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26. Pushing (Clay POV)
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Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 27. Shifted (Luke POV)
I'll admit, I had forgotten how invigorating a good workout could feel. It was like every fiber of my body was alight with renewed energy. But watching Clay move, I couldn't help but wonder: how the hell did he manage to keep up this kind of intensity without the aid of substances anymore? And then came breakfast. The moment he set that plate of food in front of me, the first wave of nausea hit. The aroma of the eggs and bacon, which would generally be appealing, twisted my insides like a wet rag. I couldn't help but think, did he do this on purpose? Was this some convoluted coercion to remind me of my weakened state? Every bite was a struggle. My body begged me to stop, but my mind screamed louder, urging me to hold it together, to not give Clay the satisfaction of seeing me crumble. Anger bubbled within me with each mouthful, stewing and festering as if fed by the food I was forcing down. Then we transitioned to video games, but it was far from the distraction I needed. Each mist
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 28. Control That Volume (Clay POV)
The tension was almost tangible as we drove down the winding road in Lexi's spacious SUV. I knew the upcoming confrontation with my father was inevitable, and the thought weighed heavily on my mind. I'd seen my dad lose control more times than I'd care to admit, but the hope that Lexi's presence might have a calming effect on him clung to me like a lifeline.Luke shifted uncomfortably in his seat, breaking my chain of thought. "Is there any way to dodge your dad today?"I chuckled, shaking my head. "You know better, Luke. Dodging my dad is like trying to dodge rain in a thunderstorm. You're gonna get wet. It's just a matter of how much."As I drove, my eyes wandered to the rearview mirror often. Lexi had insisted Luke and I sit up front, which left her sprawled in the back seat, staring out the sunroof at the sky. The serene expression on her face fascinated me, and I couldn't help but wonder how she was handling all of this—me, Luke, the pending visit to pack land, everything."What
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 29. The Treehouse (Luke POV)
I watched her hand retreat, her fingers leaving a lingering warmth in my fur. My thoughts whirled as I processed the revelation. Lexi could hear me. Not just Clay, but me. If she had only been connected with Clay, they might have kept it a secret, stashed away in a vault of unspeakable truths. But now, she also heard my thoughts, opening up a channel I hadn't considered possible. I wasn't her fated mate. I'd come to terms with that a while ago, accepting it reluctantly as an inflexible fact. But there was an indisputable energy between us, something that transcended reason. Now, in my wolf form, that something became crystal clear. A link existed, intangible yet impossible to ignore. She'd petted me and told me Clay was excited about our newfound ability to communicate during our runs. The concept baffled me. The last thing I wanted was to make Lexi the middleman in any discourse between Clay and me. Even in our prime, when we would've considered ourselves best friends, our interact
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 30. Ready To Run (Clay POV)
I felt an overwhelming sense of vulnerability as I returned to my human form. I hurriedly picked up my shorts from the car, put them on, and sat on the porch, bracing myself for what would happen. My dad was on his way, and the air was filled with the scent of his Alpha pheromones, making the atmosphere edgy, even with the breeze blowing. Footsteps resonated through the ground; I felt them before I saw him. His wolf form exuded a raw, domineering aura as he emerged from the dense woods. He shifted back to human, quicker than I ever could, an unsettling reminder of his years of experience and control over his powers. "You let him back in your life, Clay? That deranged failure of an Alpha? After everything he did?" His voice tremored with disdain, piercing through the silence. My blood boiled. I was no longer a kid who'd shy away from confrontation. "First off, Luke's not a failure. Second, even if he was, it would be my choice to have him in my life. Not yours." Dad snarled, pacing
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 31. End You Myself (Luke POV)
I was drenched in sweat, my heart still pounding from the exhilarating run. But man, I felt alive like no chemical concoction had ever made me feel. The world had sharper edges, brighter colors, and Clay was beside me.The drugs never stood a chance.We returned to the treehouse, our spirits high. Lexi looked at us, a smile forming as if she knew just how transformative that run had been for us."Do you want a ride back?" Clay asked her. "The house is a bit of a trek from here.""Do we have to cross the river again?" Lexi questioned, raising an eyebrow.Clay laughed, a hearty sound that filled the air. "Yeah, but we'll take the bridge this time. He has a thing for swimming when shifted. Me? Not so much."Lexi agreed and then climbed onto Clay's back after he shifted, and I couldn't help but notice how natural it looked, like she belonged there.This time, we moved at a gentler pace, unlike my earlier frantic sprint that had Lexi clinging onto me for dear life. Now, she seemed comforta
