Page 49 of Alpha Rising (Secrets of the Northland Shifters)

The four guys laid out their towels next to us—all in a line. Companionable conversation ensued between the guys and Lauren, with the exception of Josh who didn’t seem up for talking.

It was the kind of teasing banter that went on between people who’d worked together for several years, and I enjoyed listening to them.

Apparently Robbie, Josh, and Lauren worked during the summers until school started up again in the fall. The other two guys, whose names I learned were Zach and Tony, worked at the resort year-round.

“Can’t,” Lauren said, responding to Tony’s question about whether she’d cover his kitchen duty Friday night. “A guy I met at the Mad Hatter last weekend invited me to a party. He said I could bring a few friends. Anyone want to go with me?Sarah?”

“Oh.” I was surprised she’d include me. As the only office person, I was a bit of an outsider, and after my phone conversation with John Riordan, I knew there wouldn’t be time for my status to improve.

Besides, despite Reese’s attempt at finding his zen, I could only imagine what he’d say about me going to a party in town. John Riordan’s objection would be just as strong. Now was not the time to let my guard down and be reckless.

“No, thanks. I’m not much of a party person, as last night clearly proved.”

“You’re on your own,” Robbie told Lauren. “There’s a ping-pong tournament in the bunkhouse basement Friday. No one’s going to want to miss it.”

“I’m keeping book,” Zach said. “If you want in, odds are on Emily five-to-one.”

“Suit yourselves,” Lauren said. “But it’s supposed to be a rager.”

“Oh, shit,” muttered Josh, and we all looked at him. I thought his expletive meant he was going to puke again, then I saw Reese emerging from the trees.

“What’s he doing down here?” Tony asked. “I’ve never seen him at the beach before.”

“One guess,” Robbie said, glancing at me.

Heat flooded my face, though not from embarrassment. It was hard not to have a visceral reaction to Reese, and to see him stalking out of the trees... It was amazing that no one had ever clued-in to what he really was. It seemed so obvious now. No human moved with such lethal fluidity.

“Oh, Lordy,” Lauren murmured, slamming her book shut.

I grabbed her wrist, remembering what she’d said last night about changing direction every time Reese headed her way. “You’re not really leaving, are you?”

“I think I might. The sun isn’t warming up as quickly as I’d hoped.”

“It’s nine in the morning,” I argued. “We’ve only been here an hour.”

She gave me a pained smile, then folded her chair and left. The guys lasted a few minutes longer, but very quickly it was just me and Reese on the beach.

He hadn’t brought a towel or a chair, so he sat in the sand beside me, his arm on the armrest of my chair, his fingers entwined with mine.

“You sure know how to clear a room,” I said sardonically because apparently Reese’s need to protect wasn’t going to be limited to outside threats from actual bad guys. Rather, he wasn’t a fan of anyone getting too close to me. Not Joe Turnbull bumping into me a week ago. Not even harmless males like Robbie, Josh, Zach and Tony.

I remembered what Sam told me about an alpha’s mating gambit and the sacrifice of self-control. I also knew Reese was doing his best to resist his instincts. I hated how much trouble I’d brought down on him.

“Technically it’s not a room,” he said, “but I’m well aware of my effect on people. Call it a professional hazard.”

“Do you have a habit of taking your bad moods out on the employees? Is that why they all quake in their boots?” While I’d been the recipient of many dark looks, I’d never seen Reese direct them at anyone else.

“Not at all.” His hand tightened around mine, as if he could already feel me leaving. I pretended not to notice.

“Then why do they react to you like that?” I asked. “You didn’t even say anything.”

“They didn’t have a problem with me before this year. It used to be my dad who had them all scuttling around. Being alpha...it puts off something in the air. Humans don’t know what it is, but they feel it. As do you.”

I nodded. He’d been affecting me since the beginning. At first, I’d thought it was just a natural reaction to a handsome man. Over time, his essence had burrowed its way into my heart and mind. It brought with it the sense of family. Belonging. Safety. Security.

He wasn’t invincible, but I knew—however long I was part of his life—that he would fight for me. No matter what. How would it feel to be torn away from all that?

“I would have thought the alpha thing would just affect your siblings,” I commented casually, though the words got clogged in my throat.

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