Free RaleighPointRescueSue by Victoria Sue Page A

without realizing”
    Lisa’s breath caught as she remembered the confusion in
those amber eyes. “Why did they attack anyway?”
    Mac pulled her in closer to his length. “Alpha wolves are
the heads of each pack. Like a monarchy if you like.”
    “Are you an alpha bear then?” interrupted Lisa.
    “It doesn’t work the same way. All male bears are alphas. They
are usually a lot more solitary than wolves and tend to live in smaller family
groups. Raleigh Point is quite unique in that way, but then,” he smiled, “so
are my mom and dad.”
    “You can make me feel your power. Is that an alpha thing?”
    Mac blushed. “Yes, but to be honest, the first time it
happened I was so damn turned on, it was a sexual thing. You blow my mind…” Mac
grazed his lips along the side of her jaw
    Lisa moved. She grazed her hip against his hard mound and
swallowed slightly.
    “The wolf that attacked us? We
think he’s a rogue. That’s wolves that are bad and don’t live in a pack. We
will have to be careful around here until he’s caught—especially you.”
    “Why? Why me?”
    “Because, as I said you’re an alpha female. It’s the one thing guaranteed to establish a pack.” He answered her puzzled
look. “Wolf packs are very traditional. Some good, some very
bad.”
    “But he already had others with him.”
    “He did, but the difference is they’re rogues. They have no
land. Without that, they’d have to fight another alpha for a pack. Now, that’s
not necessarily going to work as the alpha doesn’t have to accept the
challenge, and can just have them run off. But—”
    “What?”
    “Any alpha male mated to an alpha female has to be taken
seriously. It’s like a wolf code of conduct thing.”
    Lisa tried to answer his wry smile. “But I’m not going to go
with him, so no worries there.”
    The laughter bled out of Mac’s eyes. “It wouldn’t be
consensual, babes.”
    “Oh.” Lisa drew
nearer.
    “Not that I’m not relieved, but you seem to be grasping this
quite quickly.” Mac wanted to kick himself. That was an ass-like statement,
even for him.
    Lisa’s lips quirked. “You mean the
whole changing into animals or that most alpha males have a huge ego?”
    Mac took the barb. He deserved it.
    “You seem to forget I have no problem believing the harsher
side of human nature. I didn’t exactly grow up in a fairy tale.” Lisa put her
finger on Mac’s open mouth to stop his apology. “I’m sorry. That was
unnecessary. Okay, so I understand all that, I think. Dr. Michaels isn’t a
shifter though, is he?”
    Mac dropped a kiss on her lips. “No, good
instincts. How’d you know?”
    Lisa flushed. “This is going to sound really weird, but he
smells different.”
    Completely serious, Mac nodded. “Your sense of hearing,
smell, and taste are all amplified.”
    Lisa gaped. “Am I going to change then?”
    Mac could feel the flush on his neck as Lisa stared.
    “Not until after you’re mated.” He looked at her steadily.
“Not until after we’ve mated.”
    “Mated?”
    Mac hooked a finger under her chin. “Lisa, you remember what
I tried to explain about the connection we both felt? We are true mates.
Unusual because, obviously I’m a bear, and you’re not,
but then neither’s Maggie.”
    “True mates?” Lisa frowned
slightly. “Who’s Maggie?”
    “She’s a human, mated to our uncle and very pregnant with
twins, due any day. I’ll take you around to visit when things are settled.”
    “So what does being mates mean?” Lisa’s voice grew softer.
    “It’s like finding the other half of yourself .
No others, no divorce. True mating is for life.”
    Lisa’s voice dropped to a whisper. “And you’re my mate?”
    “And you’re mine.” Mac smiled and firmly returned his lips
to the hollow in her throat he’d been exploring earlier.
    Mac leaned into her as he kissed her neck. She melted in his
arms, like chocolate on a hot day.
     
    * * * *
     
    Cocooned in his warmth, he moved