by Emma Knox
I walked in the door of the large banquet hall in a grandiose hotel which was located and proudly sat in the center of Anchorage.
Everything in the hotel was covered with crystal, gold and marble. Floor to ceiling windows encompassed the surrounding of the hotel and offered substantially remarkable panoramic views of the snowcapped mountains in the distance, just off the cusp of the horizon.
“Riley Crow, what a pleasure to see you this evening.”
I hadn’t even walked through the set of double doors when one of the elders approached me. Great. Now I had to plant on that miserable suck-up smile.
“Councilman Harbor, what a delight to see you here as well.” I shook the man’s hand, pumping it with a firm grip.
“Well look who it is.”
I turned around to put a face with the voice, but I knew before I even looked that I recognized it.
“Hello, Alpha Jones,” I said with a smirk.
Alpha Jones returned my glance with his own smug and pursed lips. “I didn’t expect to see you here at the meeting tonight,” he said with a trace of condescension in his tone.
I shifted my weight and sized him up. “Why would that be exactly?”
He exhaled a dramatic sigh and crossed his arms together. “I don’t know…a little bird has been telling me all about your liaison’s through the community, trying to find an Omega.”
I clinched my teeth, but held my composure and took a deep breath to remain calm and collected in front of these elitist shifter members.
“Maybe you should have your ‘little bird’ (I enunciated with air quotes) brush up on their fact checking skills because that little assumption couldn’t be farther from the truth.”
In reality, it was true that I was on the hunt for a decent Omega who could bear me children, but I had no idea this was debatable as public knowledge. How boring, but at any rate I wondered if through no fault of my own, I had developed some type of unfavorable reputation out there for being an Alpha player.
Alpha Jones’s eyes darkened and narrowed in on me, but he only grunted in response. “Well it looks like you have a lot to catch up on,” he finally said. “We need to see you at more shifter meetings if you plan to be re-elected to the council next year.”
“I have no doubt that my services are well equipped and respected enough to get a few votes,” I quipped back.
“Hmmm….” Alpha Jones trailed off and then swiftly turned on a heel. “If you’ll excuse me, I have some further mingling to tonight.”
I glanced back at Alpha Harbor who merely rolled his eyes. “He’s always been a sour pot.”
“To put it lightly,” I teased.
“We are happy to have you around,” Alpha Harbor assured me with a twinkle in his eye.
“Thank you, sir,” I told him. I respected him immensely and he was well known throughout our shifter community too.
I knew that he was getting up there in years and I hardly ever saw him running through the woods anymore, hunting or getting fresh air on four legs.
“Are you speaking tonight, Alpha Harbor?” I asked curiously, just making friendly and polite conversation.
Alpha Harbor opened his mouth to respond, but was cut short by another high profile and powerful Alpha shifter in the area.
“No, but I am.” Alpha Jenson walked up to us, looking as jovial and charismatic as ever.
He was head of the treasury department, regulating the special taxes and cost for activities and community advantages posed only for shifters to use.
“Alpha Jenson,” I said enthusiastically because I actually did like this one. “It’s so good to see you.”
Alpha Jenson cast me and Alpha Harbor a slight bow. “And to you as well,” he chimed with genuine appeal.
“Alpha Jenson, what pressing issues are plaguing our shifter community that you will be speaking on tonight?” Alpha Harbor asked with intrigue.
“Well,” he began with a smile. “I’m delighted to announce that the majority of matters I’ll be discussing during my time up at the podium tonight will involve the massive undertaking we are about to embark upon.”
Alpha Jenson looked positively pleased with himself and appeared as if he were going to burst with the secret unless someone gave him a tiny nudge to proclaim whatever it was.
I decided to appease him with the question. “What might that be, Alpha?”
He grinned with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “Let’s just say that we have a recreational project hanging in the balance and if we receive the proper funding for it, I have a feeling that Alpha’s and their pups alike will thoroughly appreciate and enjoy the new options out there for sports and exercise.”
