Free True Alpha by Ranae Rose Page B

upper swell of one breast. He extended his tongue to touch her nipple, dragging it over the tight bud and causing it to go even harder. “Mandy, my mate…” He closed his lips around her nipple, letting his teeth graze her sensitive skin. After a brief moment he raised his head, allowing his lips to brush her jaw and tickle her ear. “I love you.”
    “I love you too, Jack.” She tried to relax as he settled down beside her, the tension going out of his muscles as he pulled the quilt over their bodies. He had the coveted ability to fall asleep almost instantly, and after a few moments, it was clear that he’d slipped into slumber.
    Squeezing her eyes firmly shut, she resolved to do the same, but couldn’t stop thinking of the press of his teeth against her shoulder, the hot blast of his breath against her tender skin. He’d been sorely tempted to mark her then and there – she was sure of it – so why had he stopped? He’d have to sooner or later; he’d promised, after all. As she rested beside him in the dark with his piney scent filling her lungs, she knew she’d dream of the phantom scrape of his teeth against her shoulder – this night and every night until he claimed her with his mark.
     
    ****
     
    Working from home wasn’t bad. It gave Mandy something to do while the others took turns going on the multiple daily patrols that Jack had organized, still hunting for any sign of the wolf they’d scented as a group during their pack run several days ago. Not a trace of the mystery wolf had turned up since then, but Jack and the others remained as vigilant as ever. When Jack wasn’t working, he was usually patrolling.
    A part of Mandy wanted to believe that they’d simply scented a lost or adventurous animal, perhaps one of the red wolves that inhabited the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. However, like Jack, she erred on the side of caution – anyone would, after what they’d gone through at the hands of the last strangers who’d invaded Half Moon territory. Every time Jack left on one of the patrols, her heart beat a little faster until he walked back through the door, whole and safe. She worried about the others too, of course, but not like she worried about her mate.
    When Jack was gone, she really had to get lost in her work, or worrying about him would drive her crazy. Currently, he was around the cabin, beginning work on an addition he’d been planning that would serve as a nursery for their baby. Having him home made it easy for her to focus on her work – until Clarissa entered through the cabin’s front door and approached the little desk Mandy had set up in one corner of the main room.
    “What do you think?” Clarissa asked, beaming expectantly as she strode across the room. She held a pair of baby booties in each hand – one blue and one pink. “They’re for one of the games.”
    “Cute,” Mandy said, her heart doing a tiny flip-flop as her gaze settled on each pair of booties in turn. Was she having a boy or a girl? Clarissa had more or less taken over Mandy’s prenatal care, and like the other shifter midwife Mandy had seen, she didn’t have the luxury of an ultrasound machine – not out here in the Smoky Mountains, anyway.
    “I just went into town and picked them up, along with a few other things.”
    Mandy arched a brow. “A few?” The day before, Clarissa had announced her intention to throw Mandy a baby shower. “I caught a glimpse of your list; it looked pretty lengthy.”
    Clarissa’s smile widened a little. “Oh, you know how it is – there are a few things I’ll have to order online.”
    “Just don’t go overboard. It’s really sweet of you to do this; I don’t want you to strain yourself or spend too much money.”
    Clarissa just shook her head. “As a former midwife’s apprentice, I’ve been to plenty of baby showers. It’s fun for me to be able to plan one.” She lowered the booties and glanced toward the door, where her car was parked in the