Falling for an Alpha

by Vanessa Devereaux

  “I do, but I’m guessing your bikini bottom is just a little damp.”

  “A lot damp.”

  He smiled and kissed her again. “You know why I decided to have you hike here to this very spot?”

  “You wanted to have your wicked way with me.”

  “Well, that’s part of it. It’s right here that my dad proposed to my mom almost forty years ago, and they’ve been so happy.”

  Amber’s heart missed a beat. Was he thinking of asking her to marry him this soon? Would she accept? Would she let him be burdened with a woman who might possibly be dependent upon him for the rest of her life?

  “I wanted to be at this spot to tell you that I’ve fallen in love with you. Now, it’s okay if you don’t feel the same way about me, but maybe it will come in time.”

  Amber shook her head. “I’m in love with you, too. I never thought you could fall for someone this quickly but maybe it’s the whole Perfect Pairing thing.”

  He kissed her again.

  “How about we go for a dip in the lake and check out the waterfall up close?”

  Good thing she’d decided to wear her bikini under her clothes. She pulled off her T-shirt and shorts, and Gabriel did the same. He took her hand and they made their way down over the rocks. Together they swam to the middle of the lake, stopping to hold one another and kiss again.

  “I have another secret to reveal about the waterfall. Race you over there,” said Gabriel.

  Serving in the Marines had obviously made him a strong swimmer, because he was there before she got even halfway.

  “What kept you?” he asked, holding her hand and pulling her up on the rocks. The waterfall fell over their heads and Amber looked up, letting some of it splash her face.

  “I don’t know how many people know about the cove through here but it’s a great make out place. Well, according to my dad’s story about how he proposed.”

  Gabriel took her hand and they walked under the waterfall. Sure enough, there was a crevice that led to a cave-like inlet. Gabriel put his arms around her.

  “Are you going to have your wicked way with me now?” asked Amber.

  “You want me to?”

  “I insist on it, but do you have a condom?”

  “What did I tell you about a Marine always being prepared?”

  He lifted the pocket flap on the side of his trunks and pulled out a silver-foiled package.

  “Still no bed,” said Amber.

  “We’ll have lots of time to make love on a bed.”

  Amber pulled him over to a rock formation and leaned back toward it. Gabriel followed her and playfully pulled down both straps on her bikini top until it sat around her waist, and then yanked the wet material down her body and tossed it to one side.

  He kissed her and then worked his way down to her breasts, sucking each nipple until it was achy and hard. He licked his way down her belly, flicking his tongue over her navel. Kneeling down on the ground, he lifted one of her legs, opening her up wide to him.

  “You have the most gorgeous pussy, luscious pussy lips too,” he said, parting her labia with two of his fingers.

  His tongue was cold and welcoming as it slid across her folds. She drew in her breath as it speared her opening for the first time. Amber ran her fingers through his hair, back and forth across his scalp, digging deeper to match what he was doing to her pussy.

  The roughness of the rock on her back felt good as she moved, and Gabriel flicked at her opening. She wanted to savor this moment, wanted it to last forever, but his tongue was too talented and she had to give in. She dug her toes into the ground and let him take her to paradise. Her whole body shook.

  He dropped his shorts, his cock already pulsating, with a bead of pre-cum clinging to its tip as he sheathed himself.

  “Hang on, baby, because we’re going for one hell of a ride.”

  He lifted her leg higher, almost lifting her off the ground as he slid into her, not gently but swiftly and heavy this time. He thrust harder with each of his movements, her butt rubbing against the rock as she rode his dick. He moved his free hand around to her butt and slid his finger between her crack, circling her anus, and then almost tickled it as he plunged harder and faster.

  They kissed but she got carried away and bit his lip, almost drawing blood. Their bodies slapped against one another, almost into a frenzy-like state. Her pussy throbbed and grew heavy, her nipples felt like they were being teased with a feather, and then bingo, two climaxes in fast succession. At the end of the second one, Gabriel howled, filling her with a warm gush that told her he’d experienced something just as wonderful. He laid his forehead against hers.

