Code of the Alpha: Shifter Romance Collection

by Lola Gabriel

  “That’s a beautiful name,” Wren observed.

  “So is Wren,” she answered tentatively.

  Wren smiled and cocked his head at her.

  “Look, I am really sorry about crashing into you. I was trying to give her a bottle, and I must have looked away for a second and...” Liya sighed miserably and looked at him beseechingly. “I just moved to town, and I don’t have much money right now, so I can’t even pay for the damages. I just canceled my insurance. I just don’t know what to do. Maybe I can pay you back in installments?”

  “It’s fine.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him and shook her head. “What?”

  “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

  “Did you hit your head against the dash or something?” she asked exasperatedly and motioned to the back of the BMW. “Look at it.”

  “I did,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers.

  Liya put her hands in her pocket. “Then how can you say that it’s fine?”

  “Because it is,” he answered simply.

  Liya’s eyes filled up with tears again, and she lowered her gaze. Wren stepped closer to her.

  “Please don’t cry. It’s fine. It’s just a car,” he said

  Just a car, Wren? Did you really just say that?

  “It’s not just a car. It’s a really nice BMW,” Liya scoffed.

  “You know cars?” he asked.

  “The model name is right there,” Liya answered and pointed to the logo.

  “Right,” Wren said as he suppressed a smile. “Would you and Illa like to go have coffee with me?”

  “Oh, Illa doesn't drink coffee,” Liya answered. “Oh, that’s not what you meant. I’m sorry, I just...”

  “Are you okay?”

  She bit her lip and shook her head. “I just remembered, I have to be somewhere,” she answered.

  “Really? Or are you just blowing me off?” Wren asked, arching an eyebrow.

  “I’m sorry,” she cringed as she climbed back into her car and drove off, leaving Wren standing in the middle of the road. Luckily it was a small town, and the roads were not busy. He climbed back in his car and sped home to properly assess the damage to both his car, and his ego.

  3

  Liya smiled down at a sleeping Illa and rested her hand on the padded bumper that was arranged in a semi-circle around Illa to prevent her from rolling off the bed. The house didn't come furnished with a crib or anything of the sort, so Liya had to make do with what she had. She didn't mind having Illa sleep beside her in bed, as Illa’s soothing abilities made her sleep soundly at night. Liya remembered the day that Illa was born like it was yesterday. Liya, being a petite young woman, was rather surprised that the birth was relatively easy. Even if it hadn’t been, holding Illa in her arms for the first time made everything complete and perfect.

  Liya reached out her hand to Illa and tenderly stroked her little hand which rested above her head. She quietly left the room and made herself a cup of coffee. As she sat down at the kitchen table, she recalled the events of the day. She still could not believe she had run into someone’s car. She considered herself a really good driver, and before today she had never been involved in an accident. She shook her head. At least the guy she ran into wasn't a complete asshole about it.

  Wren Wylde.

  The wolf.

  Liya realized that he was a wolf even before she spoke to him. He looked out of place in a world that moved forward. He looked like he was in his early twenties, knowing well enough that he was hundreds of years old, at least. Another thing that gave him away was his car. No person that young, living in a small town like Bigfork, would own a car like that. Someone driving a car like that wanted to be noticed, acknowledged. Liya just didn't understand why.

  All her life she was taught to hide from the humans, to blend in as much as possible and not to attract any attention, unwanted or otherwise, to herself or her pack members. Her parents had belonged to a smaller pack when she was younger, but the same rules applied.

  Look after your family.

  Never trust a human.

  Never betray your own kind.

  Those were the three things that were recited to her and to every wolf in the history of shifters, every single day of their lives.

  Wren Wylde, however, seemed unfazed about drawing attention to himself, especially in that car, and with those eyes, a flawless set of perfectly straight teeth and a dimple in his left cheek that could melt the underwear right off any woman who looked at him.

