All Chapters of Alpha's Power Bottom: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

I waited on the branch for Derek. After a few minutes of washing up in the bathroom, he comes out. He wiped himself dry with a towel and got into something comfortable. Then he flicked his bedroom light off. A second later, the hallway light downstairs came on. My instincts prickled. I climbed down quietly and stayed in the shadows beneath the tree, heart still hammering from what I’d just witnessed.The front door opened, and Derek stepped out.He wore a dark hoodie and loose joggers, hair slightly damp. He paused on the porch, stretched his arms above his head, then rolled his shoulders.Then he stretched his leg. He bent it, rotated his ankle, then bounced lightly on the balls of his feet. And then he started running.He took the street first, an easy jog that quickly turned into something stronger. His strides lengthened as he reached the edge of town.Then he veered into the woods.Our territory wasn’t far from here, but this section wasn’t technically ours. Neutral ground with t

Pain radiated across my back and ribs, and my vision blurred for half a second as I dropped to one knee. The bark behind me splintered where my body had hit, flakes of wood falling around my shoulders.And then my wolf stirred.It rose like a beast snapping awake from sleep, furious and hungry. The pain had triggered it. The threat had triggered it. The scent of blood, the scent of magic, the sound of Derek’s uneven breathing.I growled.The sound tore from my throat before I could swallow it down.My fingers dug into the dirt. My nails felt too sharp. My muscles strained, twitching as if they were trying to tear themselves free of my skin.The command to shift and end this pulsed through me.My bones felt heavy, like they were preparing to break and reform. My spine tingled. My jaw ached with the urge to elongate.No.I forced air into my lungs.Not here. Not in front of Derek. I could not reveal myself like this. Not while he still believed I was just some arrogant, annoying human b

The word hung between us like smoke. She stared at me, then she laughed again, but this time it was brittle. It sounded forced.“That’s not funny.”“I’m not joking," I said quickly.She shook her head harder.“Witches aren’t real, Ethan. I don't know what kind of fucked up story you've been reading, or what fantasy nonsense movie you've been watching... but this is real life. And witches aren't real.”“They are.”“No, they’re not. Aren't you listening to me? This isn’t some fantasy novel.”“Bri.”“Stop it, Ethan. I don't want to hear it anymore.”Her voice trembled.“You hit your head. Or I did. Or something. That’s the only explanation.”“You threw me into a tree without touching me.”She flinched.“You held Derek in place like he was frozen.”She covered her ears.“Stop it Ethan.”“You were smiling while you did it.”“I said stop! Stop talking about this stupid... godforsaken bullshitted nonsense. Can you hear yourself right now? Witches? Really? Me? A witch? Stop!”Her shout echoed

He laughed at what I said.“Everyone says that until it happens, and then it's the best feeling in the entire world.”“I mean it, Lucas. I really am not interested.”“You won’t mean it when you catch her scent and your wolf loses its mind.”I didn’t respond.He tilted his head.“Or him,” he added casually.I shot him a look.He shrugged.“What? It happens.”My chest tightened.“I’m not waiting around for some magical bond to tell me who to love.”Lucas stared at me again.“That’s… oddly specific.”I looked away.“I just don’t care.”“Yeah, you do.”“No, I don’t.”He leaned forward slightly.“Are you scared?”“Of what?”“Of it not being who you want. Or you getting rejected?”The words punched the air out of my lungs. I stayed silent.Lucas’ voice softened.“You know the bond doesn’t care about preferences, right? It’s instinct. Fate. Whatever you want to call it.”I clenched my fists.“What if I don’t want fate deciding for me?”He shrugged.“Well, that's going to be a tough one.”I h

My entire body reacted instantly. I flinched and stepped back.He noticed.His eyes flicked over my face briefly, but there was no anger there today. Just something… unreadable.Before I could speak, he shifted slightly, and bumped into Bri.She stumbled, and he caught her automatically.“Hey, careful,” he muttered.“Sorry, Derek,” she said quickly.He steadied her, hands lingering a second longer than necessary.“You okay, little red?” he asked.His voice softened in a way I’d never heard directed at me.“I’m fine,” Bri said. “Are you?”“Yeah.”He studied her face carefully.“Do you remember anything?”My chest tightened.Bri shook her head.“No. If you're talking about last night, then the answer is no. I told Ethan, then I just remember being at home, then waking up in the woods.”Her voice lowered slightly.“You won't believe I woke up to this guy crying beside me.”My head snapped toward her.“I was not.”She blinked at me.“You were.”“I wasn’t crying.”“You totally were.”“I wa