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The Denver Alpha 41
JULIETI should’ve known Cole had something up his sleeve when he told me to dress to the nines for dinner tonight. Even more when I walked into the living room to find him looking all dapper in a suit- not just his usual slacks and a button down with the sleeves casually rolled to the elbows- a full blown suit: black pants and jacket with a charcoal grey dress shirt underneath and a black silk tie around his neck.Cole always looks sexy as hell, but when he rose from the sofa dressed in that suit, I swear my heart stopped beating for a few seconds, the sight of him stealing my breath. Then he started devouring me with that dark-eyed gaze, smoldering eyes assessing me until heat burned through my veins and I felt like I could catch fire at any moment.When our eyes locked, the emotions that crashed through me- desire and fierce possessiveness and love- suddenly had my insecurities screaming to the surface, Tayla’s words from last night echoing in my brain. They flew out of my mouth li
The Denver Alpha 42
COLEI didn’t tell Juliet there was a step four.I’m a planner, and it was no accident that I chose last night for my grand gesture to make her mine. It was in hopes that if all went well, I could officially introduce her to the pack today as Luna at our annual end of summer gathering. Rumors have already been swirling since the morning I staked my claim in the packhouse kitchen, and if I’m being honest, the whispers started long before that.Guess I wasn’t exactly subtle about wanting her. But now I get to officially announce the news; that we’re fated, marked, bound to one another for the rest of our lives. That Juliet will be joining our pack and leading it alongside me.I could’ve told her about today, but then she would’ve had time to worry about how the news may be received rather than just embracing her moment. She might’ve taken Tayla’s cruel words to heart instead of allowing the rest of the pack to speak for themselves.So yeah, I’m springing it on her. But it’s with the be
The Denver Alpha Epilogue
JULIETTwo Months LaterIt’s not a traditional wedding by any means. There’s no bridesmaids or groomsmen, no towering wedding cake with roses made of icing. No real pomp or circumstance. I do wear a white dress, though, looking every bit the blushing bride, and Cole looks so handsome in his suit I can hardly stand it. The ceremony isn’t one you’d see at a typical wedding, either. The vows I take aren’t just to Cole; they’re to the entire pack, to swear me in as their official Luna. We mix in a few of our own vows to each other and sign a marriage certificate while we’re at it, though, and it’s still beautiful and meaningful and perfectly us. The ceremony itself is brief, only for the members of the Denver pack, but the reception afterwards is far less intimate.Everybody’s there. Cole’s parents traveled in, my own family made the trip, and all of the six-pack alphas and lunas are in attendance, too. In lieu of some stuffy, formal reception, we host it at Jokers nightclub, closing it
The Denver Alpha 1
COLEMy mind conjures up the memory of the stench of acrid smoke in the air as I thumb through the photographs of the charred, skeletal remains of the Sparrowhead apartment complex. Two months ago, a fire took down the entire building, blazing out of control until only ash and rubble remained. The destruction was so severe that the cause of the fire was only recently determined, and this file landed on my desk this morning courtesy of my connections with the local P.D.The police chief knows I like to keep a pulse on what goes on in the city, so he doesn’t question when I request files from him. Not that I would disclose the reasons behind my requests if he did. As long as I grease his palm with quarterly donations, he seems satisfied with our arrangement and doesn’t pry into my personal business. Why would he when I’m a respected figure in the community, the proprietor of a dozen bars and night clubs with a well-rounded real estate portfolio to boot?I didn’t amass all of this on my
The Denver Alpha 2
JULIETI drag in a deep lungful of fresh air as Shay leads me out the tall sliding glass door and onto the terrace, chattering away about the packhouse and all its amenities. The air smells different here in Denver. It smells like sweet, sweet freedom.“I mean, you grew up in a packhouse, so all of this is probably normal to you,” Shay tosses over her shoulder as she treads a path to the edge of the terrace. “But it was a huge change for me when I came here. It took some getting used to. And hey, if you-”“Holy shit,” I interrupt, pushing past Shay as a huge pool area comes into view. “There’s a pool?!”Her lips pull into a grin, her chin-length hair bouncing as she nods. “Yeah, girl. There’s a pool.”She starts to say something else, but her words are lost to me as I rush forward to get a closer look at the large swimming pool, the crystal-clear water beckoning me in the sweltering summer heat. I might’ve grown up in a packhouse, but the one in Westfield pales in comparison to this p
The Denver Alpha 3
COLENo matter what time I go to bed at night, I always wake up at seven a.m. to start my day. I value discipline and routine, and no matter what happens in a given day, each morning is like a reset. I never hit the snooze button when my alarm sounds, even if an extra ten minutes of sleep may seem tempting. It isn’t worth throwing off my whole day. Regardless of how exhausted I am, I haul my ass out of bed at seven on the dot, hit the gym for my daily workout, shower, then head to the kitchen for coffee and breakfast. The snooze button was more tempting than usual this morning, but I still dragged myself out of bed and went about my routine as normal. By the time I’ve finished my workout and showered, many of the warriors that reside at the packhouse are already crowded in the kitchen for breakfast, their voices carrying down the hall as the scent of fresh coffee beckons me closer.As always, Sam is seated at our usual table when I stride into the kitchen, a cup of coffee already po
