Designated Alpha

by Crissy Smith

  With Brian squirming in his chair, Jace immediately tensed up. “What?”

  “They did run some tests on us when we first came back but it isn’t us that they are experimenting on.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Well, they did capture some of the men who turned us.”

  “You can’t torture and test on others. It’s not right,” Piper demanded.

  “That’s what I think, but I don’t make those decisions. That is way past my pay grade. All I know is that every month I get an update on what they’re told or find out. It’s the way things work.”

  Leaning forward, he gripped Brian’s shoulder. “Okay, we’ll figure something out. Piper’s right, though. We won’t be a part of anyone being experimented on.”

  Brian’s gaze strayed to Mitch. “I can understand that.”

  “Will you consider our offer, at least?” Brian asked.

  “We’ll choose together. All of us,” Piper stated firmly.

  Love flowed through him. Even though he wanted to know what was happening with her and the bond they shared, he just couldn’t let anyone be tormented. Not that he would be able to tell anyone that either. He was a civilian.

  “So I work with you now?” Mitch spoke up.

  “Yes, we’ll get the paperwork finalized but for now, you’re on leave. You can stay at your place or live on base.”

  “Right now I think it would be best if Mitch returned home with us,” Jace answered Brian.

  Mitch was nodding in agreement.

  “That’s fine. Like I said, you’ll be able to get on base at any time. Their barracks haven’t been used in years, so we’ve made them ours. They needed some improvement but I think we’re good for now.”

  “I don’t know what I’ll want to do yet. If I’ll even re-enlist when I come up. But I do want to stay with Jace and Piper for a while,” Mitch told Brian.

  Jace studied Mitch as he pushed the food around on his plate. His best friend was still a little pale but was also looking much better this morning. He stood to get his own food. Jace nudged Mitch as he walked past him and grinned when Mitch bumped him back.

  It took a few minutes for him to fill his plate and when he returned, the conversation had changed to where Bobby would live.

  He scooted his chair as close as possible to Piper’s and made sure their legs were touching. “Piper’s right, Bobby. We have more than enough room,” Jace told the young man.

  “I don’t want to impose,” Bobby argued.

  “You won’t be,” Jace replied easily.

  “Maybe for a little bit,” Bobby finally agreed. “But I do need to get my own place and decide what to do. I haven’t even been home since the attack. I don’t want to return to Arizona, but I would like to finish school.”

  “Then we’ll see that you do,” Piper told him. “As soon as we get back to the house, we’ll start planning. One of us can go home with you too, and get anything you need. Help take care of things.”

  Bobby nodded eagerly. “Yes, please. I would appreciate the help.”

  “It’s settled then. Marcus can run the bar for a little longer. It’s why I hired him.” Jace was happy with the direction they were going in.

  “So what do you want to do now?” Brian asked the group.

  “First we should probably meet with your people. If we are going to do this, we need to work out when we’ll come down to the base. Luckily we’re not far away and we can even have some gatherings at our home. I would like to return as soon as possible, though.”

  “Of course,” Brian agreed.

  “Let us get ready and talk things over, and we’ll see what we need to do,” Jace told him.

  “I’ll see if my captain is available. He’ll want to talk to you.”

  “Set it up,” Jace ordered, before turning to Piper. “Ready?”

  * * * *

  “Are you sure about this?” Jace had to ask Piper. They’d returned to their room and Piper seemed okay with staying longer and working with Brian.

  “I am. I had a dream last night and it felt like a sign. It’s almost like this is the most natural step.”

  “Can you believe a week ago you didn’t even want to shift?” he asked, still finding the events that had led them there crazy.

  “No, it seems like a lifetime ago. We’ve changed so much.”

  “We’re closer, though. Still together. We have Bobby and Mitch and maybe others.”

  “I’d…like to help,” she replied quietly. “Not just to get what information we can about them, but I remember being so lost. No one would help me. I can’t do that to someone else.”

  Jace stepped over to the bed, cupping her face. “Your big heart is one of the reasons I love you. You’ll be a great leader.”

  Piper laughed nervously. “I don’t know how good I’ll be, but I can’t not try.”

  Hearing the anxiety, he bent to kiss her. “I know this will work,” Jace said when he pulled away.

  “Let’s do this then.” Piper stood. “Shall we meet our Pack?”

  * * * *

  Jace shook hands with Brian’s commander, Captain Jeffery Williams. The older man smiled widely as he pumped Jace’s hand. “Ms. Maxwell.” Captain Williams waved Piper forward. “It is a pleasure to meet you. I’m thrilled you’ve agreed to take over the Pack.”

  She glanced over at Jace before she laid her palm into the captain’s. The touch was brief, and since she showed no reaction, Jace knew that Williams was indeed human.

  “I will try to do my best for everyone involved,” Piper told him.

  “That’s all we can ask. I wanted to welcome you both and assure you that the full support of the Armed Forces are at your disposal. Please, have a seat.”

  The office of the commander, while large, had a somewhat homey feeling to it. As Jace settled onto one of the plush brown couches, he pulled Piper down by his side.

