Page 22 of Broken Alpha

“And after taking care of these fuckers, we’ll get it.”

I grunt and hang up, hoping I can be out the door and back before Phoenix even knows I’m gone. I wasn’t exaggerating when I said I could take on whatever danger she’s in. With Ryker and our most trusted Pack members at my side, there’s no way we’ll fail. Still, I don’t want to worry her.

“Griffin?” a soft, sleepy voice calls out from the bedroom.Too late.

“Yeah, little flame?” I answer, taking a calming breath before heading back into the room.

“What’s wrong?” She climbs out of bed and rushes over to me, concern furrowing her brow. “Frank?” Phoenix whispers, the color draining from her face.

“Remember when I said I would always protect you?” Phoenix nods, tears welling up in her light green eyes. “Don’t cry, mate. I’m going to be just fine. I promise.”

She doesn’t say anything, she simply launches herself into my arms. I catch her, the way I always will.

“I’ll be back soon,” I whisper into the top of her head before placing a kiss there. “And then we’ll start on our happily ever after.” Phoenix nods and sniffles, and as much as it pains me, I have to take a step away from her. “I’ll be back soon,” I tell her again, not knowing what else to say.

She nods and I head out the back door, losing my clothes and shifting into my wolf in the next instant.Time to exterminate these motherfuckers from the face of the earth.

CHAPTER NINE

PHOENIX

The back door swings shut with a bang, and I see a flash of gray taking off toward the treeline. Griffin shifted into his wolf form, which I know makes him stronger and able to sneak up and attack the threat but tell that to my racing heart and tear-streaked face.

This is the worst-case scenario. I managed to stay on the run and not get anyone else tangled up in my mess for months, and now? Now, the only man I've ever loved is out there, risking his life for me.

Love.

That word hits me square in the chest, making it hard to breathe for a second. Of course, I love him. Griffin is my fated mate. Even though I have zero experience with love, guys, or dating, I know our connection is unlike anything I’ve ever even conceptualized.

I should have told him.Why didn’t I tell him?

I realize I’m pacing around the bedroom naked, so I open up Griffin’s dresser and grab the first shirt I get my hands on. It’s huge on me, the black T-shirt hanging down to my knees and reminding me of how small and safe Griffin makes me feel. As acurvy girl, I don’t often feel tiny, but when I’m surrounded by my mate’s strength, his arms wrapped around me, his nose buried into the side of my neck… I feel vulnerable and cared for in a way I never knew existed.

I try distracting myself by doing something normal, like making coffee. Filling up the pot with the appropriate amount of water, I pour it into the machine, then dig through Griffin’s cabinets to find the coffee grounds. I scoop out a heaping pile of grounds, knowing we’ll both need it after the excitement of this morning.

A roar tears through the mid-morning air, followed by a gunshot. I yelp and drop the coffee grounds, watching them scatter across the tiles in Griffin’s kitchen.

“No,” I gasp, my heart in my throat. I clutch my chest, trying to calm the frantic, painful beating of my heart.

Stumbling over to the back door, I look out and see three men dressed in black from head to toe, each with either a gun or a knife in hand. Two men are curled up on the ground behind them, bleeding out.

Another snarl sounds off to the right of the group of men, and I see a giant black wolf lunging toward the armed men. A second later, Griffin’s gray wolf bursts onto the scene, his mouth dripping with blood.

My breath hitches, my heart stopping in my chest as I watch one of the men lift his gun and aim right for Griffin’s wolf. I squeeze my eyes shut and cover my mouth with my hand, capturing the sob as it escapes from deep in my core.I just found him. I can’t lose him.

When I don't hear another gunshot, I peek one eye open, surprised to see only one man left standing, and not the one who was about to shoot Griffin. One last vicious growl echoes from the backyard, close to the tree line, and then… silence.

I open both eyes, not sure what to expect. I don’t see anything at first, man or wolf. Then, I notice a slight tugging motion off to the left. The black wolf and a brown wolf I didn’t see earlier are dragging a body back into the woods. Looking around for Griffin, I see that he and another slightly darker gray wolf are doing the same to a few other bodies.

Is that it? Is it really over?

I wipe the tears from my eyes, blinking a few times as the scene in front of me clears. A minute ago, I could have sworn a war was about to break out, but just like Griffin said, my past was no match for him.

When I see Griffin's wolf heading in my direction, I open the back door and run toward him. He shifts into human form and gathers me up in his arms, carrying me back inside. "What do you think you're doing out here, mate?" he rasps, walking right back into the bedroom, completely naked.

“I was so worried…. and the gunshot, and, and… and…” I ramble, hardly able to catch my breath.

"Shh, little flame," he whispers, placing me in bed and then climbing in behind me. Griffin sits up with his back against the headboard and then urges me to straddle him. I can feel his hot, heavy dick wedged between our stomachs, and god, I didn't think I'd want sex again so soon, but knowing he survived, that he protected me? It's such a fucking turn-on.

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