Page 8 of Alpha's Rise

She rolled her eyes before gesturing to the team of men standing behind him. “As I was telling Thing 1 and Thing 2, I never meant to intrude on your land. I’m making my way somewhere else. I’m looking for someone, and this was the easiest way to get there.” She sighed before looking back at Tobias, her brown eyes staring at him as if he were the interloper, not her.

“Why don’t you put that away before you put someone’s eye out,” she motioned to the flesh hanging between his legs, “and let me be on my way.”

Yeah, that shit was not happening. Tobias knew she was meant to be exactly where she was. With him.

Yes, he and his men probably looked like hillbilly psychos running around naked in the woods, but they were so much more than that. Although Tobias wasn’t sure who she was, he wasn’t overly worried about that. What he knew was that she belonged to him. Whether she liked it or not.

“Alph-I mean Tobias,” one of his men spoke up, “we should head back to the compound. I think it may be best that we get out of these woods. I mean, I’m all about being natural, but I still don’t want to be here with my ass hanging out.”

There was nothing Tobias could do but shake his head at his pack mate’s antics. He knew Juno was fucking with him and busting his balls, which were still hanging free. Leave it to that jackass to say something that would break the tension in the air. Although Tobias would be the next Alpha Supreme since he was the oldest male child of the current ruling family, they’d grown up together all their lives. Juno had been by his side, and Nathan’s, from the time he could walk.

At that moment, Tobias felt a stirring in his mind. A whisper of something, or someone, trying to connect. He knew exactly who it was and rejected the link. He was still angry at Nathan for leaving, and the rage still festered inside him. Since Tobias knew the woman standing before him was his mate, then Nathan damn well knew it too.

Turning back to the conversation at hand, Tobias turned to look at Juno and gave him the finger. “Fuck you, Juno. Plus, we’ve all seen your ass more times than we wanted to over the years. Now, I suggest you all back away so that my… the lady doesn’t have to see you all standing here naked.” He left the other words unsaid, but his men understood the meaning. The glow in his eyes left no doubt.

Yes, he was still standing in front of her, naked as the day he was born, but it was different for him. She was his mate, and he could do what he damn well pleased. She was the only woman who would see him like this from this point forward, which was just fine with him.

Fuck… just as that thought entered his mind, he couldn’t help but think about the other requirement. For a moment, he had forgotten about the extra factor in this whole damn situation. Finding his mate was a two-part process, and if Tobias was honest with himself, he wasn’t looking forward to the missing piece.

As soon as his wolf recognized her scent, he knew Nathan felt it as well. Even if Tobias wanted to do something different, have a different life, it wasn’t how he was made. To take his rightful place, he would have no choice. Yes, she would be the only woman to see him like this, but as fate would have it, he would not be the only man to see her naked. To become Alpha Supreme, not only does he need a female mate to bear his children, but they would need to take a third. Their fated mate is the one who would complete their bond and form the Alpha Triad.

Tobias took a moment to take her in as they stared at each other. If she were here, that meant the last piece of the puzzle would need to be put in place. Not right now, though. Nathan would show up soon enough, and then they’d have it out once and for all before taking their rightful places.

Fulfilling his destiny wasn’t something he’d ever been concerned about. His father was still in charge of the pack, and there was no urgency to push things beyond the point of what was comfortable for everyone.

But she was here now, and she was standing in front of him without a fucking care in the world. His Mate. Which meant the Goddess was tired of waiting for Tobias and Nathan to get their shit together and had intervened.

“Listen, dude,” his mate started speaking, “I don’t need to see anyone’s hang down. Even yours. No matter how pretty it is.”

Tobias couldn’t help the smile that spread over his face. “Oh, so you think he’s pretty? Well, trust me when I say that I’m sure he wants to get better acquainted with you, too.” Tobias could hear the laughter from his men. His wolf returned a growl in a tone that only his pack could hear, which quickly silenced them.

She rolled her eyes at him. “Stop all that damn growling,” he heard her grumble under her breath.

Tobias froze in shock and surprise at her words. His men stilled as well, going on alert. How the fuck had she heard him?

“Excuse me? What did you say?” There was no way in hell she should have been able to hear that, especially if she wasn’t a wolf or a shifter.

She shook her head before reaching down for the rucksack at her feet and lifting it over her shoulder. “I said stop all that damn growling,” she repeated in a louder voice. “You don’t have to threaten your men on my behalf. As I said, I’m just making my way through to find some family. If you want to make sure I leave your land, the best thing you can do is get out of my way… Wolf.”

Silence greeted her words.

“Are you a witch?” His tone was sharp, but he was shocked at what was happening.

She shook her head, “No.”

Tobias stepped closer. “What are you?”

“None of your business,” she said to him, her lip curled in anger.

He could choose to be offended, but what was the use? He was having too much fun. “Why do you call me wolf?”

“Because that’s what you are. Now, I need to get going. Um… thank you for not attacking me, especially when I trespassed without knowledge.”

“Yeah, well, you seemed like you were ready to come at us just a few minutes ago. What was up with that anyway?” Juno asked.

Tobias glanced back at the younger wolf with a raised eyebrow. “Explain,” he growled.

Instead of Juno answering, the woman spoke up instead. “A woman has a right to defend herself.”

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