Free Reclaiming Her Alpha (Paranormal Werewolf Shifter Romance) by Celina Reyer

 
     
    Reclaiming Her Alpha
     
    Katherine had lost herself in it, heart racing, sweat pouring down her back, legs turning to rubber. She was gasping for breath when she made it over the finish line first and collapsed on the cool grass, listening to the barely audible cheers of the crowd over her own pounding heartbeat.
    Monique came to her first, looking like she had never broken a sweat in her life. Kat envied the way her sister always looked so polished. She knew her own face was bright red from exertion, but only a delicate flushing t inged her sister's cheeks where the autumn wind had brushed her skin. Likewise, where Kat's long hair was falling out of its ponytail, Monique's locks flowed tidily around her shoulders. 
    Kat forced a smile and looked past her sister. He was there, lookin g at her proudly, his blue eyes glowing as he reached past Monique to pull her to her feet. Ridiculously, she couldn't even stammer a "thank you" because her nerves jangled so violently when he took her hand in his. He gave her a strong yank that sent her stumbling against him, and she couldn't stop her body from reacting. Her heart raced, her skin felt feverish, and her mind murmured Oh, Nathaniel... as she felt the familiar, solid strength of his broad chest and smelled his irresistible scent.
    Her reveri e was broken when he rumbled, "Nice, Little Kat. First place!" as her sister squealed and clapped and pretended to make a fuss. Her eyes met his and she felt the heat of his gaze, but Nathaniel was her sister's boyfriend now, and there was nothing she could do about it.
    ***
    The first two days of the Harvest Moon Festival were always family-friendly, the usual carnival rides and games and the annual 5K, which Kat had just won for her age group. The neighboring communities had their suspicions about their little enclave, but for appearances' sake the pack hosted very public events throughout the year, managing to prevent trouble by being "skin-friendly."
    The third night, however, was a private celebration held by the pack's Council, and Kat was equal parts te rrified and determined. She knew she would be forced to see Nathaniel again with her sister, and she always fell to pieces in his presence. Her inability to form a coherent sentence when she was around him was noticeable to everyone and she hated feeling like a fool.
    Never mind that she and Nathaniel were mates; no one else knew what had happened between the two of them. She had never told anyone but Monique. And since they had not committed themselves in front of the pack, as far as anyone knew their only relationship was the one they shared because of her sister.
    But it was so much more.
    Kat sank against the door frame, her knees weak as she thought of the way he had touched her that sunny afternoon months ago, the way she still caught him looking at her sometimes. The unbearable craving for her stolen mate was agony, both a fiery physical yearning and a powerful emotional pull. And though most of her believed that he was happy with Monique and that there wasn't a chance in the world for the two of them, part of her still believed they were really meant to be together.
    Her thoughts turned to her sister, and a nearly violent rage bubbled inside her as she thought of the night Monique announced she was dating Nathaniel. Her sister had made her smug confess ion at dinner, in front of their parents, and then rubbed her face in it later, when the two of them were alone.
    ***
    Monique laughed. "Kat, Nathaniel doesn't think of you that way. You're like a little sister to him. Don't be ridiculous."
    Kat felt ridiculous, hot tears streaming down her face as she sobbed, "Please, Monique, I love him." She felt a physical pain, like a cramping, in her stomach; she doubled over and wept, clutching the banister as she collapsed on the bottom stair.
    Monique me rely smiled at her, an infuriating, saccharine smirk, and tossed her hair. "I'm not doing anything to you, Kat. If he wanted