Page 31 of The Alpha's Silent Mate

“Yes, alpha.”

“Lexa?” The order in Shay’s voice compels me to turn to face him.

“Shift. We’re moving now.”

I frown. “Shay—”

Two steps and he’s in front of me, his hands gripping my arms. “No arguing. You remember those three rules I told you about?”

My brow creases in confusion.

“Safety is number one.”

Mine. That’s what he means.

But I can’t agree. Not when he should be with his pack, and I should be… somewhere else. Somewhere I won’t be a threat to him.

“Shay…”

He cradles the back of my head with one hand, holding me close. “This is non-negotiable, pup. Shift. We move in the next five minutes.”

I still don’t agree, because people are going to get hurt because of me. Some of his pack could die. Because of me.

He must read my visible reluctance, because he gives me a hard but brief kiss on the lips. “Everything will be fine. The pack knows how to defend itself, and so do I. Everything will work out.”

Then why does the weight in the pit of my stomach make me think something will go wrong?

When Shay crosses over to give Daniel another message to pass on to Ewan, I do what I didn’t want to do. I shift so we can go to another cabin. Maybe one that’s easier to defend than this one.

* * *

We run for most of the day.

The sky is turning dark when we finally stop in another part of the forest, one that’s even further away from the courtyard.

By then I’m so exhausted that only my determination not to let Shay down or put him in danger is what’s kept me going.

From our twisty run, I know we’ve gone back on ourselves at least four times, all to throw off any signs of pursuit and to confuse Aron if he tries to track us.

Confused when I don’t spot any cabins, I assume we’re just stopping for a break because Shay can tell how tired I am.

Once he’s shifted, he crouches in front of me and runs his hand down my back. I can’t remember the last time anyone stroked my fur, but I’m positive it didn’t feel as good as the way Shay does it.

Sighing in pleasure, I move closer so he can do it again.

His lips curve in a smile, and he repeats the firm stroke. “You like it, huh?”

I nod.

“I’ll do it again later if you want, but since you’re tired and hungry, it can wait until I’ve got you settled inside.”

Again, I glance around for this mysterious cabin and see nothing but trees. Not until Shay points one finger up.

So I look up. And up.

Through the trees, I glimpse something that shouldn’t be there. Something I never would’ve believed had Shay not pointed.

A treehouse.

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