  Not that I looked at him that intensely, Liya shrugged to herself, not sure who she was trying to fool. He was all she could think about for the past few days, the memory of him burning a hole through her soul.

  Wren Wylde. His name stuck in her mind like red wine on a white carpet, and it didn't help that she could vividly recall any memory she had ever had in her life. Some memories took precedence, of course, but now Wren Wylde forced his way inside her mind, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

  “What kind of name is Wren Wylde?” she muttered to herself.

  Liya knew that a wren was a small brown bird who was rather inconspicuous, but was known for its loud and often complex songs. She remembered her father took her out into the fields behind her childhood home and let her listen to the wrens. Liya thought it was the most beautiful thing she had ever heard in her life and spent many afternoons in that very field. Some days she would lay out a blanket on the long grass, and she would lie there, watching the clouds float past her peripheral view of the sky, surrounded by the tall grass. She would listen to the sweet songs of the wrens, carried away to a better and less complex place.

  Liya admired Mrs. Wylde, whoever and wherever she may be, for choosing the perfect name for her son. Wren had brown hair and brown eyes, just like the little bird, and even though he wasn't a tall guy, his song played pretty loud.

  Now his song played in her mind, and she couldn’t get rid of it.

  Wren Wylde.

  Somehow his name also sounded familiar to her, but she couldn't place it. Maybe she had overheard someone mentioning it. She still couldn't believe that he was so nice to her after she caused so much damage to his car. He even invited her to have coffee with him, which was also weird, but it didn't even come close to the strange feelings she felt inside her when she looked into his brown eyes.

  She knew imprinting was different for every wolf, but the thought of imprinting with another wolf seemed a bit farfetched, especially since she wanted nothing to do with any male at this particular moment in time. She decided that it was probably just his comforting voice and the way he looked at her that made her feel like that.

  Momentarily.

  The last thing she wanted was to imprint on a wolf in another pack, especially since she was a Crescent. Although the Crescents were feared and respected—or feared more than they were respected—Liya knew all too well that Crescents were also one of the most hated packs in the country. Once Wren figured out that she was a Crescent, he’d most likely send her packing, or worse. Who knew what kind of hate his pack members carried in their hearts for the Crescents?

  No, getting involved with Wren was definitely a bad idea. In fact, it was the worst idea she had ever had, and that included giving Hunter the benefit of the doubt that he would stop being a woman-beater and an all-around asshole.

  Look how well that turned out, Liya, she scolded herself.

  What she needed to do now was lay low, and no matter how much she wanted to run into Wren—not literally, like the last time—she knew she had to stay away.

  Liya couldn't argue that he was incredibly hot, and charming at that, but she couldn't just blindly follow the laws of nature. She couldn't just move on so quickly, could she? Even though Hunter had been the man she had loved, or thought she had loved for a long time, her heart was too shattered to take on a new relationship. It wouldn't be fair to Wren, or Illa, or herself, for that matter. Maybe in time, but not now, and it didn't matter
how strong the attraction between her and Wren was. Not even if she did imprint on him. Right now she needed to keep herself and Illa off the radar, and most importantly, safe.

  Still, Liya had to try hard not to think about him, even though they had only met the one time. His eyes felt familiar, like she had seen him before, or maybe she was just struck by the power of the imprint. She didn't trust it at all. She never had.

  She recalled the early days of her and Hunter’s relationship and shivered as she remembered the clear signs that he was abusive, signs that she didn’t see at the beginning. He had started out as jealous, which she had once thought was cute and endearing.

  A few days later, she was slowly walking up and down the aisles of the local store, pushing Illa in a shopping cart. Liya had made a whole list of things they needed for the house to ensure the cupboards were fully stocked.

  Illa was playing with a musical toy in the shape of a microphone as Liya continued checking her list. She placed a few items in the cart and just as she was about to go around the corner, she bumped into someone.

  “I’m so sorry,” she murmured and glanced up into the unforgettable and undeniable pair of brown eyes of the one person she couldn't get out of her head.

