The Alpha (The Pack 3)

“Yeah, well, I know not to drink with him anymore,” Dom declared, his hand stroking my back and even though I was pretty sure I was still mad at him, I also wanted to purr like a kitten and snuggle closer. That might alert them to the fact that I was awake though and this conversation was amusing if nothing else.

“You remember any of it?” Trent asked, his laugh cutting off, probably at Dom’s glare.

“Unfortunately, I remember all of it,” Dom admitted. “The good thing is Thomas gave me his blessing to be with Jess and to initiate Monster into the Pack.” I felt him move underneath me, his arms holding me steady. “With their understanding and agreement, of course.”

“Of course,” Trent seconded. “And you think they’ll agree?”

“No idea,” Dom replied. “I’ll be lucky if Jess doesn’t castrate me after last night and Monster….who knows.”

“Well, he might be more willing if he knew Dylan was part of the Pack,” Trent mentioned and I felt Dom groan. “We’ve got to talk about it, Dom. Unless I misunderstood what happened?”

Dom made a noise. “I don’t even know what happened,” he answered honestly. “I remember wanting him to shift back to human and sending the command, but it shouldn’t have worked.”

“You think he did it on his own?”

“It’s possible, but the timing –”

“Yeah, seems unlikely.” I heard the rustle of a wrapper and then the distinct clack of a sucker hitting teeth. “I’m starting to think this Pack of yours is nothing but a band of misfits.”

A laugh rumbled out of Dom as his hand came to rest on the back of my neck, his thumb unerringly finding the mark at the base of my throat. His touch caused it to burn and sent a fiery heat through my body.

“Pack of mine now? I thought you agreed to be my Beta, that makes it ours,” Dom commented, his thumb slowly gliding over the spot and distracting me from their conversation.

“You have Jess,” Trent responded, the distance in his voice breaking through the spell Dom was weaving.

“I do, but she’s not a shifter,” Dom replied, his words simply factual. “She can’t act as my Beta.”

Trent let out a disbelieving chuckle. “I’ve seen a few mated pairs over the years, and the two of you blow them all out of the water. Your connection is unbelievably strong and when the bond is complete? No telling. I’ve heard stories that I thought were impossible. Seeing the two of you, now I’m not so sure impossible exists.”

“Stories?” Dom questioned and I mentally cheered as he asked what I wanted to know.

“Alpha mates,” Trent stated. “A pair that have a bond that can transcend any distance. Stories that mention a bond so strong, the Alpha’s mate could link into the Pack bond.”

“That’s….”

“Impossible? I might have agreed yesterday until I saw you keep the bond with Jess over hundreds of miles. You complete the bond between you and I bet you she can communicate with us. There’s no telling what else is possible.”

“I’m eager to find out,” Dom replied, pressing lightly against my mark. “Grab Liam, find out what’s going on with her mother. She might want to know when she wakes up.” His voice changed slightly when he said wakes and I heard Trent stand up.

“Glad you’re alive, Jess,” Trent said as he walked past the couch. “Eavesdropping is a nasty little habit. You might hear something you don’t like.”

My head popped up, hair spilling around my face as I retorted, “Like the fact that I’ll be able to hear all your boy Pack secrets when I’m fully bonded to Dom?”

Trent gave an exaggerated shudder. “What a terrifying thought.” He rolled the sucker in his mouth, sending me a wink as he strolled to the door. I propped myself up on my elbows using Dom’s wide chest as a brace.

“How did you know?” I demanded, studying him as he laid beneath me.

He chuckled as he told me, “The bond alerted me the second you woke up. I’ve been eagerly waiting.” He brushed the hair from my face, his face chagrined. “I owe you an apology.”

“Damn straight,” I declared, as I attempted a mean face. “Drinking with my dad while I’m kidnapped! What kind of mate are you?”

“One who is abjectly sorry,” he said, his tone contrite. “And one who has learned his lesson.” He held his hand up, “I solemnly swear,” I waited for him to say, “I’m up to no good,” but instead it was, “To never drink with your father again.”

I sighed dramatically, deciding to let him off the hook, mostly because trying to look angry with him was almost impossible when he pouted apologetically. “He is persuasive. And you couldn’t have known you’re a lightweight,” I tacked on, unable to resist.

“Lightweight?” He growled, rolling to his feet in one smooth motion, barely jarring me as he held me firmly against him. “You want to say that again?” He dared me as I hooked my legs around his waist.