AlphainHiding (4 page)

Chapter Five

They ate in companionable silence, both stuffing themselves
with sandwiches and chips. Shifting always made her hungry, and going on a long
run didn’t diminish her need for food either. She liked the fact that he could
put away as much food as she could in a sitting. That was one of the few things
that made her self-conscious around other shifters. She ate a lot—much more
than most females. She’d always assumed it was because she spent so much more
time in her fur than most shifter females. Being the Alpha’s daughter required
her to stand in during disputes, which usually ended up in chases through the
woods.

Seth cleaned up without a single word, tossing the paper
plates and washing the glasses. As their meal progressed, his anxiety and fear
ramped up. The scent tickled her nose and she wondered again about his past and
how she would have dealt with the same circumstances. Maybe that was something
she could change for him. Yes, he’d been shifting to his wolf for years, but
maybe giving him the First Run ritual would help him deal with his wolf.

“Seth, do you know what the ritual is for a shifter’s first
shift?” She watched his shoulders clench and fought the urge to soothe him.

“No. I know that it’s important. My aunt and uncle told me
that my parents were excited about the idea of my first run.” He turned a blank
stare on her but he couldn’t hide his emotions from her nose. “Why?”

“Well, I was thinking about it, and maybe we could give you
that ritual tonight.” She waved away his argument before he could speak. “I
know you’ve been shifting for years, but sometimes the ritual and the
preparation are just a good way to become friends with your inner beastie.”

“All right, so what do we do?”

“Let me think.” She walked the room, chewing on her lower
lip. “I will act as the Alpha and your parent. Usually one of your parents
would present you to the Alpha of the pack to be acknowledged as an adult. I
can do that without much trouble. By acting as your Alpha I’ll be tied to your
mind until you shift back to your human form. Any thought you have, I’ll be
able to read. Then there’s a clearing not far from here that we can use for the
ceremony.”

“Wait…what? You’ll be able to read my thoughts? Really?”

“Yep, it’s another one of those Alpha things. I won’t keep
us tied once you shift back, though, I promise.”

“So what do we do during the ceremony?” His fear was
escalating, flowing over her skin in sickening waves. If she could see auras
she would swear his would be mustard or puke colored. The scent of fear was so
thick that she wanted to plug her nose.

“Look, don’t worry about it now. Your wolf will know what to
do.” She sighed. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. “If you don’t want to do
this, let me know. Maybe it’s too much too soon.”

He looked affronted and scowled. “What, like I’m too
delicate or something? Christ, I would’ve gone through this when I was fourteen
if my parents had been alive, right? I think I can handle it.”

“Fine, then let’s go. It’s a lot cooler if the moon is
directly above us when we do the ceremony.” She headed for the door but stopped
and turned to face him with a mischievous grin. “Oh, and you have to be naked
when we start. Might as well strip in here and come out onto the lawn when
you’re ready.”

She laughed at his indignation before closing the door
behind her. She needed a minute to access the power to connect with Seth. She’d
done this a few times but wanted the experience to be good for him. Her father
could slip into others’ minds without them feeling a thing. She wasn’t so good
at it. She walked into a small patch of moonlight and closed her eyes,
centering herself and stoking the power flowing through her blood. She loved
using her powers—it always left her exhilarated.

Seth’s heavy footsteps brought her around and the sight
before took her breath away. He was naked, bathed in moonlight, standing
angrily at the bottom of the steps. His body was magnificent, washed a pale
cream by the filtered light. A statue of a Greek god wouldn’t hold a candle to
the glorious male standing in front of her. She couldn’t help but stare. She
knew it was making him embarrassed but she just couldn’t tear her eyes from
him. How had she ever thought he was physically weak? She forced her eyes to
his and cleared her throat.

“Okay, let’s get started.” She turned and stepped onto the
lawn, finding a patch of moonlight to stand in. She closed her eyes and could
feel him approach her. She reached out her mind to his. She wrapped her power
around his mind and lightly pressed into his thoughts. Once the connection was
made she started. “Seth Seymour, as your first act as an adult you have been brought
forward to share your First Run with your pack and your Alpha. You have come in
front of me in your human form, devoid of clothing to symbolize your agreement
to remain open and accepting of pack law. Do you accept these words I have
spoken?”

