Page 2 of Big Bad Alphas

I glance at the words etched onto the front windows and smile. I named the bakery Cake Me Home Tonight. It still makes me smile, and I know my grandma would have gotten a kick out of it.I Want to Dance with Somebodyby Whitney Houston starts to play, and I sway slightly to the music as I go out into the seating area and wipe down the tables.

I’m doing it, grandma. Just like we talked about.

Still, I can’t shake the loneliness that’s been clinging to me more and more lately. I don’t know why I can’t fix that feeling. Usually, I can ignore it, but it’s getting harder and harder lately.

Maybe it’s time for me to shake things up. I could try online dating. It might be my only way to meet someone.

I mull that over as I head into the back to get a jump start on some of the dishes. I’m not sure what I should do, but I know that something needs to change. I don’t want to be alone anymore.

CHAPTERTWO

PATRICK

I’m bone tired and dreaming of my bed as I run through the woods toward the North Star pack. My wolf runs faster, and I know that he’s just as excited to get back home as I am. We’ve been away for the last month, visiting nearby packs and doing our best to strengthen my pack's bonds with them and to find our mate. The first was a success, but I’m coming home alone.

My wolf snarls at the reminder that we still haven’t found our fated mate. I know. I don’t like it either, I tell him.

I’m the Alpha of the North Star pack, and I’ve been busy trying to be the best leader I can be. Now that things are mostly settled with the pack, I’m focusing more on finding my mate. Not that I ever let go of that goal completely. How could I? Every cell in my body aches for her… whoever she is.

Wade and Ezra’s wolves run up alongside me, letting me know I’m not alone. They’re the Alphas of the Rose Bend and Silver Pine packs. They’ve been with me for the last month, visiting neighboring packs as well. We spent most of our time in the Twisted Oaks pack. It’s been a disaster pack for a few years now, but two new Alphas just took over and are doing their best to turn things around.

We helped them handle all of the bad seeds in town and round up some of the criminals that had been hiding out there. They ended up splitting the territory into two packs so that it would be easier to look after things as they got settled into their new roles. The new Alphas, Easton and Garret, should be able to handle things by themselves now.

We run onto North Star land, and a sense of peace settles over me. I'm finally home. My wolf feels it, too. I hate being away for so long. I’m sure that Ezra and Wade are just as excited to get back home as I am.

Our lands are set up like a circle divided into three sections. North Star is the top section, with Rose Bend to the east and Silver Pine to the west. Each pack is set up the same, with one main street that runs through them. The houses are scattered throughout the forest since we shifters tend to like our private space.

The three of us shift back as we get close to the main street in North Star, and we stop at one of the hidden chests around town with clothes stashed inside.

“Want to grab something to eat? I’m starving,” Wade says as he tugs on a pair of jeans.

“Sure,” Ezra agrees.

“I think I’m just going to do a quick pass through town and then head home,” I tell them. They nod, understanding my desire to get home.

Once we’re all dressed, we walk into town. I smile, looking around at the familiar shops and people. It feels so goddamn good to be home.

As soon as we hit the center of town, I smell her.

Mate!My wolf screams in my head. I turn toward the left, then right, trying to figure out where it’s coming from.

“She’s here,” Ezra says, his voice deeper than it was a second ago.

“I can smell her,” Wade says at the same time, and I blink.

It takes me a second to realize what they’re talking about.

“You’ve found your mates?” I ask them, and they nod.

They’re so alert as they look around, and I smell the air, trying to follow her scent. I ignore them as I walk down the main street toward a new bakery I don’t remember being here when I left. I was busy getting ready for my trip, so it’s possible it was up and running, or at least being set up before I left.

Wade and Ezra are right behind me. Their mates must be somewhere down here too.

Stop focusing on Wade and Ezra! Find our mate. Now!My wolf screams at me.

I pick up my pace and head straight toward the bakery. Wade and Ezra are right on my heels, but I don’t focus on them. I’m too excited to finally have my fated mate.

I reach the bakery doors and try to open them, but the doors are locked.

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