  “I guess we should make our way back to camp and get you something to eat.”

  ****

  He knew he’d been selfish. Being with Amber meant he had more to learn about diabetes and keeping her blood sugar level steady. which meant she couldn’t go without food as long as he could. Maybe there was a class he could take at the hospital, or he’d read up on the subject online. He needed, and wanted, to know everything so he could help her and be there if one day she might no longer be able to see him and the beautiful world about them. He’d gotten the fire going and Amber was busy cooking one of the dried packaged meals she’d brought along.

  “Hope you like tuna noodle casserole,” she said to him.

  “Love it.” His mother made the best version. He wasn’t much of a cook himself, but he was sure he’d love anything Amber made for him. “Maybe tomorrow we can go fishing someplace.”

  “That would be exciting, catching our own dinner. Okay, supper is just about ready.”

  Gabriel brought two dishes over near the fire and let Amber scoop some casserole onto their plates.

  “There will be plenty more if you want it. It’s got lots of carbs so I can’t have a second helping.”

  “I’ll have to remember that.” said Gabriel.

  “Why?”

  “The more I know, the more I can help you.”

  She sat down beside him and rested her head on his shoulder.

  “You are the sweetest guy I’ve ever known. I’m going to give Sadie a big hug and kiss for finding you. By the way, just what made you sign up for a matchmaking service?”

  Gabriel couldn’t tell her the exact circumstances he’d met Sadie in, which reminded him, he should check his voice mail because she had told him she was close to tracking Mavis White. At least he’d only howled and hadn’t felt like shifting at all during the last twelve hours, so maybe the curse had already been lifted. Wouldn’t that be great? One less thing to worry about.

  He realized he was lost in thought and hadn’t responded to Amber’s question.

  “I guess I thought my mom was right and it was time for me to look for someone to settle down with.”

  “Moms are always right.”

  “Sadie reminds me a lot of my mom.”

  “Which reminds me, Sadie said she was going to get back to me about a gift certificate I was trying to buy for a buddy.”

  He hated lying to her, but this would all be behind them very soon.

  “I’ll just go see if I have any messages. I should get some reception high up on that ridge, I’ll be right back.”

  “Hurry, because it’s s’mores for dessert.”

  “Now don’t go eating all of them.”

  Gabriel walked to his truck, pulled his cell phone from the glove compartment, and headed up the ridge. He reached the highest point and could see Amber clearing away their plates. He pressed the button and saw that he’d missed three calls. He flicked through them—one from a buddy, one from his brother, and a third from Sadie. Right now he only wanted to hear that one because he was sure it was good news.

  “Gabriel, it’s Sadie, please call me ASAP, it’s urgent.”

  Wow, she sounded scared and panicked. His heart raced. He saw that he only had a few bars but enough for a quick call. He pressed redial for Sadie’s number.

  “Sadie Sutton
speaking.”

  “Hi Sadie, it’s Gabriel.”

  “Oh Gabriel, thank goodness you called me. I had a run-in with Mavis and she’s recast the spell, but don’t worry because this isn’t the last of the matter.”

  “Recast it?”

  “Yes, but it’s no problem. All you have to do is not tell Amber that you love her, well, not until this matter is dealt with.”

  He almost dropped the phone. “Or what’s going to happen?”

  “Gabriel, please don’t tell me you’ve already told Amber that you love her.”

  “I’m a guy who doesn’t waste time.”

  There was silence.

  “You still there, Sadie? You better tell me what’s going to happen.”

  “It’s going to be all right, I’ll handle this.”

  “What’s going to happen? She’s not going to hurt Amber, is she?”

  “Unless I can stop her and make her lift this curse within the month, you’ll be all wolf, not just a shifter.”

