The Alpha’s Tempting Mate

“Me? You’re the one who set my secretary back on her heels.”

“I did not,” I sputter, then grin. “That was just a little cat fight. And she deserved it.”

He holds up his hands. “All right, kitten. Sheath your claws.” Smirking, he strides off, looking almost… happy?

What was that all about?

Jackson

My wolf whines a little as I walk away from my little superhero, but he behaves. He wanted me to close the door and mark her with my scent so the likes of Stu will stay away, but he’s satisfied that we got to see her at all.

I shouldn’t risk getting near her, but I can’t help it. At least I proved to myself I can be in the same room without jumping her. I love that she’s not afraid to tease me.

You’re Clark Kent.

If she only knew.

I skip the elevator, take the stairs two at a time.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

My secretary gives me a bewildered look as I pass. I realize the strange feeling on my face is a smile.

“Mr. King?” I turn, and my secretary’s perfume hits. The downside of having a sharp nose.

“Yes, Vanessa?”

“You have a call from Garrett. No last name. I wouldn’t bother you, but you said to put him through-”

“I’ll take it.” Ever since Kylie sparred with her, my secretary’s been subdued. I still get rock hard when I think of the encounter. If Kylie was a shifter, she’d be an alpha female. Perfect for my wolf. Strong enough to stand up to my rule, sexy enough to keep me wrapped around her little finger. Sweet enough to keep me hard, just thinking of putting my cock in her. Of long nights running under the full moon. Just the two of us at first, but, one day, there’d be pups…

Shaking my head, I pick up the phone. I must be moon mad if I’m thinking about pups.

“King?” The Tucson alpha sounds like he’s making his voice deeper. At twenty-nine, he’s one of the youngest alphas in the states. It helps that his father runs a big pack in Phoenix, and backs Garrett’s claim of the territory. “Just wanted to check in.”

Most alphas have a protective streak. Garrett is no different. But I’m not one of his pack. If any alpha tried to claim me, I’d be obliged to make it clear I’m no one’s wolf. Quickly and violently. My wolf tolerates Garrett’s “check-ins” because it thinks of the young alpha as a kid brother, kinda like Sam. Still, Garrett and I are careful in our interactions. In a fight for dominance, I’d win, but I have no interest in taking over his pack. And it’d be a shame to best him, because I like the guy.

“Garrett,” I answer. “Full moon this week.”

“That’s why I’m calling. My dad’s hosting mating games on pack land near Phoenix. Wanted to invite you to run with us.”

“You going?”

“Yeah. The guys want to sniff some she wolves. They won’t mate, but they’d like to get laid.” There are fewer than twenty members in Garrett’s pack, all young, unattached males, like him. And they all live in the same apartment building. Bit of a fraternity.

“Appreciate it, but I can’t make it. I’d send Sam, but I promised him we’d run our own property.”

“Dad says you’re always welcome,” Garrett says affably.

My money is welcome. I’m barely tolerated, standoffish even for a lone wolf. I’m dominant enough to hold my territory, but that doesn’t mean I want a pack. I’ve avoided gatherings since my birth pack banished me.

“There aren’t a lot of single females, but you might find one you like.”

“Tell your dad thanks but no thanks. Maybe in a few years, if Sam wants a mate.” I don’t want to insult the Phoenix alpha, but I find it best to be blunt. Maybe not the most politically sensitive, but I’m big enough, people tiptoe around me.

“Look, King, I don’t give a shit if you mate or not. Obviously, I haven’t taken a mate, either. But three males in my dad’s pack have gone moon mad in the last few years. It’s my responsibility to make sure you at least mingle with some females, since we don’t have any down here.”

What he really means is: You’re a lone wolf past the age of thirty, and a dominant, and more susceptible to going moon mad unless you take a mate.

Also, there is at least one female wolf in Tucson. Garrett’s beautiful younger sister is a student at the University of Arizona, but I can’t fault the guy for leaving her out of the equation. Not that I’m interested in her, anyway. The image of Kylie’s Batgirl stretched tits rises in my mind.

Not a wolf.

Garrett goes on, “I’m bringing up my pack to give them all a chance to at least run off some tension.”

“I didn’t know matchmaking was part of the alpha’s job description,” I drawl.

“I know your wolf is dominant. Without a pack to run, it must be dying to bring a she-wolf to heel.”

Every muscle in my body clenches, imagining bringing my little hacker to heel.

“Besides, with birth rates among shifters so low, it’s good for the pack if the most dominant of us settle down and have pups as soon as possible.” He sounds like his father. “Why put it off?”

I scoff. “Says the chronic bachelor. What, did your mother call asking for grand pups, and you decided to pass the advice onto me?”

Any other alpha might bristle and take offense at my jab, but not Garrett.

“You caught me.” I hear his grin, and it goes a good way to mollifying my wolf, who’s annoyed at having this conversation in the first place. “I figure if she has your wedding to coo over in the shifter society gossip pages, she’ll leave me alone.”

“I’m onto you now. I’ll think about it next moon. Sam should definitely get a girlfriend.”

“All right.” Garrett laughed. “We’ll look for you. See you around, King.”

“One more thing, Garrett.” I drop all joviality. With my wolf’s newfound attraction to a human, I’m suddenly not so certain about my own stability. “If I do ever go moon mad, promise me you’ll protect Sam. And bring your whole pack in to stop me. Whatever it takes.”

“Whatever it takes,” Garrett vows. The silence hangs cold and serious between us. We both hang up without saying goodbye.

I drum my fingers against the desk, the warning a weight in my chest. Garrett did the right thing, bringing up moon sickness in the most tactful way possible. It irks me that it took this reminder to make me back off Kylie. The animal inside me is dangerous and just looking for a moment of weakness so it can break free.

No more tests of my control. No more games like today. I have to stay away from Kylie. For her own good.

I open my laptop, ready to immerse myself in work, when the chat pings.

Batgirl4u: Hey