Her Alpha Protector Read online

“I don’t like packs,” she said, her tongue dragging over the swell of her lower lip.

  He forced himself to swallow, his breath catching at the sight of her glistening mouth, before lifting his gaze back to hers. He’d never actually heard the story of all that had happened in her pack, but he had his suspicions, knowing Seth.

  “What happened?” he murmured with the hope that she might respond.

  Her face crumpled with the distinct tang of pain, a bleak shadow of despair streaking over it. Clearly there was a woeful tale in her past, one he could easily see she wasn’t prepared to share. He knew he could force the issue, but was it worth it?

  It was clear if he let her walk, she’d be on the next bus and gone from the city before night fell around them. An option, but the thought of this wolf getting away from him again was more than unsettling—it was downright painful. Slender and petite, she was just as beautiful as ever, with her softly curving face and round-tipped nose. Still, she needed caring for. A few pounds on those bones would do her some good. He could provide that and so much more. A safe haven, a pack—there was so much he could give her, if she was interested. He wanted to bed her—and not just his wolf, but the man as well. For years he’d wondered about her, hoped that she was safe. Not that he could tell her any of this, with the scent of her anxiety and disquiet hanging thickly in the air. If he admitted his interest aloud, she’d tuck tail and run in a heartbeat.

  There was something more here, though. Lone wolf, rogue—whatever she wanted to be addressed as, she no longer had ties to Seth. She was packless and free to do as she wished. The first time he’d seen her, time had stopped. There this freshly turned wolf had stood, cowering in the shadows of her alpha, silent and afraid. He hadn’t understood even then what it meant, but he’d been interested, absolutely. That night he’d petitioned Seth to transfer her to his pack.

  He hadn’t known then if he’d wanted her as his mate or not, but he’d wanted her under his watchful eye and the time to figure it out. Seth hadn’t listened to a word Hunter said. He’d simply denied the request and the next news Hunter had received, Angel was Seth’s mate. The blow had been surprisingly staggering, yet he’d continued with his duty as alpha, the days passing by as he focused on expanding his territory and caring for his wolves, all the while attempting to keep tabs on this girl. Then eight years ago she’d fallen off the map. No one had known where she was or even if she was alive. He wasn’t sure why, but he had needed to know that she was safe. What scant news he’d managed to scrounge up had given him little to go on and had stopped trickling in altogether two years later.

  Here was his chance, his moment to finally bring her into his pack. To offer her a sanctuary, a place where she could be free and protected. Lifting his eyes to hers, he dared to sweep a stray lock of hair back behind her ear. Her eyes flew wide, tracking his movement avidly, but he wasn’t fooled by her skittishness. He wasn’t the only one suffering from this mad attraction; her sweet scent thickened and her mouth parted sensually when he grazed her cheek.

  “I could offer you a place within my pack,” he mumbled, a rush of awareness warming his lower abdomen when her tongue darted between her lips, wetting them. Such a simple movement, and how it affected him.

  His wolf perked and the man followed suit, a faint chuckle hovering on the edge of his mouth. He wasn’t naive; he’d been around long enough to be well learned in the signs of arousal. Shy or not, the signals were still there.

  “I don’t want a pack,” she responded, her voice barely a whisper.

  “You may not want one, but you need one.” His voice was gentle; he would not force her, though any other alpha would. They would claim her without a second thought, just for being what she was—a mateless female.

  “I’ve gotten by this long without one,” she retorted.

  His eyes dropped down to survey her body, noting the long, baggy cargo pants that were clearly two sizes too big and the loose top that practically swallowed her whole. Her thin arms hung limply at her sides, the shabby tatters of her threadbare sweater riddled with frayed holes. Gotten by was one thing, living an entirely different one.

  It was obvious she had no intention of even considering his offer, and he struggled with the burning desire to convince her otherwise. It took more strength than it should have for him to lower his arm and step back. He hadn’t forced Seth to relinquish her to him and he would not force her now. It was as clear as the shock carved into her face that her independence was important to her. He’d just have to give her a reason to stay.

  “You’re letting me go?” she whispered, eyes aglow with hope.

