The Reluctant Alpha

by K. S. Martin

  “Yeah. Why is he so full of energy this morning anyway?” Dylan was zipping his duffle. He found Cami’s pajamas and folded them into the white suitcase.

  “He’s met his mate. She’s going back with us. I guess I need to find a someplace else to live.”

  “You can stay at my apartment over the bar. I don’t think that I’ll be allowed to use it anymore.” Cami said as Dylan growled. “See. So the rent is paid through the end of the month and it’s month to month so just let Frankie know.”

  “I don’t know that Frankie would be too hip on my staying over his bar.”

  “You can stay in your room at the house, you know that you’re welcome. Or you can use the cabin, whatever you want to do man.”

  “Thanks Dyl.” Dylan nodded and snapped the buckles on Cami’s suitcase. When the door opened, the she-wolf that Pete danced with last night strode in and held the door for Pete while balancing the tray of coffees.

  “Here, they’re all the same, bacon, eggs, toast, and grits.” He set the bag on the table and took the coffee from his mate kissing her cheek. “Everyone, this is Shari. Shari, that’s Dylan, you met Mike, and that’s Cami, she’s Dylan’s mate. Nice mark there Dylan, looks like she meant it.” Dylan gave him a sly smile and Cami’s cheeks flushed bright red.”

  “She didn’t want me to get away, I’m quite the catch.” Pete nudged his shoulder.

  “Look at mine.” He pulled his shirt collar away from the bite on his neck. “I’m a catch too.” Dylan shoved him back and took two of the boxes then handed one with plastic utensils to Cami. He sat beside her on the bed while Shari sat on Pete’s knee in the yellow chair across from Mike. Mike was watching Shari closely and Dylan got the impression that he didn’t care for her.

  When breakfast was gone, they carried their bags to the trucks parked downstairs. “Hey Mike, ride with me and Cami, let Pete have some time with his new mate.” Mike hurried over and let Cami climb in to sit in between the two big wolves. “So what’s up? You don’t seem to like Pete’s mate. What fire am I going to have to put out?”

  “She’s nice. Something doesn’t sit right with me though. I can’t put my finger on it. She’s already marked but she says her mate was killed. I don’t get that feeling though, you know what I mean? The mark is still warning me off. Pete isn’t getting that though. I don’t think she’s on the up and up, something is weird with that wolf. Did you get anything Dyl?”

  “Yeah.” Cami waited, but he didn’t elaborate. Finally, she turned to look at him.

  “Well what was it?” She asked exasperated. He grinned.

  “All I got was that you didn’t like her and she doesn’t care for you. Which is why you’re in my truck and not yours. I didn’t get much more since I was watching Cami eat her breakfast.” He patted her knee and she hid her face in her hands. “It’s alright sweetheart, he knows that I want you.”

  “Everybody within ten miles of you two knows that.” Mike leaned his head back and pulled his ball cap low over his eyes. “Wake me if you want me to drive.”

  “Why are you so tired?” Dylan asked.

  “Slept in the truck, didn’t feel like sharing last night.” Cami cringed.

  “Eww, you guys do that? That’s gross.” Mike and Dylan both chuckled. “You don’t expect me to do that do you?” She looked scared to death and Dylan squeezed her knee.

  “Don’t worry about that sweetheart, I won’t share you, you’re all mine and I don’t share what’s all mine.” She let a breath out. Good because that would send her running faster than anything else.

  “Have you ever…?” Dylan shook his head. “Oh, so just them then.”

  “Not just them, but no, I never have. I don’t need any help satisfying a woman.”

  “Fucker.” Mike said from under his hat, both Cami and Dylan laughed. Cami cuddled closer to Dylan and closed her eyes when he wrapped his arm around her. There hadn’t been as much sleep last night as she would’ve wanted but that was okay since she’d had amazing sex with Dylan. Soon when they were home, there would be more. She snuggled in tight wrapping her arm around his waist and slept. His truck ate the miles up while he kept an eye on the truck following him. If Mike suspected something was up with this Shari girl, Dylan would help him figure it out before Pete got hurt. Pete and Mike were tight and had been since elementary school. They shared everything including women occasionally. If Mike didn’t like her, that friendship could end because of her. Dylan did not want to see that. If he were to challenge Henry and take the job as Alpha he would need two strong betas to back him up. She was sitting on her side of the truck talking to Pete who was nodding. Dylan would love to know what that conversation was about. If she was so in love with Pete, why was she sitting so far away? You would think if they met and were instantly driven to mate and mark that she would want to be closer to him. It had been different with Cami so he had nothing to compare it to but you would think. Mike said that she was already marked and that he felt warned off by the bite. Dylan pulled out his cell phone and called Junior.

