Page 3 of Alpha Wolf Finds His Coyote (West Coast Coyotes #3)

TEDDY

I could smell Ryker’s nerves as much as see them by the way he kept glancing at the door. He was clearly anxious, but I wasn’t sure why. Then again, I couldn’t explain my own discontent either.

No longer tied up, I sat slouched in a folding chair with my arms crossed and my gaze locked on Ryker as we both waited for whatever wrath the Alpha of the West Coast Coyotes had planned for me.

I wasn’t too worried because if they wanted me dead, they would have already done it.

Ryker’s eyes flicked toward me every thirty seconds, but he didn’t say much. He seemed to be contemplating his life choices while we waited for his boss to get back.

It was actually cute the way the omega tried to ignore me. I respected the effort, but he couldn’t hide his curiosity if he wanted to. “You shouldn’t have come here.”

“No?” I crossed my ankles and leaned back in my chair. “You wish I’d never come?”

He licked his lips and chewed the inside of his cheek. “All I’m saying is most wolves aren’t exactly welcomed here.”

I shrugged. “I’m not most wolves.”

“That’s what they all say.” Ryker rolled his shoulders and stretched his back like he’d been hunched over for too long.

I didn’t bother to respond because I was too busy sucking in his scent while he was looking away.

The more I tried to ignore it, the more it nagged at me.

It was like a strange hunger that had crawled under my skin and took hold.

My wolf was less confused. He seemed to be perfectly content to just sit in Ryker’s territory like we belonged.

Ryker turned back to me and sighed. “They say you’re an enforcer in your pack.”

“Not exactly.” I scoffed. That was a stretch. “More like…the scapegoat. My dad was always trying to keep me out of his way, so I got shuffled around whenever someone was looking for a getaway driver or bait for someone we needed to pick up.”

“Pick up?” He swallowed hard and gave me a side glance. “Like, kidnap?”

I couldn’t lie to him. Well, I could, but I didn’t want to. “Sometimes. Usually we just needed to scare someone into complying with whatever my father decreed. Sometimes it was more…lethal than that.”

He looked at the doorway as if checking to see if anyone was coming. “Yeah, it’s the same here. I don’t get involved in that stuff, but I count enough cash covered in guts that I know it’s not all rainbows and butterflies out there.”

The urge to get closer to him was strong, but I couldn’t risk it. Not yet. Not when his murderous Alpha was on his way to meet me.

Ryker was fidgeting again, rubbing his palms on his shaky knees like he’d mainlined a dozen espresso shots. “Are you afraid of what will happen when Esteban gets here?”

“Not really.” I shook my head and stared at him. “I’m an intruder in his home. I deserve what I get.”

His eyes narrowed in confusion. “You don’t strike me as having a death wish.”

“I don’t.” I wished for something…but not death. “I’m just a realist. He’ll do what he needs to do. After that, I’ll figure it out.”

Esteban had a reputation outside of the West Coast Coyotes territory as being ruthless but fair.

It was rumored he could tear out a man’s throat without shifting, but he obviously took care of the omegas in his pack.

Omegas like Ryker who was given a position of power and respect, despite his vulnerability from being unmated.

The scent that wafted off him got stronger the longer we sat. I tried breathing through my nose to dampen it, but my wolf was insistent that we lean in. Soak up more of the man who stayed with us despite having no real reason to.

Frustrated by the situation, I gritted my teeth and physically turned away from him.

“What’s wrong?” Ryder didn’t move, but the muscles in his legs tensed like he was about to get up.

I didn’t have an answer. Nothing made sense, so I went with that. “Nothing.”

A minute later, Esteban and four other alphas entered the room. It was easy to identify the Alpha by his commanding presence alone. He walked right up to me, staring me down like he was trying to intimidate me. “Wolf.”

I cleared my throat and stood up with my hand extended.

“Alpha. I’m sorry for showing up on your land without warning, but…

” I glanced at Ryker and then back to Esteban, hoping he could read between the lines without me having to spell out the situation that was becoming more and more evident.

“Well, I left my pack and was, um, drawn here. I mean no harm. Just looking for refuge.”

“I have to admit, we don’t get a lot of refugees out here.” He chuckled and side-eyed Ryker before folding his hands behind his back. “You’ve caused quite a bit of excitement today.”

