The Alpha’s Tempting Mate

Carlos

I buy a University of Arizona t-shirt and ball cap and aftershave at the airport sundry shop. I step into the men’s room and slather the aftershave over my face, neck and hands to mask my scent. I change out of my button-down, wrinkled from the long night I spent dozing in my rental car outside Sedona’s building. I purposely bought the red t-shirt in a size too large, so I won’t call attention to my muscled shifter physique. Not that I think women will throw themselves at me, but I’d rather blend in as the average American today. Or average Mexican-American, of which there are plenty in Tucson. If I concentrate, I can even speak without any accent.

I rip the tag off the ball cap and pull it low over my eyes, then survey myself in the mirror. It will do. Now, I just need to remember to reapply the aftershave during the flight, and with any luck, Sedona won’t scent me while I’m on the plane with her. All the way to Paris.

It was tricky to lurk behind her, close enough to overhear her book her flight, but far enough away not to trigger her sensitive sense of smell, but I did it.

I adopt a casual walk as I head out of the bathroom and pass our gate, choosing instead to sit at the one across the way. The one that gives me an excellent view of my beautiful mate.

Her hair is loose this morning, spilling over her slender shoulders, framing her perky breasts. She’s dressed in a pair of jeans that ought to be illegal on any female with an ass like hers and she’s squeezing her thighs together like…

Fuck me! Is she pleasuring herself?

Sedona’s cheeks flush and she continues to press her knees together, shifting her hips like she’s turned on.

I almost fail to swallow the growl that rises in my throat as I cast my gaze around the seating area with a glare. Who has her turned on like that? I will fucking kill them.

But I don’t see any male who would arouse her excitement.

It must be her own thoughts, then.

Could she be thinking of me?

That thought nearly brings me to my knees, the desire to spread her creamy thighs and apply my tongue to the pink heart there so overwhelming it makes me dizzy.

Sedona. My beautiful she-wolf.

I shift to rearrange my straining cock in my jeans. I need her like I need air to breathe.

Thankfully, they call our flight, and Sedona gathers her things and stands. Another minute and I would’ve been on the floor between her knees.

Giving my presence away.

I pick up my bag and stand, entering the middle of the throng, blending in. We board the plane and somehow, I manage to pass Sedona without her noticing me. I take my seat across the aisle and back a few seats and pull my cap even lower over my face.

After the plane lifts into the air, Sedona pulls out a sketchbook and flips it open to a blank page. With quick movements of a black ink pen, she sketches something I can’t see from where I sit.

I ache to know what she’s drawing. I’ve never even seen my mate’s art-that guts me. There’s so much I don’t know about her-what she likes, what she doesn’t. Why she wants to go to Paris.

I don’t even know what I’m doing. Somewhere, in the back of my mind, is the nagging thought that the council conveniently got rid of me before I made them pay for what they did to Sedona. Before I could interfere with the status quo that only benefits them. My pack needs me and I’m out of pocket again.

But my wolf compelled me to follow Sedona. Now I’m creeping around like a stalker, hiding in plain sight from my mate. What is my plan? To convince her to date me in Paris?

I actually scoff out loud.

If my presence in Tucson upset her enough to leave the country, what makes me think she’ll ever accept me after I’ve followed her halfway across the world? I came to find out if she’s pregnant-to provide for her, and protect her.

But it’s too soon to know if she’s with pup, and she obviously isn’t interested in my provisions or protection. Courting her isn’t an option, either. She clearly doesn’t want to see me. And I won’t ever claim her against her will. So that leaves me where I am-lurking in shadows. Watching. Waiting to find out if she’s pregnant. Ready to protect her if she needs me.

So what will I do if she is carrying my pup?

Consternation grinds in me.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

My options totally suck.

Capture her. Or let her go.

Fuck.

Garrett

Sedona doesn’t answer her phone or her door, despite the fact that her car is parked outside. A month ago, I would’ve shrugged such a thing off as another irresponsible college student move. But after what happened to her last week, my paranoia spikes sky high.

