Free Owned By The Alphas: Part Three by Faleena Hopkins Page A

sarcastically. They lowered guilty eyes.
    Red took over from there, saying with authority, “I will go with them. Calt, Ali and I will sleep together to ensure the other alpha does not learn any new tricks.” He smiled.
    Several rolled their eyes, and Bloo voiced what they were thinking. “Yeah. You’re just going to sleep.”
    Ali exclaimed, “We are! It’s part of the deal. It’s either that or nothing.”
    “Fuck,” Dak mumbled.
    Calus’s head bobbed. “I couldn’t do that.”
    Ali blushed and said, defensively, “I’m tired. I need to sleep…”
    “Because she knows she won’t be able to handle this ,” Tawny shot out with a smirk. The other wolves bit their tongues, but it was clear they were of the same mind.
    Ali’s color deepened. “We’ll see, Tawny.”
    Red glanced to Calt to see he was trying not to smile, too. Red cleared his throat. “Alright. Let’s go.”
    He let go of Ali’s hand and she stepped back on a jump as all of Calt’s pack transformed with him, cracking and bending until they were all beautiful wolves with shining, ethereal eyes. Red’s pack walked them to the door. Outside, Ali went to get on Red, but he shook his head. She paused and turned away. He wanted her to be with Calt, hoping it was the last time. She climbed on top of Calt’s back and looped her arms around his neck. Red heard her whisper, “I’m okay. Shaynah helped me get better. Go as fast as you want to.”
    They all took off into the forest, heading for the mountain. Running with wolves who up until an hour ago were a danger to him, was exhilarating. He felt accepted, and that was not a common feeling. It was especially strange after having confessed about his father. He hadn’t known if Calt would blame Red for Rait’s untimely death. He could easily have done so, and that he hadn’t, moved him.
    To show his respect, he ran beside the alpha, even though he could have passed him and showed off his speed since he was not carrying a delicate passenger this time. He didn’t know if Calt knew what he was doing, that he was holding back, but it didn’t matter. He did this because this was who he was. Who his grandfather had taught him to be–a being who paid respect where it was due.
    Running up the granite mountain, he silently called to the heavens, Grandpa, can you see me? Is this what you meant? Thank you for accepting me.
    Like these wolves are now.



Chapter 11
    W ith Ali holding tightly to him, Calt covered the terrain between Red’s den and his in good time. He was careful with her; he could feel her trembling from the cold towards the end of the journey, so he gave a short bark and, as though she could understand his other language, she leaned down so that her body was flat against his and able to soak in more of his natural warmth and use his great fur to seal hers in. She looped her arms around his neck and clasped her small hands together as she whispered in his ear, “Good idea.” He thought this peculiar, but wrote it off to women’s intuition, the thing Shaynah had described to him when he was young and she’d known he’d been up to no good. One of many times.
    The large, thick bushes that in effect concealed the entrance to his den came into view as they climbed up higher. He slowed only when they were in front of the cave, with him in the lead, Red just a couple steps behind. Stopping, he waited for Ali to climb off. The sun was on its way, and the darkness in the sky was making room for its arrival. Ali looked all around her and breathed, “It’s just so beautiful. I hope I never get used to it.”
    Red walked up and stood beside him, still in wolf form, too. All of them were, save for the human. They were waiting for Calt, and Calt realized that Red was doing the same. He met the other alphas eyes and considered him a moment. How interesting to show such respect when he could have easily tried to show his power. But the greater power was to not need to show it. That he was