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Animal Instinct

Chapter 2

Grunting, I roll over. The four toddlers that were on my back all slip off in a fit of squeals. The little troublemakers pounced on me. They’re supposed to be pouncing the birds in the yard. I smile getting up. This hunting lesson is over.

“Alright, pups. Nap time. My statement is met with whines and refusals. “Yes. You've had your breakfast, playtime, and a lesson. Now it’s time to get our energy back.”

“Yes, Ms. Grace.” I chuckle at their dejected looks as I herd them into the house. Peter gives me an exaggerated whine and pout as I close the door. I pat his head, leading the way to their bedrooms. The twin girls, Alice and Marcie, share a room. As they are the easiest to get down for a nap, I stop at their room first. I help Alice into her bed as independent little Marcie uses her step-stool to get into hers.

“Enjoy your nap, girls.” They each reply yawn and I smile before turning to the boys. Peter and Jonah are on either side of the girls in age. Peter is the oldest of the Hill children at 4. The girls are 3 and Jonah just turned 2. Jonah raises his hand to me making a grabbing motion while the other rubs his eye. I pick him up as I lead Peter to their room. The boys are a bit more demanding than the girls pre-nap. It surprised me at first, but I've come to enjoy the time I have with them. Plus, the girls generally wake up first so I get to spend some quality time with them as well.

Sitting in the rocking chair, I get Jonah comfortable as Peter picks out a book. It takes him a few minutes to settle on one, but once he has it, he climbs into the rocking chair with us.
“And what book do we have today, Peter?”

“Wed Widing Hood.” I hold back a smile. Peter has been working through his speech problem, but it still comes out when he’s tired.

Making sure he’s comfortable, I open the book and start reading. I’m not even halfway through the story when both boys have fallen asleep. Setting the book aside carefully, I maneuver both children in to my arms and put them in their respective beds. Jonah instantly cuddles up to his stuffed tiger and Peter kicks off his blankets. Shaking my head, I leave their room, pulling the door closed behind me.

Going out into the living room, I start picking up and resetting the house for Mrs. Hill. She’ll be home shortly after the children wake up from their nap around 1 pm. As I’m tossing all the toys into the toy chest, my phone vibrates. Confused, I pull it from my pocket. The screen flashes, alerting me that I have a new text message. Deciding to respond to it once I've finished cleaning, I set my phone on the coffee table and continue with my task. I am curious as to whom it’s from, but I have an idea. Adam’s practices end around 11 and it takes him about an hour to get ready—mostly because he is a chatterbox with his teammates. Or at least, that’s what he tells me. I’m inclined to think he just takes forever getting his hair dry and coiffured.

My phone starts ringing as I finish drying the last breakfast dish. I take the time to put it away before answering my phone.

“Hello?”

“You didn't answer my text.” He sounds unaffected, but even over the phone I can feel a rise in his dominance. I have to stop my wolf from responding to him. The reaction he brings out of her is fascinating. After a week of talking to and hanging out with him, my wolf decided she likes him. It’s a little uncomfortable because we’re always chaperoned by Alec and he makes subtle comments about my bodily reactions to Adam.

“I am working, Adam.” He knows my schedule for the next month. I emailed it to him after our second time hanging out because he demanded it.

“I know. But the kids are down for their nap right?”

“They are. However, I don’t have to respond to you immediately.”

“You should. If we both know you’re not doing anything, you can and should get back to me as soon as possible.”

I roll my eyes. “What do you want, Adam?

He laughs and my wolf grunts in satisfaction. “Listen to you, getting attitude.” I snort. “Fine. You get off by one-thirty, right?”

“Most likely.”

“Good. Be ready by two. I’m taking you out.”

“I heard no request in that. Mr. Burish. I don’t give into demands.”

“There will be French fries involved.”

“You dirty little blackmailer. I refuse to treat with con-artists.”

“Gracelyn,” he laughs again, “will you do me the honor of joining me for a day out at two pm?”

I grin, “I can hear the pain it caused you to be nice. I’ll accept to put you out of your misery.”

“Alright you little trollop. I’ll be at your apartment. Two o’clock sharp.” The playfulness in his voice makes me giggle. I hang up after confirming his statement and saying bye.

