by K. S. Martin
The Reluctant Alpha
By
K.S. Martin
The Reluctant Alpha ©2013 by K. S. Martin All rights reserved.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue
Chapter 1
“God all mighty my ass hurts.” Dylan muttered to the empty cab of his old truck. He shifted in the worn out seat for the hundredth time today. Only thirty miles to go and he would finally be home. He’d just finished a four month hunting trip that turned up nothing. Again. Six more states now stricken from the list of possible places Henry Junior, the alpha’s son, could be hiding. Damned pup. He picked one hell of a time to get over sensitive about something Henry said in the heat of an argument. Sure, Henry was a gruff son of a bitch, but what alpha wasn’t? Dylan was one of the current pack betas and Henry was dying. Dylan wanted to find Henry junior to take over as pack alpha. It was the kid’s right and his responsibility. The kid was alpha and next in line. Dylan sure as hell didn’t want that much responsibility. An ice cold beer at Frankie’s bar was first on the agenda. A willing female would follow a very large rare steak if he was lucky. Then a hot shower and his new king sized bed were in order. “Yeah, that’s the plan.” He tugged at the back of his shirt. It was sticking to him due to vinyl seats and no air conditioning. This old truck needed work and he didn’t have the time to do it. Maybe Turner would cut him some slack and fix the damn thing. Sure, he could do it himself but he was no mechanic and it would take forever then it would probably blow up. He and Turner did not get along, not since elementary school, but he owned the only garage around. Ten miles to go. He pressed the gas pedal to the floor. He could not get there fast enough. Dylan stretched in the seat trying to ease the sore muscles in his legs. Scratching at his beard and running his hand through his black shaggy hair under the baseball cap he scratched his head. Maybe he would shower first. He was itchy all over, nope, beer would cure that. He grinned. Enough beers would cure damn near anything that ailed him, maybe a depth charge too. A nice shot of Jack would certainly do him well right now. Getting shitfaced would do him equally as well. God this trip had been disappointing. He’d hoped so much to find that kid before Henry passed, he was so sick. Four months on duty twenty four seven sucked, especially when it got you no damn where. Finally. His tires crunched through the grey stone parking lot. It was music to his ears. Frankie’s Bar, an angelic choir filled Dylan’s head as he stopped the truck and eased out of the driver’s seat then stretched popping his joints. He felt better already pushing through the heavy wooden door scarred with graffiti. It added character in his mind. If they ever closed this place, he was taking the door. He ran his finger over the heart that a drunken female scratched in it when he’d taken her home for a very enjoyable weekend on his twenty-first birthday. The smells hit him hard, steak grilling, beer, sweat, smoke, and wolves. Home. The noise level was high enough with conversations and the TV’s mounted over the bar in the corner, that Dylan could let his mind go numb. Henry was propped in the far corner booth. May as well get it over with first thing, he looked his alpha in the eye and shook his head. Henry nodded then got up and shuffled through the back door. Henry looked older and gaunter every time he saw him lately. The cancer was extremely aggressive and the doctors could not determine why Henry was still breathing. His skin was so pale and seemed paper thin. He wasn’t the huge tough alpha that raised Dylan, not anymore. Now, he was a shadow of his former self. If they weren’t careful, another wolf may try to challenge Henry. Over Dylan’s dead body! Nobody screwed with his pack because he would tear them to pieces. They’d given Henry six months two years ago. Determination was a curious thing. Henry was determined to say he was sorry and goodbye to his son. He’d found out about the cancer a week after Henry junior ran off. No one had seen him since and no one had a clue where he went. The whole thing sucked. Dylan had been broadening his search and lengthening the time he spent looking for him ever since. Junior was afraid of planes so they were sure that he didn’t fly to Hawaii or somewhere and he didn’t hold a U.S. passport either so he was contained to North America. Dylan hoped against hope the damn kid hadn’t ventured into Canada.
“Steak, baked potato, draft beer?” Frankie was at his table now, Dylan nodded.
“Make the first one a depth charge with Jack.” Frankie nodded.