“Yes.” His voice was rough and deep.

She didn’t dare to open her eyes, afraid to see what his
face looked like. She continued. “I, Emily Prescott, will act as the Alpha in
this ceremony. Within the confines of my act I have connected my mind to yours.
We will share thoughts and emotions throughout this First Run ritual. I will
act as your compass and your protector until you have completed the ritual and
returned safely to this place. Do you accept these words I have spoken?”

She could feel that he had stepped closer to her. His
whispered words moved softly over her lips. “Yes, I accept them.”

She opened her eyes to find him standing close, staring at
her with a very male look in his eyes. She bristled and forced herself not to
take a step back. “To seal the pact we have just accepted, you will transform
yourself into your wolf form and present yourself to me.”

Seth stepped away from her and closed his eyes. She could
hear him calling his wolf forward in his mind and marveled at the connection
they now had. The change within her was so normal, but to feel it in someone
else was amazing. She could actually feel his mind change and lose the
confining human emotions. With the shift, thought patterns became more
defined—only concrete feelings survived the shift. She gasped as lust and
possessiveness became the main thoughts of his wolf self. They flooded her mind
with warmth. She almost laughed, because she could feel him acknowledge her in
his mind and still he allowed her to sense his thoughts.

She shook her head and forced the rest of the words from her
mouth so she could shift as well. The woods were calling to her. With her mind
in tune with Seth’s she could feel the need to run flowing from him. “You are
wondrous in this form. Strong and fast. Your wolf is a part of you, as you are
a part of him. Tonight we will bond the two halves of your mind together.”

Amber eyes stared at her as she finished speaking. She knew
he understood the meaning of the words. She turned to strip off her clothes and
almost felt self-conscious about being naked in front of him.

Get over it, girly.

He was just another lusting male. She’d dealt with hundreds
of them before—this was nothing new.

If she were honest with herself this was different, though.
She could hear what Seth was thinking, feel his emotions as if they were hers.
He was watching her with rapt attention, drinking in her nudity as though it
were water. His thoughts were filled with images of them in human form and them
in wolf form doing very sensual things. When the image of her sucking his cock
flooded her mind she growled at him and shut down the connection for a moment.
Her cheeks were hot and she was mortified that she was blushing. How could she
act the part of the Alpha if she were going to react like some young bitch in heat?

With quick movements she shed her clothes and shifted. The
instant relief from human thoughts was overwhelming. She took a deep breath,
reconnected with Seth and shook out her midnight coat. She closed her eyes and
lifted her nose into the air, pulling the scents of the forest into her lungs.

Come.

It was the only command she gave him. He would either follow
her or he wouldn’t. If he didn’t, she could attack him for ignoring the pact
he’d made with her as Alpha, but she didn’t think he could ignore her. Lust and
want were still heavy in his thoughts. Watching her run away from him would be
like a red flag waving in front of a bull. His instincts would have him chasing
her tail before he could even think to disobey.

She raced through the trees, heading toward the clearing.
She poured on the speed, testing his ability to follow her and giving herself
the freedom to let go and just be a wolf. Air sawed in and out of her lungs,
her tongue hung out the side of her mouth and her muscles heated. A howl built in
her chest but she swallowed it back down. They would howl together once in the
clearing. No point in wasting a great vocalization while they were running.

She skidded to a halt just outside the circle of moonlight,
waiting for Seth to arrive. She was pleasantly surprised that he was right
behind her. He was gasping for air but he’d kept pace with her. Most males
couldn’t keep up with her when she really let go. She was fast and strong,
strengthened further than most by the blood she’d inherited from her father.
She gave him a toothy grin before walking slowly into the light.

Enter the clearing and raise your voice to the light of
the moon.

She sat on her haunches, waiting for him to follow her. The
need to howl with him was intense. She wanted to hear his wolf voice echo off
the trees and soar into the night.

