Page 104 of Alpha Brock
We’re heading into the busy season for the ski lodge, which means it won’t be long before this place is crawling with humans. The Cedar Ridge ski resort, lodge, and brewery are great sources of income for our packs, but we don’t use them for pack events often because those of us that don’t work here typically avoid interacting with the human tourists. Tonight, though, we’ve got the whole place to ourselves, and many of us are planning to crash in the guest rooms.
“The presidential suite,” I boast, bringing the champagne flute to my lips and taking a sip.
“Look at you,” Theo teases, elbowing me in the side. “One minute you’re bitching about that girl staying at your packhouse, the next you’re wifed up and whisking her off to the presidential suite. Oh, how times have changed.” He smirks, waggling his eyebrows.
I elbow him back, rolling my eyes as the other guys laugh.
Theo points a finger at Reid. “Don’t you be laughing too hard, bro… with any luck, you’ll be wifed up in a couple of days.” He grins widely, flashing both rows of straight white teeth at Reid.
“We’ll see,” Reid sighs, shaking his head. He raises his whiskey glass to his lips, downing the rest before depositing it on a nearby cocktail table.
It takes me a second to realize what Theo’s referencing- and then it clicks. “Why do I keep forgetting about the all-pack run?” I groan, rubbing my temple.
“I mean…” Gray chuckles, gesturing around the room. “You’ve been a little preoccupied.”
I nod in agreement. I’ve definitely been more focused on Astrid’s Luna ceremony than the all-pack run, but that doesn’t mean I’m not looking forward to it. We finally got all of the alphas to agree to doing a run with all six packs this full moon- and by all of the alphas, I mean we finally got Anders, Damian, and Vaughn on board; the rest of us have always been for it. Given what we’re about to face with the shadow pack, we figured now is the perfect time to all run together, as it’ll boost morale and promote bonding within the alliance as a whole.
Another perk of bringing all of the packs together to run is increasing the odds for single shifters to find their fated mates. Me and the other guys are hoping that Reid’s mate is waiting for him somewhere in the six-pack and that he’ll find her at the run. Reid’s the last of us without a mate- the lone wolf. He acts like he’s not bothered by it, but if you ask me, I think he’s just good at putting on a front. I’ve been there; it wasn’t long ago that I was in his shoes, watching my friends find their mates while I remained alone.
“So is everyone staying here tonight, then?” Jax asks, looking around to the rest of us as we nod in affirmation. His lips spread into a grin. “Good. After party in my suite, then.”
Gray arches a brow. “You sure Quinn’s on board with that?”
“Please,” Jax scoffs. “She’ll be the one pouring the shots.”
“SheisTheo’s sister,” Reid remarks.
“Touché,” I chuckle. I down the rest of my champagne, my eyes going to the doorway as Astrid re-enters the ballroom. She still looks flawless- not at all like I just made her come undone with my tongue.
I don’t even realize my feet are moving until I hear Jax call after me.
“Where you goin’?”
My eyes remain on Astrid as I continue in her direction. “Gotta go dance with my Luna.”
I vaguely hear Jax and Theo commenting to one another, no doubt giving me shit, but I couldn’t care less. Not when Astrid spots me heading her way and flashes me a bright smile, because as soon as our eyes meet, everything else just fades away.
~
As the evening draws on, the crowd starts to thin, guests filtering out. Those that remain continue to drink and dance, and everyone in attendance seems to be having a great time. Astrid and I are continually pulled in different directions, but we keep finding our way back to one another, whether it’s at the bar or on the dance floor or tucked aside in conversation with family or friends.
It’s getting late and I haven’t seen her in a little while, so I go looking for her. She isn’t anywhere in the ballroom- instead, I find her standing outside on the terrace, leaning against the balcony rail and gazing out over the forest at night. I step out of the noisy ballroom to join her, closing the door tightly behind me.
She must sense that it’s me, because she doesn’t even turn to look as I prowl up behind her. I reach out to grip the balcony railing on either side of her to cage her in, and she presses her body backwards into mine, her head falling back to rest against my chest. I lean down, dropping a kiss on her slender shoulder.
“We’re going to have a beautiful life together, you know that?” Astrid muses quietly, still staring out at the forest.
“I wish I could see what you see,” I murmur, nipping the tender flesh of her neck.
Slowly, she spins around to face me, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. She reaches out, running her hands up my chest and out over my shoulders. “Let me try something.”
I narrow my eyes in question, but she just trails her hands down to my own. She takes them, lifting them between us, squeezing them in hers and pressing her eyes closed. Her brow furrows in concentration and she sinks her teeth into her lower lip.
“What are you doing?” I chuckle, struck by how fucking cute she looks.
But then I see it.
A picture pops into my mind, like a flash. The two of us in the packhouse kitchen, watching as the snow falls outside. My arms are around Astrid, my hands on her belly. She’s carrying my pup.