“Didn’t find him huh?” Dylan shook his head. Frankie nodded and went back behind the bar. Frankie owned and ran this bar, he was in Dylan’s graduating class, and the two used to be close. Frankie’s bar was full of werewolves, but Frankie was human and stayed on the defensive since he’d found out about them because the idea of them freaked him out. Dylan nodded when different wolves around the room acknowledged him with a nod or a wave. Eventually they all would. It was the way of the pack and most of them were trying to gain the favor of the probable next alpha. They it know it but Dylan would not slide easily into that role. He would fight it kicking and screaming. He and the other two betas wanted nothing to do with that much responsibility. They were all young men and there were still plenty of females around that had not had the pleasure of Dylan’s company. Propped in his favorite corner booth Dylan quickly finished three beers before his food came. It was perfect as usual. The steak melted in his mouth. He’d eaten out of vending machines more often than not this trip and he was sick of chips and sugar. His nose twitched just as he was about to shove more of the delectable meat in his mouth. Dylan lifted his head and saw her.
“What do we have here?” He said to no one in particular. She was petite for a wolf, she-wolves usually stood at an average of just under six feet, generally that is. This one was no more than five feet seven and had lovely long bare legs that would wrap around his middle perfectly tonight. Sure, there were other females in this bar but not one of them interested his southern friend that just now twitched and stretched up to peek at this interesting morsel. She had a nice shape, curvy with a lovely heart shaped ass. Long sable hair was up in a high pony tail that hung halfway to that lovely ass. Finally a clear view of the front of her, beautiful full breasts that beckoned his now tingling fingers and that face! She had the face of an angel. Exquisitely clear smooth skin, big mossy green eyes, and rosy lush lips. Her nipples would be that color when he teased them with his tongue later. He shifted in his seat and put his fork down to watch her. She was beautiful and if he wasn’t mistaken, which he wasn’t, she was his mate. “What is your name mate?” He said more to himself because no one was listening. His beer was half full but when she slipped behind the bar, he figured that she was the new waitress that Frankie was advertising for when he’d left four months ago. Dylan motioned to Frankie for another beer and a shot. Frankie nodded and said something to the girl who looked at him and nodded. She hurried around behind the bar and got his drinks, god the way that pony tail bounced made his hands itch to grab it. She brought the drinks to him on a round plastic tray. “You’re the hottest bitch in this bar.” Dylan said with a broad panty dropping smile. She would definitely be his later tonight.
“Excuse me? What did you just say to me? You did not just call me a B!” She shouted and spun on one heel marching back to the bar where she gestured at Dylan and talked animatedly to Frankie. God she was gorgeous all hot and bothered like that, he couldn’t wait for angry sex with her. Or make up sex. Or casual sex. And he could not to leave out his favorite, outdoor sex.
“Shit.” He muttered when Frankie started his way. That was a compliment, didn’t she know one when she heard it? He st
abbed his fork into a bite of steak that was now getting cold. “Sorry Frankie. I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings it was a compliment even though she didn’t think so.” Frankie nodded. “It won’t happen again. Ask her to come back and I’ll apologize. And I promise that I will behave from now on.” Dylan put his silverware down, he’d barely touched the potato, but he guzzled the beer with the shot in the bottom of the glass before she got there.
“You have something that you want to say to me?” She drawled. Was that Georgia he heard? Maybe it was Virginia. “Hey, you? I think you’ve had enough of those too.” She snapped her fingers in front of his face. He grabbed her hand and she tensed. He dropped it immediately because he did not want Frankie to kick him out of here before he had the chance to take her home. His aim was not to scare her either, just to get her alone, to claim her.
“I wanted to apologize for earlier. I am very sorry if I insulted you, I didn’t mean to, I meant it as a compliment. Please forgive me?” Her face softened a little but her pulse still pounded at the base of her throat, he wanted to lick her there. He shifted again trying for a charming façade.
“Okay, but don’t call me that again. It’s not cute and it’s not acceptable.” He studied her deep green eyes and knew he would be able to stare into them for hours.
“I’d really like to take you out sometime and make it up to you.” She chuckled at that, at him. What was funny?
“Boy! Are you barking up the wrong tree!” Something caught her attention and he turned to see what. Her head spun around watching Chris, another wolf, cross the bar. Chris was a nice kid, but he was just a pup and she needed a wolf, one that could protect her and satisfy her. “Do you need another beer?” She murmured absently as she watched Chris.
“I want to know why I am barking up the wrong tree.” Dylan asked.
“You just are. Let me know if you need anything,” She drifted away toward Chris.
