f*******n by the Alpha

Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

The forest blurs into streaks of green and brown as I run. My heart thumps in rhythm with the pounding of paws against the earth, and the crisp air fills my lungs with the scent of pine and prey. The pack moves as one, a fluid shadow weaving through the trees.

"Stay close, Isla," Alex's voice cuts through the thrill of the chase, grounding me. I glance over at him, his brown hair tousled from the wind, eyes focused and alert. He's right beside me, keeping pace, a silent promise that he won't let me fall behind.

"Always do," I pant out, a half-smile flickering on my lips despite the tension coiling in my stomach. Being the new bride of Mark, our Alpha, has its own set of challenges. Hunting alongside Alex, so close to the borders of f*******n territory, isn't helping to ease the strain.

When a deer darts across our path, the pack surges forward, but Alex steers us away from the main pursuit. "This way," he urges, and trust propels me after him. We're a team now, veering off on a strategy only known to us.

We track a separate trail, one that leads us closer to the river, the sound of rushing water growing louder. The hunt fades into the background, and it's just Alex and me, breaths mingling in the cool air.

"Break time?" Alex suggests, shifting and slowing to a stop near the water's edge. His gaze holds mine, a silent question waiting for an answer.

"Break time," I agree, feeling the burn in my muscles that craves rest.

We slip off our boots and lower ourselves onto the bank, letting our feet dangle into the cold, clear current. The chill of the river seeps into my skin, drawing out the heat of exertion.

"Feels good, doesn't it?" Alex says, rolling up his sleeves. The sunlight dances over the water, casting a glimmering light that reflects in his blue eyes. They're like the sky after a storm—bright and clear.

"Better than good," I admit, watching the water swirl around our legs, creating ripples that blend together before being swept downstream. It’s a moment of peace amidst the chaos of my new life within the pack.

"Mark pushing you too hard?" His question is gentle but probing, dipping beneath the surface like the pebbles we disturb with our toes.

I hesitate, caught between loyalty and truth. "He's just... protective," I finally say, choosing my words carefully. Alex's lips twitch, not quite forming a smile, but there’s understanding in his gaze.

"Sometimes protection can feel like a cage," he murmurs, almost to himself, and I wonder if he's speaking from experience.

"Maybe," I whisper back, my eyes on the horizon where the water meets the sky—a line that seems impossible to reach, yet endlessly alluring.

"Let's enjoy the freedom while we can," Alex says, breaking the introspection. He splashes water my direction playfully, laughter bubbling up from his chest.

I can't help but join in, the sound of our shared amusement floating up to mingle with the rustling leaves above. For a moment, there's no pack, no Alpha, no duty. There's just the river, Alex, and me, and the simple joy of cool water on tired feet.

Water droplets leap from my skin as I shake out my hair, letting the sun's warmth chase away the chill of the river. Alex is a few steps away, his back to me as he wrings out the bottom of his shirt. I can't help but notice how the muscles along his spine tense and relax with the motion—graceful even in such a mundane task.

"Feels good to let loose, doesn't it?" Alex says over his shoulder, his voice low and inviting.

"Definitely," I agree, tucking a damp strand of hair behind my ear. There’s an ease between us I didn’t expect, a connection that seems to have sprouted overnight.

He turns to face me, a half-smile playing on his lips. "You're not like the rest of them, Isla. You've got this wild streak. It suits you."

My heart flutters at his words, as if they’re butterflies trying to escape the confines of my ribcage. "And what about you? What's your story, Alex?"

"Me?" He shrugs, taking a step closer. “Son of the River Run Alpha, but that doesn’t define me.”

“Then who else are you?”

"I'm just a guy who likes the thrill of the chase. The wind in my fur, the ground beneath my paws—it's the only time I feel truly alive."

The way he speaks, it's almost poetic, and I find myself leaning in, captivated. His blue eyes hold a flicker of untamed spirit that calls to something deep within me. "You make it sound so... free."

"Isn't that what we all want? Freedom?" He reaches out, hesitating for just a heartbeat before his fingers brush against mine. "To choose our own paths, make our own mistakes."

His touch sends a jolt up my arm, setting every nerve alight. We're close enough now that I can see the flecks of silver in his eyes, the sincerity etched into the lines of his face. "Yes," I whisper, "freedom..."

"Then why do you stay with him? With Mark?" The question hangs between us, heavy and loaded, yet Alex's gaze doesn't waver.

I swallow hard, unsure how to respond. My relationship with Mark is complicated—a tangle of duty and respect, woven tight by tradition and expectation. But standing here with Alex, feeling the pull of his presence, those complications seem to unravel, thread by thread.

"Mark is my Alpha," I start, the title tasting sour on my tongue. "But sometimes I wonder if there's more to life than just following orders."

"Maybe there is," Alex says softly, stepping even closer. "Maybe you just need someone to show you."

The air is electric with the unsaid promise in his words, and I'm suddenly aware of the rise and fall of his chest, the heat emanating from his body. My pulse races, and I realize I'm caught—not by duty or obligation, but by desire. Desire for this man, this moment, this sliver of possibility that feels as vast as the sky above us.

"Maybe," I breathe, and the word is both a confession and an invitation.