Kalli breathed deeply while making the omelets, never turning around, afraid that he’d see right through her soul. Read her mind. She didn’t want to lie to him, but she’d just met the man. The intimacy they had shared the previous night spoke volumes to the type of man he was but she wasn’t ready to trust him with her secret. He’d never understand what it was like being a hybrid in pack, not even omega; she’d been the lowest of the low.
He was a beautiful, strong Alpha, who’d most likely been like that since birth. How could he possibly fathom the terrifying childhood she’d experienced? He might be able to empathize, but he was neither hybrid nor female, both of which were insubstantial, undesirable and often, irrelevant within pack life. Alpha females were utilized to mate and breed, but even that life wouldn’t have been hers. She wasn’t Alpha; she wasn’t even full wolf; she was seen as nothing more than a tainted half-breed.
As such, the Alpha would have sent her to work for the pack in whatever capacity the others deemed necessary. Come the full moon, when the wolves were most sexually active, they had planned on pimping her out like a prostitute to any lower ranking males who hadn’t earned the right to breed. And if by chance she’d become pregnant, it was made clear they’d abort the child, by force if necessary. No one wanted her to propagate the human genes within the pack. From puberty, the Alpha had made sure she learned pack protocol. He had no intention of letting her leave, but wanted her groomed for her new ‘role’ when she turned of age. Her life had already been a living hell growing up, and she refused to accept the brutal, misogynistic future he’d planned. Running was the only way, and she could trust no one but herself.
Yet Tristan seemed so different than the others she’d known. There was no mistaking his dominant spirit, but he’d saved her, asking for nothing in return but information about that night. She needed time to think, time to assess whether or not she could implicitly trust him with not just her secret, but her life.
“Hey, here you go. Hope you like lots of cheese,” she said, placing a plate in front of him.
He raised his eyes from his work. “Thanks. It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone make me breakfast.” He started eating, only to be stunned by her next comment.
“I find that hard to believe. You’re Alpha. Bet you have lots of women lined up to serve you.” The words were out of her mouth before she could take them back. Oh my God. What the hell did I just say?
“What makes you say that? Have you spent a lot of time around an Alpha before? Do you have personal knowledge about how Alphas behave and who cooks their meals?” he countered, wanting to know exactly where she’d learned about packs.
She nearly choked on her eggs.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just so nervous. You know, open mouth, insert foot.” Glossing over her faux pas, unwilling to answer him, she forcefully swallowed her food and pressed onto her next agenda item. “So, Tristan, I really need to get back to work today,” she stated flatly, changing the subject. She knew he was too keen not to notice, but she wasn’t about to start discussing her knowledge of wolves.
“Yeah, about that. No.” Nice try, he thought to himself. She may not want to talk about how she knew what she did, but damn if he was letting her out of his sight. “Great eggs by the way.”
Did he just tell me no? “But I have to go. I’ve been missing for days. How am I supposed to explain this to my boss? I have patients; they need me.”
“Again, that would be a no. You will not be returning to work until my pack business is resolved. I have a sketch artist coming over this morning. You can work with him, and we’ll see what we get.”
Frustrated, Kalli accidentally slammed her coffee mug on the counter a little too forcefully, spilling coffee. “Did you hear what I said? I have patients. A job. I don’t want to get fired.”
“Oh I heard you, but you need to remember who you are talking to, Doctor.” He used her professional title hoping it would alert her that he meant nothing but business when it came to the topic of her returning to work. He stood, towering over her petite frame.
“But I need…” she stammered, immediately feeling small in his shadow. She was tempted to cower in his presence, but stiffened her spine and raised her chin at him. Thankfully, he moved around her to put his plate in the sink.
“But nothing. You’re in danger. You’re not returning until this is over. End of story. After we’ve done the sketches, we’ll take you over to the hospital, so you can wrap up whatever you need for your ‘leave of absence’. You can talk to your boss and explain that you need a medical leave due to the attack in the garage. I’ll make a call over to Tony at PPD, and report it for you, if the hospital hasn’t reported you missing already. If they give you any trouble, I’ll put in a call to the president of UVH. I donate enough money to that place that they can go without you for a few weeks.”
Kalli stood in awe that he had already worked it all out in his mind. She knew he was right. Where would she go? Her apartment? The vampires had easily found her at her work; it would be even easier to attack her at home. If the wolves decided to come for her, there would be nothing she could do to stop them. She reached up to her neck, feeling the freshly healed scars, and shivered. What if the spawn of the devil, Alexandra, came for her again? She conceded that she needed Tristan’s help. And as much as she didn’t want to admit it, he needed hers as well.
“You’re right. I’ll stay,” she acquiesced. Going over to the sink, she began washing dishes in defeat. She tried to think of what she was going to tell her boss.
“Did I just hear you say I was right?” He laughed in triumph. She really had no choice. It almost was comical that she actually thought she did. He’d overlook her insolence, considering she wasn’t in his pack. But in truth, he simply didn’t want to argue with her. With the ladies, he’d much rather be a lover than a fighter.
“Yes I did. And I’m quite sure that you hear it all the time.” He was Alpha. Deciding not to give him any more ammunition, she tried another request. “But I need to go by my apartment and get some things. Are you sure it’s okay that I stay here with you? I could go to a hotel if you…”
“No,” he interrupted coming up against her from behind. “You’ll stay with me…in my home…in my bed. I am not letting you go, Dr. Williams.” His firm tone left no room for misunderstanding. Standing close enough to her, he could feel the warmth of her skin. He wanted to rip off his towel, bend her over the sink, and slam his cock into her sweet pussy until she screamed his name over and over. But he wouldn’t even consider talking her into it. No, when they made love, she would willingly submit to him, begging him for release. He wasn’t sure why it was so important to him that she behave like pack; she was human, after all. Maybe it was his wolf warning him, but he just couldn’t have her any other way. Until then, he’d tease and seduce her every second she was with him.
She wasn’t sure if it was his commanding tone that set her on edge. Or perhaps it was the knowledge that his bare arousal lay directly underneath the towel around his waist, but Kalli’s entire body hummed in excitement when he grazed the back of her shirt with his strong body. There was no imagining the sexual tension; it threatened to set the room ablaze. Tristan was incredibly magnetic, and she felt like a box of paperclips that was about to explode; she’d be stuck to him all over. She’d spent so many years hiding her true identity, never getting close to anyone. The men at work had asked her on dates, but she’d conveniently thrown up her “professional morals” speech. She couldn’t let anyone into her bed, let alone her heart. But Tristan was larger than life in every way. Overnight, she’d become unraveled, and it was all because of him.