Page 26 of The Reluctant Alpha

I gasped when we emerged from the bunker. The common area was filled with tense shifters, many still transformed into their wolves or bears. Phoenix stood at the center, his face grim as he spoke with Simeon and Draven. I searched the crowd for Bayer, my heart hammering when I didn't see him immediately.

"What happened?" Emery asked, moving to Phoenix's side. "Did you find anything?"

Phoenix's expression darkened further. "Doran is dead."

A collective gasp went through the clearing. I didn't know who Doran was, but from the reactions, he had been well-liked.

"Silver-skin?" Emery asked quietly.

Phoenix nodded once. "Tore out his throat and..." He hesitated, his eyes flicking briefly to me before continuing. "It carved a bear into his chest."

My blood ran cold. "Where's Bayer?" I asked, unable to keep the panic from my voice.

"Here."

I spun around to see him walking toward me, his massive frame filling the space. Relief flooded through me, so intense I almost staggered. He looked exhausted, his clothes dirty and spotted with what I realized with horror was blood.

"Are you hurt?" I took an instinctive step toward him.

Bayer shook his head. "Not my blood."

Our eyes locked, and all the awkwardness from earlier crashed back between us. What was I supposed to say?

Before I could say anything, Phoenix called out. "Everyone, listen up." The pack fell silent immediately. "We've confirmed there's a rogue silver-skin in our territory, possibly a revenant.” Gasps of horror rose on the air, but Phoenix continued. “It's targeted one of our pack already, and we have reason to believe it's specifically after bears."

His gaze swept the circle, landing briefly on Bayer before continuing. "From this moment, no one goes anywhere alone. Patrols will be doubled, and all bears will remain within the packhouse perimeter unless accompanied by at least two wolves."

I saw several of Bayer's bears shift uncomfortably, pride warring with practicality on their faces.

"Additionally," Phoenix continued, "we're implementing a curfew. Everyone inside by nightfall, no exceptions, except for those on patrol."

"What about the community center construction?" someone called out.

Phoenix's expression hardened. "We’ll continue but with an early finish every day to make sure every pack member is home before dusk. This thing is too dangerous to risk anyone being exposed."

I glanced at Bayer, but he remained silent, his face unreadable. Only the tension in his massive shoulders betrayed his discomfort with the situation.

As the meeting broke up, Bayer touched my elbow lightly. "Can we talk?" he asked, his voice pitched low for my ears only.

I nodded, suddenly nervous. "Yeah, sure."

We walked away from the main group, finding a quiet corner in the clearing. Bayer kept a careful distance between us, and I couldn't tell if I was relieved or disappointed. "About what happened before the alarm—" he began.

"I'm sorry," I blurted out. "I shouldn't have just...attacked your face like that."

A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "Is that what you call it?"

"I don't know what to call it," I admitted, running a hand through my hair. "I was worried about you doing something stupid and heroic, and then you were being all self-sacrificing, and I just...I wanted you to shut up."

"So, you kissed me."

"It seemed like a good idea at the time." My face felt hot. "Look, if you want to forget it happened—"

"I don't." His voice was quiet but firm.

I looked up, caught off guard by the intensity in his dark eyes.

"You don't?"