My Alphas: The Complete Series by Emily Cantore

serious, Edon had found his mind slipping back to Cass. He could still feel the softness of her body as she curled against him and when she’d stripped off completely, he’d almost lost his mind.
    Vara had been right - she needed time - and now Edon was sure she would choose him rather than Rey.
    Rey. Finding him lurking in Cass’ room with her crying and bleeding on the floor - what had he been up to? Edon suspected some intimidation game but also knew Rey was as enthralled as he was.
    Despite it being his turn to lead the hunt, Edon had lingered with his scouts, discussing the situation longer than it warranted, his mind only half present. He didn’t want to lead the hunt tonight but knew if he didn’t the pack wouldn’t return with much food. Without an Alpha present, they would hunt and eat and then go hunting for fun only, killing animals for no purpose other than sport. Not only did it reduce the overall food supply but the scraps they brought back would hardly feed anyone.
    He’d finally pushed himself to go, his mood turning even more sour when he passed by Cass’ room and found she’d already gone to the hot spring with Nia. He’d given permission for her to take Cass but found himself disappointed she wasn’t there. He’d shifted and then walked through the main cavern, giving Rey a look bordering on an outright threat: don’t scare the human for fun and don’t do anything stupid.
    Rey, of course, hadn’t responded and so Edon left, the hunting pack following him, his mood as dark as the falling night.
    *
    It was an actual towel. It was faded red and had a rip along the bottom and when wrapped around her would leave very little to the imagination but it was clean and so dry it almost crunched. Cass pressed it against her face and breathed in. It was slice of civilization.
    Nia had swiftly returned them to the den, Cass pressing her naked and somewhat still damp body against her fur in an attempt to keep warm. She must have understood walking a naked Cass through the den wasn’t what she would want so she entered by a second hidden entrance and took her to her room, all without meeting a single other werewolf.
    “I will return later,” Nia said and left the room before Cass could thank her.
    There was another plate of roasted boar sitting next to the door, still steaming. Cass dried her hair, feeling some tangles that would take time to get out and then wrapped the towel around her before picking up the plate.
    She ate a few pieces with her fingers, touching them to the salt and enjoying the smoky flavor. Night had fallen but the werewolves had left two lit tea-candles in her room and in the dim light, the meat glistened. Meat and fat and salt and clean and dry towel and warm room and candlelight… it was bliss.
    The day felt crazy. This morning she’d awoken stiff and cold next to a dying campfire and now she was wearing a towel standing in a werewolf den eating roasted boar. Cass focused on the taste of the meat, the warmth around her, the feel of the towel - they anchored her and pushed away the other side of it: Alpha’s fighting over her. Nia telling her Rey wouldn’t let her leave. The possibility of pack warfare. They were tomorrow’s problems.
    Cass put the plate down and walked over to her bag. It still smelt of mud and gunk but hopefully there would be some dry clothes somewhere in there. The clerk at Wyatt’s camping store had made much of its waterproof capabilities. At the time she could only wonder how many of their customers were foolish people counting down to a lonely death in the wilderness and wondering if she’d be one of them.
    She bent over, the towel riding up her body and opened the zip, trying to avoid getting any mud on her. She was glad she was alone. She could imagine Nia asking a question about the size of her butt, eyes wide and curious like a child.
    The bag wasn’t waterproof. Her clothes were saturated and the entire inside of the bag stunk of mud. Cass looked