by E A Price
He stared after her baffled. He could scent her attraction to him, she was practically in heat for him! Her body was so ready for him that he could have ripped all her clothes off and slid right into her then and there. Her body called to him. Her scent however still bothered him, though he figured he could get past it once he had her naked. His wolf was practically panting after her.
He followed and stood behind her waiting to be served, Rosalee purposefully ignored his presence. He winked at Rena who brightened immediately and giggled. “Hi Adam.”
Rosalee rolled her eyes. Oh brother.
“So Taffy, last chance on that name of yours.” She handed over cash to Rena who had turned sullen again before looking back at him. He raked his eyes over her body appreciatively.
“Thank you no. But don’t worry Arnold, I’m sure there any amount of girls just dying to give you their, umm, name.”
Chapter Two
Rosalee fanned herself with a menu at Pizza Moon. She was trying to cool down after her encounter with Adam the Alpha. She felt like her body was on fire. She’d never been so hot for a man before. Maybe she was just getting a fever and delirium had set in. That had to be it. Ordinarily she’d never be so attracted to such an arrogant dick, no matter how chiselled or sexy or edible... crap.
She tried to distract herself by looking round at the other occupants of the restaurant. She had ordered a meat lovers pizza to go. She was almost frantic to get back to the house and have a cold shower.
Looking around she guessed most of the customers were human. Except perhaps for the two hunks of men sat in the corner booth. They were both wearing police uniforms and were built like Greek gods. If the Alpha was anything to go by they were both wolves. Was this normal for shifters?
The older wolf was wearing a Sheriffs uniform, which looked spray painted on. He had rippling muscles that could even give Adam’s a run for their money. He had handsome features but his face had a hard, closed look. Unlike Adam whose face was open and full of laughter. The younger was clearly his Deputy. He was a little smaller both in height and muscles. He had thick black hair, and caramel skin and a gorgeous smooth chiselled face. Where the Sheriff and Adam were rugged, he was beautiful.
They were both attractive and garnered quite a few looks from a number of women, and quite a few men too. They didn’t do anything for her though. Even these two paled in comparison to the Alpha.
Despite this Rosalee automatically checked them for wedding rings. Something she had started to do when she turned 25. Only the Sheriff had a ring.
A plump pretty young blonde woman came in and walked over to them. The Sheriff jumped up and moved toward her, his face lit up at the sight of her. The sudden transformation almost made him look as handsome than Adam. Almost.
He swept the young woman into a breathtaking kiss that seemed to last for ages. It was almost pornographic the way they groped each other. No one else seemed to be bothered by it. Perhaps they were used to it.
When they finally parted the Sheriff manoeuvred them both into the booth, his arm wrapped tightly round her shoulders, while she simpered into his shoulder. Ugh.
She felt the hair on the back of her neck tingle. Whipping round she found that Adam had just walked in. She stuck her head into the menu praying he didn’t see her, praying he walked right past her.
She peeked out to find that he had done just that. Oh! She was thoroughly annoyed at how disappointed she was by that. Had her personality split and she just not noticed? Damn sexy wolf.
She’d wanted to tell him her name, her address, what she was doing here, her shoe size – anything he wanted to know really! Thank god self preservation had kicked in. She was too used to being on her own, taking care of herself. You have to be careful living alone in a city full of strangers, you give away too much and people take advantage.
He went over to the wolves in uniform. The younger wolf who she guessed was about 24, a couple of years younger than her, stood up as he approached, clearly nervous around his Alpha. The older brown haired wolf stayed sitting, the blonde haired girl curled around him. Adam slapped him on the back familiarly and sat down. Without glancing in her direction Adam nodded to someone in the kitchen.
She realised that a number of women were openly staring at him, including her. Time to study the menu again. Where the hell was her pizza anyway?!
She looked up when she heard a loud melodic laugh. There was a woman stood, in her opinion, way too close to Adam. Rosalee’s heart lurched. The woman was tall and slim but obviously toned with silken black hair pulled back into a chignon. Her oval face and grey eyes were perfect. She was stunning. Probably a wolf too.
