“Love you too.” Pops’ voice was closely echoed by her mom’s. “The cabin’s empty. You can move in there.”
The cabin sat on the edge of Pops’ property. It was just far enough away to have privacy from her parents but close enough for help to get there quickly. Both Mason and Cooper had lived there before they finally found their own places.
At one time she dreamed about moving into the cabin when it came her time to leave the nest, but because of Justin, it didn’t happen.
She smiled. “That would be perfect. The only thing I need to do is find a job.”
“You can work at the bar until you decide what you want to do,” said Pops.
Kelly nodded. She realized he couldn’t see her. “That would be great!” She knew it was Pops’ way of keeping an eye on her without it seeming like he was doing it. Pops had never thought of her as his stepdaughter. And when he adopted her, he bragged to everyone about his new pup, even though she was completely human.
“I’ll see you in a few days.” Kelly ended the call. She hoped her parents were right about the new alpha.
When it came to men, she already had two strikes against her. She didn’t want the new alpha to be the third strike.
CHAPTER TWO
Draven’s wolf snarled in disgust. It wanted nothing to do with any of the power-hungry she-wolves, and yet every time he turned around one of the females was there. They hung out at his shop. Followed him to the diner. They pouted at the bar when he refused to buy them drinks or dance with them.
And then there were the ones who showed up at his house.
Draven’s wolf didn’t want a power-hungry female.
It wanted a family and pups.
It wanted its mate, and it had decided the she-wolves were not an acceptable substitute.
And the man?
He was in total agreement with his beast. But the she-wolf currently in his office refused to accept the fact that neither Draven nor his beast was interested in mating with her. In fact, she purposely ignored his orders to stay away from him.
Of all the females in the pack who wanted him and the power that came with being the alpha’s mate, Marla Perrow was the worst in more ways than he cared to count. This was the third time just this week she showed up at his office, and the fourth time she had cornered him. The game she was playing was beyond old.
At first he had been polite though extremely blunt with his rejections, yet Marla refused to believe he didn’t want her. It was obvious she was used to using sex as a tool to get what she wanted.
“I can help relieve the aggression and frustration you’re feeling.” Marla caressed her barely covered breasts. “I know exactly how to please a man like you.” She leaned toward him, giving him a good view of her pushed-up boobs.
Her suggestive actions left him cold. The thought of sleeping with her left him sick to his stomach. She was right about him being frustrated. He hadn’t fucked any female since he took over the pack, but there was no way he was going to touch any of the she-wolves. He didn’t need any of them thinking he had picked her over the other she-wolves.
Besides, he didn’t want the meaningless sex the females offered him. He and his beast were looking for their mate. The one female meant for them. The one who would calm his beast with her love. The female who would give him a family filled with love and pups.
Damn! He wasn’t looking for much. To deal with his monstrous wolf, she would have to be a saint or crazy.
“You don’t have to play hard to get with me. I’m yours any time you want me.” She smiled as she ran her hand over the edge of his desk. “You could fuck me right now.” She tilted her head and pulled her hair out of the way, baring her neck to him. “You can even mark me as yours right.”
“Get the hell out of here before I throw you out,” growled Draven. His wolf was too close to the surface. Marla didn’t seem to realize just how dangerous it was to push his wolf when it was obvious the beast was repulsed by her.
Or maybe she did and just didn’t care.
Either way, Draven wanted her gone. He had never hurt a female, but she was pushing her luck.
“You know you need me. I can control the females.” She smiled at him. “You can even pick a couple of them to breed with.” She walked around the table and pressed her body against his. “I don’t mind sharing too much, as long as I’m the top female.”
Disgust rolled through Draven, leaving him icy cold. “I don’t need or want you. In fact, I don’t want or need any of the power-hungry she-wolves in this pack.” His wolf glared at the woman through Draven’s eyes. “You should be looking for your mate instead of chasing someone who doesn’t want you.”
Marla had the good sense to take a couple of steps backwards. She blinked several times. “Of course you want me. I’m the perfect mate for you. We will be the perfect pair to rule the pack.”
He shook his head. “You are not my mate, and you never will be. I haven’t found her yet, but I will find her.”
She snorted. “You believe in that fated mates nonsense. That’s a ridiculous fairytale. Even Alpha Lars said there was no such thing. He said alpha wolves should mate with only the strongest she-wolf in the pack, and that’s me. I’m the strongest female. The position of your mate belongs to me. You have to take me as your mate and make me the alpha female. You owe it to me and the pack.”
“I don’t owe you anything. I don’t care what Lars said. He is no longer the alpha of this pack. I am.” Killing Lars in the alpha challenge hadn’t put an end to the old alpha’s corruption and sickness. The pack was still suffering from his influence. With each passing day, more evidence of his sickness came to light. Draven wondered how much more of the cancer he was going to have to cut out of the pack to make it healthy. “Get out and do not come back. Your attentions are not wanted.” He put an alpha command into his words.
Marla cringed under Draven’s power. Her wolf whined. Grabbing her purse, she slowly backed out of the office. From the look on her face, it was evident she didn’t want to leave. Almost at the door, she turned and ran out of the office.
