Alpha's Vow (Shifter Ops 2)

He shakes his head. “No, angel. I’m just afraid I’ll hurt you. I don’t want to lose control and mark you without your consent. It’s more of a frenzy, not a pain.”

I nod and snuggle closer to him. As weird as all this is, I’m loving being a part of it. Learning about his kind. His pack. His wounds.

“How about you?” He brushes some hair back from my face. “You relaxed? Need anything?”

“I’m good. Definitely relaxed. You help me with that. I feel like I can let go of control a little bit when I’m with you. And have fun.”

“Mmm. My little planner. We do have fun.” He kisses my head. “Where did that need to plan and prepare come from?”

It’s funny, my friends have ribbed and teased me about it for years, but no one’s really asked why I’m a control freak. It’s just been accepted that this is who I am.

I draw in a breath. “My parents both enlisted in the Air Force after 9/11. My childhood wasn’t just moving around a lot, having my mom or dad gone for months and months. Sometimes both of them were deployed, and we stayed with my gran. Plus, I was always scared Mom or Dad wouldn’t come home—because that happened to other kids I knew on base. I dreamed of my mom and dad coming home and telling us they were going to get new jobs. I just wanted them to be safe. And I wanted to live in a small town with a strong community. That’s why I chose Taos. I could see myself marrying, raising kids here.”

“And the man you envisioned?”

Is it just me, or does Lance’s voice sound a little strangled? I swallow. “Well, honestly? I was picturing someone very stable. A dentist or an accountant.” Lance wrinkles his nose at that, and I laugh. “I know, sounds boring. But mostly I was thinking someone who was grounded, who would love being a dad. Someone who would coach Little League and be a cub scout leader and all that stupid stuff.”

It’s funny how that all seems irrelevant now.

“I will coach the hell out of Little League,” Lance says in the most solemnly-swearing voice.

I laugh, warmth swimming in my chest. “I bet you will.”

And somehow, the thought of witnessing Lance learning to coach Little League sounds far more exciting than the picture I had in my head. The one with the boring accountant who already thought he knew everything there was to know about Little League.

I nuzzle his chest and sigh, contentment settling over me like a blanket. I can’t remember when I’ve ever felt this at peace, but I do now. In Lance’s arms, I feel safe and protected. Like everything—even an unexpected pregnancy and being mated to a werewolf—will be not only easy, but also fun.

Chapter 10

Lance

After dropping Charlie at work the next morning, I find Rafe running target practice in the woods with the rest of the pack. He likes to make us train in inclement weather, and snow started falling an hour ago in thick, silent flakes.

Expecting the usual rebuke I get when I’ve been off having fun while the rest of them are training, I join them wordlessly, and pick up a crossbow.

I sight the target, wait, and release my arrow a second after Rafe releases his, splitting the wood shaft of his down the center as we both nail the bullseye.

“Asshole,” he mutters.

I say nothing. Instead, I reload and wait.

“Are you trying to prove you don’t need to train?” he snaps.

“Nope. I’m trying to prove I’m not as fucking incapable as you think I am.”

“Here we go again.” Rafe has the nerve to scoff.

Channing releases an arrow and I let mine fly, taking all the glory out of his bullseye when I wreck his arrow, too.

“Asshole.” Channing shoots me a grin to show that, unlike Rafe, he doesn’t mean it.

Despite my normally laid-back ways, I can’t find it in me to smile. Hearing Charlie’s perspective last night changed everything. It validated what I’ve felt my entire adult life, but never knew if I was just making it up.

Rafe doesn’t think I can take care of myself.

“Nobody thinks you’re incapable,” Deke offers, sending off an arrow before I can tag onto it. He’s usually the silent one, so the fact that he’s trying to peace-make tells me I’m crankier than I know. My need to mark Charlie bleeds into every moment. Makes me ready to fight, fuck, or die at a moment’s notice.

“Oh, really? Because I think Channing gets more respect than I do around here, and he’s barely out of his training boots.”

Channing whirls, aiming his arrow right at my eye. “Say that again, asshole.” His goofy grin is the only thing that keeps my wolf from responding in kind.

“Oh, I’m ready.” I flick my brows at him.