Indecision flooded her mind as Seth’s thoughts moved along
their connection. He strode into the clearing and looked into the sky but
didn’t raise his voice, chagrin and perhaps disgust flowed through their
connection. He turned quickly to look at her.

I’ve never howled.

Holy hell. How had he never howled? Wolf shifters howled all
the time, in fur or not. It was just something you did when you were young. His
past echoed through her mind. Damn, what other things hadn’t he experienced?

Follow my lead and just let your wolf do his thing.

She stood and tilted her head back, closed her eyes and sang
to the moon. Her voice rose and fell in a mournful cadence. She released her
frustration with this experiences and her distaste for her father’s orders,
letting it all wash out of her and pour into her voice. She could feel Seth’s
amazement, then his answering thoughts as he lifted his voice with Emily’s. His
wolf voice was deep and eerie as it twined with hers. His carried his fear and
apprehension of his wolf side. She slowly lowered her voice and just listened
to him shout his pain into the night sky. It was beautiful.

After the last notes reverberated through the trees she
turned to him and finished the ceremony.

You have offered your voice to the night, have combined
it with your Alpha’s and have completed your First Run. In the eyes of the pack
you are now an adult, free to make your own choices and decisions within the
confines of pack laws. You may lead us back to the starting place.

He strode to her and nudged her shoulder with his heavy
head. Turning quickly he bolted out of the clearing.

His voice whispered into her mind.
Thank you.

Chapter Six

A wolfy grin spread across Emily’s lips, peeling them back
from her teeth. She turned and took off after him. It felt strange to chase a
male but he’d earned it. She followed at a much more sedate pace, sniffing him
out when she lost sight of his body as he bounded along in front of her. She
enjoyed the quiet of a forest gone to sleep. A few nocturnal creatures were
scurrying through the leaves but most were snuggled into their homes for the
night. A light breeze played through the branches. The night was perfect for a
first run.

She felt a slice of fear from Seth just as she caught the
scent of another male wolf.
Fuck.
No one should be on this land while
she was here. She raced to catch up with Seth and find out which male had
decided to take his life in his hands. A growl rumbled in her chest. Seth was
under her protection and if something happened to him she would be mighty
pissed.

The sounds of wolves growling echoed through the trees. She
put on a burst of energy and slid to a stop just behind Seth. She was impressed
by the standoff. His hackles stood, his teeth were bared and a vicious growl
rumbled in his chest. The fear she had first felt from him had melted into
anger and protectiveness. Well, wasn’t that nice? The male wanted to protect
her. She would have chuckled if she could have.

The other male was standing in exactly the same posture,
staring hard at Seth. Emily took a good whiff of him and scoffed. Well, this
might be a good thing for Seth. The other male was a weak idiot from their pack
who tended to follow her around. Ed—or Eddy to his friends. She would call his
behavior stalking if he were at all dangerous. She had repeatedly denied him
anything he asked, from coffee to being his mate. She just couldn’t get rid of
him. She took a step back and stood behind Seth, giving him the dominant
position. Ed would know that she was giving the position up—maybe that would be
enough to stop this nonsense. If he thought she’d finally given in and taken a
mate, perhaps he would leave her alone.

The growling intensified as the males circled each other.
She stayed behind Seth like a good little female and hoped she wouldn’t have to
step in. In wolf form he wouldn’t take being rescued by a female as a good
thing. Probably, as a male in general, it wouldn’t help their working
relationship if she was forced to help.

Ed attacked first, lunging forward and trying to grab Seth’s
neck with sharp teeth. Seth snarled and sidestepped the attack. His teeth sank
into the fleshy part of Ed’s flank, pulling a high-pitched yip from the other
wolf. They separated and circled again. Both snarled loudly, saliva dripping
from their canines. The hair along their backs stood so tall that it added four
inches to their height. Ed lunged again and was taken by surprise when Seth
turned and grabbed his scruff. Seth powered the other male onto the ground and
held him there, pinned, teeth clamped on his windpipe until Ed whined. The
submissive sound signaled the end of the fight. Seth released Ed and backed up,
placing his body between Emily and Ed.