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 32. Just Go (Lexi POV)
The next four days felt like tiptoeing through a minefield, each step loaded with clear tension. Luke oscillated between moments of seeming clarity and agitated outbursts. His nerves were frayed guitar strings about to snap. After much debate and several intense discussions, we finally persuaded him to take a minuscule amount, once or twice a day, to stave off the worst withdrawal symptoms. His physical body needed to catch up to the resilience of his spirit.Clay and Luke had more than one standoff, usually over trivial matters, magnified by the emotional weight Luke was carrying. They still kept up with their morning workouts, but those sessions were strained, a fragile truce on the balcony. I often hung out with them during these workouts until both their eyes started the light show flashing thing. At night, the clock on the wall seemed to mock us, its hands ticking away into the early morning hours. Despite the ungodly time, our conversation flowed naturally, words spilling out
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 33. I Know It (Luke POV)
I sat on the edge of the couch, reeling in a cocktail of emotions that had become my daily regimen. A part of me couldn't believe Clay had just left Lexi alone with me. Sure, I was volatile, unpredictable, even dangerous. But the thing was, even Clay couldn't ignore the calming effect Lexi had on me. Physically, my symptoms were a raging fire, but mentally? Emotionally? Lexi was like cool water dousing the flames. As long as Clay wasn't purposely stoking it, that is. The sound of the door clicking shut snapped me back to reality. My stomach twisted, a riot of emptiness and nausea. I doubled over, clutching the trash can for another bout of dry heaving. There was nothing left in me to vomit, but my body hadn't received the memo. Lexi, meanwhile, leaned forward to set the metal vial—a six-dose lifeline—on the coffee table. Then she was there again, her hand on my back, tracing soothing circles as I convulsed. When the worst of it had passed, I sat back and wiped my face with a tired
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 34. Luna Mark (Clay POV)
The atmosphere in the gallery was electric. People milled around, wine glasses in hand, eyes widened as they took in the art I'd spent months laboring over. Conversations filled the room like music, a chorus of praises and interpretations that left me buzzing with a sense of accomplishment. This was my world, separate from the chaos of pack dynamics and ongoing dramas. Or so I thought.I saw him just when I thought the night couldn't get any better. My father, standing in the doorway, his eyes meeting mine. "Clay, can we talk?" he asked, his voice cutting through the thrum of the crowd."Of course," I replied, leading him through the sea of admirers and art aficionados into the sanctuary of my office.Once inside, he took a deep breath. "Son, I need to apologize. I lost my temper the other day. It wasn't fair to you or Luke. You've both made choices that I'm proud of recently, and I want to make that known."His words washed over me, the tension that had built up in recent days dissi
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Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 130. 5 Years Later
Our front yard was a scene of pure, unadulterated joy, with Reni and Lachlan, our beautiful 5-year-old twins, and their cousin Finn chasing each other around, their laughter and shouts filling the air with the vibrant energy of childhood. I found solace on the porch swing, enjoying the afternoon sun, while Moro, now a permanent fixture on our land as my advisor and friend, sat beside me. Moro's life had taken a beautiful turn; she was dating Devlin, sharing a life with him in more ways than one.Both Moro and I were weeks away from giving birth, our bellies round and full of life. Devlin emerged from the woods and greeted Moro with a kiss that spoke volumes of their shared affection. He glanced my way, assuring me that Luke and Clay would join us shortly.True to his word, Clay and Luke approached, already wearing shorts. Our attempts to maintain a semblance of modesty in front of the kids were somewhat amusing yet necessary. The dry boxes they kept on the edge of the woods for such o
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 128. (Luke POV)
In the quiet of our home, the absence of the familiar bustle and noise felt almost surreal. As Clay gently lifted Lachlan from his car seat, his voice broke the silence. "I'm just going to give him a bottle," he said softly.I nodded, a smile touching my lips. "It's all frozen, man." I thought about Lexi and how diligently she'd been pumping since leaving the hospital. She'd been a force of nature, feeding the twins or pumping tirelessly. We'd even bought a new freezer just to store all the milk she'd accumulated. Her determination was something I admired deeply.We tiptoed to the bedroom, careful not to disturb the tranquility. Lexi lay there, sleeping soundly, clutching our pillows close. The sight tugged at my heartstrings. "She was so tired," I whispered.Gently, I lay down behind her, feeling the warmth of her body against mine, while Clay positioned himself in front with Lachlan cradled in his arms. Lexi's eyes fluttered open, and a smile lit up her face as she saw our baby boy.
