I let my gaze wander over her body briefly, taking in her creamy white skin. Her dark brown hair was pulled up, but tendrils had come lose to frame her face. Occasionally she would blow one out of her face in frustration, and it was adorable. Her eyes were dark brown and overly curious.
She was a short little thing, but I had a feeling that much like dynamite, she could be dangerous. Her little outburst at Wyatt had given me a fairly good idea that she could hold her own. She smelled amazing, something that called to my wolf senses. A mix of citrus and the forest. Then there was the smell of her arousal, a sweet smell that made me hard and had me wanting to set the wolf in me free. My gaze lingered momentarily on the curves of her hips and then on her breasts. When I met her gaze again, I saw fire in her eyes.
Zee snatched her arm away from me. “Uh, yeah, hi,” she said icily, but I still caught the slightest tremor of nerves. I was getting used to the nerves from everyone around me, human and wolf alike. I was a new Alpha and it seemed to come with the territory. I didn’t want this girl to be afraid though. I tried to look safe and reassuring. She backed up a step. So much for reassuring, I thought.
“Listen I’ve got to get back to work now,” she backed up another step and then turned to leave. I didn’t stop her this time. I’d already pushed my luck enough for one night. My gaze slid down her ram rod straight back, as she moved quickly away from our table, and landed on her ass.
“She seems into you,” Wyatt was chuckling as he watched me. I glared at him and he quickly ducked his head. Nothing like being an Alpha to stop the teasing about such an obvious rejection. Wyatt took a huge swig of his beer and his face turned a little pale while he struggled to swallow. “Man, that is horrible.”
I started laughing at him while I watched Zee work. She moved quickly around the bar. Her nerves were gone as she flirted and laughed with people, she had no doubt known her whole life. She was standing at a table full of college kids when one guy grabbed her ass. Without thinking I jumped to my feet to stop him, a growl rumbling low in my chest. Zee quickly swatted the guy’s hand away and laughed it off.
I could feel the anxiety rolling off Wyatt as I sat back down. “Whoa, Alex, you gotta chill,” he said as he gazed around for anyone who may have noticed my reaction. I closed my eyes and shook my head to will away the sudden need to protect this girl I had just met.
I opened my eyes and searched quickly for Zee and found her by the bar talking to a little blond who might have been a waitress, too. She carried an empty tray at least. “There’s something about her…” I trailed off, unsure how to explain the odd pull I felt towards her.
“The fuck, dude?” Wyatt seemed shocked. He looked at her harder now, like he was trying to puzzle it out. “She’s hot and all, but she isn’t a wolf. I didn’t smell any kind of magic on her. Maybe you just need to get laid.” I shrugged at my ever-helpful beta.
“Yeah maybe,” I decided it was time for a subject change. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could deal with Wyatt staring at Zee. “I know the main house is set, but I want the perimeters run tonight. If we split up, between us and Ryker, we should be finished by dawn.” Wyatt nodded as he glanced around the bar. I knew he was taking in any possible threats. He may have been a bit of a joker, but the pack’s security was one thing I knew he wouldn’t take lightly.
I didn’t expect this town to cause us any trouble. The locals had an amazingly easy going way about them. It was something I considered greatly when my father offered me the territory. The men who had jumped us as we came in were drunk and looking for trouble from anyone. Wyatt just happened to flirt with the wrong girl, and I found myself in an unexpected brawl. Other than my ripped shirt, I walked away unscathed. Growing up in a pack of wolves had its benefits.
“Has Jarren found anyone else?” Wyatt asked once he had finished his visual sweep. I could hear the tension in his voice at the mention of our newest pack member. Our pack was new, and I had run a risk inviting Jarren, a lone wolf, to join us.
“He says he found some potential in Maine,” I shook my head at Wyatt’s quizzical look. I wasn’t sure what had pulled Jarren so far East. Our pack needed members to hold the size of territory we now had. There weren’t any packs in the immediate area, but the forest was a perfect place for a pack to live. Perfect for our pack as we started venturing out on our own.
Jarren was a former Marine, and he could size up a wolf rather quickly, giving me a good idea of what they would be best suited for in the pack. While a young wolf might leave their pack in search of a new one, I didn’t only want young wolves. I needed more established wolves, wolves with skills that would be invaluable to the pack. Jarren was looking for them for me.
“Loners?” Wyatt questioned, and then took another swig of his beer to hide his displeasure with the idea of lone wolves. He grimaced again as he swallowed.
“I didn’t ask,” I said pointedly, eyeing Wyatt for his reaction, “Jarren knows that I trust