She put her hand on his shoulder and leaned towards him laughing away. Adam scowled at her. Clearly he wasn’t interested. Not that Rosalee cared of course.
His eyes suddenly locked with hers and he smirked. Butthole. Rosalee got her phone out and decided to try ringing her mother again, something to do at least.
She didn’t even notice the young wolf stood before her until he coughed.
“Hi, I’m Deputy Gabriel North. Everyone calls me Gabe.” He stuck out his hand and flashed her a dazzling smile. If it weren’t for Adam she would have melted on the spot. “And you are?”
She looked over at Adam and noticed that in between talking to the dark haired female he was flicking glances in their direction. The butthole had sent this young wolf over here to get information. Well if he wants to play...
*
Who was she ringing? Fuck, what if she had a boyfriend? It would explain why she had rejected him in spite of her obvious attraction. Adam didn’t relish having to track the guy down and beat him. Where was this aggression coming from?
Normally it didn’t bother him if a woman he took to bed was involved with someone else. He wasn’t about to get jealous. But the thought of anyone touching his mystery woman made his blood boil. No, no, no – she wasn’t his.
He’d sent Gabe over to find out who she was, what she was doing in town and how long she was staying. The young wolf had been eager to please his Alpha.
Although hearing the giggles coming from the mystery woman Adam thought it might not have been that good an idea. He had a puppy dog expression that women fawned over. Damnit, he should have sent his Beta Alec over.
The woman was practically stroking Gabe’s biceps, and the pup was preening. Adam emitted a low growl and Gabe straightened and paled. He said a couple more words before returning to their booth. The mystery woman looked a little too triumphant for his liking.
“Her name’s Rosalee Bennett, Iris Bennett’s granddaughter,” Gabe imparted in hushed tones.
Mac, the female wolf, Adam’s sister and the bane of his existence keenly appraised Rosalee. “Wow! She’s doesn’t look much like Iris.”
Liv glanced at Rosalee casually. “According to my friend Agatha Iris and her daughter Violet had a huge falling out and Violet left saying she hated this place and never wanted to come back, that was like twenty odd years ago now.”
“Wonder why she’d call her daughter Rose - a - lee then.” Alec rumbled.
“She told me she inherited the house out of the blue, hadn’t ever met Iris. She’s living there for now, didn’t say how long she was staying.” Gabe looked like he wanted a pat on the head. Adam wanted to kick him.
Mac chewed her cheek. “She doesn’t seem overly concerned about her grandmother being murdered does she? Then again if she never met her it’s just like a stranger dying to her. I’ll bet she doesn’t even know the full details of what happened, it wasn’t exactly national news. Do you think we should tell her? We should tell her, someone from our department should go over and see her when she’s at home and explain. We can organise that tomorrow.” His sister was so bubbly she could hold complete conversations by herself.
Alec nodded his approval at Mac’s suggestion.
Adam surreptitiously looked at her. Rosalee. It suited her.
A loud crash and raised voices int
errupted his reverie. Melody James, a witch and newest waitress at Pizza Moon, was shouting at one of the chefs, a wolf called Hans Lucas. The brother of his Chief Enforcer and the most cantankerous wolf in the whole pack. Which was saying something.
Melody’s cheeks reddened. “You idiot you almost burned me!”
Veins pulsed in Hans’ neck. “The hell I did! You don’t like the way I work why don’t you hop on your broomstick and get the hell out!”
“Screw you fleabag! You’re not getting rid of me so easily!”
“Stupid crone!”
“Oh go hump a tree!”
Hans threw what he was holding at Melody, which happened to be a pepperoni pizza. She ducked and screamed again before picking up a soda from the nearest table and hurling it in his direction. He also ducked which meant that the soda instead found a target in Rosalee.
*
Rosalee squealed as she was drenched in soda. Loud arguments broke out all over the restaurant until a loud roar silenced everyone and she heard orders being barked.
