After a few minutes, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. The door opened behind Maple, her wolf surged forward, ready to defend the helpless pup. She turned, and the alpha scent filled her nose. The chestnut brown eyes narrowed in on Maple made her wolf cower but her human side wanted to keep helping Cora.
“Who are you?” he growled, alpha power pulsing from his body. Holy hotness. Maple swallowed the comment while her wolf wagged her tail.
“Maple Fawn. I’m here to see Drake.” She licked her lips trying not to focus on the alpha’s wide shoulders or even his flat stomach. Images of what he might look like naked flashed through her mind making her wolf pant. She adjusted with Cora in her arms which woke the little girl.
“What’s going on, Raymand?” Cora blinked a few times but clung to Maple’s arms.
“You’re coming with me.” Raymand darted around the table right for Cora and Maple.
“Are you taking me to my new home?” Cora rubbed her eyes.
“You don’t have anyone but me right now.” The harshness of the alpha’s voice made Maple want to growl. His attitude toward the pup could definitely use some freaking work. Her wolf still panted wanting everyone else to vanish and for it just be her and the sexy alpha. Horny much? She scolded her wolf but it didn’t seem to matter.
“What?” Cora’s bottom lip trembled.
“Hey, Cora, look at me, sweetheart.” Maple slowly moved Cora’s face to make the pup look at her. “You’re so strong. Your momma knew it and I know it.”
“But I hid, wolves shouldn’t hide.” Cora shook her head. A few tears slipped from her soft blue eyes.
“No, you listened to your momma and stayed safe. She would only want you to be safe and what safer place to be than with the strongest wolf in the pack.” Maple smiled. Cora glanced up at the alpha then turned to Maple.
“But his house is so boring. None of my stuff is there,” she whispered. Maple held back a laugh when the alpha shook his head.
“I bet he can go pick up your stuff if you ask nicely.” Maple met the alpha’s gaze for a second. She had no idea why she felt brave enough to meet his gaze but something in it seemed right. Heat zipped down her spine and her thighs tightened with need.
“I would rather stay with you,” she whispered again. Cora leaned in closer and held on tight. Maple lifted her eyes and again met the alpha’s chestnut gaze.
“Drake, take Cora to get a snack. I need to speak with Maple. Alone.” His eyes narrowed and her breath hitched.
CHAPTER THREE
Raymand
Even after Cora shuffled out of the room with Drake, Maple still kept her gaze level with his. When his eyes met the dark-sapphire blues of Maple, his cock hardened, and his wolf pushed against the wall to get closer. His wolf may not find her eye contact disrespectful, but his human side still did. The local football team logo rested above her tits and made his cock twitch. Even in the baggy clothes, his wolf’s imagination ran wild with ideas of what she might look like naked.
“What gives you the right to meet my eye?”
“My mother always said I had too much alpha in me to have automatic respect for others.” She shrugged. He leaned down and placed his hands on the armrests next to her. Inches away from touching but enough to be safe. The scent of arousal filled his nose and his wolf bounced around.
“I can smell your arousal. Maybe you need to be taught a lesson.”
“Careful, alpha, don’t make promises you won’t keep.” Her lips popped at the end. He inched closer and his lips hovered over hers.
“I always keep my promises.” His voice came out as a growl. And the scent of arousal grew stronger. Cora took this moment to bounce into the room with Drake trailing behind seconds later.
“So, can I go with Maple?” she asked after shoving a piece of candy in her mouth.
“Sweetheart, I don’t think my place is safe enough for you.” Maple nibbled on her lower lip. Cora’s shoulders dropped as Raymand gave her space. The little pup strolled right onto her lap and ate the rest of her candy.
“Maple, I have some news for you.” Drake edged in toward Maple. Raymand’s wolf growled inside at the action. He has a mate, you idiot, he can’t imprint with Maple. Raymand gave his wolf a shake but it didn’t stop his aggression toward his second in command. Maple turned her attention to the other wolf, he wondered if they were locking eyes. His beast howled at the thought.
“Drake, right?” Maple wrapped her arms around Cora, keeping her close.
