Who's Your Alpha? Read Free Page A

sniffed the air, searching for other animals in the area—especially humans. There was a smell—familiar and yet not—in front of her. Not close enough to be a danger, though. When the transformation was complete, she shook all over, settling her fur into place. Where a woman had previously been, a beautiful, Siberian husky now stood. Sunny took off on the path, stretching her muscles, enjoying the night air and the freedom of running.

Chapter 2
    David drove as fast as he could to the vet clinic. One part of his mind was on the emergency, but the rest was on Sunny. The girl he’d had a crush on forever. She’d been cute as a kid, pretty as a teen, but now was drop-dead gorgeous with curves a man could get lost in. He’d thought about asking her out in high school but had worried he might lose her friendship. Plus, there were the other shifters. I should have ignored them and asked her out back then. After all, being the alpha male should come with some privileges. Just because she came into her power later than the rest of us was no excuse to shun her. All the excuses of the past seemed silly now. Now, there was no excuse for them not to be together. Maybe fate really had intervened. Whatever the reason, he wouldn’t let his Sunny get away again.
    He sighed and forced his mind to the clinic and the job ahead. Once there, he went in through the back entrance. His assistant stood there waiting for him, lab coat in hand. He shed his jacket and put on the lab coat. “What do we have?”
    “Donny Miller. He got into another fight with Trace. It’s bad this time.”
    David pushed through the doors to his private surgery. A German shepherd lay panting on the table. A set of x-rays hung on the light boxes behind the table. He studied them, and then leaned over the dog. “Donny? Can you shift?”
    “I don’t think he can, Doctor.”
    “Okay, put him under this way. We’ll just have to pray he doesn’t shift mid-surgery.”
    With the help of his assistant, he did what he could to help the pup. “What is it with these young ones? Won’t they ever learn?”
    “Were we any different?” his assistant asked. “I seem to remember Doc Martin putting a few stitches in you now and then.”
    David chuckled as his deft fingers probed and stitched. Finally finished, he stepped back and stretched a cramp out of his back. “Bandage him and put him to bed. Who’s on tonight?”
    “Actually, I am. I’ll keep an eye on him.”
    “Good. I’ll crash in my room. Call me if you need me.”
    “Yes, Doctor. Good night.”
    David stripped off his surgery gown and stuffed it in the laundry bin. After scrubbing up, he went to his office and made notes on what he’d done. A quick glance at the clock told him it was much too late to call Sunny. He opened the door behind his chair and entered the room behind. When he’d designed the clinic, he’d had the extra room added on for the sake of convenience, but it seemed lately he’d spent more time there than at his cabin. More like an efficiency apartment than a room, it had a full bathroom, small kitchenette, sitting area, and sleeping area. He headed straight for the bed, tired beyond reason. But sleep eluded him as he kept picturing Sunny as he’d seen her at the diner.
    He’d told her the truth when he said she was beautiful. Unlike women who were nothing but skin and bones, she had curves in all the right places. She was soft and womanly, with short curls that enhanced her good looks. He wondered what form she’d take if and when she shifted. She’d come into her gift late and had never joined the rest of them in the woods. Had she learned to accept what she was? Did she know about the rest of them? As he drifted off to sleep, he imagined running with her through the trees, free to be whatever they wanted.
    * * * *
    Close to midnight, Sunny strolled back to the hotel and her room. A long, hot shower washed off the last of the dirt and leaves from her impromptu roll on the