Soda dripped down her nose and her vest clung to her uncomfortably. She felt her elbow being taken as she was moved through the restaurant to the bathroom. When she got there she noticed it was the dark haired female who had escorted her.
Trying not to laugh she told Rosalee she would try to find her a change of clothes before ducking out again.
Rosalee peeled her vest off her and began wetting paper towels to wash herself with. The door to the bathroom was flung open and Rosalee turned round to hide her nudity. A bra, why hadn’t she worn a bra!
“Please, I’m a wolf we spend half out time walking around naked, but if it makes you feel better I’ll look at the ceiling while you wash. You know I think they might actually have a shower in the back, hard to believe but it’s not the first time that someone’s tried to throw something at Hans.”
“I just want to get home.” Rosalee quickly washed and dried herself as best she could. “I’m done.”
“Here,” she tossed a black t-shirt adorned with the Pizza Moon logo in Rosalee’s direction. “You can keep that.”
Rosalee pulled it over her head. “Gee thanks I’ll treasure it.” The young woman grinned.
“So... you’re a wolf? I kind of guessed as much when I saw you sat out there with the Alpha.” Rosalee tried her best to sound innocent, and definitely not like she was fishing for information.
“Please don’t tell me you’re another lost soul destined to worship at the altar of my brother?”
“Your brother?”
“Adam the almighty Alpha. “
“Oh.” Inward sigh of relief. “I’ll try to resist.”
“Good girl. I’m Mac by the way, short for Mackenzie. I’m a Deputy, I work with Alec and Gabe, you’ve met Gabe and the other guy we were sat with is Alec, he’s the Sheriff and my brother’s Beta.”
“It’s nice to meet you Mac I’m...”
“Rosalee, I know.” Mac beamed at her. “Adam sent Gabe over to find out. I heard that he asked you out in the grocery store and you wouldn’t even tell him your name, and that you called him Arnold!”
Rosalee blushed. “How... how did you know about that?”
“It’s a small town, news travels fast. Get used to it.”
“I’m sorry I meant no disrespect to your brother.”
Mac hooted with laughter. “Are you kidding me? Funniest thing I’ve heard all month, his ego is so inflated he can barely get it through the door, he needs a good put down every now and then.”
Rosalee smiled at the lively young woman. She picked up her discarded vest and on inspection didn’t think it was worth saving. She dumped it in the trash.
“You order a pizza to take away?” Rosalee nodded. “Come on lets go see if it’s ready – on the house of course, and any cleaning bills you have make sure you send them here, I’ll personally make sure they get paid.”
“That’s nice thanks.”
“Nice nothing, I just want you stick around and torture my brother some more.”
*
Alec tried to smooth things over with Melody, whilst Adam dealt with the hot headed wolf Hans. They pair continued to glare at one another.
Adam sent Mac to make sure Rosalee was okay and was half watching for their return. The moment the liquid had hit her the vest she wore had practically become see through. He was furious that so many other patrons had noticed it too. He couldn’t get the image out of his head. Her breasts were round the perfect size for his mouth...
He went a little easier on Hans than he normally would have, his mind was elsewhere. Not that it made much of a difference, Hans would never change. But hold on...
He smelled something, no someone and she was glorious. God it was his mate! Instinctively he knew it was her. His body and his wolf would know that scent anywhere.
He spun on his heels to search for her, the wolf in front of him immediately forgotten. His heart lurched. It was Rosalee Bennett. She was wearing a different shirt. She must have washed away the perfume when she was cleaning up the soda.
How could he have mistaken that cloying perfume for her natural spicy scent? It was heavenly. Like cinnamon. No wonder his wolf had been going mad since he spotted her. No wonder he had been rock hard with arousal. She was his mate, she belonged to him.
She marched out of the restaurant holding a pizza box. He rushed after her ignoring the looks and cries of his pack mates. She had hopped into her car and was driving away before he could get to her. He stood on the side of the road staring after her.
His wolf whined. Patience. After all, he now knew where she lived.
