Page 45 of Alpha Mates

My amusement crests, but I stifle my laughs for now, and focus on getting the job done. My mind is filled with Julian enough as is.

“Is everyone back?” I ask an hour later when the sun is just starting to rise and waking the rest of the world with it.

“Yes, Alpha,” Madison confirms.

“Same here,” Antony adds.

“Good.” Most of the wolves are splayed out on the ground, exhausted and trying to catch their breaths. “Thank you for helping and working together so efficiently. Go home and rest. Julian will take reports from Madison and Antony later today, so make sure to share anything you think they may have missed.”

They nod and peel off one by one. I do my own headcount and ensure every wolf is well enough to find their way home before I head back to the packhouse. I’m slow going up the stairs to my suite because, as healthy as I am, searching acres of land this early in the morning takes its toll. By the time I slip inside, my legs are on the verge of giving out, and I’m cursing my past self for picking my new home so high up.

The next packhouse we build is getting an elevator. Logistics be damned.

I aim for the couch, ready to crash, but Julian’s scent has me stumbling towards the bedroom instead. I spot the sleeping ball at the centre of my bed, and raw need drives me.

I sink into the mattress, and sleep rises readily to claim me again. Before I can reach for him, he closes the space between us himself, reattaching as if I’d never left. I knock out surrounded by the scent of fresh lemons.

“Aiden … Aiden, wake up.”

I don’t want to wake up. I want to lay in bed for the rest of my life and never leave.

“Aiden.”

Sleep. I need sleep.

“Come on. I know you can hear me.”

I reluctantly open my eyes to light blue irises staring down at me. They’re void of their usual contempt, holding instead a quiet fondness. I must really be tired if my sleep-deprived brain is having a blast making shit up.

I’m already knocking on my dreams’ doors again when the sheet around my waist is ripped off. “For fuck’s sake, Julian!” I grab for the blankets, but they’re already gone, leaving me brutally exposed to the cold.

“Why are you so damn wicked?” I groan into the mattress.

“Genetics,” he chuckles, the sound more comforting than it has any right to be. “But seriously, come on. I already did everything. You just have to get in the bath.”

My ears perk. “Bath?”

“Yeah, you need it.” His nose wrinkles as he crosses his arms. “I can’t believe you got straight in bed after running out there this morning. Disgusting. You’redisgusting, Aiden.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. I was tired,” I mumble. I roll onto my back and he’s still sitting there and looking at me, perfectly clean and prepped and … Julian.

“Get up.” Yeah, still Julian.

“I’m tired,” I whine.

“I know, which is the only reason I didn’t flay you when I woke up,” he says, slipping from the bed and heading for the door. “Now get up, or we’re going to be late.”

I groan loudly, legs kicking out and everything, but all it gets me is another chuckle before he leaves.

Fuck, why did I say I’d do this?

Because you want more Julian time,Max sings like an immature pup.

Shut up, Max! You wanted this too!

You have no evidence!he retorts before he fades away.

Regrets of my pending self-inflicted torture circle my mind as I drag myself out of bed and to the bathroom. As promised, the deep tub is filled with steaming water, my usual soaps lined up on the side. I glance around, tensing for the poisonous dart—but it doesn’t come.