  “Dylan.” Junior sounded perturbed.

  “Do you know a Shari? She’s coming home with Pete but she’s marked.” Mike straightened in the seat and adjusted his hat on his head. Dylan glanced at him giving him a knowing look. “Really.” Dylan was listening and Mike was watching but unable to hear what Junior said. “Huh.” Dylan shook his head. “Okay, thanks pup.” He disconnected the call. “She’s mated, he’s not dead, but he has rejected her. She screws around on him and it’s not okay. She was getting kicked out of Junior’s pack because of it, kept turning her tail up at anyone interested.”

  “I knew something was up with that chick. So, now she’s our problem.”

  “Junior says she’s real conniving and manipulative. He said to keep our eye on her and that he’s glad she’s gone. His pack was about to start a civil war. The females are unhappy and the males are warring.” Mike nodded.

  “Let’s hope our males are a stronger lot.” Dylan nodded and hugged Cami’s shoulders.

  “I better not catch you anywhere near the bitch.” Cami murmured. Dylan laughed at Cami’s warning and pulled her tight to him. She peered up at him through her lashes. “How much longer until we’re home?” Her hand traveled slowly across his abs and he sucked in a breath.

  “Another twenty minutes.” She nuzzled her head into the hollow of his shoulder and closed her eyes again. “I’ll hurry.” His voice was all smooth caramel for her. “Mike, you’re sleeping in the cabin tonight.”

  “Yeah, not a problem.” He pulled his hat low again grinning.

  Chapter 7

  “Hungry?” Dylan asked reaching into the fridge for a bottle of water. He tossed one to her. “We didn’t have lunch, what would you like?” Cami came over to stand with him peering into the loaded refrigerator. She was freshly bathed and wearing her daisy pajamas. Dylan’s nose twitched and she grinned.

  “Does Mike have something to eat out there?” Her brows knitted.

  “Mike’s a big boy and he can take care of himself. What do you want to eat?” She shrugged. Dylan pulled chicken breast and some vegetables out of the fridge. Cami was looking out of the window toward the cabin. “Is it bothering you that much?” She nodded.

  “It’s like he’s all alone now. You and Pete both have mates and he’s left high and dry. I feel bad.” Dylan pulled his phone out of his pocket and sent a text. It chimed back immediately and he showed it to Cami, she smiled. Dylan pulled more chicken from the fridge and more vegetables.

  “Cut those up.” He pointed to the vegetables handing her a knife and cutting board. She carried them to the sink to wash then started taking them apart. Dylan was cutting the chicken into small pieces and putting them in a wok. Cami grinned. She never figured him for a guy who could cook especially with a wok. Most guys can make breakfast but he was really going to cook! He’d said before that he could make spaghetti, but how hard was that? You boiled water and emptied a jar. He tossed her vegetables i
n as soon as she got them cut up, it was becoming a race, and Cami giggled. Mike came in and perched on one of the bar stools. Dylan threw him a beer. “Cami was worried about you. I wasn’t.” Mike took a long pull on the bottle.

  “Thanks Cami. I wasn’t looking forward to soup and Pete has my truck.” Dylan went to a cabinet and pulled out a set of keys then tossed them to the Mike.

  “Oh come on, the Buick? Give me the Camero.” Dylan shook his head.

  “You have a Camero?” Cami asked. Dylan grinned wolfishly.

  “Yeah I think there’s one in the garage.” He stirred their supper.

  “Cami, make him show you the garage. It’s worth it.” Mike finished his beer and got up to get another. “I guess I should be thankful that he’s letting me borrow one of his babies at all, huh?”

  “You should. I don’t let just anyone drive my cars. That reminds me, Cami, does the truck behind Frankie’s belong to you?” She nodded. “We’ll bring it here.”

  “It’s broken. I couldn’t afford the parts yet. I need to put it up on a rack.” Dylan nodded and served the stir fry.