  He nodded. He didn’t want to, but he refused to hold someone against her will. If she was going to come to him, it had to be of her own accord. He was a patient hunter and knew enough to let the rabbit find him. At least this time he had the chance to try and win her. Without Seth, the opportunities were endless.

  “Just like that?” She was inching along the wall, preparing to bolt.

  “No, not just like that,” he bit out in a hoarse voice.

  He dared a step toward her, pausing when she faltered, the heel of her ratty combat boot catching the loose stone. Hunter swept down and managed to catch her before she spilled to the soiled ground. An embarrassed smile twisted her lips—lips he wanted desperately to taste.

  “One would think the wolf would teach me how to balance...” she teased weakly, her eyes refusing to meet his.

  There was nothing balanced about being a werewolf, but the words felt far too bitter to speak. Without their unnatural counterparts, he never would have met her, and he couldn’t just let her walk away again—not without finally tasting her, at least once. Countless nights he’d thought on how he’d missed his chance, and he knew he couldn’t let that happen again. His gaze dropped to her lips, wondering how they would feel beneath his. He had his suspicions, and his mouth watered with the thought of it.

  He poised over her and cupped her face between his hands. The faint sound of her breath catching tightened his groin and he bit back the growl rumbling in his throat.

  “Hunter?” she whispered as she gazed up at him. “Please, just let me leave. I heard you in the restaurant, Seth is on his way. I need to...go, I need to run, I can’t—”

  He cleared his throat and relinquished his hold on her, his fingers twitching when they fell back to his sides. Could he just let her go?

  “Angel.” He breathed her name, swallowing his groan when her eyes softened. How he wanted to tell her no, but that was a death sentence. She’d never trust him then. Instead, he opted for honesty. “Seth is already here. He’s been spotted just outside of town. If he’s smart, he probably has a couple members of your old pack with him, for protection. I don’t see how running will help you this time.”

  “It has in the past,” she argued, but there was doubt in her voice. The pungent scent of her fear drowned out the noxious stench of the city. “Hunter—” She spoke his name as though her life depended on it. “I’ve been running from him for eight years. Please...I can’t go back—won’t, won’t go back. Please,” she begged, “help me.”

  His eyes tapered as he watched the blood drain from her face. This little she-wolf was pleading for his help, and he knew without question he would give it—anything for her. There was only one place he could safely protect her. Seth would learn where she lived, as would any wolf with a nose. Tracking her was the simple part, but taking her...that was an entirely different challenge. “Come,” he muttered as he gently gripped her arm and led her out of the alley.

  “Where are we going?” she demanded as she stumbled after him.

  He muttered something, his thoughts already planning ahead. Her place first—she’d need her things. Then his, somewhere Seth would be a fool to attack. Greed made fools of many, though, and Hunter found he wanted that damned wolf to come for her. It’d been awhile since he’d had a good fight, and this was one he’d been dying for.

  Chapter Three

>   The rhythmic pounding of her heart all but deafened her as they climbed the stairway. Just what was she doing, bringing an alpha—this alpha—to her apartment? So he could see how pathetic her life was? It’d been his suggestion to collect her things. Yes, she’d prefer to have her clothes, but she didn’t like the thought of him entering her domain.

  Her experience with alphas was to run rather than trust. They were the same, all of them: possessive, demanding and dangerous. And Hunter was far more dominant than any werewolf she’d ever met. Just the power he carried in his little finger was enough to make her knees weak. Truth be told, that was part of the reason she’d asked for his help, even though it broke her number-one rule: rely on no one.

  Her years on the run had taught her many things, such as how to survive in this crazy world as a rabbit among wolves. So why was it that with him she didn’t feel like a rabbit?

  Reminding herself that she’d begged for his help, she fished her keys from her pocket and grimaced at the sight of her shaking hand as she attempted to unlock the door. There was very little within—a torn couch, a ratty pair of camping chairs and a small futon shoved into the corner. Her lifestyle wasn’t exactly conducive to elaborate furnishings. Once, she’d had it all—a life and a future. Now she lived day to day, fighting to make ends meet, all because of Seth.

  On the third unsuccessful attempt, Hunter covered her hand with his and guided the key smoothly into the lock. It popped with a soft click and the door swung open with little in the way to hinder it. Oh, but his hand was so warm and firm, and for a single moment she indulged in the whisper of a fantasy, imagining how that hand might feel cupping her breast.