Draven closed his eyes. The smell of fur was thick. His wolf was clawing to get out.
Lars had been a really sick alpha in more ways than he and the wolf council originally thought. The man tortured and abused his pack until most of the members accepted the abusive sickness as the norm rather than the exception. As for the pack members who fought back, they were severely punished.
Draven also realized some of the pack believed he would continue the practices Lars had started, and even expected him to do so. In some sick way, they had benefited from the practices, even to the detriment of other pack members and they pack itself.
And then there were the few who smiled and praised his new policies, but Draven knew they were staunchly loyal to Lars and were ready to take him down the minute he showed any weakness. Draven knew he was going to have to cut those individuals out of the pack in order for the pack to survive and heal.
Draven glanced at the clock. If he left now, he would have just enough time to go home for a quick shower and clean clothes. He didn’t want to go to Kelly Hayes homecoming party with Marla’s scent on him, even if it was faint. It would give too many just a little too much to talk about, or use against him.
He rolled his head causing his neck to pop. He wasn’t in the mood for any kind of party, but he promised Pops Hayes he would be there to officially welcome Kelly back to the pack.
He didn’t know all the details, but he knew she had left her family and the pack about eight years ago. He figured it had something to do with Lars’ hatred of humans and the fact she was human.
“I need to speak to you.” Archibald Perrow strolled into the office. His three-piece suit stuck out like a sore thumb in the small auto shop office.
Draven crossed his arms. “And what do you need to speak to me about now?”
“Where’s Marla?”
“Not here.”
Archibald fro
wned but quickly recovered. “That doesn’t matter. It gives us time to make the necessary decisions for your mating.”
Draven bit back a growl. “Exactly who am I supposed to be mating?”
“Marla, of course.” The smile on Archibald’s lips didn’t match his eyes. “She’s beautiful and can control the other females. She’s not too smart, so you’ll have no problem telling her what to do. Plus, there’s the chance for you to have pups, if she’s not already pregnant.”
Draven wasn’t happy with the insinuation that he was sleeping with Marla. “If Marla’s pregnant, it’s not by me. I haven’t slept with her and I don’t have any plans of ever doing so. As for discussing who I mate, there won’t be any kind of discussion. When I decide who and when to mate, that will be my business and the business of my mate. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a prior engagement to be at.” He gestured toward the door.
Archibald glared at Draven. “So the homecoming party of a lowly human is more important than mating with a full-blood she-wolf. Alpha Lars believed humans were beneath us.” He laughed. “The males are completely useless, and even the females not good for much more than a quick tumble. That’s why he declared all human females, mated or not, were at the disposal of anyone who wanted to use them.”
Draven felt his wolf rise up. The thick scent of fur filled the office.
Kill him. The wolf’s thoughts rattled Draven’s brains.
“I am the alpha of the Rosewood Pack. Humans, whether they are mates or the children of mates, are welcome in this pack and are to be protected, not used in any way. If you have a problem with that then you can leave the pack.” Yeah, killing Archibald would make his life a lot easier.
The other man’s nostrils flared. “You’re making a couple of huge mistakes. Mark my words. Marla will be your mate. As for Kelly Hayes, that human should never have returned. She will soon discover her position in the pack.” He turned and walked out of the shop.
Draven was beyond pissed. He didn’t like being blindsided by information like Lars’ declaration about humans. He managed to lock the shop. But before he could get in his truck, his wolf ripped from him.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Two hours later, Draven stepped into the Starlight Bar. Slowly he looked around the room. Shifters, especially wolves, filled the bar. He felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He immediately found the source of the irritation
Archibald Perrow and his cronies were sitting at a corner table. Archibald sneered at him as he lifted a glass.
“Ignore him. He’s been sneering at everyone. I’m not even sure why he’s here. He hates this place and the family, but then the feeling is mutual.” said Mason Hayes. “Come on over to the bar and get a beer.” He nodded toward the crowded bar.
“A beer would be good. Big turn out.” Draven followed Mason to the bar.
“Not bad.”
As Draven sat down, the sweetest and most perfect smell hit him. He grabbed the edge of the bar to steady himself when his wolf surged forward.
“Are you okay?” Mason stared at him.
Draven nodded. He wasn’t sure if his voice would work. The damned beast inside him growled and pranced like a pup. His mate was somewhere in the bar. The scent grew stronger.
“What can I get you?”
“Get us a couple of bottles,” said Mason to the female who had suddenly appeared.
“Are you sure he should be drinking? He looks like he’s already had too much.”
“He’s fine. Just get the beers.” Mason rolled his eyes.
“How about I get you a beer and him a coffee. Black and strong?” asked the woman.
“Just the beer,” growled Mason.
The woman pulled the white towel off her shoulder. She twisted it and then flicked it at Mason, hitting his arm.
He yelped when the towel snapped. “That hurt!” He rubbed the red mark that appeared on his arm.
“Aww, I’m sorry. Not.” She rolled her eyes.
“What did I do to you?”
“You growled at me. I’ve warned you. Never growl at me.” She turned and walked away.
Laughter broke out at the other end of the bar.