“Yes. The problems with the lease owner are settled but there will be a slight hiccup.” Drake scratched his hair.
“What now?” Maple sighed. Raymand’s wolf didn’t like the sound leaving her soft lips.
“Well, the lease owner wants to be sure you’re open in two weeks or he will terminate the lease. This, sadly, is in the contract your aunt signed.” Drake leaned against the chair next to Maple. Raymand resisted the urge to shove Drake back. What the hell is going on with me?
“Well, it looks like I don’t have much of a choice. I wish I had more time and funds to get the place fixed up right.” Maple shoved her hand through her long chocolate-brown hair and Cora seemed to enjoy playing with it while she sat in her lap.
“Come on, Cora, I have shit to do and so does Maple.” Raymand reached for the little girl but she tucked into Maple’s chest. His wolf had wished he would have brushed against Maple but Raymand kept his hands to himself.
“But I want to stay with her, alpha. Please.” The pleading in her voice rolled over him. If he didn’t have to worry about the kid’s safety he would’ve been all too willing to let Cora go with Maple.
“She can come with me and I’ll bring her to your house for dinner. She’s been through a lot, I don’t see the harm in giving her something she needs,” Maple added. She met his gaze again and he clenched his fists trying to calm himself down. The softness of Maple’s voice made his wolf bounce around. The beast pushed against the barrier but Raymand mentally shook himself. Stop acting like a love-sick pup.
“She wants this, she doesn’t need it.” Raymand ground his teeth. He wouldn’t let Cora become a spoiled brat on his watch.
Anger flashed through Maple’s gaze at his words. “No, she needs comfort. I know exactly what she’s going through from experience. But my father is still alive. A bitter bastard but alive. I know what it’s like to lose my mother.” Maple stood her ground.
“She’s already missing school, what else can she really need to be comfortable?” Raymand folded his arms. His wolf pushed a dirty image of Maple standing naked into his mind which made his cock twitch. Damn it!
“A female figure to lean on, to start.” Maple raised her eyebrow, challenging him. His wolf jumped up for joy at a female brave enough to test him. His human side, however, needed to regain control of the situation. Especially with his second standing a few feet away.
“I don’t know how you spoke to your old alpha, but this shit won’t fly.” Raymand leaned forward pushing power into his words. But the woman he glared at didn’t look away, instead, she stared right back. The temptation to touch her to see if they were mates grew stronger with each passing second. Although throwing her over his knee and spanking her ass would teach her a lesson just the same.
“You can kick my ass from here until the end of my days, but the little girl needs me, whether you like it or not.” Maple’s sweet scent filled his nose. His face hovered inches away from hers and his wolf pushed more images of what kissing her might be like.
“Fine. But dinner is at five. If you’re late I will hunt your ass down.” Raymand stood and exited before he touched the female pushing his buttons. He sent a quick text to have Drake put a tail on Maple. Raymand’s wolf trusted Maple but his human side needed to be cautious. His wolf had never reacted so strongly to a female. He shook his head as his wolf wagged his tail. His beast thrust images of Maple on her knees, completely bare. Damn it, if you keep this up I’m going to explode in my jeans. His w
olf snickered and pushed more images into his mind of entering her from behind. You don’t know if she’s actually our mate, he reminded him but the wolf ignored the comment.
He strolled to his truck and her tulip scent seemed to follow him out. Raymand turned and looked around, his wolf huffed when he didn’t see her outside. The old burgundy pickup next to his newer truck had her scent all over it. He memorized the details of the truck and her tulip scent, so he would know what to look for if things went south.
Raymand climbed into his truck and turned the engine on. It roared to life and he headed to the morgue to see how the hell Cora’s parents died. His mind wandered back to Maple with her sapphire blue eyes which seemed hell-bent on testing his patience.
His wolf gave him pictures of her slowly undressing as he weaved through traffic. Raymand tried to push them down but his cock throbbed with need as they continued until she stood in his mind naked and ready for him. Fuck, I shouldn’t be thinking about this! he yelled at his wolf. Instead of stopping the slideshow, his wolf wagged his tail and began to imagine what her face might look like when finished on him.
