Page 89 of Ruthless Alpha Beast

“Exactly,” the shifter smiles. “Your most valuable asset is your brain.”

Then he shifts, leaping into the forest.

The food break lasts longer than expected, with the witches and shifters standing around talking and jumping into the lake.

I watch everyone playing, getting on as though they’d never had a long-standing tension between them in the first place.

I chew on a grape.

Who knew that the hunt could be so relaxing? So fun?

Jasper sits down beside me. He’s shirtless, fresh out of the lake, the water dripping down his smooth muscles.

He looks good, I almost forget to swallow.

I cough a little on some grape skin.

“Water?” He hands me a flask.

I take it. “Thanks.”

“You have any other ideas about what we should be looking for?”

“I’ve been thinking about it,” I say thoughtfully. “But I don’t know. From what you’ve described, it seems like when it’s Willow, we’ll know.”

“Mmm.” He agrees.

I want to thank him for being a better person, for having words with the shifters—the reason I assume that they’re all on their best behavior.

I want to say all these things, but I also don’t want to ruin the moment.

Watching everyone get along like this, beneath the moonlight and stars, is perfect.

“This is nice,” I say. “I didn’t know hunts could be like this.”

“Oh yeah?” He grins. “What were you expecting?”

The way he’s looking at me is making my whole body heat up. I crave his lips, to touch his chest.

“Um,” I look away, up at the stars. “Well, I suppose I assumed you’d all just be running. That everything would be quicker with no breaks, I suppose.”

“Mm,” he nods. “We can do that if you want?”

I laugh.

“No, honestly, it can be like that when it’s just the pack, but we gotta accommodate for you all.”

I nod.

“Unless you want to go on my back?”

I raise an eyebrow. “That can’t be comfortable for you.”

He shrugs. “Hey, you’re light, wouldn’t be the first time I lifted you up.”

I swallow.

“Funny.”