Free Capturing the Alpha (Shifters of Nunavut Book 1) by Viola Rivard Page A

uncomfortable than shifting while he was aroused, and he couldn’t remember any time he’d been this aroused.
    A hundred times—at least—he thought about turning around and pulling her back into his arms. It was worse than before, because now he knew that he could override any objections she had, that she wanted him as badly as he wanted her.
    She had kissed him .
    Females of his kind were by no means timid. When they wanted sex, they could pursue it more aggressively than any male. His younger years were proof of that, back when he’d been the only juvenile male with hair on his chest in a pack full of females eager to explore their budding adulthood. The memory of being stalked like prey and fought over like a choice cut of meat could still induce a headache in him to this day.
    Everything had changed after his father died and he had assumed the role of alpha. Even the boldest females weren’t willing to presume his favor, and they always waited for him to make the first move. After years of dodging advances at every corner, it had been a welcome relief and a change he still enjoyed.
    But when Ginnifer had taken the initiative and put her hot mouth on his, lust had torn through him like wildfire, scorching all inhibitions that lay in its path. Everything between that moment and when he had her on the ground, his teeth pressed to her neck, had been a blur. His baser instincts had taken over, and it was only when he was about to mark her that he had snapped back to reality. Even then, he hadn’t wanted to stop, but when she’d came—without his cock in her, without even his fingers stroking her, it had shocked him.
    Zane had stared down at her, taking her in completely. Her beautifully tousled hair, her shapely lips parted in a low moan, her back arched, the tops of her flushed breasts, the way her body quivered… He knew that if he had her then, it wouldn’t be just once. By the time it was over, there would be no part of her that didn’t carry his mark and he would not let her go.
    It would have overturned his entire future, jeopardized the security of his pack, and violated the principles he’d held since his youth, since his father had done all that and more when he’d decided to take a human mate.
    Zane glanced furtively over his shoulder. Ginnifer’s eyes were downcast, a small frown completing her dejected look. A knot formed in his throat.
    She’s not your responsibility , he thought as he forced himself to face forward again.
    A gust of wind brought her scent to him again. Zane licked his lips, but his tongue was dry. He considered veering off course. They were already late, what difference would a few more hours make? He knew of a place to the west, a cave that went deep into the earth. It was a long trek down, but in a small chamber towards the bottom, there was a spring of hot water, the perfect temperature for bathing. They could go there and she could wash up. Her scent would no longer plague him, and when they arrived back at the den, he wouldn’t have to deal with the knowing looks of the others.
    But even as he worked out this benign solution, his mind concurrently played a very different scenario. He would take her to the spring, and then go hunt, leaving his pelt with her. He would hunt something large, large enough for them to eat for days, a week even. He would return to her with all of the best portions, feed her from his hand, and then they would mate. She would already be naked beneath his pelt, and he would waste no time in burying himself inside of her.
    Zane shook his head, as though it would banish the images. He had to take her back to the den, no detours. Hopefully, the smell would fade by then, and if it didn’t, so what? He was alpha. His jaw clenched.
    The sky had begun to lighten by the time Zane shifted. He was no less hard, but Ginnifer’s steps had begun to falter as exhaustion overtook her. Almost as soon as she was on his back, she fell asleep with her arms wrapped