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Her Dream Alpha
Monica La Porta
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2018 by Monica La Porta
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
To keep up to date with Monica’s new releases and promotions click here or scan the QR code with your smartphone or mobile device.
To Roberto.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Epilogue
Afterword
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Prologue
Dallas, September.
Celeste tiptoed past her friend’s cubicle. The last thing she wanted at the end of her crappy day was for Julia to see her sneaking out of the office like a thief. On her birthday, she only wanted some peace and quiet. It was too bad that tonight would be a full moon and her wolf senses were on high alert.
“There you are!” Julia jumped up, her curly hair bouncing up and down as she tried to steal a glance from over the thin barrier separating the cubicles at Lyon & Lyon Law Associates.
Celeste inwardly sighed and stepped back. “Hey, Julia.”
“What are you doing tonight?” Julia asked.
“You know me, same old, same old.” Celeste looked out the window, and the same bleak view she had been staring at for the last two years stared back at her: a gray brick wall with not a window in sight, almost a metaphor for her life.
“Nonsense!” The brunette stood and wagged a finger in warning. “You only turn twenty-five once. We are going to properly celebrate tonight—”
“Thank you, but I really don’t feel like going out,” Celeste said, regretting not having skulked all the way around the other side of the office to reach the exit.
“Absolutely not.” Julia puffed out her considerable chest and shook her head. “You will have fun tonight, and that’s final.” She smiled. “Mark my words: It’s going to be legendary.”
Shutting her eyes, Celeste fought the urge to grimace. When Julia had an idea in mind, she was like a bulldozer. Her friend’s idea of “legendary” involved drinking and flirting with strangers. She means well, Celeste reminded herself, not wanting to snap.
“Maybe you’ll find someone special tonight,” Julia added.
“I don’t date,” Celeste said. “And you know it.” Now she was pissed. After Celeste’s ordeal with Royce, Julia had been the one to scoop up the pieces of her shattered dreams. She should’ve known better than trying to set her up at every turn.
“I’m sorry.” Julia raised her hands in the international sign of peace. “But it has been so long,” she said, “And I thought that maybe, just maybe, it’s time for you to start contemplating the idea of seeing someone again.”
Celeste growled, warning her friend she’d had enough already.
“Okay, tonight we go to a bar, we have a drink, you make a wish over a cupcake, and we go home, alone. How do you like that?”
“Better.” Celeste turned, eager to leave. “Now, if you don’t mind, I want to go home and change for the big night.”
“There’s something I need to tell you first,” Julia said, stopping Celeste’s progress.
“What is it?” Celeste didn’t turn and didn’t bother to hide the frustration from her voice either.
“I meant it as a surprise.” Julia sounded sheepish. “But given your mood, I might be better off by telling you right away—”
“What have you done?” Celeste roared, spinning around to face her friend.
Julia was one of those women who took life by the horns, never hesitating before anything. She now looked guilty.
“Spit it out.” Celeste crossed her arms, her heel tapping the gray vinyl floor.
Julia lowered her eyes. “I’ve booked a consultation with Gerri Wilder for you,” she whispered.
If it weren’t for Celeste’s werewolf hyper-hearing, she wouldn’t have heard her.
The hair on Celeste’s arm rose. She had a bad feeling. “Who the heck is Gerri Wilder?”
“She owns the Paranormal Dating Agency my cousin Eileen used. She found her beau thanks to Gerri, and they are going to marry in two months—”
“You did what?” Now it was Celeste’s turn to whisper. She was too angry to shout.
At Celeste’s dangerously low tone, Julia finally looked up. “Don’t be mad. I only want what’s best for you.”
“Julia—”
“What happened with Royce was horrible. He’s horrible. You can’t let him win.”
“You don’t have the right to encroach on my life.”
“You know I love you like a sister and can’t simply watch you fade because of that poor excuse for a man.”
Celeste shook her head. Her temples throbbed, announcing a headache in her near future. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“Celeste,” Julia whispered, her hand tentatively reaching for hers.
When Celeste didn’t say anything, Julia continued, “Please, forgive me, but you can’t let Royce win. If you don’t give yourself a chance to be happy again, that’s what happens, he wins. I don’t want that for you.”
“Oh, Julia…” Exhaling a long sigh, Celeste opened her eyes. Julia’s had swelled with unshed tears. The sight made her feel like the most awful friend on earth. “I know your heart is in the right place, but you always act impulsively,” she finally said.
