It was annoying. He preferred a straight-forward search and destroy mission to all this lurking around.
Maximus forced a smile, despite his suspicion. Did she recognize he was a hybrid, but hadn’t before? If she worked for the Phoenix Corps, she might have seen pictures of his small group of hybrids. But they’d interacted inside, so it didn’t make sense she would be so surprised now. Was it the surprise of seeing him there waiting?
That wasn’t automatically a bad thing. Surprise had a way of messing up plans.
Maximus stood and offered her a polite nod. There was no reason to let her know he was on to her, and he still needed intel on the forest, direct or otherwise. The more the hybrids knew before they acted, the greater chance of mission success. Ignoring a possible lead because of discomfort wasn’t something he would do. He owed it to his men to push past his limits.
“Good morning, ma’am,” Maximus said with a friendly nod of his head. The first person to speak in a conversation often controlled it.
The woman swallowed and walked toward him, her steps unsteady. Maximus’s nostrils flared as he picked up an unexpected scent from the woman, arousal. His heart kicked up, and he bit down a growl as his own cock stirred in response. Okay, so much for controlling the conversation, and it was obvious her reaction wasn’t about her recognizing him. He doubted a Phoenix Corps operative would let herself lose control like that at the sight of a hybrid.
Intel gathering. That’s all this was. Nothing more. Nothing less. He needed to focus on the mission.
“Uh, hello,” the woman offered, her voice sweet and lacking the fire from before. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry about what?”
“You had some business there.” She nodded toward the building. “But I got in your way. You must not have had the…” She furrowed her brow. “Then again, you’re here. Just didn’t want to be there when I was making a scene?”
“Oh, it’s nothing that needed to be finished today. I happened to be in the area, and I figured I’d stop by. It seemed like you were going to be a while, and I don’t like waiting rooms, so I left. It’s not a big deal.” He extended his meaty hand. “Max.”
Giving her his true name might present too much of a clue, even with his disguised eyes. There were plenty of huge men in the world, but huge men with names invoking ancient Rome were far more likely to be hybrids thanks to the obsessions originally of the Horatius Group and others who had followed them.
“Selena,” the woman replied, giving his hand a firm shake. She let out a nervous laugh and ran a hand through her short red hair. “And I’m extra sorry you had to see me in Full Bitch Mode in there. I’d like to say I’m not normally like that, but I’d be lying if I said it was rare.”
Maximus shrugged. “Bureaucracy frustrates everybody. I’m sure you’re not the first person to get screwed over because of stupid rules.”
“Sure. You’re right.” Selena sighed. “It’s been a painful couple of days for me, and I need that office to play along a little to make it better, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. At this point, I bet if I came with permission from the governor, that lady would tell me I need to get the president’s signature.”
Maximus tried not to stare, taken in by the dusting of freckles covering her face, and those luscious lips. Even the slight curl to her hair called too him. He wanted her.
What the hell? Is this what awaited the hybrids once they gave up hope on finding their Vestals, getting horny for the first woman who smiled at them?
Sure, Selena was beautiful and strong-willed. She obviously took care of herself and would have stamina in bed, but she wasn’t his Vestal. He was meant for a specific woman, the other half of his soul.
But his Vestal might never come. Even if she did, he wouldn’t know. Hybrids were drawn to their destined mates by scent, and the Phoenix Corps’ last parting gift to the final twelve members of Alpha Squad appeared to be that denial. It might have been their plan all along, a way of controlling them and forcing their return.
Selena cocked her head to the side. “Is something wrong?”
“Huh?” Maximus asked.
“You just got quiet, and you look upset. I hope it’s not me.”
“It’s nothing,” Maximus said. “I was just thinking of something. Not your fault at all.”
No. He was thinking about the situation the wrong way. If he would never find his destined mate, then there was no reason to hold back on seeking something. A normal relationship might not fill the hole in his soul like being with a Vestal, but it was better than nothing.
Today though, it wasn’t about the hot little redhead in front of him, but the mission. She might have been a Phoenix Corps’ spy, or she might have information on something that could lead him to the Corps. Sometimes duty could mix with pleasure.
“Hey, you busy?” Maximus asked.
Selena stared at him. “What?”
“You busy?” Maximus gestured down the street toward a coffee shop. “You got time for a cup of coffee? A little caffeine always helps me when I’m having a bad day.”
“Hard to believe a guy like you has bad days.” Selena gasped and put her hand over her mouth. “Did I say that aloud?”
Maximus nodded. “I just figured it’s been nice talking with you, and we could talk some more.”
Selena looked uncertain and held up her folder. “I don’t know. It’s not like I don’t want to, but I’m supposed to be getting this taken care of.”
“Is it
