Page 19 of Swipe Right on the Alpha (Fur Real Love #1)
“And we’re live in three, two, one…” Aiden counted down with practiced ease before smiling into the camera. “Hello beautiful humans! Coming to you today from our apartment in Milan, where we’ve been based for the past month exploring northern Italy and eating our body weight in pasta daily.”
The backdrop behind him showcased a stylish apartment with large windows framing a stunning view of the Milan skyline. Aiden was comfortably settled on a modern couch, looking relaxed and genuinely happy in a way his long-time followers had been commenting on for months.
“Today marks exactly one year since I downloaded LunaLove and matched with the infamous Mountain Man Dylan,” Aiden continued, his hand absently touching the silver wolf pendant that now permanently resided around his neck—a gift from Dylan that concealed a tiny vial containing a drop of his blood, a traditional werewolf token that allowed mates to sense each other across greater distances.
“To celebrate, I thought I’d answer the top five questions you’ve been bombarding me with since we started this European adventure six months ago. And yes, Dylan has approved this Q&A, miracle of miracles, so we’re actually sharing some details for once!”
The comments section immediately exploded with excitement:
“FINALLY SOME DYLAN CONTENT!!!
“Is he there?? SHOW HIM!!”
“That pendant never leaves your neck… is that his collar?”
Aiden laughed, reading a few comments aloud.
“The pendant is not a collar, though thank you for that mental image I’ll never unsee.
And yes, Dylan is here, though he’s camera-shy as always.
” He shifted the angle slightly to reveal Dylan’s arm and shoulder at the edge of the frame, the rest of him strategically out of view. “Say hi, babe.”
A deep, warm voice responded off-camera, “Hello, Aiden’s followers. Thanks for your continued interest in our relationship.”
“He’s been practicing that line all morning,” Aiden stage-whispered to the camera with obvious affection. “Okay, onto the questions before he escapes completely!”
Aiden pulled up his phone, scrolling through saved questions.
“Number one, by overwhelming majority: ‘Are you and Mountain Man married?’ The technical answer is no, not in the legal human sense.” His fingers absently touched the pendant again.
“But we had a… commitment ceremony of sorts before leaving the States. Dylan’s family has some traditional customs that are important to them, so we did a private ceremony according to those traditions. ”
It wasn’t entirely a lie—the mate bond was indeed a ceremony according to werewolf tradition, far more binding than human marriage. They’d discussed potentially having a legal human wedding at some point, but both agreed the bond was what mattered most.
“Number two: ‘Why the sudden world tour? Are you running from something?’” Aiden read, laughing.
“Only my outstanding student loans, which unfortunately follow me everywhere. The honest answer is that Dylan’s family business has international connections that needed attention, and my work is fortunately portable.
When the opportunity came to combine business with pleasure, we took it. ”
Again, not entirely false—Dylan had indeed been strengthening pack alliances across Europe, introducing Aiden as his mate to supernatural communities while conducting traditional pack business.
The travel had served multiple purposes: allowing the new bond to strengthen without daily pack obligations, giving Aiden time to adjust to his enhanced abilities, and removing them from the immediate attention of the rival packs that had been causing trouble.
“Number three: ‘What happened to the dating disaster content? Your whole brand changed!’” Aiden’s expression grew more thoughtful.
“Life changed, so the content changed with it. Finding a healthy, supportive relationship meant the disasters stopped being my story. But based on the metrics, you all seem to be enjoying the travel content, relationship insights, and glimpses into our life together even more than my previous dating catastrophes.”
What he couldn’t explain was how finding your supernatural mate fundamentally shifted your priorities and perspective. The career that had once been his primary focus now existed comfortably alongside his bond with Dylan and his growing role within the pack structure.
“Number four: ‘Will you ever come back to the States, or have you gone full European expat?’” Aiden read.
“We’re actually flying back next week. As much as we’ve loved this extended honeymoon phase, we miss home, friends, and family.
Dylan especially misses his…” he paused, carefully choosing his words, “close-knit friend group.”
Through their bond, Aiden could sense Dylan’s amusement at the careful phrasing.
Six months of constant connection had refined their bond to remarkable sensitivity—they could now communicate emotional nuances and sometimes even specific thoughts across the link, a development that had transformed their relationship in ways Aiden was still discovering.
“And finally, number five: ‘Are you happy? Like really, genuinely happy?’” Aiden’s expression softened.
“That’s unexpectedly wholesome compared to the usual questions about our sex life.
” He glanced toward Dylan, their eyes meeting off-camera with a look of such transparent affection that several commenters immediately keysmashed their reactions.
“Yes,” Aiden said simply, turning back to the camera. “Happier than I ever imagined possible. The kind of happiness that makes all those dating disasters worth it because they led me here, to him, to this life we’re building together.”
The sincerity in his voice was unmistakable, his usual performative polish giving way to genuine emotion. Through their bond, he could feel Dylan’s answering wave of love and pride.
“And on that sappy note, I’ll wrap up today’s check-in,” Aiden continued, regaining his professional composure.
“We’ll be documenting our final European adventures this week, so watch for updates from Lake Como where we’re heading tomorrow.
Love to all of you, and remember—sometimes the wrong app leads to the right person! ”
After ending the livestream, Aiden set his equipment aside with a satisfied sigh. “That went well, I think. Minimal supernatural slipups.”
Dylan moved fully into frame now that the camera was off, settling beside Aiden on the couch and pulling him against his chest in a familiar position. “You’re getting good at dancing around the truth without actually lying,” he observed, pressing a kiss to Aiden’s temple.
