The Alpha's Ardor by Rebecca Brochu Read Free Book Online Page B

first, scope out the edges of the territory, maybe get a better lay of the land.
    Let your alpha know and hopefully he’ll spread the word so I won’t have to dodge angry betas every two seconds. Besides, if something does happen then it’ll be better to have one of us on the outskirts in case we have to outrun them.” Lachlan sounded vaguely amused, but they both knew it could happen and that in the end both of them could probably outrun most of the betas in the Flathead pack if they were pushed to it. Uninjured and with the amount of rest they’d both gotten from staying in one place, even separately, they’d be faster than ever.
    “Alright.If you’re sure, Lach.” Declan did his best to ignore the pleased warmth that rolled through him at the way Lachlan called Law his alpha.
    “I am. Now be careful and work things out with this Law of yours.” Lachlan chuckled.
    “He’s not mine, Lach,” Declan mumbled back, even more grateful than before that neither Law nor Trace were around.
    “Not yet he isn’t.”
    “Be careful, Lach.” Declan smiled softly even though Lachlan couldn’t see it.
    “Stay safe, Dec.” They both stayed silent for a moment, listened to each other breathe in the quiet that followed, and then they both hung up.
    Declan stayed where he was for a moment longer, head tilted back against the wall behind him, phone held loosely in his hand.
    Talking to Lachlan, telling him everything, took so much weight off of his shoulders that he almost couldn’t believe it. He wanted Lachlan there with him, wanted to be safe and secure in the knowledge that he was an arm’s reach away, that he was only in the next room, but for now the calls helped. He understood Lachlan’s hesitance, understood and agreed with his reasoning even if he wished that it wasn’t necessary, wished that for once they could both take something at face value. Just once he wanted to be able to have something nice without waiting for it to blow up in his face.
    Restless, Declan pushed himself up off of the floor, tossed his phone onto the bed and began to tug his clothes off with jerky movements. When he was naked he let the shift take him, let the change wash over his body as his bones shifted and fur rippled then spread across his skin like wildfire. He had a while yet before Law was due back, before he had to ask the alpha just what he and Lachlan would have to give up in exchange for a place in the pack. He wanted to run one last time before that happened. He wanted to take joy and pleasure of the deep safe woods that encircled Law’s house just in case he didn’t get another chance.
    With a small, almost playful growl Declan took off down the stairs, mind focused on the forest that was waiting on him.

Chapter Seven
    Law was waiting on him by the time Declan got back. He was sitting on the back porch, gaze turned towards the woods, a serious expression on his face and a long necked bottle of beer in his hands. A slow smile spread across his features when Declan trotted, still shifted, out of the trees and into the clearing of the yard itself.
    “If it wasn’t for the fact that you left all of your stuff here I would have been afraid that you weren’t coming back.” Law sounded amused and nonchalant, but Declan could see real relief on his face.
    The sight of it warmed Declan’s heart, made him yip happily and trot over towards Law, head high and tail wagging. Law laughed, loud and undeniably fond. “What are you, a dog? Have some pride, little wolf.”
    Words like that would normally make Declan furious, would have his fur up and his teeth bared in seconds. But coming from Law, whose eyes were still warm with laughter, he took them as playfully as they were meant. He growled at Law and then yipped, high and sharp, before he turned around and trotted back towards the edge of the woods. An invitation to run.
    “Oh, little wolf, you’re on.” Law put his bottle down and stood. With slow and deliberate movements, he