“But you are still going out with me, right?” Julia asked, sniffing out loud.
“Yes, I’m still going out with you,” Celeste said. “But only if you promise not to mention that dating agency ever again.”
The night out with Julia went better than expected, and they had a lovely time at the bar Julia suggested. It was a karaoke place that catered to an older crowd that wasn’t interested in hooking up. It suited Celeste just fine.
After feeling like someone had been breathing on her neck for the last few months, a few hours of freedom from the memories of her past was just what the doctor ordered. Sometimes, she thought it was all in her mind, but other times, her wolf senses told her that Royce was stalking her again. If only the police ha
d listened to her and issued the restraining order she had begged for two long years ago.
“Admit you are having fun,” Julia said with a wink, bringing Celeste back to the present. Her friend was on her third margarita, but the woman could hold her alcohol.
The same couldn’t be said for Celeste, who was feeling giddy and hadn’t even finished her first one.
“I am,” she admitted.
They had been singing eighties classics, her parents’ favorite musical era. Celeste had grown up listening to those bands. After losing her mom to cancer when she was in middle school, and her father soon after in an accident, anything that reminded Celeste of them made her happy. Julia was the only pack left to her after Celeste ended up in the mortal foster care system because of a clerical error.
“You are a wonderful friend,” Celeste said. “You know that, don’t you?”
Julia shrugged and gave her a small smile. “I thought I was the worst for scheduling a call with Gerri.”
Celeste took a sip from her hurricane glass. “You are the worst for that, but I love you too much to hold a grudge.” She would never confess the truth to Julia, but her friend’s words about not letting her ex win had stuck with her throughout the rest of the day. Even now, her mind kept going back to their conversation.
“I think it’s the margarita speaking.” Julia laughed. “You are such a lightweight, woman.”
Celeste sipped from her glass, feeling the pleasant buzz reaching her head. “Maybe you’re right.”
“Of course, I am. Another gulp and you’ll start slurring.” Julia reached for Celeste’s glass.
Celeste swatted her friend’s hand away. “No, not about that. Well, you’re right about me not being much of a drinker, but I meant that you might be onto something. Maybe it’s about time I put the ghost of my almost-marriage to rest.” Her hand went to her opposite wrist. Consciously, her fingers caressed the silver scar that no amount of shifting could ever heal.
Julia’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”
Celeste lowered her hand before she drew Julia’s attention to the ugly mark on her skin. Julia would feel terrible for Celeste, and the night out would be ruined. “I’m serious,” she finally said before slurping from the long straw.
This time, Julia removed the margarita from Celeste’s hold before she could stop her. “Say it again.”
Celeste threw her head back, eyes staring at the industrial ceiling made of cables and steel ducts. It looked like a labyrinth. Her head swam.
“Say the words or I don’t believe you.” Julia squeezed her arm.
“Right.” Celeste scooted on her chair and looked back at Julia. “I think I should call that dating agency and give it a try.”
1
Seattle.
Milan was in a foul mood.
In general, he didn’t like the idea of blind dates. In particular, he hated when the perfect ten his friends had insisted he meet wasn’t punctual. Twenty minutes was too long to wait outside a restaurant for a woman. One conniving female had been one too many for Milan. He would never again play the part of the besotted fool for anyone. It had cost him his heart and his cousin’s friendship, and it still was too much to bear even after ten years.
“I don’t have time for this shit.” He zipped his leather jacket and turned on his bike’s engine. “To hell with this Elisabeth or whatever her name is.”
To Milan, every woman who acted as carelessly as his blind date had was like Jean, beautiful and shallow. Someone who would betray and humiliate him the first chance he gave them.
“Not happening again,” he mumbled under his breath.
As unhappy as he felt, his wolf growled low in his head. They were both in great need of a good lay. Milan strapped his half helmet under his chin and kicked the bike stand.
Seattle’s traffic was usually horrible on a Friday night, but add to the mix the torrential rain, and chaos reigned over the city. For a place where it rained so often, people drove as if the downpour always caught them by surprise.
Milan cursed himself, again, for having said yes to Maurice in the first place. His friend seemed to know every single woman in town and liked to play matchmaker. Since Maurice had found his girlfriend, he had developed a sort of insanity: he wanted to see everyone as happy as he was. Maurice’s exact words.
Milan had told Maurice to fuck off more than once but eventually caved in and consented to a blind date with this Elisabeth. According to Maurice, the girl was not only beautiful, but also smart, and kind. A real catch.
