I cursed silently. “F*cking dick,” I mindlinked him. He was too suspicious, way too observant for his own good. His smile told me he knew something was going on with me. I could either take the bait or watch him get all over her, and he’d do everything in his power to get a reaction out of me.
“What’s wrong, Alpha? Scared of the human? Or is there something we all need to know?”
I stared back, willing my wolf to keep calm so I didn’t do something stupid**like marking her in the middle of sparring. The only thing I wanted was to touch her, to have my hands on her. That thought had been invading my mind all day, threatening to take over. That wouldn’t fly here. I couldn’t let Josh get close to her. At least Danny’s flirting had been all talk. No one else was going to touch her.
Just like last night, the moment my hands were on her, I’d struggle to let her go. My mind was a mess, and it shouldn’t be. I should be able to fake disinterest like I did with every other female. But my hesitation was obvious, and my whole team was staring at me with confused expressions. I don’t hesitate. Ever.
Kennedy
Beta Josh’s lips curled into a tight, mischievous half-smile, a spark of playful defiance lighting up his eyes. “Alright, let’s do this,” he said quietly. He crouched down, and I mirrored his stance, letting the simmering frustration from their silent exchange fuel my determination. They were probably whispering about how weak I seemed, debating whether the Alpha could hold back enough not to hurt me. To them, this was nothing more than a game**one where I was the punchline of their stupid jokes. That thought alone made my blood boil.
A low growl rumbled through the group, and Alpha Ryker grunted sharply, “Fine!” Just then, someone shouted, “Go!”
In that split second, I had to react. Josh leapt back, and Ryker lunged at me from behind. I ducked quickly, avoiding his outstretched arms, and managed to strike the upper part of his thigh. The hit probably stung more than it hurt, like a bee’s sting on his massive, well-defined muscle. I forced myself not to think about those sculpted muscles**no distractions. The blow did shift his momentum just enough for me to pivot away, almost slipping free. But he caught my left arm, flipping me over so I landed hard on my back before I could even blink.
The air was knocked out of me, though not as badly as I expected. It was obvious he was holding back, trying not to hurt me. That only fueled my irritation further. I rolled to one side, colliding with a calf pressing down on my torso as Ryker punched the ground where my shoulder had been moments before. Sliding under his leg, I realized I was operating in pure survival mode. I wasn’t going to win this fight. His team struggled just to keep up with him**there was no chance I’d land any real damage. All I could do was avoid getting hurt.
He hadn’t anticipated how quickly I’d wriggle free, because before he could react, I managed to land a blow to his kidney. Without even looking, he reached behind, hooking his arm around my waist and yanked me around, slamming me back onto the ground in front of him. This time, he straddled me, pinning my arms to the sides with his legs and using one hand to cradle the back of my head, preventing me from cracking my skull on the impact. How considerate.
Leaning in with a cocky grin, he muttered just loud enough for me to hear, “This is an interesting position… something new to try…”
Before he could finish his sentence, I surged forward and kissed him. Time seemed to stop, and a wildfire ignited behind my eyes. I had no idea what compelled me to do it, and instantly regretted it. That wasn’t even a proper kiss, but somehow it was better than anything I’d ever experienced before. On impulse, I bit his lower lip hard enough to draw blood.
His growl sent a shiver through me, awakening a heat deep inside. Luckily, I was already soaked in sweat, so he wouldn’t be able to smell or feel my arousal. I didn’t let that distract me**I wrenched my arms free and flipped us over. He was so caught off guard that I moved his massive frame with ease.
He lay there, panting, eyes wide as he stared up at me, a thin trickle of blood trailing from where I’d bitten him. His hands gripped my hips tightly. For a moment, we just looked at each other.
Suddenly, an arm was thrust in my face. I blinked, then looked up to see Danny offering his hand. I hesitated for a second before accepting his help to get off Ryker, who released me slowly, almost reluctantly.
Josh reached out to Ryker as I dusted myself off, and I swear I heard him mutter, “That’s what I thought, bossman.” What on earth did that mean? Then he turned to me with a grin. “Unfortunately, Ryker pinned you first, so he wins. But I won’t lie**it was pretty amazing to see someone pin his ass for once.”
