by Emma Knox
“I do. A cat pack. If that’s what you call it .”
“So, an authentic Purr? I’m honored .”
I scratched the back of my head and glanced out the windows as they passed us. I didn’t need to keep looking at that handsome face .
“I didn’t know we had a reputation .”
He chuckled, and it sounded like a warm rumble underneath the earth. A hearty laugh that could lull you into a daze .
The heat in my cheeks began to grow and leach down to my collar bones. This heat season was getting to me too. Good thing I had meds. Lots and lots of medicine. Oh god, I was going to make a bath out of it. This Alpha Drake was giving me the weirdest, most uncomfortable vibes I had ever experienced .
“Where are you taking me? To your bedroom?” I teased .
I slapped my hands over my mouth. I could’ve slapped myself to hell and back. What was I doing flirting with Satan himself ?
Drake stopped, his testosterones were choking me .
“Is that what you want?” he asked, reaching up to cup my cheek .
I was frozen, allowing him to touch me. And when his palm made contact with my skin, I melted into him. How did an Alpha make me this way ?
“You’re my mate,” he stated boldly .
Oh shit. I snapped my eyes open and dug into my bag like a maniac .
Chapter 4
Drake
“D amn it, damn it!” Steven flung more of what I could guess was scent blocker spray on. He even had heat medication. I could tell he wasn’t the type to take this sort of stuff often .
“Steven, are you sure you want to use that?” I asked, grabbing his wrist .
“Get off of me, it’s important that I use this so I don’t go attracting weird dirty Alphas .”
I smiled and decided to poke some fun. “Like me?” I said folding my arms across my chest .
Steven lingered on my arms, everyone said I looked three times bigger whenever I did this .
“Especially ones like you,” he said in a teasing manner. It was nice to hear another side of him that wasn’t irritated or angry .
He was a Purr, belonging to a feline line of shifters. They were known for their catty attitudes and feisty behavior .
They knew luxury well and didn’t settle for anything less .
“Shall I show you to your suite, darling Omega ?”
“Sure, but don’t call me darling .”
Steven frowned and shoved his medication back into his bag. He looked down the rest of the hallway and began walking again. I walked ahead so he could know where he was going .
“Steven, you do remember that I said I was your mate .”
I glanced over my shoulder to see him throw his head back and roll his eyes .
“I’m not into this fated mate thing all the Omegas and Betas keep harping about .”
“You know I’d never harm you, right?” I turned around again to face him. This was the moment I had anticipated my whole life up to now .
There he was, standing in front of me, trying to deny what was inevitable. I was his Alpha, and his alone .
I needed him and he needed me .
“What wounds do you have that are keeping you from acknowledging me?” I asked, grasping his delicate feline hands. It was true, the Purrs had divine hands .
Soft, pale, yet you could feel the strength in such lean hands .
“It’s none of your business, just show me to this suite of mine,” he said, dismissing my questions .
Hmm, a hard one to crack I see. But nothing was impossible for me, I was an Alpha and I’d act as such. He was mine, and I had every intent to claim him and make sure he’d know that for the rest of his life .
And that he’d be happy and secure knowing it .
“The suite is right here,” I said, unlocking the door on the far end of the hallway. It was my pack’s private wing. We had seven buildings that housed a distinct purpose .
The private pack Alpha wing, the private pack Omega wing, along with the Beta house and the activities house and a cooking building that handled all the food on our land .
Opening the door, the brilliant rays of sunshine met Steven’s face. He was a cat in all nature. Beautiful and sly. With the elegance all cats were bestowed, he walked in and observed his surroundings .
“I thought you guys were good. Boy, I didn’t expect this. It’s huge. It’s bigger than my apartment .”
The way the sun rays framed his body made it more clear that he was my destined fated mate .
“Yes, I love this room,” I said, walking close behind him .
Steven saw the balcony and ran to the window. “I love gardens! This view, wow.” Steven was in awe .
Seeing him surprised and at ease like this soothed me. If only he could be like that in my arms. Time was both an enemy and a friend. I was impatient, yet I had no choice but to let fate take its time .
“Are there tours of the garden?” he asked, looking up at me .
“This isn’t open to the public. But it’s open to you, my dear mate .”
Steven rolled his eyes and sighed. “You’re still holding onto that, aren’t you ?”
“I have to. You’ll come around .”
Those beautiful green eyes glowed under the light, almost like they would in the dark when in shifter form .
I reached up to cup his cheeks, and he walked away .
“You’re a stubborn cat. I like that. You’ll be mine. Remember I said that .”
Steven shot me a look over that soft shoulder. “You think ?”
“I know .”
He was flirting, whether he knew it or not, this was a step forward .
“How long are you here, Steven?” I asked, sitting down in a chair by the balcony. It had been a while since I sat here, and to be honest, whenever I used something that I chose and haven’t touched in a while, I was reminded to admire my own taste .
I had impeccable taste. Which was why Steven was mine. He was an impeccable Omega .
“Why should I tell you ?”
“I can always find out from the front desk,” I reminded him .