Chapter Three
27th September
After getting home the night before Rosalee enjoyed the most delicious pizza she had ever eaten before taking a long luxurious bath. She had taken care of the ache between her legs and then gone to bed easily falling into a sound sleep, the image of Adam never far from her thoughts.
She was dozing when she heard a tapping. She opened one eye grumpily pulling herself out of a very satisfying dream where Adam was doing x-rated things to her.
Who could that be? She didn’t even know anybody in town. Except for Adam...
Reluctantly she traipsed downstairs and flung the door open muttering “whaddyawant?”
“Hi” came a small voice. “I’m Carly, I just came by to say hi. So... hi!” Carly babbled nervously whilst Rosalee stared at her.
The woman in front of Rosalee was small but curvy, couldn’t have been more than five feet three inches tall. At first glance she looked to be about 13, but on closer look she was more likely 25. She looked like a gust of wind might knock her over. But she was pretty with hazel eyes and long light brown hair.
She fidgeted as Rosalee yawned. “I’m sorry perhaps I could come back later, perhaps it’s a little early.”
Rosalee glanced at the grandfather clock, it was 10.30. She’d slept for thirteen hours. Her dreams had apparently been just a little too good... “No, no it’s fine. I should be up by now anyway. I’m Rosalee.”
Carly smiled sweetly. “I know.”
“Right, news travels fast here” muttered Rosalee.
“Yes, I’m afraid so. Why don’t I come in and make you some breakfast? I wasn’t sure if you’d got much food in so I brought a few things with me. I just wanted to offer my condolences and make sure you were okay and ask if you wanted any help with anything.”
Carly put her hand on Rosalee’s arm and suddenly all her irritation evaporated and she was left with a happy buzz. “I don’t mean to be presumptuous or anything...”
“No, I’m just still kind of half asleep.” Rosalee’s stomach grumbled. Loudly. “Breakfast sounds good. Why don’t you come in, the kitchen’s at the back.”
Carly came in carrying a large wicker basket. As Carly walked past Rosalee caught sight of herself in the hall mirror, her hair was a mess but otherwise her skin was almost glowing. Wow, a bit of sexual release is definitely what the doctor calle
d for!
“You mind if I take a shower?” Rosalee called out surprising herself. Should she really take a shower with a stranger in the house?
“No, you go ahead I’ll get this ready,” Carly replied disappearing into the kitchen.
After the quickest shower of her life, after having made sure the bathroom door was locked twice, Rosalee threw on some tan shorts, a black vest and a long beaded necklace. She combed her hair and decided to let it dry naturally.
She braced herself as she entered the kitchen only to find the hideous smell was gone. All the windows were thrown open and the kitchen table was spread with toasted fruit bread, butter, an array of jams, strawberries, cream cheese and a pot of tea. It all smelled delicious.
“How did you make it do that?”
“Hmmm?” Carly frowned at her.
“The kitchen, how did you make it do these things? I spent half an hour in here last night and couldn’t even find a coffee pot.”
“Oh, I didn’t find one either, but I found the kettle and made some tea. You want some?”
Rosalee sat down at the table. “Sure, I love tea, ever since I lived in Mexico. God the kitchen smells great, how’d you get rid of that bleach smell?”
“I just burnt a few candles. You lived in Mexico?”
Rosalee slathered some butter on a slice of fruit bread. It was unbelievable. “Yeah, when I was 18 I wanted to learn Spanish so I moved down there and worked as a waitress in a bar on the beach. This bread is amazing.”
“Thanks I made it myself. You know Spanish?”
“No, I lived there six months and realised I suck at languages so I gave up and moved to Florida. You made this bread? You can actually make fruit bread at home?”
She giggled. “Of course. Wow, I’ve never lived anywhere but here, I can’t imagine living anywhere outside the pack.”
Rosalee raised her eyebrows in surprise. “You’re a wolf?”
Carly blushed and sipped her tea slowly. “I know I’m hardly your typical wolf.” She said gesturing to her small but rounded frame. “I’m the Omega of the pack.”
