by Sara Kimball
“Well…” She bit her lip, and he turned his head to look at her, then turned onto his side, leaning on his elbow to peer down at her. “I don’t really have control of where I go. I just get sent wherever for work. And while I’m there I am working, so I don’t generally get days off to go explore.”
He was silent, still studying her face, and she continued. “Bolivia was beautiful. And so is Mexico. And Canada is gorgeous, but in a whole different way.”
“I’ve seen some of Canada, but not the others. I would love to go to Europe too.”
Alex looked up at him. “Not to sound like a smart ass or anything, but I’m pretty sure you can afford to go to Europe any time you want. Or Fiji, or New Zealand. Actually, I’m pretty sure you could buy houses in all of those places and a hire private plane to take you there.”
He laughed and leaned closer down to her, his front pressed against her side, chuckling at her. “Yes, you are right. However, whether I can get permission to go to different places from the Alpha that lives and rules there is a different matter. And I can’t go without asking, because of who my family is.”
Alex scrunched her nose at that. “I hadn’t thought about it that way. Surely there aren’t Alphas all over the world though…there have to be some places you can go that you would enjoy.”
His smile was soft. “Yeah, there are. But often when I want to go on vacation the Pack needs something. I can’t be too far away, especially in case something happens to my grandmother. Since I’m her heir, there are some…complications, I guess you could say. No running off for weekends to party, no being wild. I always have an entourage.”
“I didn’t realize...”
“It’s not a bad place to be, in all seriousness. The Pack is great, and when I want to get away, well…there are plenty of beautiful beaches, or even forests I can go to. Places where I can be surrounded by others. Or all alone. I like the peace and quiet sometimes.”
The open expression on his face tempted her to share, and Alex found herself talking about her plans for the future. “I think about what it would be like to have my own place. Mostly because I can’t change into my wolf as much as I want. I dream about it, really. A little cabin in the woods. Devoid of any noise made by other humans. Just me, fresh air, and beautiful green around me.”
“That’s a nice dream.”
“I’ll see if I can make it come true someday.”
“I’m sure you will.”
“But what about you? Do you have other plans for the future, besides being the heir for your grandmother?”
He laughed, smiling. “No.”
Alex looked back at him, though she narrowed her eyes jokingly, “Really? No plans? You have no complaints or things you’d like to change?”
His fingers trailed up her arm to her shoulder and then back down again. “I can’t complain, all in all. I’ve had an exceptionally lucky life. At least I live in a territory with good colleges, and good opportunities for businesses.” His fingers stroked up to her shoulder this time and then hopped to her collarbone, stroking it softy side to side. “And my family, my Pack, my grandmother, they are all very supportive and caring for each other. I love being involved with our people, and doing things for them, to make their lives better.”
She was silent for a moment, letting herself feel his soft caresses. “Your position must be a lot of pressure on you, being the sole heir.”
“Yes and no.” Her breath hitched as his fingers moved to stroking up and down her throat, stopping just shy of her cleavage. “It can be stressful, or hard sometimes, but for the most part it is rewarding. I got to influence the Pack a lot when it came to educating our members, sending them to school. Now we have Pack members in all kinds of technological, science and medical fields. By doing this I made sure that the people under me have good professions that pay well, and they continue to pay it forward by assisting the Pack with new information or discoveries that can keep us safe. That’s worth it to me, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
His passion and dedication made her miss her old Pack, but she also knew that the Great Plains Pack didn’t have anyone like Lincoln, a man who was looking to the future and worrying about how his Pack would fit in with the rapidly changing times. She admired him for it.
“Not to mention, I get to do a bunch of scholarships for the youngsters, and they know they can come to me if they want to learn about something and I’ll make it happen. And even though my grandmother was in charge, up until the last twenty years or so women still didn’t do much else besides care for the house and children. But I helped convince the men, and the women themselves, to change that. So now we have all kinds of people, all kinds of roles. It makes me happy. But that’s what an Alpha should be, in my opinion, happy watching his people grow.
“In fact, we have a Pack member opening an aquarium. The day before the official opening day, the Pack will go down and be available for a soft opening, allowing them to make sure all the kinks are worked out before letting the public in.” He looked at her slyly as his hand slid between her breasts to her stomach. “You could come.” Alex understood the unspoken ‘if you are still here’ that was implied.
Alex sighed in pleasure, “That’s nice.” She wasn’t sure if she was talking about his hand touching her or his offer. His fingers trailed over her breast, caressing her nipples. Alex, feeling bold, let her hands explore his body. At the encouraging noises that fell from his mouth, she grew bolder, reaching her hands into the waistband of his shorts and finding his turgid hardness. She stroked him, running fingers from the tip down his shaft, finally circling him and stroking with her palm.
Pushing him onto his back, she moved between his legs and bent to take him in her mouth. He made a protesting noise, but she smiled at him. “You were kind to me the other day…let me return the favor.” He chuckled, but his breath caught as she used her tongue to lick down his length, then back up again, before taking him in her mouth.
Careful not to use her teeth, she sucked on him, one of her hands stroking up and down the rest of his shaft, her tongue pressing against his underside. Working him deeper, Alex got his tip to touch her throat, and she began stroking him faster, her other hand coming up to cradle his testicles.