Just this time, Milan had decided to listen to his friend and give this paragon of virtue a chance. Too bad she wasn’t punctual.
Back at his apartment overlooking Pike Place, Milan kicked off his boots and went straight to the fridge for a cold beer. Thank the Goddess for microbrews. Looking out the window, he rested one bent arm against the glass panel and sipped from the brown bottle.
What was wrong with being alone? Why was Maurice hellbent on finding him a partner? And it wasn’t just his friend. The rest of his large adoptive family was after Milan, too. His mother couldn’t let a Sunday meal pass without asking when she was going to meet her daughter-in-law. Was it Milan’s fault that his three brothers and two sisters were already shackled and with an army of unruly pups? Thanksgivings and Christmases in the Durango household were loud, crowded affairs that never seemed to end.
As he pressed his forehead against the cold window, his cell phone vibrated in his jeans pocket. Milan ignored it, but after it went to voicemail the first time, it rang again. And again.
Groaning, Milan finally answered, “What?”
“Elisabeth just called Martina, saying that she got stood up,” Maurice said. “What’s wrong with you?” His voice was low and calm. His friend was mad.
“I told you it was a horrible idea to set me up with Martina’s best friend, but did you listen? Nope.” Milan took a long gulp from the bottle and drank the last of it. “For the record, I showed up. She didn’t.”
“Elizabeth called from the restaurant, where she’s still waiting,” Maurice said.
“Good. The next time, she will think twice before arriving late to a date. Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t cute.” Milan went back to the fridge for a second beer. He looked at the neat file of IPAs and selected a Seattle brew.
“What’s wrong with you?” Maurice repeated, his tone both frustrated and resigned.
“I’d never date a woman who thinks nothing of letting people wait. It’s rude, inconsiderate, and denotes that she believes herself better than me. That won’t do.” Milan lowered himself to his favorite sofa and rested his naked feet on the coffee table in front of it.
“Maybe she was worth waiting for,” Maurice said.
“No woman is worth waiting for.” Milan took a long drag from his IPA. He closed his eyes, savoring the feeling of the cold, refreshing liquid filling his throat as he gulped.
“You’re missing out, man,” Maurice said.
Martina’s voice could be heard over Maurice’s, surely asking for a full report.
“And you are the poster boy for whipped fools.” Milan couldn’t help but think he was the better off of the two. “Go before she cuts your balls off once and for all.”
Maurice growled. “I don’t know why I even bother with you.”
“A closeted masochist?”
“I’m done with you.”
“Finally.” Milan ended the call and threw his head against the back of the sofa to stare at the ceiling.
Tomorrow, he would call Maurice and invite him to eat at that steak place his friend liked. Food offerings always worked with him.
Milan finished the second beer but still felt nervous energy flow through him. He knew what would do the trick: a good fuck with a nice woman who wasn’t interested in exchanging inane pleasantries beforehand. Just down the road from his apartment, there were plenty of bars where he could pick up a willing one-night stand. No names, no dating nonsense. Just two b
odies slamming against each other in one of the back alleys. Sweat and raw pleasure. No commitment. He liked it better that way.
2
Celeste looked at the number she had punched on her cell phone with mistrust. “What am I doing?” she asked herself. This was her third attempt to go through with the call. The more she thought about it, the more reasons she found to forget all about it. Her horrific past was still too present. She couldn’t go through that kind of hell ever again.
“You deserve a good man. Someone who loves you and respects you.” Julia’s words came back to her, and as if moved by an external force, her finger pressed the call button.
“Gerri Wilder speaking. How can I help you?” a woman answered before Celeste could talk herself out of it and hang up.
“Hi, my name is Celeste Green.”
“Hi, Celeste. You finally called! I was starting to think that you would never gather enough courage to dial my number.”
“I—”
“There’s no time to waste. I have a full day and plenty of couples to match. So, let’s get to the point. What do you want in a relationship?”
Taken by surprise by Gerri’s curt ways, Celeste staggered. “I…”
“You what?” Gerri asked. “Close your eyes and think about your ideal man. Don’t hold back. Go for your wildest dream.”
Celeste thought it was a stupid request and stared ahead of her at her kitchen wall. She shouldn’t have called. Instead, she should have opened the fridge and finished that tub of coffee caramel ice cream waiting for her in the freezer drawer.
Paranormal Dating Agency: Her Dream Alpha (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Angel's Pass Wolves Book 1) Page 1