“Sounds captivating,” I said and grinned at him. “Let me guess, you will be up there tonight using your charming appeal to convince people to throw money at you?”
Alpha Jenson’s laughter bellowed through the large event hall. “My dear boy,” he said and placed a warm hand on my shoulder. “You have always been spry indeed.”
“I know the community will enjoy having a recreation center like that,” I admitted with a smile.
“Thanks, my boy.” Alpha Jenson slapped me on the back with affectionate enthusiasm. “Just be sure to donate to the cause, if you can.” He tossed me a wink for good measure.
“Absolutely.” I laughed.
“Come to think of it,” Alpha Jenson said with a furrow of his brow. “I am glad I ran into you tonight.”
“Uh-oh,” I took a deep breath. “I’m not sure how I should interpret that.”
“Don’t worry, son,” Alpha Jenson said, using another pet name even though we weren’t even in the same pack. “Somebody came into our offices looking for you.”
“Looking for me?” I pointed to my chest. “Who would be coming into your treasury offices looking for me?” I was perplexed.
Alpha Jenson shrugged. “It was a young fellow. An Omega, that much I remember.”
“How long ago was it?” I blurted out, needing more information.
“Not too long I suppose.” Alpha Jenson pondered my question reflectively by staring up at the ceiling as if he were trying to rack his brain for an acceptable answer.
I glanced over at the stage that had a banner sprawled across it on display with the words “New Moon Dinner.” Underneath the print in smaller letters was the words ‘hosted by the Alaskan Shifter Council.’
I glanced back at Alpha Jenson. “Like as in, a few weeks ago, a month?”
I felt embarrassed to press him, but I was nervous. It had been a month and a half since I’d seen Kyle that fateful morning back at his loft.
I didn’t know whether Kyle would have been the Omega searching for me, but deep down I wanted it to be him, longed to see him once again.
Ever since he had given me that devastating news that he had to move to Siberia under the sham of an arranged marriage, my hopes of ever seeing him again crumbled to dust and were whisked out the window to blow away in the wind.
I’d placed Kyle in the back of my mind, intentionally pushing him there so I wouldn’t have to think about how much I wanted him, longed for him and saw his gleaming asshole open and swollen for me.
I’d always had issues with resisting the temptation of an Omega in heat, but now that I had met Kyle he upped the bar. I didn’t want to settle with any Omega now that I knew what was out there.
Truth be told, I just wanted Kyle and I hated the fact that he was just out of my reach. As an Omega, this bothered me because I was used to getting what I wanted.
The fact that Kyle was untouchable to me just made me want him even more and soared that desire to new and miserable heights every morning when I had to remember that I woke up without him beside me.
“It might have been within the past week that he came in here looking for you.” Alpha Jenson shrugged, unbothered by my beeline of questioning. He was a good, lighthearted soul.
“You are certain he was looking for me?”
Alpha Jenso
n nodded. “Yep. That much I do remember. He said specifically he was looking for Riley.” Alpha Jenson placed a finger on his chin as a separate thought came to him. “Although, when he asked for ‘Riley,’ he didn’t divulge a last name. I just assumed it was you…but I suppose there’s the off chance that there’s another Alpha Riley out there somewhere.”
“Hmm…” I whispered under my breath. “I guess there is a possibility of that being an accountable factor.”
Then, excitement surged through me and my heart pumped with enthusiasm. “Did he tell you what his name was? You know, just in case you passed along the message to me like you are doing now, and I’d be able to have a name to go along with the search?”
I stared through Alpha Jenson, clinging to my breath in hopes that his answer would tickle my ears with the one name I wanted to shout from the mountain tops.
“Yep…” Alpha Jenson nodded proudly. “He said his name was Kyle. I remember it because I have a grand pup named Kyle.”
I tried to keep my composure, but, on the inside, my emotions were leaping on the boundaries of pure adrenaline and hope.
