The Alphas Sister (Complete)

Chapter Eight: Shadows, Sweat, and Secrets

The walk back from the forest with Electra was a slow torture, the silence between us thick as mud, sticking to every step. Her cream wolf had shimmered in the sun an hour ago, but now, in human form, she kept her eyes on the ground, her sneakers scuffing the dirt path. My jaw clenched, the taste of her cheek, warm, earthy, a reckless mistake, still buzzing on my tongue.  I'd kissed Cade's sister in wolf form. When we hit the pack house's back porch, I muttered a quick, "See ya," my voice rough and clipped, and briskly walked away, strides long and purposeful, not waiting for her reply. She hesitated, her wildflower scent fading behind me as I aimed for my room, heart thudding like I'd faced a rogue, not her.

The hallway stretched ahead, dim and quiet, the hardwood cool under my boots. I looked up to see Shauna, leaning against my door, arms crossed, her face shadowed with something heavy. Her blonde hair spilled over her shoulders, loose and tangled from a morning run, but her hazel eyes, usually glinting with mischief, were dulled, her freckled nose wrinkled in a frown. No smirk this time, just a tightness in her jaw that hit me like a punch. I stopped short, concern cutting through my mess of a morning, and stepped close, pulling her into a hug. Her lean, wiry frame tensed at first, then softened against me, the familiar tang of sweat and leather mixing with a faint tremor in her breath.

"What's wrong?" I asked, voice low, pulling back just enough to search her face, one hand lingering on her shoulder. I fished my phone from my pocket, no messages, no heads-up. Odd, but Shauna showing up upset wasn't like her, not after all those late-night talks about my folks when her understanding gaze had kept me steady.

She sighed, a shaky sound, and rubbed a hand over her face. "Rough morning," she muttered, eyes flicking away, then back to me. "Patrol got messy, lost a trail, nearly lost my temper. Just... I needed to see you." Her lips twitched, a weak attempt at her usual smirk, but it didn't reach her eyes.

I nodded, squeezing her shoulder, then unlocked my door with a quick twist of the key. "Come on, let's fix that," I said, nudging her inside, a growl edging my voice, not hunger this time, but a promise to pull her out of whatever hole she'd stumbled into.

As I stepped in, motion caught my eye, Electra, down the hall, fumbling with her own door, her cream tee clinging to her frame from the run's sweat. She glanced my way, green eyes locking on mine for a split second, then darted inside when she saw Shauna at my side. The door clicked shut, sharp and final. I shrugged it off, shoving down the flicker of guilt. I had to stop thinking about Electra, any way I could, before I did something dumber than licking her cheek. Shauna needed me now, and she was the perfect distraction, no strings, just us burning off the day's weight like we'd done a dozen times since Shane's mess started

.We tumbled into my room, a tangle of half-hearted shoves and quiet understanding, the door banging shut behind us. She kicked off her boots, leather jacket hitting the floor with a soft thud, revealing a tight black tank that hugged her curves, her skin flushed from the day's heat and frustration. I yanked my shirt over my head, tossing it toward the desk, it missed, landing in a heap by the chair, and she managed a small laugh, sharp but brittle, shoving me back onto the bed. The frame creaked under our weight as she straddled me, her hands pinning my wrists, nails digging into my skin just enough to sting. Her lips crashed into mine, fierce and hungry, tasting of mint and the faint salt of sweat, her tongue teasing mine as I growled into her mouth, letting her take what she needed.

I flipped us, her back hitting the mattress with a bounce, blonde hair fanning out across the pillow. My hands slid under her tank, rough palms grazing the taut muscle of her stomach, then higher, shoving the fabric up and off, her sports bra following in a quick tug. She arched into me, her breath hitching as I kissed down her neck, teeth scraping her collarbone, her skin warm and slick under my lips. Her fingers tangled in my hair, pulling hard, a low moan escaping her as I worked my way down, kissing the curve of her chest, nipping at her ribs, tasting the salt and heat of her. My jeans were gone next, kicked off in a clumsy rush, her hands fumbling with the zipper of hers until we were bare, a mess of limbs and need.