Freeing My Alpha: Book 2 of My Shy Alpha

Chapter 6

I can't even be relieved. I grip Noah's taught bicep, placing one hand over his heart. The poor organ races beneath my palm.

"God, what is their problem?" I breathe. "Are you okay?"

Noah sighs, closing his eyes. He takes a deep breath. And another. When he speaks, he shakes his head. "More or less."

With a hand on my back, Noah guides me back to Rainn, leaving the Alphas in the distance with large strides. I struggle to follow after him, but Noah's legs only stretch wider. His voice is even, but agitation bursts through our bond.

"These Alpha-domination asshats show up every now and then, but I don't want you to think this is widely accepted behavior in Greenfield. It's just that there's so many of us in our pack that some ignorant Lycans are bound to show up."

"That makes sense," I say.

Noah huffs. His words race faster with every sentence. "I wish it didn't. Everyone's entitled to opinions, sure, but I don't tolerate when those opinions harm the lives of other pack members. Between us, I have them classified as a cult in my personal database. They're small, not much more than ten or fifteen extremist Alphas, but I have my eye on them. I really didn't want you to have to hear that shit. Fuck–"

"Noah." The sharpness of my voice stops Noah in his tracks. He faces me, wide-eyed and breathless. I comb his choppy hair back into order, running my shaky fingers through it. "Are you really okay?"

He shrugs, his forehead creasing. "I-I don't know. I'm really worried that could've made you feel less safe here. I find that– u-upsetting."

I can't help myself - I break into a sad smile. "I still feel safe."

"You do?"

"Of course, love. Especially hearing you verbally kick their asses by standing in your truth. I love you to pieces." I smile as Noah relaxes, drawing me to his chest. Breathing in his protective scent blankets peace over me. "Those concepts aren't new to me, anyway. They sound a lot like a Lycan version of Steven."

Noah's arms tense.

Before I can blink, he steps back from me, gripping his forehead.

But he doesn't say anything.

"Noah? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be an extra downer–" I reach for him, but I gasp. Yellow eyes stare back at me, his wolf on full alert.

"Do you think he's an Alpha-domination Lycan?" He rasps. "He could be in one of those shitty neighboring packs, just like I've been worried about."

I shake my head. Not because I don't believe Noah, but because I don't want to. The thought of Steven morphing into a giant, raging beast sends my nervous system reeling, my vision fading into black and white.

"Fuck, I'm sorry." Noah grabs my cheeks. "Breathe. Keep breathing. You're safe. I'm right here with you, and we're safe."

I take slower, shaky breaths, clinging to his shirt. Within a minute, my heart settles. Dropping my forehead against Noah's chest, I shake my head, accidentally letting a thought-clearing compulsion slip through.

But as a new thought crosses my mind, I perk up. "Wait, he has to be human. Wouldn't Amy have noticed Steven's pheromones on me if he was an Alpha Lycan?"

Noah deflates.

Oh, God. By the sinking ache in our bond, I'm terrified of what he'll say next.

Noah's forehead ripples. "Not necessarily. I'm honestly impressed you could smell those Alphas. Maybe it's because you were already tracking my Alpha pheromones, but I didn't notice them at first because a lot of hunting Alphas use scent-blocking drugs. It's a common practice."