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 127. Precious Cargo (Clay POV)
Sitting in the NICU, our baby boy's warmth against my bare chest provided a strange sense of solace amid the beeps and hums of the machines. I glanced at Luke, our little girl nestled in his arms, her frailty marked by the wires and tubes assisting her breath. Despite her struggle, there was a certain resilience in her tiny frame. On the other hand, the boy made his presence known through his cries, only pacified in moments of sleep or cradled in our arms. The NICU staff, recognizing our unique situation, had granted us unrestricted access, a small mercy in this rough time. Lexi had stayed behind this visit, exhaustion finally claiming her. The look in her eyes when she thought one of the babies would not get as much attention because she wasn't there made her hyper-vigilant. The three of us couldn't go together, so we switched off, her the constant as one stayed home. Luke finally put his foot down, saying he was getting fragile herself. She only conceded to rest after I promise
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 126. Struggling (Luke POV)
In the sudden chaos of the night, with Lexi's water breaking unexpectedly, my world tilted on its axis. She sat up abruptly in bed, urgency in her voice, "Oh shit, Luke, Clay, wake up, wake up now!" We both jerked awake, disoriented. "What's wrong?" I mumbled, rubbing my eyes, trying to process her words. "I'm sitting in fluid. I think my water broke..." Rushing to the hospital felt like a blur. Doctors swarmed around Lexi, their movements precise, their decisions swift. They decided on a c-section, taking out both babies at just over 32 weeks. Panic clawed at my throat, the reality of the situation pressing down on me like a physical weight. In the sterile confines of the hospital prep room, Clay, whom the hospital staff believed was my brother, helped me don the medical gown required for the surgery room. I paused, leaning my forehead against the cool window, a wave of emotion overwhelming me. Tears streamed down my face as I admitted, "I don't think I can do it, Clay. I don't thi
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 125. (Lexi POV)
Six months had flown by, and I was sitting on the floor with my pregnancy pillow wrapped around me. It was a quiet morning, just the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains. I shifted and stretched in every possible way, trying to coax the baby - or babies, to be precise - to ease their foot or elbow from my ribcage.Under my breath, I pleaded with them, my voice a mix of discomfort and affection. The movements inside me were relentless, a constant reminder of the life growing within.Luke, stirred by my soft murmurs, slowly crawled down from the bed to join me on the floor. He stretched, a lazy yawn escaping him, then leaned over to kiss my round belly. "Stop torturing your mama," he whispered into my belly button, his voice soft and playful, sending ripples of laughter through me.He gently massaged my belly, tracing the visible lines of tiny feet and elbows gliding across my skin. The babies seemed to respond to his touch, their movements becoming more pronounced.I could
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 124. Untamed (Luke POV)
At that moment, with Lexi beneath me, everything felt amplified and intensified beyond my usual senses. My body responded with a fierce urgency, a primal need to ravage her. Every kiss, every bite of her lip, every roll of my hips was a testament to a desire that was more than just physical. It was as if an ancient, primal force had awoken within me, urging me to solidify our connection. I had to remind myself constantly – she was human. My strength, enhanced by the mate bond, could quickly become overwhelming. The last thing I wanted was to hurt her, to let this raw, untamed part of me cross a line. Lexi, lost in the intensity of the moment, seemed to be riding the same wave of passion. Her moans, her surrender to the sensations, spurred me on, yet the cloud of doubt loomed heavier with each passing second. Carefully, so as not to startle her, I eased myself up, maintaining our kiss until the very last moment. My grip on Clay's arm reminded me of the balance I needed to maintain.
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 123. Slip By (Clay POV)
As I stood there, watching Luke and Lexi, a profound sense of certainty washed over me. It was more than just witnessing two people in love; it was the palpable sensation of Fate weaving its intricate tapestry. There was no denying it – they were meant to bring a new life into this world. It felt like every star in the sky, every whisper of the wind, was conspiring to guide them toward this destiny.For me, the realization that I wasn't the first to embark on this journey of fatherhood brought a surprising sense of relief. I pondered why this was, delving into the depths of my thoughts. Was it the enormity of the responsibility that daunted me? Or perhaps the fear of confronting my own potential as a father.Yet, as I observed them, another far more profound reason dawned on me. It was the desire to see Luke transcend his past, to break free from the chains of his troubled upbringing. I wanted this for him – to prove that he was not a mere product of his genetics, but a man shaped by
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 122. Like Hell He Is (Lexi POV)
The shift in the room was noticeable as Clay finished updating the drawing of our tattoos. It symbolized our unity, of everything we had become together. Of everything we had to go through to be together. He flopped down beside us, pulling me onto his lap with a gentle tug. His kiss was a silent promise, a reaffirmation of our bond.The thought of having a baby seemed both daunting and incredibly right. I couldn't explain the pull I felt, a deep, instinctive urge that seemed to transcend my human understanding. A part of me worried about the potential complications of one of them being the biological father before the other, but I kept those thoughts to myself for now.Lost in Clay's kiss, I reached out instinctively and grasped Luke's hand. The moment our hands touched, the sexual tension that had once existed between Luke and Clay surged back with an intensity that took us all by surprise.Luke recoiled, almost as if he'd been shocked. "Holy shit," he exclaimed, jumping back.Clay g
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 121. Let Me Do It (Luke POV)
Something deep and primal within me stirred as Lexi's lips met mine. It wasn't just the rush of hormones or the inexplicable workings of magic – it was something more profound, more intimate. This was the enchanting kind of magic that comes with love, a deep connection, and the unspoken desire to nurture that connection further.Having kids was a concept I had never seriously entertained. Kids who grow up in rough homes like I did often fear the possibility of passing on those horrible experiences to their own offspring. I was no exception to that, but as Lexi kissed me, every fiber of my being seemed to awaken to a new reality. It was time – time to think about an heir.This realization hit me with such force that I felt compelled to voice it aloud.To my astonishment, neither Clay nor Lexi reacted with the same shock I felt. They seemed almost calm, accepting of the idea.I also felt this powerful urge to tend to Lexi's mark. A part of it was because of the tingling sensation overt