The Denver Alpha 4
JULIET I could feel the shift in the atmosphere when I woke up this morning; the sense of liberation buzzing through my veins. I hadn’t stopped thinking about the pool since I laid eyes on it yesterday, so I started my day with a swim, immediately concluding that it’s the way I’ll start every day here until the weather turns. It was infinitely more relaxing than my usual morning runs- I must’ve been a mermaid in another life because I love being in the water. I’m pretty sure I left a lasting impression when I wandered into the kitchen for coffee afterwards. Cole’s jaw was clenched so tightly that it looked like he was about to blow a gasket, but I didn’t miss the way he looked at me. And yeah, I might’ve goaded him a little bit to gauge his interest. It’s there. He clearly likes to play his cards close to his chest, though, so if I have to push his buttons more to bring out that side of him, I’m more than up for the task. He disappeared afterwards, but Shay came by my room while I w
The Denver Alpha 5
COLE“Alpha,” Max greets, pushing open the back door to Jokers nightclub before I can even reach it and swinging it wide to allow me entry. The surveillance cameras must’ve alerted him to my presence when I parked in my spot behind the building, prompting him to come down to meet me. “Didn’t know you were stopping in tonight.”“Figured I’d swing by and see how Jason’s getting on,” I grumble, stepping past him and into the dingy concrete hallway. Ordinarily, I don’t often make personal visits to the establishments that our pack owns and runs in Denver. I trust my guys to keep the operations running smoothly and bring anything urgent to my attention, but since Jason was only promoted to manager of this club yesterday, I thought it’d be best to check in on things myself to ensure the transition has been seamless.I glance over at the concrete staircase to my left, pointing a finger upwards to indicate. “Is he upstairs?” The manager’s office here is on the second level, with a private ent
Latest chapter
The Denver Alpha Epilogue
JULIETTwo Months LaterIt’s not a traditional wedding by any means. There’s no bridesmaids or groomsmen, no towering wedding cake with roses made of icing. No real pomp or circumstance. I do wear a white dress, though, looking every bit the blushing bride, and Cole looks so handsome in his suit I can hardly stand it. The ceremony isn’t one you’d see at a typical wedding, either. The vows I take aren’t just to Cole; they’re to the entire pack, to swear me in as their official Luna. We mix in a few of our own vows to each other and sign a marriage certificate while we’re at it, though, and it’s still beautiful and meaningful and perfectly us. The ceremony itself is brief, only for the members of the Denver pack, but the reception afterwards is far less intimate.Everybody’s there. Cole’s parents traveled in, my own family made the trip, and all of the six-pack alphas and lunas are in attendance, too. In lieu of some stuffy, formal reception, we host it at Jokers nightclub, closing it
The Denver Alpha 42
COLEI didn’t tell Juliet there was a step four.I’m a planner, and it was no accident that I chose last night for my grand gesture to make her mine. It was in hopes that if all went well, I could officially introduce her to the pack today as Luna at our annual end of summer gathering. Rumors have already been swirling since the morning I staked my claim in the packhouse kitchen, and if I’m being honest, the whispers started long before that.Guess I wasn’t exactly subtle about wanting her. But now I get to officially announce the news; that we’re fated, marked, bound to one another for the rest of our lives. That Juliet will be joining our pack and leading it alongside me.I could’ve told her about today, but then she would’ve had time to worry about how the news may be received rather than just embracing her moment. She might’ve taken Tayla’s cruel words to heart instead of allowing the rest of the pack to speak for themselves.So yeah, I’m springing it on her. But it’s with the be
The Denver Alpha 41
JULIETI should’ve known Cole had something up his sleeve when he told me to dress to the nines for dinner tonight. Even more when I walked into the living room to find him looking all dapper in a suit- not just his usual slacks and a button down with the sleeves casually rolled to the elbows- a full blown suit: black pants and jacket with a charcoal grey dress shirt underneath and a black silk tie around his neck.Cole always looks sexy as hell, but when he rose from the sofa dressed in that suit, I swear my heart stopped beating for a few seconds, the sight of him stealing my breath. Then he started devouring me with that dark-eyed gaze, smoldering eyes assessing me until heat burned through my veins and I felt like I could catch fire at any moment.When our eyes locked, the emotions that crashed through me- desire and fierce possessiveness and love- suddenly had my insecurities screaming to the surface, Tayla’s words from last night echoing in my brain. They flew out of my mouth li
The Denver Alpha 40