He huffed and tapped his feet. “Why are you even still here in my room ?”
His impatience levels began to rise. I was in dangerous territory .
“Because this is our room,” I said, letting the bomb fall right in his lap .
“What!” His eyes fell out of his sockets. His hair even fluffed up much like a feline who’s irritated would. “You’re lying! I’m not in the mood for jokes. Leave,” he demanded, pointing at the door. His cheeks were flushed red and his mouth trembled .
“You’re quite the furious one, aren’t you?” I crossed my legs and bobbed my foot up and down. “This truly is the only available option .”
“You think I’m gonna share a bed with you just because — “
I got up and covered his mouth .
“You’re sharing the room, not the bed. I’m on the opposite side. There are doors separating us. You will not be harmed while on my grounds. That I can assure you, mate .”
He slid my hands off of his mouth. Interestingly enough he was quite calm about it .
“You make big promises .”
“Ones that I always keep .”
He was digging my eyes for the truth. I had a reputation. Why wasn’t it helping me out ?
“Fine, I’ll go to another hotel and suck it up. I can’t stay here and lose my sanity .”
I’ve never panicked much as an Alpha, but this was one of the few rare times .
Steven turned around and headed for the door. I jumped in front of it, desperate for him to see the truth .
“Damn it, Steven. Why don’t you listen to your instincts?” I grunted .
“I am. Problem ?”
I had the door blocked with my massive body. Steven scanned me head to toe and took out those lovely sharp claws of his again .
“You’re not listening to your instincts, you’re listening to your fears. I know .”
&n
bsp; Steven inched over with his claws tapping me on my chin. “Why? Because Omegas are stupid and incapable of thinking on their own?” he asked, a hint of hurt in his voice .
Who did this to him? I knew virgin Omegas were reluctant, but this was deeper than being green .
He was scared. Deeply .
“No, because I can feel it. Sense it. See it. Omegas aren’t what society calls them. They’re just as smart as Alphas too.” He drew back his claws, unsure of what he heard. “And as my mate, you will be worshiped and waited on hand and foot. Go to another hotel and see what kind of sanitary conditions await you there. This is what you want,” I pointed out .
Cats were persnickety about cleanliness. Steven was no exception .
“And you won’t try anything ?”
“Nothing will be done without your permission .”
Steven stepped back once more and looked around him like a cat in a new home .
He sighed and shook his head. “Fine, I’ll stay. Just don’t make me have to use my claws .”
“I’m pleased that you’re staying .”
Steven began to rub his arms and stretch. He let out a few ‘ouches’ and groans. My mate was stiff and needed a massage .
Throwing down his small bag of meds, he walked over to his bed and sat down. Looking at me, he raised an eyebrow. “And you’re still here ?”
“Mate, let me help you with your muscles,” I offered .
“Trying to seduce me again? I knew you couldn’t help yourself.” Steven leaned back on his hands and winced at the pain. His legs dangled off the bed with such an innocence it made my heart radiate with warmth and awe .
“Not at all.” A part of me began to think that he…liked fighting with me .
Wait, did he like this ?
I walked over to him and made him turn around .
“No licking or biting .”
“Promise.”
And I promised that I’d break that rule as soon as he realized and accepted being my mate .
I worked my hands and kneaded into his tight muscles. Steven shook and sighed as his muscles were massaged into a tender state .
“God, that’s good,” he groaned. “You might get on my good side with those skills,” he said, relaxing into the massage .
“How did you travel here? You’re tight as a wound up clock .”
“Train. Horrible experience. Thought I didn’t need a sleeper cabin. The worst mistake of my life. Being on a train versus the bus or a plane are two different things .”
I moved my hands down to the middle of his back, his tender Omega flesh under my hands, moving at my every knead. It begged for me, prickled to the core .
“Yes, that can be very cramped. Plus the horns — ”
“They keep blowing and blowing,” he cut in. “God, they can make the cabin sound proof, right?” I hit a very tight spot and Steven jerked. “Wow, I can’t believe I’m so tight. Who taught you to massage so well ?”
“My father used to bake a lot to help feed the pack when my grandfather was alive. They’d have to knead dough, and I learned that it was also the same technique for massaging .”
“I see, how convenient. I’m a piece of gooey dough to you .”
“You are a person under extreme amount of mental duress to me. Someone that needs to have a huge break in life .”
Steven pulled up and stared me in the eyes. This time it was different. It wasn’t the cold icy look from earlier. It was a surprised look, a look that also had a hint of happiness that I had dug something out of him .
“You think that ?”
“I don’t think anything. I know .”
Steven leaned his head to the side. “You know a lot then, don’t you ?”
“Yes.”
My energy, everything, was focused on letting him know he was safe. It was hard enough that cats were cautious by nature. Fortunately they had a curious side, and all I needed was that side of him to peek out for a second and he’d be mine .
Officially.
Loud knocking at the door broke the mood .
I growled as my inner wolf was also upset. From the smell of it, it was Tom at the door .
