Page 20 of Swipe Right on the Alpha (Fur Real Love #1)

The full moon hung low and bright over the forest surrounding Dylan’s cabin, its light filtering through the trees to create dappled patterns on the forest floor.

Aiden moved with growing confidence through the familiar paths, his enhanced senses—a gift of the mate bond—allowing him to navigate the darkness with ease.

They’d been back in the States for just over a week, the welcome home celebration finally concluded, pack business tentatively sorted into manageable priorities.

Tonight was their first opportunity for a tradition they’d established during their European travels—the monthly full moon run, Dylan in his full wolf form with Aiden keeping pace alongside.

The changes to Aiden’s physiology from the mate bond had been subtle but significant—enhanced stamina, improved night vision, accelerated healing, and a general vitality that made keeping up with a werewolf not quite as impossible as it would have been before.

He couldn’t match Dylan’s speed or endurance completely, but he could participate in ways no ordinary human could.

A rustle in the undergrowth ahead announced Dylan’s return from his perimeter check.

The massive black wolf emerged from the shadows, amber eyes glowing in the moonlight as he approached Aiden with familiar grace.

In full wolf form, Dylan was impressive—larger than any natural wolf, with powerful shoulders and an intelligence in his gaze that was unmistakably more than animal.

“All clear?” Aiden asked, reaching out to run his fingers through the thick fur at Dylan’s ruff.

Dylan nudged Aiden’s hand with his muzzle in affirmation before turning to lead the way deeper into the forest. Their bond remained active regardless of Dylan’s form, allowing a communication that transcended the need for words—impressions, emotions, and simple concepts flowed between them with natural ease.

As they moved through the forest together, Aiden reflected on the strange, wonderful journey that had brought him here.

One year ago, he’d been a professional dating disaster, turning his romantic failures into content for hundreds of thousands of followers.

Now he was running under a full moon beside his werewolf mate, integrated into a supernatural world he hadn’t known existed, his life transformed in ways he could never publicly explain.

Yet his career continued to flourish, albeit in evolved form.

His European travel content had attracted new followers and sponsorship opportunities.

His occasional relationship insights—carefully edited to exclude supernatural elements—resonated with an audience that had grown alongside him.

He’d even signed a deal for a second book, this one focused on finding authentic connection in a world of superficial interactions.

The irony wasn’t lost on him—finding his most authentic connection through an accidental supernatural dating app.

Dylan paused in a small clearing, turning to look back at Aiden with an invitation clear in his posture. This was part of their monthly ritual too—a moment of playful chase that satisfied Dylan’s wolf instincts while allowing Aiden to embrace the freedom of running without human constraints.

With a grin, Aiden darted forward to tap Dylan’s nose before spinning away, calling over his shoulder, “Catch me if you can, Alpha!”

The joyful growl that followed him through the trees sent pleasant shivers down his spine. He ran without fear, knowing Dylan would never truly lose track of him, their bond a constant awareness of each other’s location and wellbeing.

When Dylan finally caught him—always a foregone conclusion—it was with gentle precision, herding Aiden against a broad tree trunk and pressing his large form against him in wolfish triumph. Aiden laughed, breathless from the run, hands coming up to bury in thick fur.

“I think I’m getting faster,” he claimed with mock seriousness. “You barely caught me this time.”

The impression that flowed through their bond was clearly amused disbelief, accompanied by a wave of affection so strong it made Aiden’s chest tight with answering emotion.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, wolf-man,” Aiden said, scratching behind Dylan’s ears in the way he pretended to dislike but secretly enjoyed. “Just wait until these mate-bond enhancements fully kick in. I’ll be outrunning you in no time.”

Dylan’s response was to lick a wet stripe up Aiden’s cheek, making him sputter in protest. Before he could retaliate, Dylan was backing away, form already beginning to shift.

The transformation was fluid and efficient—bones reorganizing, fur receding, the wolf form giving way to human in a process that still fascinated Aiden despite having witnessed it countless times.

