Alpha's Mate : Daughter of the Moon (Book 2 of The Outcaste Series)

Chapter 12

A/N: Hey guys! Can't believe we're at ch. 12 already, but at the same time, we're only just this far in. These chapters are longer now so they take longer to write, but I'm still aiming at the whirlwind romance style. Storm to come...hehe. Anyways, great to see you again and Enjoy~

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"Finally home?" I ask, the second Ralphie walks in with his boyish grin.

"Yup!" he beamed as he bounced on the bed and rolled over to face me.

I pay him no mind as I continue to read the book in my hand.

"Are you upset?" he asks in concern when I show no reaction to the silly faces he was making to get my attention.

I give him a polite smile before flipping to the next page.

"Alvena," he calls gently and takes the book away from me. "Please don't be upset."

Folding my arms across my chest, I lean back and turn the other way, feigning disinterest. To my dissatisfaction, Ralphie lets out a little laugh that mocked my attempted seriousness at the moment.

"The Alphas gave an important order. No one should know about it yet, but I'll tell you if you stop being upset with me," he says with his puppy eyes.

"I don't want you to tell me that."

Placing my hand on his forehead, he looks at me in wonder.

"What happened last night? Where did that fever come from?"

Ralphie immediately looked at the floor in guilt. I could tell he was debating in his head whether or not to tell the truth as is or try decorating it, but knowing his personality, he'd settle for the first option.

"I turn like that when I don't shift enough," he finally answers quietly.

"But you practically change into a wolf every morning."

"Lycan form," he clarifies.

"Why didn't you?" I question a bit harshly from my pent up anxiety.

"In Lycan form, we get a little more...hmm..." Ralphie hesitates to search for the word. "Lycan is our greatest form and umm..." he begins to explain. His face gets a little flushed as I stare at him intently. Somehow seeing him like this is quite amusing.

"So?" I playfully fake my seriousness, but he takes bait.

"So...when we turn into Lycan, we also get a little more..." he pauses before shyly adding, "...hot..."

"Aroused?"

I knew I got the right word when Ralphie's eyes widened.

For the first time, he seemed to be embarrassed by his apparent nakedness and turned over so that his back was facing me.

"Ralphie, don't look away," I coo but he doesn't budge.

When he didn't respond to my words, I crawled near the end of the bed where he was sitting.

"Ralphie," I call his name as I slide my hands behind his neck and throw one leg over until I'm sitting on his lap facing him.

This seemed to cause him to flush even redder.

"Please get off..."

"Did you know how worried I was? I'm not getting off until you tell me," I press on.

"Please don't tease me..." Ralphie answered in a low tone.

"Why didn't you shift?"

"I'll make sure to shift more often," he dips his head in apology. "And when I do, I'll stay away."