Collapsing back on the couch, I think over the days since I met Adam. He’s held true to his word and filled my free time with him in some way or another. We haven’t seen each other every day, but he’s made it a point to call or text me when he can’t work it out for us to see one another. And he honestly doesn't care that Alec is there when we do hang out. They interact as if they've been friends for a few years rather than a week.

Stupid Alec. He’s there for Adam’s protection really, but it sucks that I have to have a babysitter. I do understand why Mr. Fuller put that stipulation on my time with Adam, though. Adam is the first man my body and my wolf has responded to. I’m still getting myself under control, despite having been a werewolf for eight years. Mr. Fuller doesn't want my wolf to come out in the heat of the moment and Alec’s dominance can hold her back. Although, I’m inclined to think that Adam’s dominance could do the trick. Even though he’s human, the wolf part of me wants to treat him like he’s an Alpha.

“Gracelyn, honey.” I jerk up from the couch. Mrs. Hill is standing at the end, smiling at me. Her blonde hair is slightly wind tossed and her blue eyes are full of amusement. Although she doesn't look much older than my own twenty-two, she’s nearing her thirties.

“Mrs. Hill? What time is it? Are the girls up?” I yawn, rubbing my eyes.

“I was able to leave work early.” I nod. Mrs. Hill works part time as a receptionist at a law firm. Her boss usually lets her go after lunch because he has his daughter fill the position once her morning college classes end. It’s a good arrangement because Mrs. Hill doesn't even need to work. She and her husband are the landlords of our apartment building and they own a car wash a couple miles away.

“That’s good. I uh started lunch already.”

“Will you be staying?”

I shake my head, “My friend is demanding my afternoon.”

“You mean that human boy?” Her nose scrunches up.

“Yeah…” She raises an eyebrow, letting out a low “hm.” I haven’t figured out what her issue is with Adam. No one in my pack is anti-human. Some like humans less than others, but every one tolerates them. And on top of the fact that Mrs. Hill works for a human, the Hills have human tenants in this building. But she seems to have something against Adam. I've tried to ask her about it, but she won’t give me a straight answer. I can’t force her to tell me either because she’s more dominate than I am.

Gathering my things, I wave to her before leaving. I take the four flights of stairs up to my apartment, using the time to wake myself up. It’s going on one now and if I’m still sleepy when I get to my apartment, I’ll go to bed. Once back in my sixth floor apartment, I find ways to keep myself awake. As I’m surfing the web, I question whether Alec knows about today. Despite Adam not caring about Alec tagging long during our time together, I doubt he called him to ask him to come. He’s made it very clear that he’s interested in me and what guy would willingly bring another guy along on a date? Not that Adam and I have been going on dates. At least…I don’t think that’s what we've been doing.

I groan, stopping myself before I can over-think this. I don’t do it often, but when I do over-analyze, I ruin whatever it is I over-thought. Adam is fun. He turns me on and my wolf adores him. I don’t need to think about it beyond that until he makes another move. Who knows, he might decide I’m not as interesting as he originally thought and take a step back from what we have. I exhale slowly, finalizing my decision.

A knock on my door startles me and I fall off my couch with a squeak. The person outside my door laughs and I growl. A second laugh joins the first causing me to pause. I check my watch. It’s two o’clock. One of the people must be Adam, but who is the other one…Getting up, I straighten out my clothes as I head to the door. I fix my tousled chocolate curls as I open the door. Adam and Alec. I roll my eyes, turning back into my apartment. Alec most likely laughed first as he heard me squeak, though I’m sure both of them know I feel off my couch.
Both men follow me into my apartment. Alec passes by me, going into my room. He’s taken liberties with the fact that he’s Beta and our growing friendship. Over the few months we've gotten to know each other, I've learned that he can and will decide random things for me. More often than not, he picks out my clothes. Well, lately; at least when we’re hanging out with Adam. The outfits are never anything provocative, but they do seem to catch Adam’s eye.

Adam’s arms wrapping around me draw me out of my thoughts and I smile at him. “Well hello to you, Mr. Burish.”

He fake glares at me, his eyes full of mirth, “You know I hate it when you call me that.” I shrug slipping my arms around his waist. “You ready for a day full of adventure?”