  “We have got to stop meeting like this,” Wren said with a smirk in a low baritone which sent sensual shivers down her spine.

  “You again,” she forced a smile. She wasn’t sure what she thought was going to happen, since Bigfork was a small town and it was quite inevitable for them to run into each other sooner or later.

  “I could say the same about you,” he said and raised a suspicious eyebrow. His expression immediately changed when he saw Illa and he smiled. “Hey, little girl. How are you?”

  Liya glanced at the two of them having a conversation with one another that neither one of them understood. She had to admit, it was adorable seeing a big, tough-looking guy like Wren being cute with her one-year-old daughter.

  Liya shifted her weight and cleared her throat. Wren looked at her and smirked.

  “I’m sorry. Am I interrupting your shopping?” he asked.

  “A little,” she answered politely.

  “Look, I just want to apologize for being a bit forward the other day,” he said. “You don’t even know me, and I invited you for a coffee.”

  “Right. I don’t know you, and you don’t know me,” Liya said with a nod.

  “I really want to change that, but if you’re not up to it, I totally understand.”

  Liya narrowed her eyes and studied him for a second, or maybe five.

  “Why?”

  “Why what?” he asked.

  “Why do you want to get to know me?” she asked.

  “Well, I could use a really cheesy pick-up line telling you how you’re the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and you are, by the way,” Wren said with a chuckle. “Or, I could tell you that being in a new place is scary and I know the feeling of being alone, which I wouldn't wish on anyone. In fact, I wish I had a friend when I moved here.”

  Friend? Does he want to be my friend?

  “I almost believed you there,” she said, rolling her eyes.

  Wren laughed, a deep throaty laugh that matched him perfectly and Liya couldn't help but look at him in awe.

  “You’re funny,” he said to her.

  “So I’ve been told,” Liya answered with a smile. “Look, I’d hate to turn you down twice, so I... we’d love to have coffee with you.”

  “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day,” he smiled.

  “That’s almost as cheesy as your first line,” she said as she rolled her eyes and chuckled.

  Later that afternoon, after Liya finished her shopping and unpacked the groceries at home, she and Illa went to the coffee bar that Wren had suggested. It was hidden away behind two corner shops, with a narrow hallway that led to the entrance, locked by a wrought iron gate. Only wolves were allowed inside, and it required a fingerprint scan to open. Liya thought it was really clever, and she was comforted by the fact that most of the population of Bigfork were wolves.

  The inside of the cafe was earthy and rustic, and smelled of oak trees, freshly cut grass and coffee. Wren had arranged a table for them in the back, where there was a play area for kids. The cafe wasn't at all busy, as Liya assumed most wolves had jobs during the day.

  Liya made sure that she wore a long shirt and used a bit of foundation to hide her tattoo, to avoid the risk of a complete overreaction from every single wolf in town. In the few days that she and Illa had lived in Bigfork, she had actually come to like the town.

  “So, what’s your deal?” he asked and studied her expression. “Why Bigfork?”

  “We needed a change of scenery.”

  “Why? Was the old scenery getting a bit boring?”

  “A bit,” she answered, recalling the sight of Hunter’s burning house in the rearview mirror.

  “What about your family? Won’t they miss you? Or Illa?”

  “Why all the questions?”

  Wren leaned closer to Liya and said, “Well, Bigfork is my town, and as the Alpha of my pack, I need to know the newcomers, and their reason for coming to this town.”

  “You’re the Alpha,” she stated blankly. “Wow, okay. I’m sorry I came into your town without discussing it with you first.”

  “It’s not a problem, Liya. I just like to know what’s going on in my town,” Wren said.

  Liya looked away from Wren. “Sorry. I’m just a little jumpy.”

  “Why?”

  When she turned back to him, she rubbed the back of her neck. “I’d rather not talk about it.”

