Hate Mates (The Alpha Shifter)

Chapter Eight

For the first time since Alexa transitioned, the call of the wolf didn’t hurt half as much as it had before.

She and Landon stayed in the forest. They intended to return to the pack in the morning, hoping to have a compromise in place for their parents and for the pack. She didn’t know if it would work, but she was hopeful.

Especially as the injuries she’d sustained from Cheryl appeared to finally be healing. There was no pain within her body, which was a relief. She was starting to worry. The ability to heal was a wolf trait. They could be killed from severe injuries, and the usual, being shot or run over if it was bad enough. But so long as they were given the right care, they’d survive a great many things.

Cheryl’s attack on her shouldn’t have caused her too much trouble to heal. Alexa had a feeling her inability to heal correctly was because of Landon. Denying each other as mates had impacted them both. Like Landon’s strength, it was like she’d been given it as punishment for not being with her mate.

Everyone saw their mate as a gift. She’d never encountered a couple other than her and Landon who hadn’t wanted to be mated with the person. The pack had never liked how they’d behaved toward each other. She’d seen the disapproval, and now, after all of these years, she was starting to understand.

Her lips still tingled from when they’d spent the whole afternoon kissing. She came to a stop near the tree line and looked up at the full moon. The heat of it rippled against her skin, and she sat back and howled.

Her thoughts returned to Landon and that afternoon when he’d told her he was aroused by what they did.

She’d felt … amazing. Alexa wanted that feeling again.

Mates.

That was all her wolf ever said.

She knew deep down all her wolf wanted to do was mate with Landon, and she’d be lying if she denied ever wanting him. Alexa did want him. So badly. And it scared her.

For the longest time, she fought against her parents and the pack. Even now, she couldn’t quite figure out why she’d been so against mating with Landon. He was an amazing guy.

Strong.

Committed.

Loyal.

Sexy.

Loving.

A great kisser.

An amazing hugger.

She had to stop this. It wasn’t so long ago that she had a large list of everything she hated about him, but at that moment, staring up at the moon, she couldn’t think of a damn negative thing to say about him.

As if her thoughts had brought him closer, she sensed Landon.

Turning her head, she saw him coming out of the tree line. The moment she’d turned into a wolf, she’d taken off.

Landon never approached her at the other full moons. He kept his distance. He moved closer to her, nudged her with his head, and she stroked her neck across his.

If she was a cat, Alexa knew she’d want to purr at just being close to him.

Landon gave her neck a nip, and she nudged him playfully.

Sitting together, they looked at the full moon.

The night and their chance to be free was running out. Alexa shoved him and then took off. He got the hint and began to run after her.

The scent of the forest drove her wild, and she loved every second as they ran together. This was how it was supposed to be, and she finally understood her wolf. The sadness her other half had felt at being alone during the full moon.

This was a time to be with their mate. To feel the ground beneath their feet, the moon on their backs, and the scent of the wild filling their lungs.