It wasn’t long before his fingers slid through her hair, pressing her face down towards him, and Alex found herself swallowing him down, taking him deeper and deeper until her nose touched his lower stomach. He let her up for air, and then gripped her hair again, setting a rhythm that still allowed her to breath but also forced her throat to stretch around him repeatedly.
She felt him harden slightly, his tip becoming more rigid in her throat, and then he was moaning as she swallowed around him, drinking him down as he spurted his release. Lincoln let go of her hair and she lay back, breathing deeply. He took a moment, then rolled back over her, sliding his hands into her stretchy pants and pulling them down.
Alex muttered a protest, but he growled softly at her. “My turn.” Without preamble, he pulled her panties to the side, sliding his fingers through her slick folds and plunging two of his digits deep into her. Leaning closer, his mouth came down on her, his tongue circling her clitoris and then his teeth nibbling on it.
His fingers stroked in and out of her, unerringly finding the special place within her that set her on fire and pressing against it, rubbing it firmly. His mouth sucked on her, and her legs trembled, her fingers sliding into his hair and holding him in place. He bit her softly, then stroked her harder, and she came, shattering in his arms with soft moans.
After the tremors subsided, they lay beside each other on the blanket, her panties still pulled to the side, his shorts still slid partially down his legs. The air on her sensitive flesh felt naughty and refreshing at the same time, and Alex’s hands reached for him, teasing him into hardness. Her fears from yesterday had been put to bed. She clearly enjoyed her time with Lincoln, both the physical acts they had shared and their conversation too, so she let her worri
es go, deciding to live in the moment. Lincoln’s member was hardening under her ministrations when a soft sound had them both pausing. They both looked up, towards the trail, then scrambled to get dressed.
The footsteps, though soft, grew slightly louder by the time they had the blanket folded and returned it to the backpack. Her face flushed, she allowed Lincoln to hold her hand and pull her back up the grassy hill to the trail. They started walking back to the parking lot when the shape of another hiker became visible.
She managed to keep her face impassive as they approached the other man, even smiling slightly in hello. The other hiker wore a strong cologne, however, and Alex fought not to crinkle her nose in disgust at the overwhelming scent. She was glad when they were past him, the smell dissipating in the light breeze.
Turning to Lincoln, she saw the same thoughts mirrored in his gaze, and smiled at him. His look turned heated, and Alex suddenly felt mischievous and carefree. “Race you to the car?” She took off.
It was only a second before his quick footsteps followed, and he caught up behind her. She put on extra speed, and they ran together. She managed to get ahead of him in several places, but when he would catch up with her he would slide his hands around her hips and pluck her off the ground, spinning her and kissing her breathless. Then Alex would take off again, playing with him like her wolf wanted her to. She would manage to get ahead, and he would sprint to catch up, pulling her into his arms again.
They were nearly back to the parking lot when they finally slowed, Lincoln catching her for the last time and pressing only a peck to the tip of her nose. “I would love to lay you down and ravish you, but I don’t think this is the place.”
Laughing and breathless from their play, she smiled up at him, “Ah well, I’m sure you’ll find some other way to ravish me later.” She turned towards the car and he unlocked it, allowing her to clamber inside.
It was when he was stowing the backpack that she saw the older beige car that had slowed behind her on the road, parked in the next row. Her brow crinkled in concern as she saw it, but Alex decided it was probably nothing, and pushed the worry away as Lincoln got in the driver’s seat. He started the car and they headed back to the house.
///
Ryan Dayton saw the car retreating and cursed that Oscar and Michael hadn’t made it in time to grab the bitch. He could have taken her alone, but he didn’t stand a chance against Harcourt by himself. Not to mention they had run the whole way back, forcing him to run along behind them.
Pulling out his cell phone, he wiped at his nose again, trying to stifle the smell that he had had to spray on himself to mask his werewolf scent. It was beginning to burn into his brain, and he worried there would be permanent damage.
It was only a moment to dial Oscar’s number, and he spoke as soon as it was picked up, not waiting for the other man to answer. “They left. Probably headed back.”
Oscar growled. “Fine. Come back, we’ll figure something else out.”
Ryan rolled his eyes and got in his car, rolling down the windows. “Okay, but I’m taking a shower first. This shit is rank.”
///
They parked and were walking to the house when Jax, Lincoln’s Beta, appeared around the corner. “Lincoln, I was looking for you.” He turned to her. “Alex. I know we haven’t officially met. I’m Jax, Lincoln’s Beta.”
Alex shook the other wolf’s hand, greeting him politely. “Nice to meet you.” The other man had brown hair and brown eyes that gleamed in the sunlight. He was nearly as tall as Lincoln and just as muscular. Lincoln saw the other man’s expression and put a possessive hand on her lower back, his fingers stroking her skin through her shirt.
“Did you need something?”
Jax’s gaze shifted from Alex back to Lincoln, and his gaze turned thoughtful as he took in his friend’s ominous expression. Alex was sure even a child could tell Lincoln was feeling possessive of her around his friend, and wasn’t sure if she should be mad or laugh.