  He dropped the phone to the ground, hearing it thud against the rocks. He didn’t care if it was broken, smashed, or what. He glanced down at Amber moving around down below. How could this happen? He was the man to see her through her illness, the man who would hold her hand as she gradually lost her sight, but how could he do that as a wolf?

  Chapter Eleven

  Amber removed the s’mores from the grill. Gabriel had told her he’d be right back but that was fifteen minutes ago. She looked up on the ridge where he’d headed. He wasn’t there. She looked around, wondering where he might have gone. The sun was gradually setting and tonight a cold breeze had settled into the canyon. She slapped her hands up and down her arms before heading to the tent for her jacket.

  Still no sign of Gabriel as she walked back to the fire. Had something happened to him? Maybe he’d slipped someplace. She’d go look for him before it got too dark. She picked up the flashlight just in case the sun set quicker than she thought. She headed over to the direction she’d seen him walking twenty-five minutes ago. She stopped in her tracks. She’d almost stepped on his cell phone. She picked it up, noticing part of it was smashed. Something was definitely wrong.

  “Gabriel,” she called, hearing her voice echo around the canyon. “Gabriel,” she called for a second time, but still nothing.

  Something had happened to him, she sensed it. He wouldn’t just wander off like this, leaving her alone in the middle of nowhere, especially when it was getting dark soon. Plus, the broken phone was proof he might be in trouble somewhere. Maybe he’d fallen and was injured and couldn’t respond when he heard her calling him.

  She had to look for him. She glanced at the sun. Her dad had taught all his kids the basics of keeping safe while hiking. Once the sun went down, you had about thirty minutes left of daylight. Judging by the angle in the sky, she had an hour. That would give her enough time to look around, and should she fail to find him she could get back to the tent before darkness took over. If she couldn’t find him she’d drive his truck back to the ranger’s station and get a proper search party together.

  She doused herself with bug spray and then took a second flashlight with her. She headed down the path leading from the ridge, which seemed the most logical place to start because if he had fallen, that’s where he’d most likely be. She shone the lights ahead of her with her heart beating double time, knowing she was out of her element, but sensing more and more with each passing moment that Gabriel was in some kind of trouble.

  Quickening her pace, she came to an opening in the wooded area and directed the beam of both flashlights all around the circumference. No sign of Gabriel. No footprints, nothing. She headed back the other way, stopping dead in her tracks when she heard wolves howling. They sounded close but out in the canyons noises traveled miles, making you think things were nearer than they actually were.

  What if she ran into a cougar or a pack of wolves? Would a pack be aggressive, the old “safety in numbers” thing?

  Her heart beat against her chest, making it sound like thunder in her ears. The wolves howled again. She knew it wasn’t a trick of the canyon echoes. They were close. She began running in the opposite direction, forgetting which way she’d come and where the tents and truck were. She spun around and around, lost and confused now. She almost cried but had to keep her composure, if not for her own, but for Gabriel’s sake.

  That way. Yes, she needed to go that way. Now she remembered the bush with the red berries. She rushed toward it, coming face to face with a wolf. It was the one she’d seen last night and the same one who’d watched her by the lake. She’d know him anywhere because he was a beautiful creature with grey and brown fur and big expressive eyes that seemed to recognize her, too.

  “Hi buddy, now don’t you go eating me because I’m not going to hurt you, okay.”

  She held up her hand. Maybe she’d done the wrong thing. He might take that as a threatening gesture. He took a step toward her.

  “Just stay right there because I don’t want to have to hurt you with this flashlight.”

  Oh, shit, she’d just threatened a wild creature with a flashlight. Now she was asking for trouble. Maybe he didn’t understand what she was saying. She’d be okay.

  He took another step, and then another. And with each forward step he took, she took a corresponding back step.

  Amber hadn’t realized she’d been close to the edge of a steep hill until she lost her balance and went tumbling down, rolling fast, hitting some shrubs and rocks on the way. God, she’d never been in so much pain. Her fall was finally stopped by a tree trunk. She hit it with a thud that almost knocked her out. She couldn’t move her wrist because she’d fallen on it. She threw up with the pain. She smelled the metallic tinge of blood in the air, making her throw up again. She put her hand to her head, felt the stickiness, and realized she’d also struck her head.