“Hey Cami, how’re you doing?” The stupid pup finally asked when he noticed her. Jackass! A fine woman like ‘Cami’ is way more important than your useless little friends there. “Cami” he rolled it over his tongue liking the way it tasted. Chris was just out of high school, maybe a year out. He had no pack position, no education, and no job. He was not a catch. Dylan on the other had been educated, a beta soon to be alpha if he didn’t find that damned elusive pup, and he could protect her. He could satisfy her, take care of her, and make her quite comfortable. Besides that, she was his damned mate not Chris’ mate. She was laughing at something he said and he was ignoring her. Stupid pup. What did she see in him? He downed his beer.
“Cami.” Dylan barked startling her. “Beer.” She nodded and hurried across the dining room to the bar. He had to keep her away from that pup. “Chris.” He barked again. Chris hurried over. “Go check on Henry, he didn’t look good when he left. Make sure that he made it home okay then stay at the house tonight. Get him anything he needs.”
“Yes sir.” Chris hurried out of the front door to do Dylan’s bidding. Cami searched the bar, she hadn’t seen him leave. Good. She’d think he stiffed her on the tab. She brought his beer still looking for the pup.
“Are you driving tonight, you’ve had a lot to drink, I’m going to have to ask for your keys if I bring you any more of these.” He dug in his pocket and gave her the truck keys. There was another set in his wallet and a hide a key in the wheel well, but if it made her feel better, what was the harm?
“Okay, you can drive me home.” He slurred for her. She chuckled hollowly.
“Uh, no. I don’t drive strange men home and you are definitely strange. You can call a cab. So. Another beer?” He smiled wolfishly at her. “Coming right up.” He downed the one she’d just brought, they went too fast. Frankie needed to invest in bigger mugs. Alcohol had very little effect on a werewolf. His natural healing abilities were sometimes a pain in the ass, especially if he wanted to get a buzz. Right now, drinking them as fast as he could, he was feeling pleasantly relaxed. Cami moved across the bar, grace in motion. The long ponytail swayed calling to him, it fell into one big curl at the end that swirled around. He was going to wrap that silken length around his arm and pull her head back then bury his tongue in her mouth. Yep, that’s what he would do as soon as he could convince her to take him home and spend the night. She was bringing the beer now, time to turn on the charm.
“So tell me what Cami is short for, Cameron?” She set his beer down.
“Anything else?” She ignored his question.
“Yeah, I asked you a question. What is Cami short for?” He lowered his voice to the commanding tone that any wolf would submit to. Damn she could rile him, really can’t wait for the angry sex. He thought.
“You asked Chris to leave didn’t you?” She was furious. Her eyes were full of fire and her chest was heaving. Beautiful. “I heard his friends say that Dylan sent him on an errand and Frankie says that you’re Dylan. So why did you send him away? Do you think if he’s not here that I am going to forget him and give you my attention?” Her eyebrows shot up in challenge. “Well, I won’t.”
“Go out with me. Let me feed you.” Another ineffective panty dropping smile. She huffed and ground her teeth.
“I told you before, you’re barking up the wrong tree, in other words, no. No, I don’t want to go out with you. No, I don’t want to drive you home, no I don’t want to have sex with you and no, I don’t want you to feed me.” That pulse at the base of her neck was distracting but not nearly, as much as the heaving breasts or turgid nipples that called to him. “Up here asshole.” She snapped her fingers in front of his nose again and gestured to her eyes. He couldn’t help it they were pointing at him and his mouth was watering to latch on. How could she say those things? Her body couldn’t lie, it wanted him as much as his stone staff was aching for her.
“Oh you can call me asshole but you’re offended at the word ‘bitch’?” He shook his head. “Never mind. Call me whatever you like, just tell me why I am barking up the wrong tree.” He scratched his hairy chin. He needed a bath and a shave.
“That.” She pointed to his face. “Have you looked in a mirror? Ever? I would never date anyone who looks like it’s the first time he came down from the cave on the mountain. You’re a mess. I like men that are groomed, dressed neat, clean cut, shaved, and bathed.” She spat the last word.
“So, if I had short hair and a clean shaven face like Chris, you would let me take you out?” She huffed again.
“No. Maybe. You’d have a better chance, that’s for sure. Bar closes in ten minutes, do you want another one?” Nearly everyone was gone or leaving now. No one gave Frankie any trouble because this was the only bar in town and because they knew that Henry or himself would not tolerate it.
