The Alpha’s Tempting Mate

Carlos

I lurk in the shadows of Sedona’s apartment building like a thief.

I guess I am a thief waiting to steal-what? Sedona’s heart? Her body? Carajo, I’d settle for a few minutes of her time.

She isn’t home at the moment, though. Finding her took little effort. Rather than ask around in the shifter community, which would alert her brother’s pack to my presence, I searched for the word Sedona and University of Arizona art until I found a mention of an art show she participated in and discovered her last name. From there, I researched until I found an address, which I prayed was still current. Judging by her scent lingering around an upstairs apartment, it is.

Now, just being close to where she lives, close to seeing her, my flesh pricks with anticipation. I can’t get the image of her swollen, freshly kissed lips out of my head. Or the way her lashes fluttered just before she came. And oh, fates, her taste. I’m dying to get between those beautiful thighs again and lick her until she screams.

My Sedona.

A Jeep pulls up and I know before I even see the figure behind the wheel that it’s her. She climbs out, looking every inch the goddess of youth and fertility. Her chestnut hair is pulled back in a thick ponytail that swings when she walks. She’s wearing a pair of short shorts, her long legs tan and sleek. Oh hell, the curve of her ass almost shows in the back where they’re cut off. A low growl rumbles in my throat thinking of all the males who have seen her dressed this way.

I don’t think she heard me, but she tosses a glance over her shoulder and picks up her pace. I slink along the side of the building as she approaches the front door.

Fuck.

There’s a key card to get in. It must only be locked at night, because I’d walked right in earlier. She slips through and shuts the door, peering out into the darkness like she knows I’m here.

Dammit. I freeze, ducking back into the shadows. When she disappears, I creep closer to check out the door situation.

I’m in luck. A couple comes out, arguing about something and I move swiftly forward, walking like I own the place, and catch the door. There’s an elevator, but I take the stairs, calling on a little shifter power to mount them at full speed. I come out on the third floor at the same time the elevator opens. Sedona sees me and her eyes widen.

“Carlos.”

I start forward, but her next words stop me in my tracks.

“Did the council send you?”

“What?” I swallow a growl. “No. Of course not.” Even if Santiago mentioned it, the idea was already in my head. “They’re lucky to be alive, after the stunt they pulled. I came because I had to see you.” I spread my hands. “It’s just me, Sedona. I am alone.”

I wish I could report to her that I avenged her kidnapping, but when I arrived at the warehouse, I found the place cordoned off with yellow police tape, and steeped in the scent of shifter blood. Santiago was probably right, her family’s pack got there first.

Sedona nods slowly, but to my shock, she turns and bolts for her apartment like she thinks she can outrun me.

She should know better than to run from an alpha wolf. Stopping the impulse to chase is impossible for me. I’m on her before I can even send the impulse to my brain to hold back. I grab her at the door and band one arm around her waist, catch the wrist holding her key to the lock with the other.

Her scent doesn’t help me get my wolf in check. It’s like apples and sunshine, even better than I remembered. Intoxicating. I don’t pick up the scent of pregnancy, but it would be too early. I bury my face in her shoulder, drag my lips up the column of her neck. My cock, already heavy from the mere sight of her, stiffens in my pants.

“Sedona, beautiful she-wolf, why are you afraid of me?”

She is afraid-trembling even-and that’s the part that makes me a sick fuck for not letting go of her. But I can’t make myself, because now that she’s in my arms, I’m incapable of releasing her. Her back presses against my chest with each breath she takes, and I have the perfect view of her cleavage, rising and falling. I’m reassured by the fact that her nipples are hard, tenting her thin fitted t-shirt.

Her body remembers its master.

Drunk on the feel of her, I slide my palm inside her shirt, up to one hand-sized breast, which I squeeze and knead, memorizing the weight, the size, the softness.

Her breath whooshes out on an exhale. “G-get off me.” Her voice doesn’t match the words and my wolf doesn’t believe her.

“Do you think I would ever hurt you, beautiful?” I nip her earlobe.

The scent of her arousal reaches my nostrils and I breathe deep.

“N-no.”

“Did you just want to make me chase you?” I bring the fingers of my other hand to cup her mons, pressing my middle finger into the seam of her shorts.

Her head falls back and she lets out a breathy moan that goes straight to my cock.

Even through the material of her shorts and panties, I note her growing dampness as I press my fingers against her heat. “I will always give chase, angel.” I scrape my teeth over her shoulder, over the place I marked her less than a week ago. “Because you belong to me.”

She stiffens and I realize immediately my colossal mistake. “I do not belong to you.” This time when she pulls away, I reluctantly release her. “Just because you marked me, doesn’t mean you own me. That’s why I ran.”

She shoves her key into the lock, but her fingers tremble too much to get it in the first time, giving me a few precious seconds to try to regain footing.

“Sedona. I’m sorry.” I slap my hand over the lock before she can try again. “That’s not what I meant. My wolf is growling to reclaim you, that’s all.” I lean my other hand against the door, caging her between my arms, crowding her against the door with the heat of my torso. “I’m not so stupid or chauvinistic to think I have any rights to you. I came because I wanted to make sure you were all right. I couldn’t stay away.”

“Well, you’re going to have to. I need space, Carlos.” She turns, her soft curves brushing against my clothes, setting flames ablaze everywhere she touches. She puts a hand on my chest and tries to shove. She’s an alpha she-wolf, so she’s strong, but I still don’t budge.NôvelDrama.Org holds this content.

“Don’t make me call my brother, Carlos. One word from me and he’ll rip you apart.”

I hate the direction this is going. I fucked everything up. Her brother might try, but I’m certain no wolf could keep me away from Sedona, if I’m under challenge. But I don’t want to fight her family. “You could have sent him after me at Monte Lobo, but you didn’t.”

Her bravado cracks and pain flits over her face. “You let me go,” she whispers.

I can’t decide if she’s thanking me or admonishing me. The idea that she wouldn’t want to be released never occurred to me, and believing she might have been hurt by my actions makes me want to stab a knife through my chest. But she wouldn’t have wanted to stay. That’s impossible.

The agony of not knowing what she means makes me bold. Without touching her with my hands, I crush my mouth over hers, pushing until her head bumps the door. Once I have leverage, I lick into her lips, twisting mine and tilting my head for the best angle.

If she hadn’t kissed me back, I would have retreated-no matter what my wolf wanted-but she melts into the kiss, her tongue meeting mine, lips moving against mine. Until she bites my lower lip, hard enough to draw blood.

I freeze as she holds it fast, tugging backward. When she releases it, there’s a blaze of anger and defiance in her beautiful blue eyes. “Back off, Carlos.”

I immediately retreat, hands in the air.

Fuck. Stop thinking with your dick, asshole.

“Sedona, please. No claims on you. I just want”-I rack my brain for right thing to say- “A date with you. Let me take you to dinner-to breakfast-anything. Meet me in a public place. I won’t touch you, I just want a chance to be near you. To talk. Please?”

Sedona nods, but she’s ducking her head back to the door, not meeting my eye. “Yeah, okay. Tomorrow night. Seven o’clock.” She unlocks her door and steps into her apartment, clicking it shut without a backward glance.

My wolf fist pumps, but my brain knows better. She has no intention of meeting me tomorrow. She just said whatever it took to end the conversation.

I tunnel my fingers through my hair and stare at the tile floor of the hallway.

Carajo.

I won her body with the help of the full moon and a confined space. But how do I win her heart?