I look at him skeptically, “Adventure? I don’t know if we define adventure the same.” He smirks. “Besides, I spent my morning with four energetic toddlers; I don’t think you can best that kind of adventure.” I rest my forehead on his chest, inhaling his scent. I love his after practice scent. A hint of the smell of the ice lingers on him, mingling with his body wash to drive me crazy. He smells delicious. Not that I want to eat him. I just want to bottle the aroma so I can use it as a room spray. Lucky for me, Adam doesn't mind that I sniff him when he hugs me. The first time he caught me doing it, he laughed. After the third time, he told me he thinks it’s cute. It probably doesn't hurt that the scent is strongest around his chest so that’s where I tend to bury my face. It gives him a chance to play with my curls, which I've noticed he enjoys doing.

“Gracelyn, go get changed.” I grunt as Alec interrupts us. Sometimes I simply don’t like him. And this is one of those times. I sniff Adam one more time, making him laugh, before I go back to my room.

On my bed are a teal and white stripped V-neck shirt and some dark wash jeans. A black scarf is laid out next to the clothes along with some teal, white and black bangles. Rolling my eyes, I put the jewelry away, opting to wear my hair-ties and white Geneva link watch as usual. Once changed, I pull on the flats Alec set out for me. Checking over my outfit and hair, I go back to the living room.

“Alec, I need you to stop dressing me in Sharks colors.” Technically, he dressed me in pack colors, but I know he did it with the purpose of making me look like a Sharks fan because he’s a twerp.

“I think you look cute.” Adam eyes travel down my body slowly before he shifts his focus back to my face with a grin. I shake my head, grabbing my purse off the end of the couch.

“So…where are we going?”

“That, dear Gracelyn is a surprise.” Adam tugs a curl, grasping my hand in his. As his fingers interlock with my, my stomach flips. I, Gracelyn Lenora King, am going to die from sensory overload caused by Adam Burish. I feel my wolf curl around the feeling Adam has elicited in me. Alec makes a noise somewhere between a grunt and snort; he’s taken to making this sound whenever he can smell my arousal. I kind of feel sorry for him. He has to be there when I hang out with Adam and it’s seems like more punishment that he has to deal with my hormones as well. I flash him a sympathetic smile while Adam is distracted with his phone, but he waves me off.

“Well let’s get going then.” I smile at them both, letting go of Adam’s hand and heading for the door. I wait for both of them to exit before I follow, locking the door behind me. Adam surprises me by taking my hand again. Would this fall under him “making the next move?” I glance up at him, but don’t remark on it. I like the feel of his hand engulfing mine.

“Gracelyn, I didn't notice it until now, but you’re always ridiculously warm. What’s up with that?”

I have to force myself to keep walking. I also have to stop myself from blurting out that I’m a werewolf. Adam’s dominance is always heightened with Alec is around even though he doesn't feel threatened. For a human, he has a lot of werewolf traits, one of which is claiming one’s territory. In this case, he’s claiming me, which I find incredibly attractive. But the fact that his dominance flares around Alec drives me to answer him truthfully. I have to stop myself. Our pack doesn't have a ban on telling humans about us. We just have to be extremely circumspect in doing so. I know for a fact that some humans know about our kind. In my two years with Mr. Fuller’s pack, I've meet a few of them. They’re either mated to or close friends with a pack member. However, it’s too soon for me to spill that secret to Adam.

“I’m just always hot.” I shrug off his question. I’m a little surprised Alec didn't redirect the conversation. He usually does when there’s a chance of me saying something that could cause a werewolf related problem.

I can feel that Adam isn't exactly satisfied with my answer. It makes me wonder what else he’s noticed that would cause that dissatisfaction. Unsure of what to do, I let my wolf decide. She urges me to move closer to him. I rest my head on his shoulder as we take the elevator down. His hand slips out of mine, moving to encircle my waist and pull me even more into his side.

Alec strikes up a conversation with Adam about his workout routine. I half listen to his responses, while focusing on the way his chest vibrates when he answers. It’s almost rhythmic. I close my eyes, letting their voices lull me into a trance of sorts. Adam nudges my lightly when the elevator stops. I shift away from him almost reluctantly, but he stops me.

At Adam’s Navigator, Alec slides into the backseat while Adam opens the passenger side door for me. I smile at him as I step up into the SUV. With a wink, he shuts my door before going around to get behind the wheel.