  “You can use the one in the garage. I have tools and a lift for you to use. We get it fixed. It looks like your foster dad took care of it.” Cami nodded and went back to her work.

  ***

  Cami loaded the dishes into the dishwasher when they’d finished and wiped the counters. Dylan promised at dinner that he would show her his cars if she did the dishes and Mike kept teasing her about what was out there. What she couldn’t understand was if he had a garage full of hot cars why drive the crappy old pick up? He said it had sentimental value and the seat was molded to his butt. That had made her laugh. “I’m done, can we go?” Cami was giddy and bouncing on her toes. Dylan chuckled. Mike said goodnight and went out of the patio door to head back to the cabin. A small cabin was on the land when Dylan bought the place. He thought that maybe the owner used it for taxidermy, he’d found black button eyes and some mounting blocks on a table in there. They’d fixed it up, put a kitchen in, a bathroom, and blocked off a small bedroom. It was good enough if you didn’t plan on living there forever. He kept non perishables in the cabinets if anyone needed a place to crash for the night. Some of the guys brought women there but they all knew to clean up after themselves. It had a TV with cable but it was extremely small. Two people would get tangled up in there if they weren’t careful.

  “This is my garage. The keys are in the cabinet in the kitchen and you are welcome to drive anything you like.” His arm draped casually over her shoulders. Dylan flipped the light switches on the wall.

  “Whoa.” Cami’s mouth was open and her eyes wide. It was a warehouse full of cars, she estimated thirty at least. All of them perfect and showroom clean. Dylan prodded her forward. “Is that a…Oh. My. God… you have a… no way.” He laughed as she nearly floated to the GTO. Dylan followed her. “This is a Ram Air V. Did you know that this car has five hundred horsepower? How did you get this? They weren’t even for sale to the general public.” Cami opened the hood carefully. “That’s beautiful.”

  “Do you want to drive her?” Dylan was behind her, his body pressed close as he looked over her shoulder into the motor. She shook her head as her insides trembled. “No?” She shook it again.

  “I couldn’t. What if something happened and I hurt her? I couldn’t take that chance.” Cami bent closer to look at the engine. “Wow.” She lowered the hood carefully letting it close. “Wow.” Cami walked on through the garage looking at his treasures stopping next at the Camero that Mike mentioned. She could see why he wanted it. This one was new and looked like the car from the space alien robot movie that was out not long ago. It was bright yellow and made her smile. She refused to drive any of them but looked under a lot of hoods. “Dylan, you should take these out for a ride and let them stretch their legs instead of sitting here bored all the time.” He shrugged.

  “I’d rather take you out.” Her cheeks flushed because he was leaning over her again and she could feel how hard he was for her. “Come on, let’s go back inside Darlin’.” His smooth caramel voice went straight to her clit and she shivered. Cami took his hand and followed him inside to the bedroom. Dylan pulled his clothes off without taking his eyes from hers. Cami mimicked his movements removing her own. When he was naked and proudly standing before her he took her hand and led her to the side of the enormous bed. “I love you Cami. Not just because nature says that you’re my mate but because I feel something very deeply for you.” Her eyes misted and he bent to kiss her. Slowly he nibbled at her lips while his hands roved her body. Her arms snaked around his neck and pulled him closer, closer to her, and closer to the bed. It was happening again. She was losing control. An undeniable urge filled her, clawed at her for release, for fulfillment, for what Dylan had to offer her. “Not this time sweetness.” He pushed her gently back on the bed covering her body with his. Cami tried to pull him under her but he wasn’t having it. “No Cami. This time I’m in charge. This time I am going to take it slow and I am going to make love to you. I am going to explore and memorize every inch of you.” He was trailing kisses across her breasts and down her sternum. Cami’s breath hitched with excitement and a thrilling fear. She tried to push him again. “I said no.” There was the voice that she could not help but obey. God he was sexy, too sexy for his own good. She shoved her hands into his hair and tried to pull him up to her face, she wanted to kiss him again. He wasn’t having it. Dylan removed her hands and trapped them at her sides to continue on his slow torturous exploration. His tongue had just filled her belly button and made her belly tremble. God it was torture! Her core was wet and clenching, her clit was throbbing, and her pulse pounded frantically in her ears. “Don’t move.” He commanded as he let go of her hands to spread her legs further. She couldn’t move if she wanted to. It was like her body needed to obey him even though her mind fought it. Damn him anyway …oh! Ooooooh….His mouth was exactly on the spot that was going to make her implode. He buried two fingers inside of her now and his tongue circled her swollen clit. Cami’s hips came off the bed and he chuckled. He was laughing at her? Seriously? “I told you not to move.” Dylan’s fingers curled inside of her as he sucked her clit into his mouth rubbing it with his tongue. Lightning raced through her veins and electricity crackled across her skin. Her nerves zinged with it and every muscle seized then convulsed.

