True Alpha by Ranae Rose Page B

conversation. But she hadn’t been, and she didn’t retreat as they appeared from behind the screen of pines that hid Jack’s cabin from view of the mountain road. They must have walked from the cabin Jack had rented for them.
    Mandy stood still as a statue as they approached, their gazes sweeping over her and – she imagined – settling on her belly. Mandy’s jaw tightened, and she had to fight the urge to grind her teeth. The baby inside wasn’t an anchor tying Jack to her – it was a result of their love, of the fact that they were mates. Hearing Violet, April and Noah doubt that had gotten her hackles up in an instant.
    April had the nerve to smile as the three approached. “Hi Mandy. We figured we’d come and wait here for the others to get back. They haven’t shown up yet, have they?”
    “No.” Mandy gripped the banister a little tighter. “I’m waiting. For my mate.”
    The others’ neutral expressions faltered for an instant, but soon returned to normal. “I’m sure they’ll be back soon,” Noah said.
    No sooner had he spoken than a soft rustling became audible in the distance – the sound of wolves moving through underbrush, quick and graceful and glad to be back home. Mandy hurried down the short flight of porch steps and rounded the cabin, meeting them as they emerged from the edge of the forest. Thankfully, they all looked whole and no worse for the wear, save for a few twigs and leaves that had become caught in their coats.
    Jack trotted up to Mandy and shifted, instantly becoming a man and taking her in his arms, pulling her close.
    Mandy’s cheeks heated as he gave her a quick hug, his naked body pressed against hers.
    “Didn’t find anything,” he said. “Nothing besides the original scent trail, anyway.”
    “Oh.” Mandy didn’t know whether to be relieved or not. Still blushing, she continued to let him hug her, preserving his modesty with her own body. “Do you plan on finding your clothes, or is this—” she motioned at his bare body “—going to stay the norm even though we’ve got packmates now?”
    Jack grinned. “This has been the norm for years. Noah and Daniel won’t think anything of it. As for the girls, well, I’m not used to havin’ females around.”
    “What am I, then?” Mandy asked, giving him a light, teasing slap across the ass that the others wouldn’t be able to see – or at least, she hoped not.
    “My mate.” He pressed a quick, claiming kiss against her lips. “Hope this ain’t a hint that you’ve wanted me to wear more clothing all along. Hate to think that I’ve been drivin’ you crazy all these months.”
    “Oh, you have been – just not in the way you think.”
     
    ****
     
    “Jack.” Mandy sank onto the bed, clad in a cotton cami and shorts. Though she was ready for bed, she couldn’t have felt farther from being sleepy. “I need to talk to you about something.”
    “What is it?” He’d stripped off his clothes and tossed them aside. Normally, the sight of him nude would’ve distracted Mandy, but she couldn’t think of anything besides the conversation she’d overheard earlier that day.
    “I heard Violet, April and Noah talking about me earlier today – about us – while you and the others were out on patrol.” That afternoon, Mandy had driven to a nearby town to fill out her new hire paperwork for her new job. This was the first time she’d had a chance to bring up the conversation that had been eating at her all day.
    Jack sank onto the bed beside her. “What’d they say?”
    “They don’t think we’re really mates.” She said it as quickly as she could, wanting to get the words out of her mouth. She didn’t like the way they sounded, even though she knew they weren’t true. “Violet thinks you’re only with me because you accidentally got me pregnant and feel obligated to take care of me and the baby.”
    “Mandy.” Jack tucked a hand beneath her chin and lifted it gently, so that their gazes locked.