“You two disgust me.” I flip him the bird as Adam slides into his seat. “Such inappropriate actions for a lady. Adam, are you sure you want her?”

Adam laughs, “Of course I am. I wouldn't want to date some priss.” I look at Alec smugly and he flicks my nose.

“Butthead.” I mutter, wiggling my nose to stop the tingling. Adam chuckles as he starts the car. “So…are you ready to tell me what we’re doing today?”

“Gracelyn, I already told you that it’s a surprise.” I fold my arms over my chest. “Don’t do that. I can’t enjoy the fact that it pushes your boobs up when I’m driving.”

“You are such a pig,” I deadpan. I let my arms fall to my lap, popping my knuckles in the process. Adam smirks. I huff before turning my attention to Alec. “Did you have a fun night off?” Alec is a highly sought after tattoo artist. He usually works seven days a week, but I convinced him to take at least one night to himself to see if it helps ease his mind.

“It was boring. I stayed home, order some Chinese. Get this; I actually had time to read a book. I would have died but I found a Star Trek marathon on Spike. I don’t know how you do it, Gracelyn.”

“You…are an idiot.” He snorts. Giving up on him, I turn to watch the scenery pass. Even with my enhanced vision, the trees still blur together. The colors stay vibrant though. After my change, I've played this game when I ride in a vehicle. I crack the window slightly, close my eyes and try to identify all the things I’m passing. The first thing I smell is a McDonald’s, which isn't pleasant. I couldn't stand the smell of grease before my change and I certainly can’t stand it now. An Indian restaurant pops out next and my stomach growls slightly. I’m trying to save up for Playoff tickets, so I've had to cut out most dining out experiences. I miss my Asian cuisine. Soon, all I can smell is car exhaust which means we’re on the highway. Sighing, I roll up the window and open my eyes.

“Another 20 minutes and we’ll be there.” Adam glances at me. I nod before swatting at Alec. He laughs, continuing to pester me with a string he must have pulled off his clothes.

“Come on, kitten. Get the string.” I growl in response.

“Knock it off, Alec.” Adam’s dominance flares even though his voice is light. I swear Alec does this on purpose. He tests the limits with Adam every time we hang out. Adam is tolerant, but he apparently has strict boundaries about what he considers flirting and he is quick to identify them when Alec gets too close. My wolf loves it; someone strong is claiming us for the first time and it’s thrilling. I enjoy it too, to be honest. But I do not enjoy when Alec pushes him.

Adam doesn't know what about me being a werewolf, so I know he doesn't know what it means for him to be so protective of me. I have to remind myself that he’s human and stop my wolf from claiming his as a mate. I know I’m allowed to, but for all intents and purposes, I’m still a pup. I have to figure out and control my werewolf side before I even consider looking for a mate.

The SUV comes to a stop and I look out the window. I have no clue where we are. It’s residential. I crack my knuckles, waiting for Adam to come open my door. The first time he drove us somewhere, I let myself out of the truck and he was mortified. I had to explain to him that I’m used to getting doors for myself. I couldn't tell him the reason why—that in the pack, only a mate or potential mate would use such gentleman-like behavior. We’re a family, and if there’s no attraction, we try to keep things platonic and sibling-like. Mr. Fuller likes to keep things as clear as possible in that respect to avoid unnecessary drama.

Adam helps me out of his SUV, keeping my hand in his once I’m out. After Alec joins us in front of the vehicle, we walk up the pathway to the front door.

“We won’t be here for long. But I made a promise so…” Adam rings the doorbell obnoxiously making Alec and I laugh. Someone inside yells in a foreign language and I raise an eyebrow. A mischievous glint flashes in Adam’s eye and he starts playing a tune with the ringer. I shake my head, even though I’m amused. Adam can be utterly childish sometimes, even at twenty-nine.

The door opens with more force than needed, drawing my attention to the man standing behind the mesh screen. Antti Niemi. Adam brought us to his teammate’s house. Antti says something in Finnish, pushing open the screen door to admit us.

“English, Nemo. English.”

“I don’t want to embarrass you in front of your friends.” I look over Antti as the two friends banter. He’s tall, about an inch taller than Adam, and broad of shoulder. His short hair is in a bit of a faux-hawk and his blue eyes are full of depth. He’s attractive but his smile doesn't have the same effect as Adam’s and my wolf ignores him.