Pride and amusement slid between Seth and Emily along their
connection. She could hear his triumphant laughter inside his head and she
grinned. For someone who didn’t like his wolfy side he sure was taking to being
a wolf with flying colors. She was proud of him too. Her wolf was all atwitter
over his masculine show of dominance. Nothing warmed the heart of a wolf bitch
more than a male who would protect her.

Emily shifted quickly into her human form and let her power
unfold, pushing out against the two males. She might have enjoyed watching Seth
take Ed down but that didn’t mean she would allow anything else to happen. She
was the acting Alpha in this run and responsible for all that happened.
Injuries acquired would have to be dealt with and tempers reined in. Standing
with hands on her hips, she stared at the two males. She growled at both of
them, “Shift now or I’ll force it on you.”

Seth shifted first, still giving off dominant vibes. He
stood, beautiful in the moonlight, chest pushed out and a shit-eating grin on
his face. She pushed down the urge to pat him on the back like a child who’d
come home with all As on his report card. Her overwhelming pride in his
behavior was almost funny. His body had a few scratches from his tussle with
the other male but she couldn’t smell any blood. The scent of hot male
tantalized her nose.

She turned to watch Ed finish his shift. “Ed, what the hell?
You know you aren’t supposed to be in these woods.”

“Sorry, Em. I didn’t realize you were up here or I woulda
stayed away.” Ed’s voice was a nasal whine that grated on her nerves. He turned
angry eyes on Seth. “Who the fuck is he, anyway?”

“None of your business, and you knew I’d be here. Figured
you’d catch me running alone in the woods?” She scowled at Seth as a growl
vibrated in his chest, then turned her attention back to the irritating male.
“Go home, Ed. I don’t want you here.”

The male glared at Seth for a moment longer, then turned
hurt eyes to Emily. She sighed loudly.

Here comes the begging.

She tamped down the urge to make him cry. Honestly, how many
times could she turn him down before he got the idea that she wasn’t
interested? Her wolf growled inside her head. Neither of her sides liked the
male, and the more he pursued them the less they could stand him.

“Please, Em? Let me at least buy you a cup of coffee or something.
You know I’m a good male and I’d make a good mate.”

“Fuck.” She growled. She could feel Seth edging closer to
her, almost touching her back with his naked chest. Anger flowed off him in
waves. “No. No coffee, no dinner, no mating—nothing. We’ve been over this. Go
home and find yourself a nice female who can make you happy.”

“I love you, Emily Prescott, and nothing will ever stop me
from trying. Nothing. I know we’re meant to be together. My wolf knows it too,
and I’m sure that you know it as well but just don’t want to give in. I’m going
to be there every time you turn around, when you least expect me, and one of
those times you’re going to give in and take me as your rightful mate.” He
looked so hopeful that she really had a tough time pushing him away, but this
had gone far enough. She could hear the outrage and anger seething just under
Seth’s skin.

“Ed, you know I hate doing this to you, but you give me no
choice.” She pulled her power around her and pushed it out toward the male. She
let every ounce of disgust color her words. “I will never be your mate, ever.
You’re delusional if you think a wolf with less than omega status would ever be
enough for my bitch. I can barely stand seeing your face, let alone let you
mate me. Go. Home.”

Ed tried to fight the compulsion but in the end he shifted
back to wolf form and trotted off toward his land. She sighed when she could no
longer hear him. What a way to ruin a perfectly great evening. Oh well—at least
it was over and no one had gotten hurt.

The hairs on the back of her neck suddenly stood to
attention. A shift in emotions alerted her to a new development in the
clearing. She turned to find Seth watching her with predatory glee in his eyes
and a sexy smile playing along his lips. All the anger seemed to have bled from
him and been replaced by something close to anticipation. Shit. A male who’d
won his first dominance fight was usually flooded with adrenaline and lust. His
cock was erect and drew her attention.

Oh boy.

She didn’t want to have to put Seth in his place, but the
thoughts rolling through his head were going to force her hand. He sure had an
active and very interesting imagination. A sigh of resignation slipped through
her lips.