He gripped his steering wheel tight enough to snap the metal. Raymand let out a breath to calm himself but his raging hard-on stayed in his pants. Thankfully he reached the morgue quickly.
After he climbed out of his truck he stormed over to the back door of the building. His fist banged against the metal door. The human female pushed on the door and instantly her gaze fell to his chest instead of looking him in the eye.
“Come on in,” her quiet voice squeaked as she waved her hand. The scent of death filled his nose with a strong mix of silver, too much for his liking. His gaze narrowed on the woman while his wolf lurched forward, ready to fight.
“Is there a silver trap you’re trying to pull?” A growl vibrated through his chest.
“No!” Her eyes bulged. “The wolves were covered in deep silver cuts, the metal somehow stayed in the skin which made healing impossible.” The words settled into his mind and his wolf still hovered at the edge as he nodded.
“Show me.” Raymand inched into the hallway, hesitant still. The last guy quit a month back and the woman had gained some points of trust but not one hundred percent. He had to make sure he didn’t get attacked. Silver was a fucking bitch to deal with.
“Over here.” She scurried ahead of him and opened the door on the right. The scent of silver doubled when he entered the room. Lia and Shriv lay on two identical stainless-steel slabs.
Raymand leaned closer to Shriv. He didn’t want to get any closer, the flesh glistened with silver.
“It happened quick, one cut across the throat. I think the dagger in the heart is meant for you but I could be wrong.” The woman’s voice returned to its normal quiet octave. Raymand studied the handle of the blade, the curved cross hunters’ symbol engraved in the wood. As the alpha, he needed to know what he faced but seeing his pack mates like this made his stomach turn. He leaned away, and his eyes moved over to Lia.
“You might be right about that. What about Lia?” Raymand dragged himself over to the tattered body.
“She died from blood loss.” The woman clicked her pen a few times and then shuffled away from Raymand.
“How?” Raymand growled. The woman shook and clicked the pen a few more times.
“I would assume from the cuts, they have new knives. From what I’ve seen, it appears the knives were dipped in a silver liquid so when it comes in contact with anything it breaks off.” The woman pointed to the cuts on Lia’s arms. Raymand didn’t like this shit one bit. If the cuts had been made with a normal blade, Lia would be at home with her daughter mourning her husband instead of lying dead next to him. I wouldn’t have to be dealing with Cora either. He ground his teeth.
“Is it easy to come by?” He lifted his gaze to the woman.
“Not something you can buy at a general store, but you might be able to melt it down with the right equipment.” She bit her lip and clicked the pen again. The clicks were grating on Raymand’s nerves and the silver perfuming the air made his wolf anxious.
“Send me the final report when you’re done.” Raymand escaped the stifling morgue. He had a few more things to do before he headed home to cook dinner for two, maybe three. His phone buzzed with an update, April had followed Maple, and everything was in the clear.
Maple’s fire pissed him off and aroused him more than any other woman in his past. He had no clue what to do with the passionate new wolf. Yet, his wolf had all sort of ideas about how to deal with her.
CHAPTER FOUR
Maple
The door swung open to the bookstore and Cora wrinkled her nose. “This place stinks.” Cora whimpered and shuffled inside. Images of the alpha kept playing in Maple’s head even after the drive from the law office and lunch. Her wolf was all too ready to put her finger on his arm and see if they were mates. Maple barely kept her hands to herself.
“I know, sweetheart. We have to start cleaning. You ready?” Maple marched to the back room and pulled out two dusters. Cora huffed then turned toward the front and pointed.
“Can we throw these bags away first and open a window?” She glanced back and meet Maple’s gaze. She tried to focus on the store but it proved difficult with hints of his scent lingering on her clothes. You spend any time with someone their scent clings. Her wolf pushed sexy images of other ways to get the alpha’s scent on her. Maple shook her head.
“Sounds like a plan.” Maple handed Cora the duster and proceeded to the back to toss out the trash her aunt had left in the alleyway trash. Every time she couldn’t visually see Cora, her wolf lurched forward ready to shift if she screamed. Something about the little pup brought out her mothering instincts. Thankfully nothing happened as they took the next few hours to clean all the dust away, bringing a shine to the store it didn’t have when she took over.
