest, which has made it difficult for her to accept me as alpha. Her brain tells her one thing and her heart another. She always gave my dad a hard time with the rules, but she’s been pushing the envelope more with me.”

“What are the rules?”

“For one, not disappearing for hours at a time.” He turned to look at me. “When she went to town with you the other day, did she say anything about where she goes?”

“No.” I kept my eyes on the distant shore, not wanting to lie to him, but I’d made a promise to Melanie.

“I was surprised she offered to help you pick up the keg. I thought maybe it was an excuse for something else. That maybe she’d been looking for another female to confide in.”

I pinched my lips together and shook my head.

“Hmm.” Then Reese changed the subject. “How did your call with the marshal go?”

I closed my eyes for a second, then looked down at my lap. “Fine.”

“That’s it?” he asked his eyes straight ahead.

I shook my head. “I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Why not?” He sat forward and drove his heel back and forth in the sand.

“I’ve complicated your life enough already.” It was a truth I hated to admit, but with everything Reese and his family had to deal with right now, my problems should have never factored in.

“Yes,” he said. “You have definitely complicated my life.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, thinking we’d come to the same conclusion: that his energies shouldn’t be spent protecting a woman who had no business being a part of his life—a mate to whom he refused to be mated.

“Don’t be,” he said softly. And I knew from his tone that John was right. It would be better for everyone once I was gone.

16

REESE

Two days later.

Iwas doing my fucking best. It might not have been good enough, but there was nothing for it. Every time Sarah fell out of earshot or stepped out of sight, defense mode kicked in and the urge to shift nearly overwhelmed me.

It didn’t matter where I was—my office, the cafeteria, storming across the grounds to figure out what was making that infernal banging sound… (It was Jo-Jo, our newest horse, kicking his hoof against the stall door.)

Obviously I didn’t mention my overtaxed self-control to anyone. My siblings would be on me again about completing the mating bond. Sarah would feel claustrophobic as a result of my alpha need for control.

Nighttime was easy. We both slept well, wrapped in each other’s arms. It was the daylight hours that made me feel like a tomcat, forever tiptoeing across the top of some accursed palisade, wondering when Sarah might disappear next. Or wondering when I’d shift right in front of some unsuspecting employee.

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