“Who’s that?” Steven asked, looking at the door. He sniffed and turned his head in disgust. “Great, that other Alpha dude from downstairs .”
I dragged myself up to the door and opened it. “Tom ?”
“Hey, wanted to check on you. Also wanted to tell you that Ethan fixed the problem from earlier. The website’s back up and running. Though the booking feature will be down until the heat season is over,” Tom said, glancing over my shoulder to Steven .
I growled to warn him not to look too much. “Thank you for telling me. But I must return,” I leaned in, “to my mate .”
Tom stepped back, his eyes wide. “Mate? Really? Well oh shit, I’m happy for you.” He bumped my arm with his. “Have fun .”
With that, he disappeared down the hall .
Two million said it was to Aiden .
I closed the door and looked for Steven. He wasn’t on the bed. He wasn’t anywhere .
“Steven?”
I heard a small meow and looked down. There he was, at the balcony door, pawing it to go outside. He had shifted into his feline form so eloquently .
I picked him up and opened the door .
“You don’t need to hold me,” he said. “Put me down .”
His hair began to fluff up. His fur was beautiful, matching his human form. It was a chestnut brown and his eyes were still an emerald green that glittered like diamonds .
“You’re a feisty cat,” I said, walking onto the balcony .
“Forgetting I have claws ?”
I sat him down and took off my shirt .
Steven gasped. “Holy shit, who did that to you ?”
“A fight with some rogue dragon shifters. They got me good, and it never healed up to be the same as the rest of my skin. However I’m proud. I won that fight .”
Steven approached my feet and looked up at my chest. Three long cuts all saddled next to each other were across the front of my chest .
Pawing up my leg, he sniffed .
“Fire type, weren’t they ?”
“Yes, do you still smell the scent of their attack ?”
“Yeah.”
Steven shifted back to his human form. Clothes and all. Huh, too bad .
Chapter 5
Steven
T hese scars.
They ran deep too .
Seeing this made me feel some sort of way. Pissed was more like it .
How the hell did someone so strong get hurt like this ?
I reached out to touch his scars, the cold leathery touch made me jolt .
Or was that just from touching his bare skin ?
I ran my hand across the cuts .
“Did that hurt? Why aren’t you bandaged?” I asked. My chest began to get tight and my forehead hot .
“It was five years ago. It’s as healed as it ever will be .”
I breathed in and sighed. “I’m sorry .”
“For what, dear mate ?”
I hung my head down and stepped inside the room. “Seeing claws or talons is probably a trigger. I might be mean, but I’m not a total bitch. I don’t like triggering people …”
I needed some air, and space. “I’m gonna go out, tour the area a little .”
Drake’s eyebrows furrowed. “Alone ?”
“Yeah. Alone.” I walked to the door after patting my pocket and making sure I felt the familiar lump of my wallet inside .
Drake followed .
As usual .
Sigh.
What made me more irritated was that… I kinda liked having him around me. He was—well, seemed different from most Alphas I’d met. Which was a lot .
“Drake, I do not need you following me,” I said while we walked down the hall .
“Are you sure? What about someone else to make sure you’re — ”
I stopped and spun
around to place a hand on his chest. Big mistake number two. Why did I touch him? Every time our skin made contact, it sent shivers down my spine. The good kind of shivers too .
The medicine wasn’t going to be of help, so I’d have to rely on pure resistance .
“Drake. Please, I’m gonna be here for a week and no more. Make it easy on yourself and give me some space. See you around later .”
I waved and shifted back into my cat form. There was an open window down the hall, and I made my escape right through there and past the side of their garden .
Maybe seeing the city would get my mind off of him…and off of his scars. It put a radiating pain inside me to see that. And that bugged the fuck out of me. I’d seen worse, why was his so bad ?
*
I hobbled back toward the Omega Lodge Inn with my bags of food and trinkets. I knew some of my other family members would like some of these things I bought. Especially some of the photos I took of Wrendall Town .
I turned a corner and was face to face with the Alpha and Omega Lodge Inn .
Funny, because I was at neither one of them. I was sharing the owner’s bedroom .
Shrugging my shoulders I retraced my steps .
I found my way upstairs where I was staying with Ethan’s help. We were both kind of silent, but I didn’t want it to stay that way .
Not with another Omega. Plus, I was really mean to him earlier today .
“Um, I’m sorry about earlier, I don’t particularly like screaming at people .”
Ethan mustered a smile. “Don’t worry about it. When I heard your last name, I was prepared,” he chuckled .
“What? Do we have that bad of a reputation ?”
Ethan bit his lip and looked away. “Well, sort of? Purrs aren’t known for being mean in general, but you guys are known for getting turned up rather quickly. But always for understandable things .”
“That makes me feel better .”
“Don’t worry about it,” Ethan reminded me. “Here’s your room .”
I sniffed the air. “Huh, smells good. Your Alpha must be eating .”
“He does have good taste in food. Enjoy your evening, Steven .”
“Thanks.”
The door opened before I had a chance to open it myself. Drake was standing behind the door, looking down at me and ushering me inside .