Without turning around, Trae gave a curt nod and exited the room. Olivia had better be ready, because he had every intention of claiming his mate.
4
Olivia closed the dishwasher door and started the cycle. She stretched her arms over her head. She was tired. That morning, she’d got up early and rushed over to Kelsey’s apartment to help her friend get her things packed and loaded onto the moving truck. She wasn’t needed there—Kelsey had hired movers to help her, and had already promised to call her before she left—but she couldn’t take another moment alone in her house. Of course, she knew that she was only running away, not wanting to be at home if Trae showed up. However, she’d dispensed with those nagging thoughts and stayed with Kelsey until she got into the cab to head to the airport to meet the other dancers.
Now, gratefully worn out, she was ready to crawl into bed. Tomorrow she could drown herself in articles and magazine layouts. Turning off the light in the kitchen, she entered the living room and turned off the television.
Open the door, Olivia. The rich, masculine voice in her mind startled her.
Frozen in her living room, she didn’t have to wonder who was speaking to her. It had been almost two full days since she’d seen Trae, but she could never forget his voice—the sexy timbre that caressed her internally. Besides, he was the only one who could speak in her head.
She tried not to think, knowing that he could hear her thoughts as well. Maybe if she pretended not to be home, he would just go away.
Sweetheart, let me in. The bite on her shoulder began to throb.
All day, it hadn’t even tingled and she had convinced herself that it was healing and would soon go away, just like Trae. Now, she knew that wasn’t the case.
It was foolish to hide in her apartment like a scared child. She was a grown woman and if she didn’t want to have anything to do with a man—or werewolf—any longer, then she would boldly explain it to him.
With a determined stride, she reached the door and pulled it open.
Trae stood there on her porch, sexy and captivating. His brown hair was wild, untamed. The urge to press her body against his and run her fingers into the soft silk assailed her.
“Hello, beautiful.” Today he was dressed in slacks and a button-down shirt, no snug leather, but still attractive.
Finding her voice, she said, “Trae. Most people call before they come by someone’s house.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him.
His diverting hazel gaze travelled down the length of her body, taking in her tank top and faded denim skirt. The outfit decently covered her body, but the heat from Trae’s gaze made her feel as if more than her arms and legs were bare.
“Ahem.” She cleared her throat.
His lips tilted and one side lifted in a half-smile as his gaze met hers. “May I come in?”
“It’s late. I was about to go to bed.”
The smile claimed both sides of his mouth this time and his hazel eyes darkened to a forest green.
Damn it, why did I say that? she thought.
Do you want me to answer that?
“No, I don’t.” She pointed a finger at his head. “Stop doing that. And stop looking at me like you want to eat me up.”
“I have already and would do it again with relish.” His words stroked her senses and turned her insides to mush and her legs to jelly.
“Trae…” she pleaded, her body begging. She groaned. She needed to get herself together and set him straight.
Before she could say anything, he brushed past her and entered her apartment. “We need to talk.”
The nerve. Left with no other choice but to shut the door, Olivia turned and followed him into the living room. “Look, Trae. Friday night was a blast, but I don’t think a relationship between us would—”
“Sit,” he commanded.
Cocking her head to the side and lifting an eyebrow, she eyed him, ready to give him a piece of her mind.
“Please, sit, Olivia.” This time there was less authority in his voice and it sounded more like a request.
Deciding it would be quicker to get him out of her apartment if she let him speak his piece, she took a seat on the couch and watched him as he stood on the other side of her coffee table.
“What is it that you believe is so important that we must talk?”
“There’s a lot that you need to know and understand about me,” Trae began.
“Such as?”
“My name is Trae Wulfene and I am the oldest son of my pack’s Alpha.” Trae started to pace across from her. “Being the son of the Alpha is a hard position, especially as an Alpha male myself.”
“What’s makes someone an Alpha? Is it like royalty? You’ll be a king because your father was king, kind of thing?” She was having difficulty grasping most of what he was trying to tell her. His verbiage, his way of life, was all new to her.
“Yes and no. An Alpha is just like what humans define it as—the leader of the pack. Not only that, but to us weres it is also the dominant male, the fiercest and strongest of all other males.”
“So, what makes this hard for you? Lots of men rule alongside their fathers.”
Stopping for a moment, he looked back at her. “There can only be one leader of a pack. Other Alpha males that are a part of our pack may be given a small jurisdiction, or a division of the company to manage, but they still answer to my father.”
“Is the same true for you?”
“No.” He started moving again. “As the Alpha son of the pack Alpha, everyone knows I will lead the pack after my father.”
“I’m not sure I understand.” She rested against the back of the couch.
“I do work at our company, but think of it this way; I’m in a long internship programme. There’s only one spot available for me, but someone else is in that seat—my father.”
“You don’t have to wait for him to die, do you?” She couldn’t imagine working side by side with a parent and knowing that her progress depended on their demise.
“Occasionally, that happens, but most Alphas retire at some point, when it is determined that the next in line is ready. They remain on in an advisory position.”
“Does your father have any plans to step down?”
Halting his movements, he said, “Yes. He’s currently in the process of turning everything over to me. We have an elder pack in Oklahoma that needs his assistance and experience.”
“You’re not leaving, are you?” Her heart seemed to sink in her chest at the thought, even though she tried to tell herself it didn’t matter. After tonight, Trae would be out of her life anyway.
Giving her a devilish smile, he said, “I’m not going anywhere.”
His words seemed loaded, as if he was talking about more than a move to another state.
“My dad is stepping down at the end of the week, the day after my induction ceremony.”
“Well, congratulations. I wish you much success, Trae.” She started to rise from the couch.
“That’s not all, sweet rabbit.”
He was starting up with the nickname again. Every time he said it, the word was laced with such sensual undertones it made her blood heat up and her panties wet.
Pushing aside her reaction, she plopped back down on the cushion and asked, “What does any of this have to do with me?”
“A were can’t be Alpha without a mate by his side to help him lead the pack and ensure its growth.”
A sense of foreboding filled the pit of her stomach and she began to tremble. “And…w—what…?” She swallowed. “What does this have to do with me?”
“I never expected to find you at The Club, and on the last night I’d planned to be there.” Piercing hazel eyes met hers, then slowly moved down her body and returned. “But there you were. I told you, darling rabbit—you’re my mate.”
Oh, God, he was serious.