Read Online Awakening the Alpha by Harmony Raines - Free Book Online

sleep. There was nothing more he could do, and he wanted to get up early in the morning and walk her to work. Then he would return to Wolf Valley and check on Sol before coming back here, picking Natalie up, and taking her home. He decided it was best for her to see where he lived, and then together they could decide where their future lay. Personally he was all for repairing his father’s house and living there. It had a big garden, plenty of space for their children to run, and for Sol. Yes. She had better meet Sol too; he hoped she wouldn’t mind his younger brother living with them.
    By the time he drifted off to sleep, he could picture them all living together in the house, children running around, with Sol, their uncle, joining in with games and no doubt teaching them how to eat too many cookies.
    For a man who had come here to cause trouble, he now could think of nothing better than living in Wolf Valley in wedded bliss with his mate.
    ***
    “Riley,” she said, shaking him awake. He lay still, and for one moment he couldn’t remember why he wasn’t at home. Or was he? Had Sol gone out and got himself into trouble and some stranger was here, waking him up to tell him he needed to be more careful letting his younger brother out to run wild? “Riley.”
    Her touch on his shoulder wasn’t that of a stranger, and as he came awake he remembered everything. Every touch of her hands, the smell of her skin and her voice, which made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside. His eyes flew open: his mate . How could he forget her?
    “Hi. Is it time to get up already?”
    “’Fraid so. Although you can stay here if you want. I’ll go into work and you leave when you are ready.” She was already getting clothes out of her closet and heading for the bathroom.
    “No. I said I’d walk you to work. I’m just not used to being up at this time of the morning. Unless I’m on my in.”
    “You like to stay out late?” she asked.
    “Only when my brother goes walkabout. Or should I say run-about.”
    “I’m intrigued,” she said from behind the bathroom door.
    “If I pick you up later, perhaps you would like to meet him. He’s like a child, although he’s a fully grown man. He lives with me. Since Bliss, my sister, and Cole my other brother moved out, I’m in charge of him.”
    She opened the door and came back out into the bedroom. “That is sweet. At least I know you’re a good man. Oh. You didn’t leave him home alone, did you?”
    “No. He went to stay with Cole and Kira.” Riley was dressed now too, trying to find his shoes; he sat on the bed and pulled them on, yawning as he stood up. “I might have to go home and sleep for a couple of hours.
    She laughed. “You had better get used to it. I’ve been getting up at this time for so long, it doesn’t bother me. Sometimes I think it’s the best time of the day, you have the streets to yourself.” She went to the window and pulled open the drapes, a gasp leaving her mouth.
    “What?” He came to her, looking down into the street, just in time to see a figure running away. “Who was that?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t know. He was there before. Just staring up at the window.”
    “Well, he’s gone now. I’ll walk you to work, then pick you up after. Tonight you can stay at my place.”
    “I can’t. I’ll be late for work in the morning.”
    “We’ll get up extra early. Until I find out who that is and what he wants, then I am not letting you stay here alone.”
    She turned to him, her eyes fearful. “Does this have something to do with us? With Wolf Valley?”
    Riley shook his head. “It would be hard not to put the two things together, but I honestly don’t know.” He hadn’t recognised the figure, but then he had only caught the back of him as he ran. If he had to hazard a guess, he would have said it could be Lance, but he couldn’t be sure. And why would Lance be here outside Natalie’s apartment?
    Later he would talk to Kira and Cole