I’m brought out of my thoughts when Antti offers me his hand. “You must be Gracelyn.”

I shake his hand, “I am. It’s nice to meet you Antti.” A surprised laugh escapes me when he pulls me away from Adam.

“You can come meet some more of the guys.”

“She’s my date, Nemo. I’ll introduce her.” Adam tries to bring me back to his side, but Antti is already pulling me through his house. I don’t have time to take in more than the hardwood floors and the patriotic colors. He has the Finnish flag painted on the main wall in the hallway. I can’t decide whether that’s cute or crazy. Antti finally stops in his backyard. Music is playing lowly. I recognize the band, Parker Theory, and smile.

Recognizing the players, I can’t stop myself from making a face. Logan Couture, Ryane Clowe, Joe Pavelski, Patrick Marleau, and Martin Havlat are sitting around drinking beers, some with women attached, other flying solo. In the far corner of the yard, a few children are playing tag.

“Who is that Nemo?” Logan brings everyone’s attention to me.

“This is Gracelyn.” Before he can say anymore, I’m pulled away from him. Adam presses me against his body, standing behind me. His dominance is flowing from him in waves. Antti is obviously amused by Adam’s attitude, keeping a smile on his face. His playful aura doesn't change either. My wolf shudders in anticipation. Alec subdues her and I smile gratefully at him. If Adam keeps this up, I’m going to have to tell him much sooner than I would like to. I’m the wrong person for him to be this territorial with after such a short amount of time.

“Oh…The Gracelyn?” Logan’s attitude changes from curious to playful.

I frown, “What do you mean, The Gracelyn?” The other men chuckle. I look over my shoulder at Adam and he shrugs.

“He talks about you,” Ryane answers my question. We thought you were made up until we met Alec over there a few days ago.”

Alec and Adam hang out when I’m not around? What the heck. I give Alec a look, silently demanding that he explain himself to me later. I don’t know that I’ll actually get an answer, but at least I can let him know I’m not happy about that bit of information being withheld from me.

“Ignore the boys. They like to pick at each other and will use any means necessary. I’m Christina Marleau.” The blonde smiles at me. I return her smile.

“Gracelyn King.”

“Well you've all seen her, so we’ll be going now.” Adam starts to pull me back toward the house.

“Wait right there Burish. I’m getting her number.” Christina fixes him with a cold stare. I feel his chest deflate as he stops. I roll my eyes at his attitude, taking Christina’s phone when she offers it to me. “I’ll call you some time so we can hang out.” She gives us a friendly wave, allowing Adam to drag me away once she has my number.

“Was that not the surprise?” I follow him back through the house with Alec trailing along behind us.

He snorts. “You think I’d make those twits your surprise? C’mon, give me more credit than that. He helps me back into his SUV.

Another short drive finds us at The Grill on the Alley. An early dinner counts as a date…I think. Alec hops out, hurrying into the restaurant. I crack my knuckles. This has to be a date if Alec isn't staying with us. Then again he might just be going to get a table.

I’m not naïve. I know Adam is interested in me. If I were human, I would already have labeled us as dating. But I’m not. Putting labels on this before Adam and I actually discuss it could prove dangerous. Werewolves don’t have one mate, but I've learned that most of our kind will mate for life. We tend to follow the Christian view point of choosing a suitable mate and being devoted. Mr. Fuller showed me all the myths about our kind only having one soul mate and I had to laugh. We’re still human. Despite all our senses being enhanced and living longer, we’re human. Love is still a choice for us. But our wolf’s desire to mate and mate early tends to make us fall easier, faster, and harder than regular humans. So we have to be more careful.

By pack standards though, Adam is my prospective mate. Which, now that I’m thinking about it, is part of the reason Alec is chaperoning us. Other than to control my wolf. Mr. Fuller likes to have all potential mate pairs observed to ensure the bond will be strong enough to support the stress of a lifelong relationship. I feel like an idiot for just realizing this.