Ryker muttered under his breath, “That has to be cheating,” though his trademark half-smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, softening the complaint as it almost reached his eyes.
Danny shot me a teasing wink. “Cheating? Nah. She just has more… assets than you, and she knows exactly how to use every single one.” His grin was mischievous, and I couldn’t help but laugh at his bluntness. “And I’m seriously annoyed I missed out on all the action again.” Despite his words, his tone was light, and the scowl he wore was clearly just for show.
The rest of the warriors chuckled along, so this had to be a good sign. Still, my attention was fixed solely on the Alpha. He was quietly wiping blood from the corner of his lip with his thumb, a small but somehow incredibly attractive gesture. Why did that make my heart skip? Then, catching the way I was staring, he flashed me a dark, knowing smile that sent a jolt through me. I rolled my eyes at him, which earned a low, growly laugh from his throat, a sound that sent another shiver down below my waist. Stupid hormones. Stupid irresistibly hot Alpha.
We wrapped up the training session soon after, the air buzzing with chatter about the Alpha getting bested. Technically, I hadn’t beaten him ** not really ** but I was happy to take the credit since he barely broke a sweat. I was pretty sure he could still get through the rest of his day’s schedule while sparring with me.
As everyone started gathering their gear and heading toward the vehicles, I hung back. I hadn’t come with them, and I wasn’t sure if there was room in any of the cars for me. My friends were deep in tactical discussions and didn’t even notice when they left me behind. This was a new situation for me, but oddly, not an unwelcome one. At least they weren’t hovering over me for once. Worst case scenario, I could just run back to the packhouse**it was right on the main road and easy to find.
Suddenly, a low, husky voice came from just behind me. “You ride with me.” The tone, quiet but firm, sent goosebumps racing down my neck. I gasped softly, caught off guard. He chuckled quietly, clearly amused by my reaction. I was so stunned I couldn’t even form a response, so I simply nodded and turned to follow him.
We reached his truck**a massive, rugged beast. At 5’5?? I found the running board sitting at my hip, making the climb up feel like scaling a jungle gym. Who owned a truck this enormous? It was absurdly tall. Still, I couldn’t deny it was stunning**sleek black paint gleaming under the sun, tinted windows so dark they looked like mirrors, and not a gaudy accessory in sight besides the obvious lift kit. It screamed power and prestige.
He opened the door for me, and I raised an eyebrow in surprise. He responded with a single raised brow of his own before nodding toward the seat inside. I rolled my eyes again but appreciated the gesture as I carefully climbed up into the cab. It was a slow climb, but he didn’t offer to help, just waited patiently, letting me take my time.
Once I settled into the seat, he closed the door silently behind me. The interior was just as impressive**spacious and commanding, much like everything about Ryker. Dark slate gray leather covered the seats, buttery smooth to the touch. Honestly, I could have fallen asleep right there, so comfortable did it feel. I leaned back, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. But that only made things worse.
His scent filled the truck, strong and unmistakable, as if no one else had ever been inside. It wasn’t mixed with anything**no food, no other smells**just him. I wondered if it was new, or if I was just noticing it for the first time. My whole body trembled with a strange craving as I inhaled again, like an addict desperate for her next fix.
Kennedy
I have to be cool though. I cannot act like the freakish girls that I have seen around Jeremiah, or even Amy last night. These alphas have girls throw themselves at them all the time. Girls that only want a piece of the ‘alpha,’ not the guy who happens to have the title of alpha. He also doesn’t seem super happy about having to deal with the presence of a human. Although, I thought last night might have at least made him more open to me.
We had a moment last night and then again on the training grounds. I know he could feel it too, see it in his eyes, even if he won’t admit it, but this little flirtation will end when I go back with Jeremiah, Rayna and the guys in a few days. I may never see him again after this. I just need to relax, he’s just a guy like all the other guys I hang out with daily. Just treat him like one of the guys. A really big, really hot, alpha male kind of guy.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.