Filed to story: The Alpha’s Pen Pal Book
The song switches to Beyonce’s “Run the World,” and the DJ gets on the mic. “Would all the unmarried, unmated females make their way to the center of the dance floor? It is time for the bouquet toss!”
Taryn moves away from me, and I cling to her hand until the last second, until she’s too far away to touch. She winks at me and joins the crowd of females behind Haven, waiting for her to throw the bouquet, waiting to become the lucky lady fate chooses to be the next female to find their life partner.
“No, Ramón,” Imogen groans, shoving the male ballet dancer towards the edge of the floor. “Just because you like men doesn’t mean you count as a single female. Go stand with Peter and wait for the garter toss like a good bat.”
He pouts and crosses his arms. “But Immy—“
She lifts her finger at her male counterpart within the ballet company and glares at him. He sighs and stomps over to Peter, who stands with a glass of red wine in his hand at the edge of the dance floor, a glint of amusement on his otherwise stoic face as he watches their interaction.
I shake my head and turn my attention back to the group as Imogen reaches them, and Haven throws the bouquet towards the eager females. Imogen, Blake, and Taryn are all next to each other, and all three of them reach for the bouquet, fingertips brushing the arrangement.
But my girl gets hold of it and snatches it out of their clutches, lifting it above her head, a triumphant grin on her face as she turns to show me she caught the bouquet.
I clap with the guests as she bounces in excitement. We still have to endure the storm that is sure to break when she learns the truth, but I take this moment as a sign it will work out for us in the end.
“How many more of these do we need to light?” I ask Nolan as I come down the stairs of the new house Wesley built for Haven as a wedding gift. “Also, he’s bringing her here as soon as we tell him it’s finished, right? Because I’d hate for their brand new house to incinerate before they’ve christened it.”
My wolf was reluctant to leave Taryn behind at the tent to come here and light candles with Nolan, but she had my tux jacket wrapped around her and my scent lingering on every inch of her from our dancing, snuggling, touching, and kissing all evening. Even without a mark on her neck, all of it was a subtle claim, a warning to other males at the wedding: she belongs to me, and everyone better keep their hands off.
“I just lit the last one, and yes, they’re making their way here. I just mindlinked Wesley,” Nolan says, leaving the living area off the entryway.
“Sweet,” I say with a smile, tossing my lighter in the bag of supplies we brought with us when we snuck away from the ceremony to finish this last task required of us as groomsmen. “Because I need to get back to my girl.”
Nolan’s eyebrow quirks up as he grabs the bag and follows me out the front door and down the steps. “Yeah, what is that all about? Don’t think we didn’t notice you were all over her at the bar last weekend, too. I hope you’re not planning to fuck her and toss her aside after tonight. Because we like her and—“
“It’s not like that at all,” I say, shaking my head. “She’s—“
“Reid,”
Sebastian mindlinks me, interrupting my confession to Nolan.
“She’s what?” Nolan asks, and I hold up my hand and shake my head, my brow furrowing as Sebastian continues.
“I overheard Dominic talking to Wesley before Wes left to take Haven back to their new house. He said he regrets letting Taryn go, and he made a mistake. He told Wesley he’s going to ask Taryn to be his chosen luna. Tonight.”
I frown and then shake my head, continuing my steady pace along the path back towards the packhouse and the reception tents.
“He’s too late,”
I reply.
“I already told her I want to talk to her and explain everything. She agreed to stay here with me instead of going back to Silver Ridge tonight. How can he ask her if she’s here with me?”
“Because she just left with him.”
“Fuck!” I yell.
My wolf growls and bares his teeth in my mind, and I take off at a run, leaving Nolan in the dust as I race towards the parking lot.
My gut twists, and my heart pounds in time with my footfalls, my wolf howling and pushing me forward. There’s no way she’d agree to his proposal, but I can’t let her leave with him. I can’t risk the sliver of doubt I feel within me; the sliver of doubt I know is in her.
She’s mine.
I reach the parking lot that is no longer full, and I scan the vehicles, looking for the signature silver of Dominic’s Land Rover, the one his mom bought him ten years ago when he became alpha, but it’s gone.
They’re gone.
I pull my phone from my pocket and dial her number, but it goes straight to her voicemail. I try again, but get the same result. My hand tugs at my hair as I keep trying to reach her. And keep failing.
“Reid!” Sebastian yells, coming around the edge of the parking lot. “What are you doing?”
I whip around towards him and pace the edge of the parking lot. “They’re gone. They’ve left. I tried to call her, but her phone is off or dead.” I pause and shove my hands in my hair, crouching to the ground and groaning. “This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have left her alone at the reception, should have let you light the candles instead, like you suggested. And if I had just claimed her, just told her what she was to me right away, then—“
Sebastian grabs my arm and yanks me to my feet. “Reid, you’re wasting time. You need to go after them. Go get your girl back. Tell her she’s yours before you lose her for good.”
I blow out a breath, pushing my fears, frustrations, and self-blame aside and focusing on what I need to do. “You’re right,” I say, turning and walking towards one of the pack SUVs.
“Won’t shifting and running be faster?” Seb asks, following me.
“Yes, but she can’t shift to come back here with me.”
“She shifted the other day. When we played hide and seek.”
“I know, but she hasn’t been able to since. Or, at least, she wasn’t able to at her challenge. And I don’t want to risk her not being able to still.”
He nods as I climb into the vehicle. “Call me if you need backup.”
He slaps the hood as I start the engine, and I take off as fast as I can. My hands clench the steering wheel as I drive, speeding around the curves and switchbacks at a speed that is borderline too fast, but I need to get to my girl. I don’t trust that dickhead Dominic. Not after everything he’s done to Taryn. To my mate.
I’m not sure how far in front of me they are, but I’m over halfway to Silver Ridge when Taryn’s fear and pain hit me with the force of a nuclear explosion. I clench my teeth and let out a muffled groan, pressing my foot down harder on the gas. The terror and panic she feels grows, leaving me breathless, as I glimpse an eery, orange glow against the starry, cloudless sky, and smoke winding its way into the night on the horizon, on the crest of the mountain, where I know Silver Ridge’s packhouse and town center sit.
This is not good.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?