Page 17 of The Alpha's Mates

“We wanted to show you the village before it got dark,” Atlas said, breaking the silence. He gave me a big smile, showing off pearly white teeth.

I’d have to watch him. He was sneaky. It would be easy to end up liking him thanks to his laid back nature.You’re not in the market for mates.I was going to have to keep reminding myself of that fact for the next few hours while in close proximity to these males.

“Thank you,” I replied.

Soren offered his arm, and though I could see him stiffen when I stared at it in distrust, he didn’t say anything. He waited until I’d made up my mind.

The zip of sensation when my skin touched his was like a shock and I couldn’t help but gasp in surprise. A muscle in his jaw flexed as he stared down at me, his dark cloudy eyes deepening in color. None of them said a word. It was as though they realized I was moments away from bolting like a scared rabbit. It didn’t matter that I was an alpha. I was still a woman and right now desire was pounding at my defenses. Never had I thought I’d experience sensations like these. Maybe this was the Goddess’s way of telling me my assumptions about mates were wrong. Maybe she was still here with us.

Soren started walking. I kept up with him, admiring their home as we went. It certainly wasn’t the huts I’d grown up in.

“My great-great grandparents had it built.”

Jerking in surprise, I looked up at Soren’s stoic face. His deep voice wrapped around me like silk. Longing welled up inside of me and my wolf begged me to rub against him. I refrained, though it took a lot more control than I would have expected.

“It’s beautiful,” I commented.

“My grandparents live on the first floor,” he continued as we started down the stairs.

I glanced up, noticing the huge skylights that allowed sunshine to stream into the house. “I wish I could sit right here during a storm.”

Atlas’s chuckle made me realize I’d said that out loud. “It’s an impressive sight.”

Flushing at the warm smile he sent me, I looked away quickly. “If your grandparents live down here and you live upstairs, where do your parents stay?”

Soren’s arm flexed beneath my hand, all but turning to stone as he stiffened. A grim look flashed over his face before he let the blank mask fall over his expression once more. “They’re dead.”

“I’m so sorry.” Pain like the kind when you lose a parent was long lasting. I knew all about it.

“My parents live in their own home a few houses down,” Atlas offered, breaking the uncomfortable, sullen silence that descended.

We stepped out onto the porch and I sucked in a deep breath of fresh air. Their scents were filling my head with all sorts of fantasies. My body was on fire and the only one touching me was Soren. My nipples were tight and aching beneath my stolen shirt. I took another pull of cold, crisp air. A storm was rolling in.

The sun was descending in the sky. Soon I’d be on my way back to my pack. My friends. My wolf curled up inside my mind, pouting at the thought. She’d always been on board about protecting the others. All it had taken was these three to step into my life and suddenly she and I were at odds. I didn’t care for it.

“Wow.” The word came out in wonder. There were neat rows of wooden homes lining the huge meadow where their village sat. A small lake was nearby and the entire meadow was surrounded by thick vegetation and trees. It was the perfect spot.

Birds chirped and squirrels chased each other from tree to tree nearby. I smiled at their antics. Little boys played in the paths between houses, kicking around a leather ball. I froze when a woman opened her front door and a little girl went running out, pigtails bouncing.

“You have-” Everything. They had everything I’d ever wanted. The women strolling by were calling out to each other and smiling. The children were giggling as they played. This place seemed safe. And most importantly, as men and women passed by, they called out to their lead alphas. They seemedhappy, safe, and content. It was so different from the village I grew up in.

Soren’s arm dropped and he wrapped his fingers around the back of my neck. “Breathe, Reese.”

I sucked in air, unaware that I’d been holding my breath until he mentioned it. His fingers singed my skin, but I ignored the sensations. My eyes darted around, wanting to see everything all at once.

A man limped past, pausing and giving me a knowing smile. My eyes widened as I recognized him as the wolf who’d caught up to me and my pack. The wolf I’d fought. My gaze dropped down to the wound on his leg. My bite had been deep enough that it hadn’t healed immediately. A day or two, and a few more shifts, and it would be gone.

“You remember Drew,” Soren said, amusement coloring his tone.

I gave Drew a guilty smile. At the time I thought I was fighting for our lives, so I refused to apologize. That didn’t mean I didn’t feel bad for injuring the man. He dipped his head and chest in a bow toward us before he continued on his way.

“It’s different from your home,” Calder said, his tone soft.

I turned my head and stared at him. “It is.”

“In more ways than one,” he said, his eye brows lifting in emphasis. “You can trust us, Reese.”

Looking away from his blue eyes, mine swept the village. Vera was walking toward us, speaking with another woman. They were deep in conversation and hadn’t noticed us yet. Everyone looked so…relaxed.You can trust them. They have children here, happy children.I hadn’t seen giggling, smiling faces since I was a child. And even then, it was almost always when we visited another pack. There weren’t too many happy shifters living within The Silvest Pack.

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