I nodded, doing my best to keep my movements slow and controlled. “Again, I’m sorry about that. I just ended up here and wasn’t sure why.” I shrugged and slipped my hands into my pockets. “Maybe you can understand that pull?”

“Maybe.” Esteban took a few steps back, giving me space. When he did, two of his men spread out, inching closer to Ryker.

My wolf pulled forward, forcing a growl out of me as I took a step closer to them, trying to put myself between the unknown alphas and my omega. My omega? What the hell?

“Back off, guys.” Esteban’s smile grew as he waved his men away from Ryker. “There seems to be something brewing here that we need to respect.” He gestured to Ryker, who looked ready to vanish into the floor. “What about you?”

“I believe him.” He bit his lip and nodded. “I’m willing to take responsibility for him while he’s here.”

Esteban rolled his eyes and whispered under his breath.

“I bet you would.” Then he turned to me.

“I’ll allow you to stay for a few days under Ryker’s supervision.

You’re welcome to leave at any time, but if you want to come back on the property, he’ll need to escort you.

And once you figure out your plan, let me know.

We’re not a refuge. We’re a working family.

If you’re gonna stay, you need to work. And if you plan to work, we’ll need to fully understand your intentions. ”

“Understood.” I fully exhaled, relieved I didn’t have to leave. Or worse, beg. “I’ll be a perfect guest.”

He moved toward Ryker with his arms crossed. “I want daily reports. You can work from home for the next few days, but this is temporary.” He seemed to be having a whole other conversation with just his stern expression. “Figure things out, then come see me.”

“Yes, sir.” He dipped his chin in deference to his alpha. Pack Alpha , my wolf reminded me. “I’ll stay in touch.”

Esteban stared at Ryker for another moment before looking back at me. “If you hurt him, I’ll peel your skin off, wolf.”

I met his gaze and nodded. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Go on, then.” Esteban waved us away as if we were lingering in his space. “We have work to do here, and you’re a distraction.” I didn’t get two feet before he cleared his throat to get my attention again. “Don’t forget, wolf. I’ll be watching.”

Ryker led me outside and around the back of the building to a gravel road. In the distance, there were several homes of varying sizes. “My place is two blocks down.”

“These are blocks?” There were roads that went far into the distance on some kind of grid, but without buildings and coffee shops and sidewalks, it was hard to recognize the infrastructure that had been built within the compound. “Cool.”

The land I came from was a bit more suburban. We were remote but developed, even though I’d never realized how developed until coming here.

Ryker opened the door to his little house and flipped on the light.

With the blinds closed, it was dark inside.

In anyone else’s home, it might have felt dreary or depressing.

But with Ryker, it felt intimate and private.

Exactly what I needed. He hovered in the middle of the front room, wringing his hands together.

“It’s not much, but at least it’s a two-bedroom.

They give omegas bigger places.” He shrugged and turned away so I couldn’t see his face. “You know… Just in case.”

“It’s great. Much nicer than I have…” When he looked at me with big eyes, I grinned. “Which is nothing. So, thank you for having me.”

“You can sit.” He nodded toward the sofa with a soft voice. “Or stand. Or whatever.”

“Thanks.” I sat down as the tension in my chest eased a little. “So, this is weird, right?”

Ryker paced in front of me before dropping onto the other end of the sofa. “Yeah.” He bent his knees up and wrapped his arms around them.

I cleared my throat and decided to try to make sense of what my wolf was saying and my body was experiencing. “Do you understand what’s happening?”

Ryker looked up, startled by the question. “You feel it too?”

“I do.” I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so vulnerable. “My wolf has ideas.”

He looked like he was trying to work out a math problem. “I think my coyote might be right.”

The mate bond hummed under my skin like a beacon to get my attention. It wasn’t quite a pain that worked through me, but it wasn’t comfortable, either.

Ryker picked at a thread on his jeans. “You probably want to get cleaned up.”

I’d forgotten about the crusted blood on my skin and dirt covering my clothes from when I was captured. “Yeah, sorry.” I hopped up from the couch and brushed off the cushion to make sure I didn’t leave any dust behind.

He shook his head and stood too. “I’ll show you where the towels are.”