The Alpha (The Pack 3)

He’s unpredictable, Dom answered. I’m not taking any chances. His tone was resolute and I knew he wouldn’t change his mind anytime soon. Monster eyed us warily, his gaze switching from me to Dylan.

Well, big guy, looks like we’re at an impasse, I told Dom as I gave him a flinty eyed stare and attempted to cross my arms over my chest. Attempted being the operative word since he still held my wrist hostage. I’m going over there, I warned him. You can decide if I’m missing a hand when I do. I forced myself into motion, feeling a flicker of resistance along my arm that quickly disappeared as a low growl filled my head.

You are impossible, he muttered and I refrained from any gloating thoughts as we shuffled over to Dylan, my wrist still clamped firmly between Dom’s jaws.

“Hey, Dylan,” I called as we approached him and his head turned toward me, but he kept his eyes downcast. “We were worried about you,” I continued, keeping my voice low and gentle. He nodded, his gaze flickering to mine for an instant before dropping again. “I’m glad you came back.” My words were genuine and Dylan’s shoulders relaxed slightly. “Monster thought a trail of cookies might lure you back to us,” I nodded to his hands full of cookies and the crumbs around his mouth. “Looks like he was right. You smelled the cookies?”

Monster hovered by my side, his normal exuberance gone as he stared at Dylan.

Dylan nodded at me and then shook his head as his gaze switched to Dom. I could tell he was confused and starting to get upset.

“It’s fine, Dylan,” I soothed. “We’re glad you’re back. Aren’t we, Monster?” Dylan’s gaze sharpened at Monster’s name and he stared hopefully at him. I whispered softly to Monster, “It’s still Dylan. You don’t need to be scared.” A grumble filled my head, which I ignored, and when Dylan offered the cookies in his hand to Monster, he stepped forward.

“Were you going to hurt Sissy?” Monster demanded, pointing at me imperiously as he faced Dylan. “Theodore James,” I hissed at my brother as I felt tension ricochet through the group.

Dylan shook his head frantically, some of the cookies crumbling in his hand as he denied Monster’s question. “No, no, no, no,” he kept repeating, tears welling in his eyes.

“Okay,” Monster said simply, reaching for Dylan’s hand. “Don’t crush the cookies. This is all of them,” he told him, taking some of them from Dylan. “Help me get the rest?” Dylan nodded, his frantic movements easing as Monster forgave him in classic Monster style. They bent down, picking up the trail of cookies still on the ground and I debated telling them not to eat the cookies, but decided it wouldn’t kill them.

“See, all’s well that end well,” I stated, not really speaking to anyone in particular. Trent stared at me, then held up half a sucker stick for my inspection.

“I literally chewed it in half when that wolf lunged at you,” he accused, like it was somehow my fault. “There aren’t enough suckers in the world,” he continued, muttering under his breath. “Nowhere near enough.”

“Glad you’re alive,” Liam offered, giving me a chin lift.

“That was….” Leah shook her head. “Intense. The wolf….and then,” she pointed at Dom, “He ripped him away, and there was…..growling,” she waved her hands, trailing off as I nodded.

“You’re okay?” I checked since she seemed a little flustered. She nodded, glancing at Liam.

“Liam pulled me to the wall. He kept me safe,” she answered, a little breathlessly.

I narrowed my eyes as I pinned Liam with my stare. “Yeah, it was so noble of him,” I muttered, not forgetting his first reaction was to protect Leah and not me. Not that it mattered but I was his Alpha’s mate. That was a thing, wasn’t it? If not, it should be.

It is, Dom answered, causing me to jump since I hadn’t realized I was projecting the thoughts. His first instinct should have been to guard you.

It’s not that big a deal, I said hastily, not wanting to get Liam in trouble. Dom was a little overprotective at the moment and that didn’t bode well for anyone.

I’m not mad, Dom replied, the amusement in his voice relieving me. He had a good reason.

I sent a questioning thought toward him as he finally released my wrist and he yipped, startling me. Liam smiled sheepishly at me.

“I should have pulled you to safety,” Liam said, “But I was compelled to protect Leah.”

“Okay, yeah. It was a good call,” I muttered, my eyes darting between them in confusion. Liam shook his head as Dom chuffed and Trent shoved the chewed off sucker stick back in his mouth.

“No, you don’t understand. I had to protect Leah. She saved my life. I’m bound to keep her safe.” My eyebrows hit my hairline as Leah made a choking noise. What the hell? “It’s a bond between us. Not so different than the mating bond.”