“Shut up, Cooper! I don’t need you encouraging her.” Mason yelled at his younger brother.
Draven watched Cooper high five the woman as she walked past him. He growled before he could stop himself.
Mason looked over at Draven and then at his sister. “Is something wrong? You’re acting really strange.”
Draven shook his head. His eyes never left the woman as she walked to the large refrigerated cooler and pulled out to bottles of beer. She wasn’t very tall, but her curves filled out the jeans and tank top perfectly. He couldn’t wait to explore each one as he slowly stripped off her clothes. He wondered if her blonde hair was as soft as it looked. As she walked back, he noticed she was watching him too. Did she feel the connection between them too? Why wasn’t she acting on it like a female shifter who had just found her mate would?
She set the bottles on the bar. Pulling a bottle opener out of her back pocket, she quickly popped the tops and pushed the beers forward. “Here you go. You might want to do something about that growling problem,” she said looking directly at him.
“Draven, this is my sister, Kelly Hayes. Kelly, this is Draven Grayson, your alpha.” Mason looked from Draven to Kelly.
Kelly gave Draven a slight nod. She looked at her brother. “Your alpha. Not mine.” She turned and walked to the other end of the bar.
CHAPTER THREE
A few minutes earlier…
Kelly set another beer in front of Moose Bennett and picked up the empty bottle. “Can I get you anything else?”
Moose grabbed her hand. “It’s good you’re finally home. If you need anything, and I mean anything, you can call me.”
“Thanks.”
He squeezed her hand. “No strings attached, but my offer still stands.”
“Offer?” She frowned slightly. She hadn’t thought about his offer in years. But she remembered and her answer would be the same as it was then.
“You’re going to hurt my feelings if you don’t remember.”
Kelly set the empty bottle back on the bar and covered his hand with hers. “I remember. Do you remember what I said?”
The corner of his lips turned up. “You told me you didn’t want to stand in the way of me finding my mate and having true happiness and love instead of friendship.”
“And I still mean that.”
“Eight years and I haven’t found her yet. I’m beginning to think fate didn’t mean for me to have a mate.” Longing filled his voice and sadness filled his eyes.
She squeezed his hand. “Fate hasn’t forgotten. You will find your mate when you’re supposed to find her, and when you do, you’ll be glad you waited for her.”
“You’re a good woman.”
“Not really.” She grinned at him. “I just don’t want your future mate kicking my ass.” She winked and gave him a quick pat on the hand. Pulling her other hand out of his, she picked up the empty bottle and dropped it in the bucket under the bar. When she looked back at Moose, he had already picked up his beer and turned to watch the band as they started warming up.
Someday he was going to make one special woman extremely happy. Several days of beard growth almost hid the scar across his right cheekbone. Both added to his rugged, bad boy looks as did the tattoos peeking out from his shirt sleeves. He was solidly built in the muscle department, and had been since high school.
Yet underneath the packaging, she knew he had a gentle heart that longed for its mate. She heard it in his voice and saw it in the way he stared at the couple when he thought no one was watching him. She hoped he found his mate soon. He deserved happiness.
A hand waved an empty beer bottle at her.
Kelly schooled her face and plastered a smile on her face as she nodded to the man, but when she saw his eyes glow, her smile slipped. She pulled a beer from the coole
r, popped the top and set it on the bar in front of the shifter. He didn’t say a word, just tapped the money laying in front of him and picked up the beer.
She felt his eyes on her as she dumped the empty bottle into the trash and then rang up the sale. Sliding his change toward him, she refused to look at him. Something felt off with him. She didn’t want him to think she was interested him.
She walked over to her brother, Cooper, and casually leaned against the bar.
“What’s up?”
“See the guy two stools down from Moose?”
Cooper glanced over her shoulder. “What about him?”
“Do you know him?”
“Never seen him before. Is he bothering you?”
“Not in so many words, but something about him makes me uneasy. He’s a shifter. I saw his eyes glow for a couple of seconds when he called me over.” Kelly kept her voice really low, but she knew Cooper could hear her.
“Switch sides with me.” Cooper pushed off the bar.
“You sure?”
Cooper nodded. “It’ll give you a bit of a break since this is supposed to be your homecoming party. And it’ll give me a chance to find out who he is and what he wants.”
“Be careful.” She wondered why she even bothered to tell him to be careful. Careful was not in his vocabulary.
“Always.” Cooper grinned at her.
She watched her brother walk over to where Moose sat and start talking with him.
Smooth moved.
“Hey, Kelly. Where did Cooper go?” Molly Turner, one of the part-time waitresses set her serving tray on the bar.
“He switched sides with me.”
Molly raised an eyebrow. “Is everything okay?”
Kelly shook her head. “He just thought I could use a little break.”
“Why are you even working the bar? It’s supposed to be your homecoming party.”
Kelly shrugged. “Staying busy keeps the mind from overthinking everything.”
“Speaking of staying busy. Perrow and his little crew want a fresh pitcher of beer and four whiskey shoots, and preferably a shifter to take it to them.” Molly wrinkled her nose in disgust. “I wish the new alpha had gotten rid of them too.”
Alpha Wolf Page 2