Page 79 of Alpha Mates

“That’s enough for me,” I say quickly. “More than enough.”

Just imagining Julian helping me hunt has Max practically wagging his tail, and me almost salivating.

“What else is on the agenda for ‘the best day ever’?” he asks, eyes sparkling with far too much amusement.

“You’ll see,” I say, grinning as I rest my hip against the counter. “I’m not telling you a thing beyond the hunt—”

“Oh yes, we must not forget the hunt,” Julian cuts in.

“Smartass,” I mumble, watching him eat. “All you need to know is that we’re taking it easy today. I promise you’ll make it back in one piece.” I mean it, but when Julian frowns, I add, “Unless you want me to put your life at risk?”

“What? No!” He laughs a little. “Taking things easy sounds great to me. I just figured you’d try to make me skydive or something.”

“That’s next week.” I manage to keep a straight face for a total of three seconds before the horror on my mate’s face gets the better of me. “I’m kidding,” I chuckle, nudging his foot with mine. “I’ll ease you into swimming with sharks another time, but for now, we’re just going to relax. You can do that, right, Jewels? It won’t be too hard?”

“Yes, Aiden,” he drawls, fighting against a smile. “I can do that.”

“Good.” I brush his hair back from his face, then step away. “I’ll get our things ready. You finish up on breakfast.”

“Okay,” he replies, but his voice is pitched just high enough to make me pause. Glancing back, I stall momentarily as I watch Julian grin down at his plate with red-tipped ears.

I bite back a sigh as I turn and use my dwindling self-control to keep moving forward instead of turning around for a taste.

“Alright,” I say once we’re standing before the treeline at the back of his house, “strip.”

Julian’s eyes almost pop out of their sockets. “I’m sorry, what?” he sputters.

“If it’s not already obvious, we’re going to shift,” I say, folding my shades and pushing them into the front pocket of my bag. “So, unless you want to shred your clothes”—I look up at him—“strip, Julian.”

“I don’t think—”

His protest dies on his tongue as I pull my shirt over my head. When I meet his eyes again, he’s blinking fast, suspiciously never allowing his attention to fall below my shoulders.

“You don’t think?” I prompt, smirking. “It’s just us here. No need to be shy, Jewels.”

I pop the button of my jeans and drag the zipper down. The low-pitched purr is stark amidst the familiar nature sounds and undoubtedly loud to Julian’s ears. Colour rushes up his neck and into his cheeks. He finally lets his gaze fall, barely taking in my working fingers before he sucks in a short breath and closes his eyes.

Fuck.I only meant to tease him a bit, but my heart pounds as hard as his. And I’m cursing myself because now, I want to see Julian strip, and I’m not sure if he’ll let me.

Nudity isn’t the problem—no werewolf has a problem with that. It’s us. The growing desire between us that’s been slowly inching its way to a breaking point ever since we’d kissed. Hells, since that first day in the kitchen.

It comes in waves. Sometimes it’s small, like the way my breath quickens when he smiles, and others, it’s a tidal wave that drowns everything else. It’s a tidal wave that comes now as I imagine seeingallof Julian.

He dashes the dream away as he turns and wordlessly heads for the nearest tree. To my disappointment, or maybe relief, he pokes his head out from behind the wide trunk and says, “I’ll undress here.”

Why the hell is that even hotter?

“Alright,” I manage, turning away to give him some extra privacy.

Alright, Aiden. Stop being a horny fuck for a minute so you can undress without sporting major wood. Those don’t go away with the shift.

Taking deep, calming breaths, I work my pants off with the rest of my clothes and stuff them into my bag. When Julian tosses his my way, I shove them in as well before I finally let my shift roll through me.

It’s like sinking into a hot spring in winter—fluid and perfect in ways that unwind my muscles and all the tension in my body. The world becomes smaller as I settle into my second form, where there’s no room for my usual stresses, only the lively landscape surrounding me.

I shake out my fur and straighten just as Julian’s white wolf stalks toward me. Like this, his eyes are even brighter, like glowing celestial stars, throwing light as he moves. He’s slow at first—careful, like he doesn’t want to spook me—but when I don’t snap at him and allow him into my space, he edges in, listening to the bond.

When our noses meet, fireworks erupt inside me, and I sink even deeper into my wolf. I nose my way down his throat with a pleased growl, and Julian huffs gently as he presses his body firmly against mine. We move together, circling, scenting each other, and I’m dizzy with pleasure by the time Julian jumps back like a pup who wants to play.