The Alpha's Rebel

Chapter 17

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I wake up the second the sun begins to rise the next morning. Maddox has the curtains cracked open just enough to let too much light come in. I glare at the curtains as if they'll close if I glare hard enough, but they don't even twitch. Maddox is fast asleep, the light not seeming to bother him at all.

I really, really don't want to get out of bed.

I also really, really want to go back to sleep.

Unfortunately, I can't get one without the other. I can't go back to sleep until I get out of bed and completely close the curtains to block out any light. So, with an angry huff and a dramatic toss of the sheets, I climb out of bed and drag my feet across the carpet to the window. The air in the room is cold as it hits my naked body, and I instantly crave the warmth Maddox's body is giving off under the blankets.

I don't get distracted by the view of the sun rising in between the trees. It's too early for that shit. Maybe I'd enjoy it more if I was in a better mood, but I need more sleep before my mood is going to improve at all. Someone kept me up all night. I wasn't complaining at all then, but I'm complaining now.

If the fucker hadn't left the God damn curtains open, I wouldn't be complaining at all. I'd be happily sleeping beside him, our bodies giving off the warmth and touch we crave from each other.

"Harper?" I hear a groggy voice as I'm closing the curtains. I ignore it, still a little irritated at being woken up so early. "Harper," he mumbles again. "Why'd you get out of bed?"

"To shut the curtains," I say, approaching the bed once again. I crawl back into bed, and Maddox reaches across the mattress until he finds my body. I debate moving out of his reach to mess with him, but my number one priority right now is going back to bed. I let him wrap his arms around me and pull me into him. I maneuver the sheets to pull them over my body again, my bare back up against Maddox's warm chest. It feels like heaven.

A quiet, content moan, more of a hum, escapes Maddox's lips. It's such an innocent sound, but it sends my heart ricocheting off every surface in my chest. I thought I was tired and going back to sleep would be easy, but I'm suddenly wired and not able to sit still. I'm ready for round who-knows-what-number. The only problem is Maddox has already fallen back asleep.

As Maddox continues to sleep without a care in the world, I grow more and more antsy in his arms. I need to get up and do something with all this sudden energy.

The image of the rising sun pops into my head, and I decide going on a run is the best way to let loose since someone is fast asleep. I slowly lift his arm from my body and roll out from under him, letting his arm drop back onto the bed.

I don't bother putting any clothes on. I'm going to shift into my wolf the second I step outside, so there's no point. I pad through the house, the wood floors cold against my feet as I cross through the kitchen. I open the sliding glass door to the backyard. The morning air is cool. I feel it against my bare skin, but it doesn't affect my body the way it would affect a human's. I shut the door behind me and leap off the porch, shifting into my wolf in midair.

I take off running in the woods. There's water droplets sitting on leaves, and the grass is wet below my paws. The smell of rain is strong in the air. Now that I think about, I do faintly remember it raining last night. I was a little preoccupied to really notice, though.

I run in giant, uneven circles through the forest. I don't want to stop running, and it's big enough where I can change up the path constantly. It's such a freeing feeling to just run, and it helps release all the pent up energy I had.

The sun continues to rise as I run. I lose track of time and don't know how long I've been running for. The air is still chilly, so it can't be too late. I don't feel the least bit tired yet, so I keep running.

Suddenly, my body hits the ground as something heavy knocks me down and falls on top of me.

More like someone.

I twist and wriggle under the weight until I'm laying on my back and looking into the eyes of Maddox's wolf. His tongue is hanging out the side of his mouth, and it's easy to tell that if he were in human form, he would have a wide grin on his face.

Hi, I mind link. Since we completed the mating process, Maddox and I are now able to mind link. 

Hi, he responds. He licks my cheek and then my snout. 

I wait a few more seconds, and then I push him off of me with all fours. He rolls to the side, and I don't waste a second in darting to my feet and taking off in the woods.

Catch me if you can, I tease, running straight back to the house. Now that Maddox is awake, I know exactly what I want. I hear a growl from behind me, and I know he must know what I'm thinking.

Still in my wolf form, I leap over the porch railings and then shift back, slipping through the open door. Maddox must not have closed it when he left. I slide it close behind me and pad my way back to the bedroom. I step onto the carpet right as the porch door is slammed open.

"Close it this time!" I call out, and it slams shut.

I don't even make it to the bed before Maddox's body is pressed up against my back, his arms wrapped around my stomach and lips on my neck. A gasp that ends in a moan jumps out of my mouth. I want to grab onto something to help the pleasure shooting through my body, but Maddox's arms are pinning my own arms to my sides.

He turns me around and slams his lips to mine, and I respond with just as much aggressiveness. His hands grip my hips as he hoists me up, and I wrap my legs tightly around his waist. I rest my arms on his shoulders to help hold myself up as I deepen the kiss, pressing my lips even harder against his. 

When I start grinding, he moans, "Fuck, Harper."

Unsurprisingly, a chill rolls through my body at the tone of his voice when he says my name. I get chills and tingles whenever my name comes from Maddox's lips, but the husky moan brings the feeling to a whole new level. There's no way to even describe how it affects me.

Maddox pushes my back against the bedroom door, slamming it shut in the process. It's rough, but that's the mood both of us are in right now. There's no gentleness between the two of us in this moment. Only the want and need to make love to each other. My body craves the touch of his fingers, and his fingers seem to crave the touch of my body. He knows exactly what I want from him before I even know I want it.

It doesn't matter that I've only known him for four days and hated him for two of them.

I'm already head over heels in love with Maddox.

sorry again for the long wait! i was busy editing "The Alpha's Cinderella" to be published on Amazon, and it's now available! the link is in my bio to purchase it.

i hope you all liked this chapter! let me know what you think of the new cover, and dont forget to vote and comment!

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