Within moments, Dylan stood before him fully human and completely naked—a state that, despite the chill night air, seemed to cause him no discomfort. Werewolf body temperature ran significantly higher than human norm, a trait Aiden had come to appreciate during cold nights.

“You’re getting faster,” Dylan acknowledged, closing the distance between them again. “But I’ll always catch you.”

“Promise?” Aiden asked, the word carrying more weight than the playful tone suggested.

Dylan’s expression softened as he reached to cradle Aiden’s face with gentle hands. “Promise. In this life and whatever comes after.”

The kiss that followed was tender yet possessive, a perfect embodiment of their relationship—the balance of strength and gentleness, protection and partnership, supernatural and human finding harmony.

When they separated, Dylan kept Aiden close, one arm around his waist as they began the walk back toward the cabin. The night was peaceful, the forest alive with sounds that Aiden’s enhanced hearing could now distinguish and identify.

“The pack meeting tomorrow,” Aiden said after a comfortable silence. “Are you worried about what Theo’s contact on the Council reported?”

Dylan’s expression grew more serious, though his arm remained secure around Aiden.

“Concerned, yes. If Conrad’s faction succeeds in changing the mating laws, it could destabilize territories across the continent.

Their view that human mates should be ‘community resources’ rather than exclusive bonds is dangerous and regressive. ”

The political situation had indeed grown more complex during their absence.

A faction of traditionalist packs, led by Conrad’s alliance, was pushing for controversial changes to laws governing human-werewolf relations, particularly regarding mate bonds.

Their perspective—that the rarity of humans compatible with werewolf bonds made them too valuable to be claimed exclusively—threatened the foundation of mate practices that had existed for centuries.

“They won’t succeed,” Aiden said with more confidence than he entirely felt. “Your grandfather still has influence on the Council, and from what Elena says, most of the progressive packs are firmly against the proposal.”

“It’s not just the proposal itself that worries me,” Dylan admitted. “It’s what it represents—a shift in thinking, a willingness to consider humans as resources rather than partners. That mentality, if it spreads…” He shook his head, leaving the concerning implications unspoken.

Aiden understood the worry. In the months since their bonding, he’d learned much about the delicate balance between supernatural communities and the human world. Attitudes like Conrad’s threatened not just individual relationships but the careful integration that allowed both worlds to coexist.

“Then we fight it,” Aiden said simply. “Politically, diplomatically, whatever it takes. I didn’t accidentally download a supernatural dating app, discover werewolves exist, and mate with an alpha just to have some regressive faction tell us our bond isn’t valid.”

The determination in his voice drew a smile from Dylan, tension easing from his shoulders. “Have I mentioned lately how glad I am that LunaLove’s verification protocols failed that night?”

“Only every time you catch me documenting our life for my followers,” Aiden replied with a grin. “Speaking of which, I promised a sunrise hike video tomorrow. Think we could stage something that looks spontaneous but doesn’t reveal any supernatural elements?”

Dylan laughed, the sound warm in the quiet forest. “I’m sure we can manage that. We’ve become experts at living between worlds.”

The observation was accurate—their life together was indeed a careful navigation between human and supernatural spheres, public and private, revealed and concealed.

Yet rather than feeling restrictive, Aiden had found unexpected freedom in this dual existence.

His public persona had evolved into something more authentic despite sharing less of his personal life, while his private world had expanded to include magic, mystery, and connections deeper than he’d ever imagined possible.

As the cabin came into view, warm light spilling from its windows in welcome, Aiden felt a surge of contentment through the bond—Dylan’s emotions mirroring his own in that way that still amazed him after months together.

“Home,” Dylan said simply, pressing a kiss to Aiden’s temple.

And it was—not just the physical structure but what it represented: their shared life, the pack bonds extending outward, the future they were building together despite challenges ahead.

From dating disaster to werewolf mate, from content creator to bridge between worlds, Aiden’s journey had been anything but expected.

But as Dylan pulled him close for another kiss under the full moon, Aiden couldn’t imagine wanting any other path. Some stories were too strange for his followers, too magical for public consumption—and those, he had discovered, were the most precious of all.

“Home,” he agreed, leaning into the embrace. “Wolf and all.”