COLE“What do you have for me, Rico?” I ask as my head of IT steps through the threshold of my office at the packhouse, pausing from my discussion with Sam to give him my full attention.“We wiped everything,” he replies, a flicker of pride shining in the rich brown of his eyes. “Shame it turned out that way, because we pulled some pretty damning evidence off of the guy’s phone. For a man involved in organized crime, Holley sure was sloppy.”“Prison would’ve been too good for him,” I mutter, tossing a crumpled piece of paper into the wastebasket. “You’re sure you got all the cameras?”Rico arches a brow. “Do you really have to ask?”I don’t. The IT team that works for my pack is good at what they do; they leave no stone unturned when I set them on a task. This time, it was locating and hacking into any surveillance cameras in the area of Club Atlantis last night to wipe the footage. If the bodies are ever found, the cops will have a hell of a time trying to piece together what happene
The Denver Alpha 39
JULIETMy adrenaline must finally be waning, because exhaustion hits me like a lead weight when I park the Camaro in the underground garage at the packhouse and head inside. My mind feels a little fuzzy, my neck and shoulders stiff. The muscles in my thighs burn as I ascend the stairs from the garage, my breathing labored by the time I reach the landing at the top. I practically sigh in relief when I step through the door into the familiar foyer, hardly remembering a time I felt so glad to be home.Home.If Cole and I seal our bond, that’s what this packhouse will become to me, permanently.No more Westfield. No more six-pack. When I return there, I’ll merely be a visitor. An outsider, like I was when I came here. Like I still feel I am.On the precipice of such a major life change, I feel like I’ve got one foot in each world, struggling to decide which way to jump. I know how I feel about Cole, but it’s everything else that goes along with being his mate I’m unsure about. As Alpha, h
The Denver Alpha 38
COLEThe shrill scream that pierces the air makes my blood run cold.I was just thinking that it was taking Juliet way too long to come outside, but I wouldn’t allow myself to jump to the conclusion that something had gone wrong.Then that scream…Something primal deep within me knows right away that it’s her. My wolf thrashes within my chest, biting and clawing to get free. My body trembles with the effort it takes to keep him contained as I throw open the door of the Camaro, leaping out and abandoning my vehicle on the curb.I take off in a dead sprint around the dark building beside Club Atlantis, guided by the sharp tug of the mate bond being pulled taut. Even though we haven’t sealed it yet, the bond snapping into place on the night of the full moon is strong enough to guide me to the side alley between the buildings. Just as I round the corner, I hear Juliet cry out in pain again, and the sound of it is enough to send my wolf hurtling forward again, my shift imminent.It’s a mir
The Denver Alpha 37
JULIETMy heart’s beating so fast that it feels like it’s going to lurch out of my chest. The interior of Atlantis nightclub is dimly lit in hues of blue and purple, the bass beat from the music pulsing into the soles of my feet as I stride through the main floor toward the VIP area. Although this whole plan was hatched from my idea, every angle examined to ensure it’ll be executed seamlessly, I’m still jittery with anticipation as I take the first steps to put it in motion.The bouncer at the entrance to the VIP section is tall and stocky, dressed in a well-tailored suit with his hair slicked back neatly. He gives me a once-over as I approach with confidence, my tight red dress accentuating every curve and my stiletto heels clicking against the floor, then angles his chin down to murmur something into the microphone on his lapel. Pressing a finger to the earpiece he’s wearing, whatever response he receives has him drawing back the black velvet rope and stepping aside to grant me entr
The Denver Alpha 36
COLELife has a funny way of working out. When I look back on how things were when Juliet first arrived in Denver, it’s crazy to think how far we’ve come. Back then, I wanted nothing more than for her to turn around, go home, and stop disrupting my life. Now, I can’t imagine it without her.My mate.A grin spreads across my face as I watch Juliet from where I’m parked at the curb on Denver U’s campus. She’s chatting with a few other students, including Tobias, as they exit one of the school buildings and start down the walkway. My possessive side flares as she laughs at something Tobias says, but I try to tamp it down quickly, not wanting to put a damper on her first day because I can’t control my own jealousy.I shouldn’t be jealous. Juliet’s mine, and Tobias wouldn’t step a toe out of line with her unless he had a death wish. Still, I can’t help but want to be the only one who makes her laugh like that. The only one who captures her attention.As if she can read my thoughts, her gaz
The Denver Alpha 35
JULIETI close my eyes as I step underneath the stream of hot water cascading down from the rainfall showerhead, tipping my head back and combing my fingers through my hair to wash out the shampoo. It smells like Cole, and so did the body wash. It’s a little ironic that I decided to take a shower so I didn’t walk into breakfast reeking of him, but by using the products in here, my scent is still a dead giveaway as to where I’ve spent the night. Part of me likes that. My wolf preens at the thought of everyone knowing I’m his. That he’s mine.I hear the shower door open behind me, resisting the urge to squirm under the weight of Cole’s attention as I hear him step inside. With my eyes still closed, I may not be able to see him, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel the weight of his stare practically eating me alive.His feet slap against the tile as he moves closer, and despite the temperature of the water and the thick steam surrounding me, a shiver runs down my spine. My inner animal s