  “Oh God!” She roared as the orgasm claimed her very soul. Her fingers dug into the mattress. Dylan was kissing his way up the front of her now. She needed him, needed to be filled. She ached to feel him inside of her. Cami grabbed for him and he captured her hands again trapping them over her head.

  “I said don’t move but you keep doing it. Why are you disobeying your alpha?” He growled. She laughed nervously but tried to wiggle her hands free as she wrapped her legs around him hoping to assist his entrance like she did the first time. Dylan growled low in his throat and flipped her over onto her belly. He smacked her ass twice.

  “Dylan!?” Twice more when she tried to turn around. “Oh!” Cami tried to escape but he was on her and she was not going to get away. “Dylan stop it.” She squirmed trying to get loose giggling. He pulled her hips back and across his lap. With his forearm planted firmly in the small of her back, Dylan spanked her. Cami was so wet she was embarrassed. How could that make her feel like this? She was so aroused right now, that she didn’t know what to do about it. His hand met with her backside for the tenth time and she moaned. So help her god, she moaned. Cami grimaced. He was going to think that she liked this when she didn’t, did she? Okay, maybe a little. Maybe it was the whole forced submission thing. Her inner wolf girl liked it.

  “You will remember from now on that I am in charge in this room.” She nodded. He was behind her now lifting her hips and spreading her knees. Now he was going to fill her? Why couldn’t he just do that before and there wouldn’t have been a problem. Instead, he kissed her tender stinging fiery flesh. Cami’s cheeks blushed as red as he
r rear. He’d just kissed her butt? She almost giggled again but stifled it. His fingers slipped through her folds and she moaned again. “I thought you liked it, you did, didn’t you?” Cami nodded, it was the slightest of movements, and if all of his concentration wasn’t focused only on her, he would’ve missed it. Dylan thrust inside of her now. “So wet for me.” He filled her completely and her arms buckled. Cami laid her cheek against the cool sheet and let him thrust into her. It felt so good, she was so full, all of her muscles fluttering around him, grabbing for him. She moaned again and closed her eyes, pushing back against him, wanting more of it, of him. He was over her now, dominating her, his front on her back, his mouth on her neck. She felt him shift and nearly came off of the bed. It was coming again. The implosion. Millions of white lights burst behind her eyes, her core tightened and clamped down on him, milking him, and her world rocked off its axis. Dylan filled her with his seed, his orgasm just as intense and he roared over her. They collapsed in a heap.

  Chapter 8

  “Sweetness.” Dylan murmured against her ear, tickling her. She smiled before opening her eyes. “How are you feeling this morning?” His lips trailed kisses down her neck, across her collar bone and over her shoulder.

  “Did I sleep all night? What time is it?” Cami mumbled and opened her eyes to find him watching her. “Hi.”

  “Hi. Yeah you passed out almost before we finished.” Her face scrunched up. “Not a cuddler?” His brow quirked up?. “Come on, get up, and go shower, breakfast in twenty. I’ll call Mike because I don’t think I could stand your sympathy for another male this early in the morning.” Cami grinned. “And next time, I want you to stay awake at least until I’m out of you.” Dylan laughed at her expression and left the room. Had she really passed out that quickly? He had worn her out so it was his own fault.

  Cami dressed in jeans and a tee shirt then went to the kitchen once she’d finished showering. Mike was sipping coffee and reading the newspaper. Dylan was frying ham steaks and flipping eggs over easy. She sat at the counter to watch her man. He was so gorgeous to watch, with the big muscle groups moving in harmony under that delectable skin that she wanted to lick. He turned quickly and looked into her eyes. His eyes were amber with his wolf rousing. Cami wondered why. She turned to look at Mike who was still reading. “What’s wrong?” She asked.