One thousand viewers. That's a new live stream record for me. By a lot. My previous high was three hundred, and that was during a special holiday giveaway.
"Oh my gosh!" I squeal, genuinely excited. "You guys! This is incredible! We just hit one thousand viewers! That's a new record! Thank you so much for all the likes and views, and shares!"
Hearts are exploding across the screen. The engagement is insane.
"So to answer the earlier question," I say, still riding the high of hitting that milestone, "it seems like there are tons of Alphas here watching! My friend was the one who asked, and wow, I guess the answer is yes!"
I glance at Nash with a teasing expression, ready to needle him about jealousy.
"Aww, are you jealous?—”
He leans in and kisses me.
Just—kisses me. Right there. On camera.
In front of one thousand people who are currently losing their collective minds in the comments.
His lips are warm against mine despite the cold December air rushing through the truck cab.
The kiss is firm, possessive, claiming in a way that sends electricity zinging down my spine. Not gentle or tentative or asking permission.
Deliberate. Intentional.
A statement.
The scent of him overwhelms everything else—motor oil, leather, and Alpha pheromones that my hindbrain recognizes and responds to with enthusiasm. My vanilla-caramel-citrus scent probably spikes in response, though I'm too stunned to notice.
It's only five seconds—maybe even less—but it feels like an eternity where nothing exists except his mouth on mine and the solid warmth of him and the knowledge that this is being broadcast to over a thousand people.
Time does that weird stretching thing where a moment becomes infinite, suspended in amber, every sensation amplified.
My eyes are wide—I can feel them, huge and startled in my face. His are focused solely on mine with an intensity that makes my breath catch in my throat. There's possessiveness there, clear as day and twice as bold. And something else shimmering beneath the surface—a spark of jealousy that answers my unfinished question better than any words could.
He kissed me. On live stream. Just claimed me in front of everyone watching. Holy shit. Holy shit. The comments are probably exploding right now.
He breaks the kiss, pulling back just far enough to speak but still close enough that I can feel his breath against my lips.
"You can tell your followers," he says, his voice low and rough and doing things to my insides that should probably be illegal, "particularly those Alphas commenting, that your 'friend' had a claim on you first."
My whole face goes nuclear.
I can feel the blush spreading from my neck to my hairline like wildfire.
"D-driving!" I stutter, my brain short-circuiting. "You're driving! Eyes on the road!"
Nash huffs, turning his attention back to the highway ahead.
Then he curses—sharp and sudden.
"Fuck!"
The truck screeches to a stop, tires squealing against asphalt. I'm thrown forward against the seatbelt, phone nearly flying from my hand. The smell of burning rubber fills the air.
When we finally stop—inches from disaster, the truck's front bumper so close to the massive animal I could probably reach out and touch her if I were stupid enough—I look up and see her.
Standing in the middle of the road like she owns the entire highway, the forest, and possibly all of Millbrook is the biggest moose I've ever seen in my entire life.
I blink once.