I pound on her door with my fist, cracking the solid wood. “Sedona!”

Trey and Jared shift behind me. The rest of my pack will be arriving in a few minutes to move Sedona’s things to my building.

“You have a key, you know,” Trey reminds me.

I curse and pull out my keyring, finding the master to the entire building and inserting it in the lock.

Inside, Sedona’s apartment is a mess. Not a mess like it’s been ransacked, just her usual chaotic disaster-area. She definitely hasn’t put any effort into getting packed for the move, but I’d told her not to.

I look around the room, my skin prickling with unease.

“She left you a note, G.” Jared hands me a piece of notebook paper with Sedona’s hasty scrawl.

Garrett,

I’m heading out of town for a while. Don’t worry about me, I’m fine-just need some time alone to think and process.

I love you.

XXOO Sedona

I crumple the paper up in my hand and hurl it at the wall, unable to stop the roar of frustration that leaves my mouth.

Of course, my pack-minus my beta Tank, who is still tied up with the job I gave him of keeping a lid on Foxfire, Amber’s best friend-chooses that moment to show up. They crowd into the room, their hulking bodies filling the small space until it feels like my nightclub on a Saturday night. I bark orders to get things packed up and loaded onto the truck and step outside to try calling my little sister once more.

It goes straight to voicemail. Just like last weekend. But she left a note this time. And she’s probably not answering because she doesn’t want me to stop her.

I pull out my phone, forcing myself to take a deep breath first to keep from crushing it in my palm. I send a text to Sedona, Please call or text me to let me know you arrived safely.

There. Not too intrusive, but clear and firm. The real problem will be keeping my dad from going ballistic. Like when she disappeared, I’m in the position of deciding how much information to feed him and when. And of holding him back from interfering, when my own instincts scream to go barreling after her and make sure she’s safe.

But maybe there is a way to make sure. I pick up the crumpled note and shove it in my jeans pocket. “I’ll meet you guys at her new place,” I tell Jared and head outside for my motorcycle.

Amber hates being put on the spot as a psychic, but the more she practices using her gifts, the more she’ll come to accept this magical side of her. And who better to push her than her new mate?

I speed back to my apartment building and find Amber still asleep in bed. Which is where she should be, considering it’s a Saturday and I kept her up most of the night, screaming her releases until she went hoarse.

She rolls over, smiling and humming softly when I come into the room. Her naked body is twisted up in a lavender sheet and I can’t resist the urge to yank it off and simply stare at what now belongs to me.

Amber leans up on her elbows, studying me. Not in the suddenly sex-addled way I’m staring at her, but with concern. As if she can read the emotion I brought in with me.

“What is it?”

I crawl over her and run my tongue over her still-healing wound from where I marked her. Unlike Sedona, whose bite mark closed immediately, Amber is human so her flesh doesn’t regenerate as quickly as ours. My saliva helps speed the process, though.

She tilts her head to the side and makes that adorable humming noise again, but she keeps at me. “What happened?”

“Sedona’s gone. She left a note that she’s leaving town. I’m guessing she’s acting on her desire to see Europe.” I pull the crumpled note out of my pocket and hand it to her. Not for her to read the words, but to sense the energy. We found this method worked in San Carlos with Sedona’s clothing.

Amber takes it, but holds my gaze. “Maybe she needs some time to regroup. A change of scenery.”

“I know. But I hate the thought of her all alone-unprotected. They might go after her-” I shut up when I see Amber’s gaze lose focus.

She stares through me for a moment, then murmurs, “She’s not unprotected.”

I stiffen. “Who?” But I already know who and it makes me want to kill the motherfucker.

“Carlos is following-not to hurt her,” Amber adds quickly, her focus returning to my face. “He needs to protect her, but I don’t think he wants to compel her.”

My most protective urges relax but I grumble as I settle beside my incredible mate. “I still don’t like it.”

Amber blinks several times before she speaks in a faraway voice, “The pregnancy ensures her safety… but not his.”