The Reluctant Alpha (West Coast Wolves #1) - Susi Hawke Page 0,56

the sidecar. I nearly fell off the bike when Devon quietly climbed on behind Lucian.

Once again, all I could think was… alphas weren’t supposed to be like this. Matt's pack of alphas blew every stereotype I'd ever heard right out of the water. I might’ve dwelled on the concept longer, but every thought in my head blinked out of existence, and it was all I could do to grab Matt and hold on tight when the engine rumbled to a start.

And the vibrations! I had to clamp my teeth together to keep them from rattling against each other. I was pretty sure my insides were rearranging themselves. Was shaken baby syndrome possible in utero?

I was about to beg Matt to forget the whole thing and let me get off when the bike moved. Jared stood on the sidewalk, smiling as he held up his phone to take a picture. I started to playfully flip him off but thought better of it when I realized I'd have to let go of Matt.

Besides, I didn't need to look like a tough biker. All I had to do was hang on tight to the one I had. Both literally and figuratively. Whatever. I was holding on to my man.

My belly was a hard ball wedged in between us, but I leaned over it and squeezed both arms as snugly as I could around Matt’s waist. When he revved the engine and took off with a burst of speed, a wave of sheer happiness spread through me as we sped toward home.

It was like nothing I'd ever experienced. Whenever I'd ridden in a car, I always enjoyed watching the scenery go by when I looked out the window. But now, I was part of the scenery. One with the landscape. Completely immersed and united with the world around us, nothing between me and nature. My grip loosened as I began to relax, and by the time we came to a stop, I was disappointed the ride had ended.

After our helmets were off, the first thing Matt did was kiss me hard and fast. His eyes were like liquid gold when he pulled back to ask what I thought of the ride. I was finally able to let out the giggles I'd been holding in. My happiness swirled around us like a living thing as I laughed with sheer joy.

"What did I think? It was the best! Glorious. Amazing, even. And when can I go again?"

I hadn't heard the other guys pull up; I'd been too focused on my mate and the intense exhilaration of my first ride. So focused, in fact, I nearly jumped out of my skin when the other alphas chuckled.

Lucian tipped his chin toward me in approval. "Spoken like a true member of the family. Welcome to the pack, Elisha. You already were one of us ‘cuz of Matty boy, but now you belong all on your own."

We were all still standing around the bikes as Jared drove up. When I saw the stream of cars following him, I turned to Matt. "We forgot to greet the new and returning pack members. I feel awful."

Matt caught my hand and lifted it to kiss my inner wrist. "You don't need to feel bad for a second, little wolf. Jared was there to greet everyone. There is nothing improper about the pack beta doing the initial hello. You had to take time and greet the two people who matter most, and you did. Now how about we take the boys inside and show them their new bedroom?If memory serves, Paula has the whole dinner buffet thingy planned in the old ballroom so we don't have much time."

"Remind me never to doubt you, my love. You're right. Let's take more family time and check out the boys’ new digs."

By the time we made it inside, Paula was already hugging Noah and Saul. Jared headed off with his clipboard to direct our incoming pack members to the community room—or old ballroom, if you were Matt. By the time Paula let my brothers go, they both had somehow wound up with cookies in their hands, and Paula shot me a look daring me to question it.

I smothered a laugh and pointed my brothers toward the stairs. If she wanted to spoil them, more power to her. As a fellow survivor of my father's house, I could vouch for how much pampering they had to make up for. And since I would need them to respect me,