“Thank you,” I told Alpha Jenson. “I don’t suppose Kyle left a number for me to call him at?”
I knew it was a lifeline into being able to see Kyle again, but I couldn’t get my hopes up in the event that Alpha Jenson said no.
I was teetering on the edge of collapse, but I knew if I saw Kyle again he would wash away all my lonesome suffering.
“I’m sorry, Riley, he didn’t leave a number for you.” Alpha Jenson appeared to be genuinely apologetic.
“That’s okay,” I said with a chuckle, trying to wave it off as unimportant, but inside I was going crazy with emotions that I was having trouble digesting.
Then, as if the universe was throwing me a bone, I remembered something else. I knew where Kyle lived. I had spent the entire weekend cooped up with him, having wild sex in his loft apartment.
I would just venture over there to talk to him. There was no harm in that, we could be friends. I was too curious to know why he was searching me out and I knew I’d need an answer.
Part of me just wanted to see his face again and smell his intoxicating and inviting Omega scent.
I couldn’t promise myself that I wouldn’t want to pounce on him the minute I saw him, but I had to take the risk.
I just hoped that once I arrived, he’d be home and willing to let me inside. Oh how I wish that statement could be construed in two different ways.
I knew I’d be useless and distracted if I stuck around the shifter dinner. I only had a certain window of opportunity to reach Kyle and I hoped it wasn’t already too late.
I glanced up at Alpha Jenson and Alpha Harbor. I gave them a free spirited smile. “Gentlemen,” I began. “Will you please excuse me?”
“Of course.” They nodded and gestured with politeness.
“Thank you,” I said and shook their hands once again in departure.
I raced from the room and as soon as my body hit the cold Alaskan air, I immediately shifted. It would take too long for me to get to Kyle’s loft on foot or by car.
I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, pouncing through the woods and then halting at the tree line where Main Street and Kyle’s apartment was.
My breath left traces of fog that suspended in the cold night air. I stood there panting, staring at his loft.
It only took me a minute to compose myself. Shifting back to human, I took another deep breath and jumped through the frozen and cracking puddles on the sidewalk.
Every leap I took made my heart pound with longing for Kyle. There was a tiny light on in one of the windows of his loft, bringing me joy and relief.
In a matter of minutes, we would finally be reunited.
Chapter 6
Kyle
My emotions were getting the better of me. I mean, here I was, sitting on my couch and cuddling a pillow while crying…at a fucking Hallmark commercial on tv.
I wiped my eyes and sniffed as my shoulders shook with fresh sobs over the tender moment on the screen.
A few seconds later, I composed myself and felt disgusted by my asinine behavior. I tossed the pillow to the other side of the couch, groaned and leaned up against the cushions on the back of the couch.
Then, I heard a knock on the door which made me freeze in place. I glanced at the digital alarm clock on the shelf beside my tv. It was dark outside, nearly eight o’clock in the evening.
Who would be coming to my door this time of night? I wasn’t expecting anybody tonight that I could recall.
I stood up and wandered over to the door. I leaned up on my tip toes to gaze out the peep hole, but it was too dark out there and all I could see were shadows.
My porch light was out, and I cursed myself for being too lazy to replace the bulb because now was a really good time to need it.
“Who’s there?” I called out apprehensively from the safety of inside my house.
At first, I was met with silence. I peered through the peep hole one more time and saw a shadow move.
I gasped and pushed myself away from the front door. “Whoever is there, go away. I have a…a…gun!” I cried out. I tried to sound as threatening as possible, but I knew it was a feeble, last resort type of effort.
I heard a man’s voice roar with laughter on the other side of the door. I thought for a fleeting moment that I might recognize that sound. My senses prickled, and my heart drummed with eager anticipation.
“Do you really think that is supposed to scare me?” The voice chuckled with patronizing flare on the other side of the door.