“Professional hazard of being mated to a werewolf,” Aiden replied, leaning into the embrace. “Though the pendant questions are getting more frequent. I think my followers suspect it has significance beyond fashion.”
“It does,” Dylan said, his finger tracing the silver wolf that rested against Aiden’s collarbone. “Just not significance they’d understand.”
The pendant had been a traditional gift to cement their bond—containing Dylan’s blood in a silver vessel specially treated to be harmless to werewolves, it allowed Aiden to maintain a physical connection to his mate even when separated.
The practice dated back centuries, Dylan had explained, from times when human mates needed protection while their werewolf partners were away.
“Are you really ready to go back?” Aiden asked, shifting to look at Dylan properly. “These six months have been… uncomplicated. Just us, the bond, occasional supernatural diplomacy. Back home there’s the pack, the territory disputes, your grandfather’s council position to consider…”
Dylan’s expression grew more serious. “We can’t avoid responsibilities forever. The pack needs their alpha present, not just checking in via video calls. And the rumors we’ve heard about Conrad’s faction pushing for policy changes with the North American Council… we need to be there to counter it.”
The reminder of supernatural politics brought a sigh from Aiden.
During their European tour, they’d received concerning reports from Theo about increased activity from rival packs testing Silverwood boundaries, along with political maneuvering within the governing body that oversaw werewolf territories in North America.
“At least I’m not completely useless in pack politics anymore,” Aiden noted with dry humor. “Six months of supernatural crash courses from European packs has been educational.”
“You were never useless,” Dylan corrected firmly. “But yes, your diplomatic skills have proven surprisingly valuable. The Italian alphas specifically mentioned how impressed they were with your ability to mediate the territory discussion last week.”
Aiden’s integration into werewolf society had indeed been smoother than either of them had anticipated.
His natural charm and communication skills, honed through years of content creation and brand partnerships, translated effectively to supernatural diplomacy.
As Dylan’s mate, he occupied a unique position—not quite werewolf but no longer fully human, able to bridge perspectives in ways pure werewolves sometimes couldn’t.
“Speaking of pack,” Aiden said, checking his phone, “Theo’s been texting non-stop about the welcome home gathering they’re planning. Apparently, Sofia’s entire coven is involved in the preparations, which either means amazing food or magical chaos. Possibly both.”
Dylan chuckled, the sound rumbling pleasantly through his chest where Aiden leaned against him. “Definitely both. They’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed them too,” Aiden admitted, surprising himself with the sincerity of the statement. “Even Theo’s inappropriate commentary and Elena’s judgy eyebrows.”
The bond had changed more than just Aiden’s relationship with Dylan—it had integrated him into the pack structure in ways that created genuine connections with each member.
The metaphysical ties that bound werewolf packs together now included him, creating a sense of belonging he’d never experienced in his human social circles.
“What about your friends?” Dylan asked. “Mason’s been asking when we’re returning in every message.”
“He’s suspicious,” Aiden admitted. “The last video call, he kept asking about the pendant, why my eyes sometimes catch the light differently, why I seem to hear him before he’s finished speaking. I think he knows something’s changed beyond just being in a relationship.”
Dylan’s arms tightened slightly around him. “Would you consider telling him? He’s important to you, and we can request a disclosure exemption from the Council based on your status as my mate.”
The question wasn’t new—they’d discussed the possibility of bringing Mason into the supernatural secret several times over the past months.
The laws governing human knowledge of the supernatural world were strict but did allow for exceptions when human mates wished to maintain close pre-existing relationships.
“Maybe,” Aiden said thoughtfully. “Not immediately when we return, but… eventually. If he’s still asking questions, still noticing changes.” He turned in Dylan’s arms, expression serious. “Would the Council actually approve it? With everything else going on?”
Dylan considered carefully before answering. “Your status as my mate gives the request significant weight. And having a trusted human ally who understands your situation could be valuable, especially if the political climate continues to deteriorate.”
The reminder of potential trouble ahead sobered them both. Reports from home had grown increasingly concerning—boundary testings, political maneuverings, and rumors of more progressive packs facing challenges from traditionalist factions opposed to human integration.
“One problem at a time,” Aiden said finally, forcing lightness back into his tone. “First, we survive Lake Como, then the transatlantic flight, then the welcome home party. Supernatural politics can wait at least that long.”
Dylan smiled, though concern lingered in his eyes. “Always the optimist.”
“One of us has to be,” Aiden countered, leaning up to press a kiss to Dylan’s jaw. “Besides, we’ve faced worse. Accidentally downloading a supernatural dating app, discovering werewolves exist, navigating a mate bond—compared to all that, pack politics should be a breeze.”
The joke earned him a genuine laugh and a kiss that quickly deepened into something more heated. Through their bond, Aiden could feel Dylan’s desire building, accompanied by the protective possessiveness that always intensified when discussions of returning home arose.
“We have two hours before we need to pack,” Dylan murmured against Aiden’s lips, hands already sliding beneath his shirt with clear intent. “Any ideas how to pass the time?”
Aiden grinned, allowing himself to be pulled into Dylan’s lap with ease. “I might have a few suggestions,” he replied, fingers threading through Dylan’s hair to tug gently in the way he knew drove his mate wild. “None of them suitable for my social media channels.”
“Good,” Dylan growled, eyes taking on that amber glow that still sent thrills through Aiden’s body. “Some things are just for us.”