The voice was muffled by the mask. Addy couldn't be sure. But the tattoo on the neck gave him a definite answer.

Addy instantly froze. His movements stopped abruptly. His body suddenly seemed to lose all strength. Worse, his face turned pale and his eyes stared at the man in confusion—almost blankly. Then he spoke. "Alpha."

The man's eyes closed dramatically. His mouth was tightly shut with an expression of frustration he could not hide. He realized that the slight reflexive answer he had given had indirectly answered Addy's curiosity about his identity. It was too late for him to control himself. Now all he could do was curse himself...