The Alpha's Rebel

Chapter 28

Thay didn't find anything new either, so we're shit out of luck. I spend the rest of the afternoon ransacking the library and try and find anything and to no avail. I grab my bag and head back to the house, knowing Maddox will be back soon and wanting to beat him back.

I formulate a new plan on the walk to our house. If I can't find anything about hunters in the library, then my next option is to find the hunter themself and find out what the fuck their problem is. They're messing with the wrong bitch, and when I find them, I want to make sure they know that before I end their life.

And I will end their life.

I fortunately beat Maddox back to the house and, after hiding the one book I found earlier in the mini library Maddox has, stretch myself out on the living room floor. I lay down and use one of my arms to prop my head up, using the TV remote I grabbed from the coffee table to turn to the TV on. The beige rug below me is very soft and thick, and I know I will be taking many naps on it in the near future.

I find some reruns of Friends, dosing in and out throughout an episode before Maddox comes homes. The front door opening snaps me out of one of my doses, but I don't make a move to go to Maddox. I want him to come and cuddle with me, so I stay where I am. I hear foot steps come closer, most likely to stand behind the couch to find me.

"Harper?"

I remove the arm from behind me head and arch my neck so I can look at Maddox behind me. He's upside down, so his lazy grin looks like an uncertain frown.

"You do realize there's a huge couch literally surrounding you, right?"

"I do realize that," I grin, relaxing my neck and rolling onto my side. Bending my neck like that was uncomfortable.

"Then why are you on the floor?" he asks slowly.

"Because I like the floor. Come join me."

For a few seconds, he stands there and looks conflicted, like he doesn't know what to do. It doesn't take long for him to slip his shoes off and make his way over to me. I'm just too irresistible.

He lays down half on top of me, nuzzling his face into my neck to get comfy. I bring a hand up to his hair and stroke his head softly, a hum of satisfaction coming out of Maddox. His hair is soft, and I gently let the strands run through my fingers.

"What did you do today?" he asks, his voice muffled against my skin. His breath tickles my neck.

"Explore. I went on a run and spent a while in the library. It's so big," I respond quietly, guilt hitting my chest. I'm technically not lying to him, but keeping something from him feels just as bad. "I want my friends to come and visit. I miss them already."

"Of course they can come. You never have to ask," Maddox says, popping his head up and hovering over me. He presses his lips against the tips of my nose, resting his forehead against mine in a peaceful way. Both of us close our eyes, and while I can tell Maddox is beyond calm by the steady beating of his heart, the close proximity is making me antsy for more.

And, being the bad ass I am, I make sure I get exactly that.

With my hand that is still threaded through his hair, I press his lips against mine and wrap my legs around his waist. Despite his previously calm demeanor, he doesn't waste a single second in feeding into the kiss. His tongue immediately pushes its way past my lips, colliding with mine as we each try and fight for dominance. I'm clawing at his shirt and eventually get it over his head, and mine isn't on much longer. I flip us so I can straddle him, and a groan of frustrations slips past his lips. I smirk against them, loving that something as simple as me being on top can cause him to become so frustrated.

There's a polite yet urgent knock on the front door that breaks Maddox and I apart. He picks me up and sets me on the ground so he can get up and answer it. I watch the muscles on his back as he slips his shirt back on, wanting to trace my fingers over the definition. I know it would drive him crazy.

I lay back down with an ear-to-ear grin on my face, waiting for Maddox to answer the door and handle whatever it is so he can come back to me. I listen for the sound of the door opening and hear, "Damien—"

"Alpha, you need to come to the southeast border. The guards spotted someone lurking. They sent trackers after whoever it was, but they lost the scent the second they crossed the border. All we have is an arrow we found from a tree."

I gasp, the grin wiped off my face as I scramble to my feet and pull my shirt back on. I meet Maddox and Damien at the front door, running a hand throw my hair to move it away from my face. I'm sure it looks a little tangled from Maddox's fingers.

"Did you say you found an arrow?" I ask.

Damien nods. He looks worried and anxious to figure this all out.

"One sec," I say, turning on my heel and taking off into the house. I reach the library and pull my bag out from my hiding spot, returning to Maddox and Damien. On my way, I shove a hand into the bag to pull out the arrow I found this morning. When I'm back at the front door, I hold it up so Damien can see it. "Does it look like this?"

"Yeah," he nods. "Exactly like that."

I turn to Maddox, and the look on his face hurts to see. He looks confused and a little heartbroken. A pit forms in my stomach, but I can't worry about it right now. I can apologize and make it up to him later, but right now we need to get to the southeast border and see if there's anything else the hunter left behind.

"Come on," I say, taking his hand and pulling him through the door way. Damien leads the way, shifting at the edge of the trees and taking off.

"Wait," Maddox says before either of shifts and follows him. "Where did you get that arrow from?"

"I found it this morning. I promise I'll explain later, but we need to get to the border and see if we're able to find anything else or track the scent at all." I reach up on my toes and plant a kiss on his lips, meeting his eyes in hopes that it will assure him. I see it registering in them, the understanding that right now is not the time to explain. He still looks hurt that I didn't say anything to him in the first place, and that's hurting me.

We both shift and bolt through the trees, following Damien's scent. We reach the border not long after and see a small group of guards discussing things. Damien, Maddox, and I all shift, and there's a switch in the air. The guards all turn and bow their heads at Maddox and I. I can feel the power radiating off of Maddox, and I realize that it's radiating off of me too.

For all the worrying I've done about being a good luna, the role comes naturally. I didn't have to consciously think about being the luna when we arrived. I just was.

I just am.