“I have some news, and was hoping you had some time.” A look passed between them, and Alex smiled, excusing herself.
“I’ll take myself off to my room. Thank you for the pleasurable afternoon, Lincoln.” Alex was trying to be subtle, but she was sure that Jax caught the hint of innuendo in her tone as she spoke, and she turned away with a flush, hurrying to her room for a shower.
///
Jax led Lincoln into the security office, and then into the surveillance room beyond. He bent to use a computer, pulling up a surveillance feed on one of the back fences. “I had the boys looking at all the footage for when the mountain lion got in.” He pressed play and Lincoln watched on the screen as the mountain lion ran through the grass and towards the property, scaled the fence, and then continued on. “Now, watch closely…” Jax started the footage over and slowed it down, then paused it at the part he was looking for.
Lincoln leaned in closer, studying the screen intently. “Are you telling me that the mountain lion was chasing a ball onto the property?” Disbelief was evident in his voice.
Jax smiled. “Exactly what I thought. So I had the men go check it out.” He opened a drawer and pulled out a triple bagged foam ball, handling it carefully.
Lincoln, feeling slightly relaxed after his afternoon with Alex, chuckled. “What is it, a bomb?”
Jax shook his head ruefully, handing it over. “Not…exactly. Open it.”
Lincoln opened the first baggie, then the second, and by the time he got to the last zipper he paused, sniffing carefully. “Ah. Please tell me that this is soaked in pheromones and I’m not suddenly sexually attracted to you, Jax.”
The other man laughed, as well as the other guards in the room, as Lincoln knew they would. Carefully sealing the plastic zippers, he placed the ball on the desk. The room sobered as Jax ran the footage again. Lincoln watched with a different eye this time. “The ball has to have been thrown by a wolf. It wouldn’t go that far…unless a human had a super powered slingshot or something. And the mountain lion…was it drugged with something? Is that why it was so out of control? It did die right after we captured it.”
Jax shrugged. “Hard to tell. But I was going to go around and sniff up anything I could from the direction the ball came from. You in?”
Lincoln nodded, “Hell yes.”
///
Alex was sitting next to Moira at dinner, and listening to a conversation about one of the Pack trying to get permission from the Pacific Pack to go to school at University of Washington. Only half her brain was on the discussion at the table, however. The rest was on the fact that Lincoln hadn’t joined her after their run, though she had waited for him. And now he, Jax, and several other men she recognized as guards were gone from the table.
Wondering where he was wasn’t going to tell her anything, however. But Alex didn’t want to ask to draw attention to the fact that she was thinking of him. It felt wrong, like by asking she would come across as needy or clingy rather than just curious. So she kept silent.
Luckily, someone else was wondering the same thing. “Where’s Harvey? Is he with Lincoln and Jax still? I saw them heading out earlier.” Alex hadn’t met the woman yet, but she could kiss her.
One of the guards sitting next to the woman smiled and leaned in closer to her. His low voice was still audible to everyone in the room due to their sensitive hearing. “Charity, how about you forget that old stick in the mud and come visit me sometime?”
The woman rolled her eyes and shoved him away, and he reluctantly answered her. “Fine. I see how it is. They went out, looking at something round the fences. Probably won’t be back for a while.”
The woman continued chatting with the man next to her, and Alex finished her food. She had been looking forward to spending the night with Lincoln, but now she figured she might as well finish the plan for the second women’s class the next day and go to bed. Moira interrupted her musings after a moment.
“You want to head to lunch tomorrow?”
; Alex was surprised by the offer, and rather than hesitate, she took her bold attitude with Lincoln and applied the same principle to making friends with Moira. “Sure. That would be nice.”
“Perfect. See you in the morning at class.”
Alex went to her room and wrote down her plans for the next day, then watched some television listlessly until she felt tired.
///
Oscar paced, his hands clenching and unclenching in anger. “Fuck this. This is taking too long. I know what the boss said, but I don’t want to be here for months waiting for a good opportunity. I say, we change the rules and just don’t tell him. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him any.”
Ryan and Michael looked at him, then each other, before shrugging and nodding. It was Michael who spoke, “What’s your plan, boss?”
///
Lincoln crept along the balcony to Alex’s room, finding the door open. He snuck inside, but paused at the sight of her sleeping soundly in her bed. It was nearly four, as it had taken them hours to track down the scent of where the ball was thrown from. And sure enough, three wolves had been present for that. Then, because he had been determined to see if they were related, it had taken them even longer to scent around the area the prostitute and her car had been found. Working in a grid pattern as their wolves, they were about to give up when they stumbled across a bush that smelled like a male wolf…one of the same male wolves that had been involved in the mountain lion.
So now he knew that the two were related, though other than testing their responses, like Jax had suggested, he had no idea what the point of their actions were. Is it an attack on the Pack, or on someone here, or are they stupid enough to think they can steal something… He shook his head, focusing on the problem before him. The luscious female that he wanted to ravage over and over again.
Sighing, he turned away. She had her class with the other women at nine, and he didn’t want to disturb her. Even though his wolf whined at him to go to her, Lincoln forced himself back to his own room and into his bed, alone.