“M’lady.” Adam offers me his arm as I slip out of his SUV. I link my arm through his, enjoying the feel of his muscular bicep under my palm. He holds the door to the restaurant open for me. I take in the atmosphere as he talks to the hostess. It doesn't escape my notice that he’s made reservations, but I don’t comment on it. Instead, I focus on the restaurant. There are light, hardwood floors throughout the building. The tables all have white table clothes while the chairs and benches are of a dark wood. The place is well lit.

As we walk to our table, I spot Alec at the bar. He half-raises his glass to me before turning back to the bar. This is a date.

At our table, Adam pulls out my chair for me, pushing it in gently once I’m seated. I smile at the hostess as she hands me my menu. “Thank you.”

“Enjoy your meal,” she says as she walks back to the front.

I start to look over the menu, but Adam clears his throat. Setting my menu down, I look at him. “Yes?”

“I wanted to discuss something with you before we started eating.”

“…Okay.” I get comfortable in my seat. Would he really want to DTR this early? We've only been talking for a couple weeks. We’re interrupted as our server comes to our table. Adam orders us both beers and I get carded much to his amusement.

“Sometimes I forget how young you look to other people.”

“Oh shut up. He was probably just being polite.”

He shakes his head. “I bet you ten bucks the guys ask me if you’re legal at practice tomorrow morning.”

“That’s an unfair bet. You could just tell me they asked and then I’ll be out ten bucks regardless of the truth.”

He places his hand over his heart, feigning offense. “You think I’d lie to you?”

“To get yourself ten bucks?” I shrug, smiling to our server as he sets our beers down.

“Eh.” He sips his beer. “So…I know this is kind of soon,” Adam pauses, making sure he has eye contact with me,” but I’m leaving on a road trip soon and I want to be sure of where we stand.” I nod, encouraging him to continue. “ I've made it pretty obvious that I’m interested in you.”

I laugh, “You have. With absolutely no shame whatsoever.”

“You’re beautiful,” he grins that grin that knots my stomach and tightens parts of me better left alone. “And I’m at the point in my life now that I don’t need or want to play games.”

“Because you’re getting old.” I smile coyly. I usually save this playfulness for our phone conversations because Alec’s presence keeps me in check. Even though he can probably still see and hear us, it’s nice not having him within arm’s reach.

Adam fixes me with a spirited glare before cracking a devious smile. “I might be getting old, but you’ll find out just how young I am before too long, Ms. Gracelyn.” Not for the first time, I blush. I've seen and hear plenty of lewd comments and acts in my life, but Adam has a way of making them more intimate than they should me. I attribute it to the way his voice drops a couple octaves and his aura seeming wrapping itself around me.

I clear my throat, reaching out for the pack link I have with Alec to calm my wolf. She’s a bitch in heat when Adam gets like this. “I thought you had something you wanted to discuss, Mr. Burish.”

He grins, taking my hand over the table. Our server returns, asking if we’re ready to order, before he can respond. Adam politely asks him to come back in about twenty minutes before refocusing on me. Once again, he ensures eye contact before speaking. “As I was saying…I want to be sure of where we stand. We've spent quite a bit of time together the past two weeks, either on the phone or in person. I wouldn't normally move this fast, but I've thought it over and I don’t like the idea of us not being more solid before I leave.”

“I happen to think we’re fairly solid now, Adam.”

“Are we?” That is a loaded question. I can tell by his tone. Either he’s wanting confirmation of what we are now or he’s wanting more than we have now. But I can’t give him more until he knows the truth about me. That would be unfair to him.

I sip my beer. “We are. You’re the only man I’m talking to right now. The only one that’s shown a romantic interest in me lately.”

“Don’t you think we’re doing more than talking?”

I tilt my head slightly, “Do you really need me to say it, Adam?” I thought he would be more confident during this conversation, more dominant. The fact that he’s not makes me wonder about his past relationships. When he continues to simply look at me expectantly, I give in. “I’m dating you, Adam. I have been since you called me after that night in Denny’s. You made it pretty clear when you got upset with Alec for “flirting” with me.”

“He was flirting.”

“Not the point,” I say lightly.

“It is the point. I don’t want to leave room for you to be able to flirt with other guys.” His dominance spikes dangerously and I have to take another sip of my beer in hopes of dulling the throbbing in my lower abdomen. I wish Adam knew what he was really doing to me. My wolf is so close to coming out to claim him. Right now, I’m wishing more than anything that I was human. It would make things so much easier.