“Riley?” My voice squeaked. It couldn’t be. It sure sounded like his erotic, sexy hunk of a voice though.
“Yes, it’s Riley,” he laughed again, “who the hell else do you think would be at your doorstep this late at night?”
I scowled. “I resent that,” I retorted and walked toward the door.
I unlocked the deadbolt and shot open the door with a breeze. As soon as I saw Riley’s face, I was conflicted with a hundred different emotions. I was thrilled, elated and overjoyed, but at the same time…I was desperate, hopeless and filled with unquenchable longing.
He was dressed in jeans, a black leather jacket and his dark eyes were handsome and brooding, piercing through my soul.
“Hello,” I said meekly and stepped aside to allow him to pass through into the entrance of the loft.
“Is that any way to greet your Alpha?” Riley spun around, and his eyes were lit up with playfulness as his lips curled into a devious smirk.
“Oh…sorry…I…uh.” I was fumbling, faltering for words.
I hadn’t been expecting Riley to show up on my doorstep unannounced no matter how much it warmed my heart to finally have him here with me again.
“I’m only kidding with you, silly Omega.” Riley roared with laughter again and drew me in for a hug.
His cologne drove me wild and made my heart flip with desire and impulse.
“That’s good to know,” I said sheepishly and returned his hug, embracing him as if I were afraid that he’d vanish, vaporize into thin air if I let go of him.
Riley trotted around my loft as if he owned the place. I watched him with inspired awe as he walked over to my kitchen and pulled open the refrigerator.
He inspected the contents inside, and then decided on a bottle of water. He unscrewed the top and guzzled down a sizable gulp of the liquid.
“Ahh,” he said and smacked his lips once he was finally done. “That hits the spot. To be honest though,” he said and looked around with a chuckle. “I’d rather have a beer.”
“Oh,” I said and blushed. “Sorry, I don’t have any of those lying around anywhere.”
“That’s okay.” Riley shrugged as if it didn’t put him out too terribly.
He walked over to me and stopped when he was only an inch or two away. I could feel the heat radiating off of him. His energy floored me, immobilized me to the point where I
thought I might pass out from how sexy he was.
He cast his eyes up and down my body, drinking me in. It made me feel vulnerable and exposed, but in a deliciously naughty sort of way.
“It’s good to see you.” He nodded. His tone changed to almost professionalism as if he were speaking to a colleague that had been on extended vacation and had just returned.
I flicked my eyes to my bare feet and realized with ample amounts of mortification that I was also wearing pajama’s that had the humiliating print of little sunglasses adorning cats playing tiny pianos.
“Yeah…” I trailed off faintly. “It’s good to see you too.”
I didn’t understand where my bashfulness was stemming from all of the sudden. I should be so immensely elated to see Riley again that in reality…I should be jumping up and down with exhilaration.
“So…” Riley said and screwed the top back on his water bottle. He belched loudly and made me grimace, even though he was still excruciatingly handsome standing over there…playing substantial games with my emotions.
“So…” I chuckled anxiously.
Riley’s eyes blazed through me. I was powerless and love-struck under his tantalizing gaze as if he’d cast a swooning spell on me.
Riley inched closer to me until I could sense his Alpha heat. He towered over me and made me tremble with longing.
“I’ve heard that you’ve been looking for me,” he said in a hushed whisper.
I glanced up at him and swallowed hard. “That grapevine rumor is true,” I confessed.
Riley’s eyes flashed with amusement and intrigue. “You missed me.” It was a testament of fact, not a question.
I admired his self-assurance. I only wished I could convey that ample amount of confidence. I glanced at the floor again. “Yes,” I said quietly. Then, I gazed into his eyes again, searching the window of his soul for meaning and profound depth. “Did you miss me?” My question was pathetic and hung in the air like trapped, stale cigarette smoke.
Riley scoffed. “Of course I did. Why would you even assume to ask?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I guess Omega’s need more encouragement than Alphas.”