  “Any questions you might have, I’ll try to answer,” Captain Williams told them as he sat in the leather chair across from them. “While Brian will be your main contact for anything military, my door is always open.”

  “We appreciate that,” Jace replied sincerely. “I guess our first question is, what exactly do you expect from us…from Piper?”

  “I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know a thing about being a shifter or what is required. I chose Brian to be in charge of the shifters since he was the most qualified and from his personal experience. He believes his new…Pack…needs an Alpha. With Piper’s connection to you and your excellent military record, I agreed Piper would be the best fit. Other than that, I can’t really tell you what will be required. I just don’t know.”

  At least Captain Williams was honest, Jace mused, as he nodded at the captain’s words.

  “I believe that Brian explained you would have full access to this part of the base. While the common areas and barracks have been closed for many years prior to us opening them back up, we do have the resources to expand on the buildings if needs be.”

  “This all sounds very nice but…” Piper started before looking over at Jace.

  “We’re trying to figure out what the catch is,” Jace provided for her.

  Piper slipped her hand into his, and he gave her a reassuring squeeze.

  Since he’d fucked up the last time, he’d thought he could get her answers. Jace had to make sure that the government was on the up and up. He could not—would not—let anyone else harm her. But he felt deep down that this was what they were supposed to do.

  “There is no catch. We need to protect the men and women that we send out in the name of freedom. To do that, Brian tells me the Pack must be stable and healthy. We need Piper to give them the unity they crave.”

  “We start on a trial basis,” Jace told him. “We’ll give it three months. After that, Piper will decide whether or not she wants to continue. If we choose to walk away at that point, you will allow us.”

  Captain Williams was already nodding. “Yes,
yes that is good.”

  Jace glanced over at Piper. He could feel the link that connected them tugging. She was okay.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Piper and Jace walked with their fingers twined together, as Mitch and Bobby joked around in front of them making Piper grin like a fool. “I think this is a good idea,” she told Jace.

  Letting Mitch shift out in the open for the first time seemed right. As soon as Piper had brought it up, Mitch had gotten so excited. If he had already been in shifted form, his tail would have been wagging, she’d wager.

  They wanted to give Mitch a little alone time before the others gathered. Piper had decided that the best way to approach the group would be to see how they ran together.

  Wasn’t that what her dream had been about? Since she was only going on instinct, she hoped she was right about this bringing them close quickly.

  It was great to see Mitch getting some of his bounce back.

  Bobby laughed before jumping on Mitch’s back. Mitch groaned playfully before his laughter boomed across the empty field.

  “They look like puppies.” Piper stopped walking, drawing Jace to a halt also.

  Jace was chuckling while shaking his head.

  Mitch fell to the ground, taking Bobby with him. They rolled playfully and indeed looked childlike—or puppy-like.

  “Let’s get ready to transform,” Bobby said to Mitch after they’d worn themselves out.

  Mitch glanced over to where Piper stood watching. “You sure I should do this here?”

  She nodded. “It should make you feel better.”

  “I’ll keep watch, but I’m sure it will be okay,” Jace assured him.

  Piper turned back to Jace, they were really lucky to have him on their side. All of them were. “Thank you,” she said softly. When she started to pull away, he wrapped his arms tightly around her back to hold her in place and kissed her thoroughly.

  As their tongues met, stroked, she lost herself to the sensations. It wasn’t until she heard Mitch groaning in complaint did she pull away.

  Face flushing, she was panting after Jace released her. “Mmm,” she practically purred at him.

  Jace’s smile was wicked.

  She was reluctant to leave his side but she also was looking forward to Mitch’s first transformation since their release.

  Bobby had been the only other one she’d run with and that experience had been great.

  “Let’s get started,” she called out.

  Of course that got their attention. Bobby removed his shirt quickly, dropping the garment on the ground without care. It would easier for Mitch to concentrate if he wasn’t worried about getting tangled in his clothes. She followed suit, trying not to think about the fact she was getting naked in front of two men plus her mate.

  If their little group grew, she would have to think about that some more.

  Nodding first to Bobby, she then held her hand out to Mitch.

  She spoke low, walking Mitch through the same steps as she had with Bobby the first time.

  “Picture your wolf. He’s big and beautiful. Powerful and ready to come out. Close your eyes and just let the feeling flow over you.”

  Mitch’s body seemed to relax just as he started to copy her movements. They knelt, moved onto all fours, and the transformation began.

  Jace made sure he stayed in the same spot as the three people who meant the most to him in the world changed from human to wolf.

  It didn’t surprise him that Mitch was the slowest to shift. He had the most to learn.

  Within minutes, Piper shook her entire body as she tended to do at the beginning of every run. Mitch copied her but his dark gaze was fixed on Piper.

  She loped over, brushing against Mitch like Jace had seen her do with Bobby.

  The three wolves rubbed and licked each other before Piper separated herself.

  Her gait was slow as she made her way to his side. Burying his hand in the scruff of her neck, he stroked and massaged. As he loved on his mate, Bobby and Mitch went back to bowling over one another and nipping gently.

