Page 123 of Ruthless Alpha Beast

I didn’t even need to direct anyone—they’re all already working together. Helping instinctively.

We're helping witches, witches helping us.

“She gave us one hell of a convincing speech, didn’t you, Tara?” Dylan says, smiling.

“You must have known there was no way I was staying with you out alone at night. I mean, come on?”

I shrug. “I did think you’d protest, but I never thought you’d actually be here leading a charge.”

“She’s one hell of a human!” Dylan calls.

Tara chuckles. “Honestly, the scariest thing I’ve done, but now, the forest doesn’t freak me out so much anymore. It’s like I’ve seen it all.”

“Let’s hope you have hon,” Danielle says.

“How are you feeling?” I ask her, “Are you fully recovered?”

“I’m fine,” she responds coolly, although her face hasn’t exactly returned to full color. “More importantly, how are you?”

I’m living on cloud nine now that the forest has been restored.

“How long were you trapped by that thing?”

“I don’t know,” I say. “It tried its hardest to get me, but wasn’t good enough, eh?”

“Because of me,” Tara smiles.

“Yes, because of you.”

We continue walking, and for the first time in what feels like an eternity, the air around us is light and calm.

There’s no feeling of dread weighing down on my shoulders, no overwhelming scent of decay. All that exists is the casual hum of conversation, the occasional wince from someone’s injury, and the shuffle of boots on the soil.

Soil that is now completely healthy.

Alongside the calm is a desire that burns ferociously inside of me.

I want Tara, I’ve always wanted Tara, but now I want her like never before.

She risked her life for me. Perhaps she understands the danger of what she just did; maybe she doesn’t.

Either way, she banded my pack together, banded the witches, too.

Without her, Willow may have won.

I glance down at her again, unable to stop myself. She looks tired, sure—her hair is messy, there’s mud and dirt streaked along her cheeks.

But she’s beautiful. Full of life and joy.

She’salive.

“You know,” Dylan says, breaking my thoughts. “Since the forest has already bounced back, that means no joint hunts, no treatments. I was just getting used to having you witches around.”

“Hey, we can still hang,” Danielle smiles. “We’ve got a mixed group now.”

“Willow has no idea what she’s up against.”

Monroe gazes back at Tara with a slight grin. “She doesn’t know about our secret weapon.”