  She couldn’t get up. In fact, she could hardly move. She didn’t have her insulin with her or the energy bar she always carried. She didn’t have a phone to call for help, not that she’d pick up much reception here. She’d fallen low into one of the wooded areas of the canyon. She looked up and saw the wolf rushing toward her.

  No need to worry about the pain or going into a diabetic coma—she was going to be eaten by a wild creature. That was the last thing on her mind as she faded out of consciousness.

  ****

  This was all his fault. If he hadn’t stepped toward her, Amber wouldn’t have fallen. She looked broken and sad. He willed himself to change back to the man that resided in him, if only for the next four weeks. He could carry her to safety but he couldn’t seem to shift, no matter how hard he tried. He tried to relax like Sadie had taught him. Maybe he was already a permanent wolf. Maybe Mavis White had recast the spell yet again. He’d like to kill that woman. Maybe he would do just that when he was a permanent wolf.

  Amber would freeze out here with just a jacket for protection. He would lie close to her all night as the temperature dropped, but he wasn’t sure it would be enough. She was probably in shock, too, which added to the urgency to keep her warm. He needed backup and more furry creatures to keep her safe and snug until he could find out how to shift back to a man.

  He put his head in the air and howled. He knew how to call a pack, almost as if it were second nature to him. Need help, he howled.

  Wolves howled back. Stay put. We’re on our way.

  He howled a thank you and then added, Please, please hurry. My mate’s going to die.

  ****

  Amber suddenly felt warm. She’d been cold, her body shaking as she’d gone in and out of consciousness. The wolf, the beautiful one, had come back. He hadn’t hurt her as she’d feared, but instead lay beside her and snuggled his body close to hers. She knew she’d been hallucinating because she’d woken up again and seen a pack of wolves approaching and then they’d all done the same as the first wolf and snuggled in close to her. They were keeping her warm and making her feel safe against t
he elements and other wild creatures who might come calling.

  She managed to raise the arm what wasn’t hurt and brushed her fingers through the fur of the wolf laying closest to her. He looked at her. Those beautiful green eyes captivated her and held her spellbound. It was almost as if she knew this wolf on a personal basis, but that was silly. Maybe she was going into a coma. The wolf pushed against her some more, putting its paw onto her hand. She grabbed it, feeling the roughness of its pad. If she got out of this she was going to help wolves. She would help protect them when people wanted to harm them. These wolves were saving her life and they deserved the same from her. One day—if one day came.

  Amber had closed her eyes and drifted off to what she’d assumed was sleep, but then wondered if she’d gone blind and this was all in her mind, her way of compensating for the loss of one of her senses. Her eyelids fluttered and she couldn’t remember falling asleep, but when she opened her eyes she’d seen Gabriel. He’d had her in his arms carrying her someplace. Trees and branches were passing by her at a scary pace. The sky was blue and the sun was up. Had she survived the night? How had he found her and where had he been?

  The truck. She was suddenly in his truck. It was moving. Gabriel was driving and it was almost as if she’d lost her hearing and not her sight, because each time she glanced his way, there was no sound coming from his mouth as he moved his lips. However, she could lip-read. That was a skill she didn’t know she possessed.

  “Hang tight, Amber, I’m getting you some help.”

  Now as she opened her eyes, her surroundings were unfamiliar, white and sterile, and invaded the quiet of wherever she was. She sat up and sensed something wasn’t right, but her body told her that was a stupid thing to do. Pain shot through her head, arms, and back.

  “Oh honey, just relax.” It was her mother’s voice. She glanced to her left and saw both her mom and dad sitting by the bed.

  “What happened, and where am I?”

  Her father grabbed her hand. “You slipped while you were camping, but you’re safe in the hospital now.”

  “Gabriel…I was looking for Gabriel.”