I half-laugh, “I don’t flirt with other guys. It’s not my style.” I try to lighten things up. If I let this intensity fester, I’ll be mated to Adam before our meal is over.

“Gracelyn.” The look he fixes me with just about does me in. His eyes are a fierce blue.

“Look, I can tell you that I won’t date any new guys while you’re gone. But we don’t know enough about each other for me to make a solid commitment. I like you and want to see where this goes, but I feel like you’re asking for more than I can sensibly give you right now.”

He sits back, not releasing my hand. After a few minutes, he sighs. “I guess I better take what I can get, then.”

“Only if you want to continue this.”

He kisses my hand lightly and I have to stop a groan from leaving my lips. That’s the first time his lips have touched my body. No one should have lips that feel that good. Suddenly, I find myself struggling to control my wolf. “Gracelyn? Are you alright?”

“I-I’m fine. I j-just need some air.” With a complete lack of grace, I stumble my way outside. Going around to the quiet side of the building I squat, leaning against the wall.

“Gracelyn?” Alec’s dominance overwhelms me, forcing my wolf into submission.

I take a few minutes to control my breathing. “Thanks,” I say softly.

“What happened? I knew your wolf was close to the top, but she was sedated.”

“He uh,” I clear my throat, “he kissed my hand and my control became nonexistent.” Alec grunts. “I should be okay now. He’s done it once, I can expect him to do it again.”

“Maybe not. He’s hurt…” Alec pauses, listening to something I can’t hear. “And confused.”

I look at him. “Were you just reading him?” He nods. “I didn't think you could do that.” I have to distract myself. If I keep talking about Adam, my wolf will rise again.

“I’m almost an alpha; I can do a lot of things. The only reason you can read him is because you’re so strongly attracted to him. Werewolves at your level can really only read other pack members.” I let that information sink in as I take a few more deep breaths. “Ready? You need to come up with an explanation for him.”

I nod, already formulating one in my mind. Alec goes back into the restaurant, and I take a minute to compose myself. Popping my knuckles, I got back inside. Adam is fiddling with his napkin as I approach the table. I slide into my seat with more grace than I left it.

“Sorry about that. I um... I've never experienced a DTR talk as intense as that. Then you shocked me by kissing my hand.”

He stares at me, eyes roaming my face, trying to decide if I’m telling the truth. “How was that intense?” He finally asks.

I half-shrug, “You forget I’m twenty-two. As a teen, most of the talks consisted of the guy telling me I was his girlfriend and me being a bleeding idiot about it. Before you, I never really made it past two or three dates with a guy.” I take a long pull from my beer. He takes my hand when I set my bottle down.

“I didn't mean to scare you.”

“You didn't.” I’m glad I can honestly say that. “I guess I wasn't expecting you to be so serious about it. You’re pretty playful when we talk.” What I can’t tell him—and wish I could—is that his seriousness nearly got him a devoted mate. It only took a few boyfriends when I was younger for me to realize that nothing would work out if my wolf wasn't interested. Because of that side of me, boys were playthings, to be tossed aside when a newer, more interesting model came along. I didn't know how dominate my partner would have to be until I joined Mr. Fuller’s pack. And none of the boys I dated were close to being on Adam’s level.

Our server comes back before more can be said. I apologize to him before looking over the menu quickly. The prices are more than I’m comfortable with, but I order what I want anyway. Adam wouldn't bring me here if he didn't want to spend so much on our meal. And after that conversation, I doubt he’s going to let me pay. Not that he’s let me do so any other time we've hung out. Adam winks at me before requesting a double order of fries. I laugh, glad the intense mood has broken. Thankfully, the rest of our meal continues in our usual fashion. We mock each other while sharing about ourselves.

Notes

Any thoughts?

Comments

@lil_red0888

Thanks!!! It took longer than expected, but eh.

I love the new chapter! @Lasairiona Berry

lil_red0888 lil_red0888
9/24/14

@lil_red0888
I'm finishing up grad school this month. And then moving. But once I'm settled, I'm pulling this story back out. I want to finish it.

@Lasairiona Berry Please update!!!! I'm addicted! :)

lil_red0888 lil_red0888
5/19/14

@Lasairiona Berry

Thank you.

Psquared91 Psquared91
4/1/14