Free Run with the Moon by Bailey Bradford Page A

weird, not smart enough or good enough. He’d never succeed, and never reach the pinnacle and freedom.
    “No,” he’d shouted. Valen had kept reaching out for a solid grip, had continued pulling himself up, making slow progress.
    Then there’d been no more handholds to be found, and the cliff had suddenly slanted at an angle that had assured Valen’s failure. His hands had slipped, as had his feet. He’d been holding on by three fingers, screaming in fury over the injustice of his lot, when a small, soft hand had appeared to him from nowhere.
    Everything had stopped, except Valen’s ability to tip his head back.
    And there he’d been, so close to the very edge of the cliff, so close to safety. All he’d had to do was take the hand that was offered him.
    The dream—the same one he’d been having for several nights now—played over again in his mind as Valen traipsed to the stream. He was smart enough to know it all had to do with his fears about being a good alpha and his unhappiness about having to leave the pack he’d grown up in. He had his insecurities, though like any strong alpha, he didn’t discuss them. It simply wasn’t done.
    Not in the pack he’d come from.
    He supposed the hand reaching down to help him had been someone acting as his savior. Valen snorted at that. He sniffed around, trying to find the cause of the noise he’d thought had pulled him from his sleep. When nothing turned up, Valen concluded that it’d all been part of his dream.
    Instead of going to the closest part of the stream, he took a run, stretching his legs. When he came to the place where he’d last seen Aaron, Valen stopped.
    At the water’s edge, he could still scent the horses and riders from days ago. Valen had hidden away in the brush and watched Aaron, unreasonably concerned for the man.
    Something had seemed off about him as Aaron had sunk beneath the cool surface. Just when Valen had considered diving in and pulling Aaron from the water, he’d shot up, gasping and slinging his wet hair back. There’d been a melancholy about him that Valen still found worrisome.
    At least no one had tried to harm Aaron. That was why Valen had hung around. He’d felt sort of responsible for the man after bringing him to such a release, and there’d been hints in the conversation they’d shared that had made Valen think humans might still be practicing violence, even against their own pack or village members.
    But Aaron had been treated carefully. Valen hadn’t liked seeing him pressed so closely to another man, which was ridiculous. Valen had no claim on him. Also, a good whiff and Valen had known that the man Walter was Aaron’s father.
    “Figured I’d find you here.”
    Valen glanced behind him to see Rivvie standing and stretching.
    Valen shifted and stood up. “Why’s that?”
    Rivvie looked at him like Valen was a fool. “Seriously? Because you are pining for that human, like it isn’t obvious.”
    So much for Rivvie not nagging him or giving him shit, and denying it would require too much effort. “Yes. I want him.”
    “You had him,” Rivvie pointed out.
    “I want him more, then,” Valen said. “I want him many different ways.”
    Rivvie strolled over, scratching his hefty balls absently. “Is it ‘cause he’s a Human?”
    “No.” At least, Valen didn’t think so.
    “Huh. Guess he’s kinda cute, he’s just really puny, Valen. I don’t think he could survive on his own.” Rivvie knelt and scooped some water into his hands. “That’s kinda a big deal.”
    “That’s what packs are for,” Valen said, the need to defend Aaron instantly springing up. “Everyone works together to ensure our survival and prosperity. You know there are those in Father’s pack that couldn’t make it on their own, either.”
    Rivvie slurped the water up then shook his hands. “Sure there are. I’m just saying, if Aaron were to get kicked out of his village or leave it on his own, he’d be fucked. That’s