Her mind wandered back to the alpha and his overly attractive body. After her last ex, she had sworn off men until a guy actually sparked her interest. Why does it need to be the alpha to spark my need to be loved? Maple nibbled on her thumbnail and tried to figure out what exactly intrigued her. Her wolf picked that moment to show his eyes, then his chest and even tried to put a mental image of what he might look like naked. Her heart picked up and her core clenched. Yes, he had completely sparked her desire candle and she didn’t know if it could work between her and Raymand.
“Maple?” Cora’s voice sounded from the kid section.
“Yes, sweetheart.” Maple turned to Cora, her hands holding a book.
“Can I borrow this book?” She bounced from foot to foot.
“I think since you did so much for me today you can keep it. Do you think that’s fair?” Maple raised an eyebrow and the little wolf’s face brightened up.
“You’re so cool.” She smiled and looked up at Maple. “Can you read it to me?”
Maple glanced at the clock on her phone. “We better head to Raymand’s house.”
“But…” Cora stopped when Maple shook her head. Her wolf jumped around in her mind, ready to test her theory that Raymand could be their mate. Stop it. Now! She pushed her wolf back but it did nothing to curb her beast’s excitement.
“He gave us a limit and we have to stick to it. Maybe I can read it to you when we get there. It depends on what the alpha says.” Maple didn’t want to push Raymand’s buttons too much but part of her, especially her wolf side, wanted to see how far she could get under his skin. The scent of his arousal had hit her nose earlier and she caught on quickly, he liked someone fighting back.
“Fine.” Cora’s grip tightened on the book and she slipped out of the store. A guy swept into view and halted near Cora. She gave one more glance around the bookstore, she would make this fresh start work. Even if she had to kick the land owner’s ass to get it done.
“Hi, sugar, what are you doing?” The same male headed straight for Cora. Instincts kicked in and Maple raced outside, her hand wrapped around Cora’s shoulder. Th
e guy’s brown eyes narrowed on Maple.
“Cora, get into the car.” Maple kept her hand on the little wolf. His scent held hints of silver, sending her wolf to the edge. Cora’s nose scrunched up with Maple’s. The guy’s clean-cut black shirt buttoned all the way to the top but they didn’t match his dark wash jeans. His attire didn’t freaking match.
“What’s wrong? I’m only talking to her.” A smirk crinkled his face. A silver necklace band caught the sunlight and she wished for fucking x-ray vision. Then she would know if the chain held the hunter symbol under his shirt.
“She’s had a bad day. I would like to get my girl home and fed.” Maple opened the door and half shoved Cora inside. Hunter’s normally didn’t attack during the day, but they normally didn’t kill parents and take children. Maple wasn’t going to take any chances.
“I’m sorry, sugar. Would you liked to-” The man stopped when Maple slammed the door shut. She glared at the man.
“Walk away before I drop you to your knees.” Maple growled low making her intentions clear. He glared back, and his hand twitched at his side near his belt. Maple’s wolf surged forward, ready to shift if her human side couldn’t handle the man. Seconds passed that felt like minutes, but the man finally stopped twitching.
“Have a nice day then.” He stepped back a few paces but stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. Her wolf paced at the border of her mind, ready to fight. Maple locked the truck with Cora inside then locked up the shop while keeping her eyes on the guy. He still stood there even after Maple climbed into the truck and drove off. She tried to shake off the creep vibe flowing from the guy.
“Are you okay?” Maple turned to Cora after a few minutes.
“Yes. Thank you,” Cora whispered. Maple glanced in her rear-view mirror checking to see if the man followed them.
“Oh, sweetheart, I told you I would keep you safe.” Maple winked and glanced again at the mirrors. Her wolf wasn’t a fan of the encounter and wanted to get as far away as possible. Cora tapped on Maple’s arm and she stopped at a four-way stop.
Maple's Strong Alpha: Bad Alpha Dads (Denver Troubles Book 1) Page 2