  “Well, if you don’t then I’d have to—”

  “Kick me out of Montana,” Liya interjected and glanced back at Illa in the play area to check if she was okay. Illa played happily in a shallow ball pit, throwing the balls at one of the caregivers.

  “No,” he said with a frown, “that wasn't what I was going to say. Why would I do that?”

  “Because you’re the Alpha. You have to look out for your pack,” Liya answered.

  “Only if there’s a threat,” he said and narrowed his eyes at her. “Are you a threat?”

  “No, of course not.”

  Some might think so.

  “Then I don’t see a problem with it.”

  Liya’s memories flashed in front of her eyes, and she inhaled nervously. Her eyes started to fill up with tears and she shook her head. “I ran away.”

  “From your pack? Were they hurting you?” he asked, concern instantly plastered across his face.

  “No, the pack was fine.”

  “Then what?”

  “I didn't run away from the pack. I ran away from my boyfriend,” she finally said after a brief silence. “He was abusive, and I had to get out before...”

  Wren’s shoulders visibly slumped, and his eyebrows pushed together. “I’m so sorry.”

  Liya shrugged and looked at him. “Me too.”

  “You shouldn't be sorry. It’s not your fault,” Wren said.

  “Well, I did set his house on fire, so it may be a little my fault if he’s pissed off,” she said, locking eyes with Wren.

  Wren let out a low whistle. “You’re a badass.”

  “Then why do I feel as afraid as I do right now? I’m always looking over my shoulder, hoping that he’s not there.”

  “Has he made any contact with you?”

  “No. I changed my number, got a new phone,” Liya said. “I’m kind of an expert hider.”

  “You’re a Concealer,” Wren said simply and Liya nodded. “I’ve never met one before.”

  Liya smiled briefly. “It’s not as glorious as people think. I feel like a coward, constantly hiding.”

  “We can’t really choose our abilities, but it’s what we do with them that counts, don’t you think?” Wren said and raised his eyebrows at her.

  “You’re right,” she answered with a nod and glanced down at her hand, at the layer of foundation
that covered the tattoo. It was yet another sign that she was born a Concealer and would perish as one. It was all she knew. She hid away from the world, from the pain Hunter inflicted on her, and was hiding herself and Illa from Hunter. Now she hid her tattoo from Wren, who had been nothing but nice—too nice, actually—to her.

  “So, isn’t your girlfriend, or mate, or whatever, upset that you’re having coffee with another woman?” Liya asked, changing the topic of conversation.

  “Oh yeah, she’s really upset,” he chuckled and rolled his eyes. “So much so that she left town.”

  Liya glanced at him in mock astonishment and shook her head. “That’s a bit of an overreaction.”

  “Just a little,” he grinned.

  “Okay, in all seriousness, though. Why are you still single?” she asked.

  Wren hesitated and looked in the direction of Illa in the play area. “She’s really enjoying herself in that ball pit.”

  Liya averted her gaze to Illa, and she smiled. “Oh yeah. She does. She used to have one just like that...” Her voice trailed off, and she looked at Wren, who was watching her intently. “Do you always change the subject on purpose when you don’t want to talk about something?”

  “You’re quite observant,” he said with a smile. “I don’t know. I’ve been alone for so long that it doesn't really bother me if someone is not around.”

  “Where’s your family?” she asked.

  His jaw clenched, and he answered reluctantly, “I don't know. I haven't seen them for a long time.”

  “Why not?” she asked, and when she saw the hesitation in his eyes, she cringed. “I’m sorry. That was probably too personal.”

  “No, it’s fine. I haven't really talked about them in such a long time, or ever, actually,” he admitted.

  “Those are usually the difficult ones to tell,” Liya pointed out.

  “Mine is.”

  “We can talk about this another time,” she said.

  “Did you just agree to another date?” he asked and raised his eyebrows suggestively.

  “This wasn't a date,” she reminded him. “We were just two friends having coffee.”