“Nope. I’ve had enough. Are you sure, you don’t want to take me home? I’d be really appreciative.” His voice was low and sexy now but still held the tone that should have her complete attention. It should have her ready to turn her ass up to him and submit. She should be dropping her eyes, licking her lips and purring for him to give her release but nope. She just stared at him with that damned annoyed looking eyebrow raised up over her left eye. What the hell was wrong with her? Was he losing his touch? He had been on the road a long time but his smile and tone worked on the she wolf he’d had a week ago. That had been wild, she’d nearly come just from his voice in her ear. He eased out of the booth and pulled his favorite ball cap low over his eyes. Dylan was a large wolf and towered over her. He stretched, his arms out wide after straightening the cap and let her feel how big and dominant he truly was. She inhaled sharply as her eyes dilated, her pulse frantic again, shaking her head and skittered away. Dylan left a hundred on the table and walked out with her eyes burning holes in his back. She’d finally noticed him. Hell, he should’ve stood up hours ago. Dumbass. He scolded himself. She puts up a good front but she wants to be submissive even if she doesn’t know it yet. Let’s see the pup pull that off, he was afraid of his own shadow. Dylan we
nt to the truck and grabbed the key from the box mounted in the wheel well then got in and started it. Cami saw the headlights through the window and hurried over to it to look outside. He saw her mouth gape open and laughed loudly in the cab of the truck. Silly girl. Dylan gunned the truck backwards spinning the wheels and throwing gravel across the parking lot. She opened the door and looked out just as he tore out onto Main Street and headed home.
Chapter 2
Dylan showered, shaved, and clipped his hair when he got home. If this was what it took to get her to go out with him, then hell, he’d cut it off. He would shave his legs if she asked. That girl was some kind of sweet and he’d sported long hair and a beard since high school but if this was what it took, not a problem. It had been longer and more scraggily than usual but hell, he’d been gone for four months. He wanted her, and he would do whatever it took to get her. Cami was his mate and he intended to carry that through as soon as he could. It was good to feel clean and normal again anyway. He stretched lazily in the king sized bed that dominated his bedroom once he’d showered. He sprawled across it having spent too many nights in cheap hotels and sleeping on the vinyl bench seat in the truck when there wasn’t anywhere else to crash. He slept like the dead.
Waking with the mid morning sun peeking through the spaces between the blinds, Dylan stretched and roared mightily. This bed felt like a little piece of heaven, the only thing that would make it better would be a certain female curled up against him. He needed to run and relax, clear his head of all the B.S. that went with life. Then he was heading to town to find his mate. He was not going to put up with this non submission crap long, she would not ignore him and chase some pup around town like a bitch in heat, she belonged to him. Dylan swallowed some coffee and a granola bar. He needed a break, some relaxation, he was exhausted, and the old beater needed fixed, so a few days hanging around here was in order. Once the back door was open, he shifted into his wolf form and bolted out across the field. It felt amazing to stretch it to the limits when he could, where he was safe to run. He owned the fifty acres surrounding the house. Dylan did his best thinking out here while he sprinted and loped, sniffed and scented. He was going to need groceries, his stomach growled reminding him. He needed to get in touch with the other two betas. They should be done with the Carolinas and Georgia, so Florida and Alabama would be next for them. Dylan would take Texas again, it was as big as two states, and Junior could have doubled back on them. First things first though, Junior. Junior was getting the shit knocked out of him as soon as Dylan found him. Not really, but he enjoyed the daydream. Dylan respected Henry too much to give the kid what he deserved. Next was Cami. How to get past that icy exterior and into her heart? He’d cleaned up so that improved his chances according to her. That girl was really something. Beautiful, smart, quick, and hot tempered. Dylan loved a fiery woman. He trotted up the side of the road heading for home calculating it to be about two miles and suddenly took off at a sprint. He’d been loping and thinking for awhile now. Usually he would visit the pond but not today. One day he may take her there. They would have sex outdoors, skinny dip, and picnic then have more sex, maybe on the shore, maybe in the water. Oh hell yes. Turner needed convincing and he needed to find Cami. Frankie’s would open in an hour or so for lunch, he would check there first. Maybe she had the lunch shift.