  Piper’s weight against his side was solid as they watched their friends together.

  Kneeling down, he cupped her muzzle. “Go, have fun. I will be right here.”

  One rough sweep of her tongue against his check and she was gone, leaping into the fray and knocking the two male wolves down.

  Jace sat where he was, not willing to break his promise to Piper. He wouldn’t move an inch.

  Chuckling as he watched Mitch try to leap over Bobby but not clearing him, Jace enjoyed the show.

  Piper had once told him that it had taken a while to get use to walking on four legs instead of two.

  He’d assumed that changing into the wolf would aid them and he guessed to a certain point it did, but he was finding out that not everything he’d assumed was correct. Some things, though, were instinct. Piper had that already. She had it in her to lead. All she had to do was believe. He would do what he could to help also.

  Hearing faint footsteps behind him, he turned his head, spotting Brian cautiously making his way toward him.

  “Hey,” Jace greeted him quietly.

  “I don’t want to interrupt but just wanted to make sure you all had everything you needed.”

  Glancing back at the three wolves playing before returning his gaze to Brian, Jace grinned. “I think we’re good.”

  “Okay,” Brian said as he rolled from the tip of his feet and back.

  Getting the distinct impression that Brian really didn’t want to leave, Jace patted the ground to his right. “Pull up some grass.”

  A look of such relief passed over Brian’s features that Jace’s heart squeezed. Brian sat down before stretching his legs out. “They look like they’re having fun.”

  “I think so,” Jace agreed. “They needed this. Mitch hasn’t been able to shift just for the joy of it.”

  “Yeah, I can’t believe he was turned.”

  “There’s a lot that I can’t believe,” Jace stated with a tinge of sadness. “Like two of my best friends being werewolves.”

  Chuckling, Brian shook his head. “You have a point.”

  “How do you think it will go tonight?” Jace asked his friend.

  “I think good. With a group this small, Piper is all anyone can talk about—even the humans.”

  “I’m still not sure what you expect her to do.”

  Brian gazed out at the field. “Just what she is doing there. Uniting us.”

  He caught Piper nip Bobby teasingly. “We’ll find out shortly, I guess.”

  Wow! The pleasure of running and teasing two Pack mates was more fun than Piper would have ever imagined.

  Mitch remained more standoffish, not quite as secure on four paws as her and Bobby, but that was okay. He would gain confidence. She had no doubt.

  Bobby grew friskier the longer the three of them remained in shifted form. She even had to calm him down so he wouldn’t knock Mitch over. It was actually strange that she could be in her wolf form out in the open. Back at home she was so scared of being found out. On base, they didn’t have to hide.

  Not to say that she didn’t maintain awareness of her surroundings. She made sure that Jace was in sight while the area around them remained empty. Brian had said he’d take care to ensure they wouldn’t be disturbed, and Piper was glad the man had kept his word.

  Later they would shift again. However, the group would be bigger.

  At least they would find out quickly whether or not her being Alpha would work. If they had any trouble tonight, she could still back out.

  Bobby bumped her side, drawing her attention back to the present. There was time to decide what to do later. Right now she was going to enjoy her time in her other form.

  * * * *

  “Wow,” Piper said to Brian. “I don’t really know how to get started.”

  “They are just as curious about you as you are them. They want this to work. Just be yourself,” Brian told her.


  Sure, be herself. That shouldn’t be too hard? Yeah right. Her hands were shaking while nerves tingled throughout her body.

  She wasn’t sure she was ready. Oh, she had the desire, but what if she completely fucked up and someone got hurt?

  “You okay?” Jace whispered into her ear as he came up behind her.

  They hadn’t approached the group yet, so she let herself relax back into him while he wrapped his arms around her, and she smiled just a little. Part of her anxiety consisted of letting him down.

  Jace believed that she could be Alpha. She’d do her very best not to let him down.

  “You don’t have to do this so soon.”

  Realizing that she hadn’t answered him, Piper turned in his arms to gaze up at him. How had she gotten so lucky? Her mate was so handsome and strong. “It’ll be okay. Just trying to get my bearings.”

  “You’ll be great. I know you will,” he said softly.

  Rising onto the tips of her toes, she pressed her lips gently against his.

  “Thank you for being here with me,” she said against his lips.

  “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

  Hearing the restlessness of the people gathered, Piper gave Jace one more brief kiss before pulling away. She nodded at Brian to get things started before following him to be introduced.

  Brian whistled sharply, gaining the attention of everyone in attendance. “As you know, we’ve been lucky enough to meet a few of my friends. I know most of you have heard the rumors about one of them being an Alpha. These are true. I’d like you to meet Piper Maxwell.”

  The round of applause and shouts that greeted her came as a big shock. Overwhelmed, she found herself taking a step back until Jace laid his palm on the small of her back.

  Just that small contact was enough to give her strength. She smiled out at her Pack.

  “Now, I know you all will have questions for her,” Brian continued. “There will be plenty of time to get to know not only your Alpha but also her mate and the two new members of our Pack.”