  The faint dream shattered the moment his shoulder brushed against hers, and she shook her head clear of such thoughts before following him in. Thinking about such things would do her no good; she needed to focus on evading Seth and not on the six feet of pure muscle stalking around what qualified as her living room.

  “All right,” he mused as he prowled the length of the room, his fingers dragging over her cracked granite countertop.

  Her teeth latched around her lower lip; she refused to apologize for her living conditions. It wasn’t any of his business what quality of life she led, though the state of her apartment did leave much to be desired.

  “All right?” she repeated as she eased along the opposite length of the room.

  His eyes lit up and a small smile spread over his face as he watched her attempts to evade him. “All right,” he repeated. “It shouldn’t take much time to pack up, so why don’t you gather your things together and we’ll head out.”

  Her head spun. “Sorry,” she whispered as her fingers found the lip of her futon and gripped the rusted iron bar. “But head out where?”

  The resolved thump of his footsteps echoed within her small room as he continued to study her apartment. There wasn’t much to see: eggshell-white walls, yellowed linoleum floors and the usual appliances that had come with. It was no expensive mansion, or hell, even a home really, but it was a roof over her head, and that was all that mattered.

  “My place,” he said with little hesitation.

  “Your place,” she whispered in a faint voice.

  When she’d asked for his help, she’d meant escorting her to the bus stop. Her heart tripped in her chest at the thought of being confined somewhere with him. How many times had she mooned over such a fantasy and imagined him sweeping into her life—bare-chested, of course—to fix everything? Suddenly she wasn’t sure if this was reality or wishful thinking.

  “Yes, my place.”

  Her eyes flicked to the refrigerator, where a previously purchased open-ended bus ticket was held in place by a magnet. His gaze followed hers, his mouth crooking into a delicious grin when he read the words.

  “You’ve been running for eight years, Angel,” he murmured in that sinful voice that puckered her skin. “Do you think you can run forever? We can live a long time. One day Seth will find you.” He paused and swung his blazing gaze back to her. “And I’m not one for hiding.”

  No, he wouldn’t be. She fought against the urge to roll her eyes. Must be nice not to have to hide.

  “So what’ll it be?” Her stomach flipped when his voice softened. “Run, again, and keep running until one day he catches you? Or...” He trailed off, his bright eyes ever watchful. “Come with me?”

  Her teeth found her lower lip and she rolled her tongue over it as she contemplated his offer. Come with him—just what exactly did that entail? Her head was all atwitter with the thoughts tumbling around. The idea of going with him, of following this alpha, made her chest tight. It’d been ten years since she’d reacted so girlishly to anyone, not that he’d known how he’d affected her.

  “Seth won’t ever stop, Angel.” His words clouded her head. “He wants you.”

  “Why?” she asked in a broken voice. “Why me? I’m...nothing—a weak little pup—”

  A shadow whipped over his face as some errant thought took shape, the golden light that brightened his eyes silencing her words. He crossed the length of the room in quick strides that forced her back until she was flush against the wall. Such grace and power—every inch of him screamed alpha. Only when they were inches apart did he stop, his hands rising to cup her face. Her pulse jumped the moment the pads of his fingers stroked her jaw.

  “You don’t see what you are,” he murmured as his long finger hooked beneath her chin and lifted until she dared meet his gaze.

  “And what am I?” she whispered, both intrigued and terrified by his impending answer.

  He smiled and stroked her lower lip with the pad of his thumb. “Beautiful.”

  One word and her knees went weak. There were no words for the emotions she felt in that moment, and as he began to lower over her, her breath caught and a rush of blood made her fingers tingle. Angelica’s head spun, warmth swelling within her body as the alpha’s lips shaped around hers, his hot breath filling her mouth. Heat kindled, scorching a burning path across her lips before curling into her heart. For a moment she felt as if she’d go up in flames, and all from a simple kiss. Her mind emptied of all doubts as her mouth parted, their tongues meeting in a slow tangle. She could feel the coiled energy within him, the desire for more, but he maintained a conservative pace, more mindful of her than any werewolf had ever been.

  Never had she experienced such a rush from a kiss before; it was liquid ecstasy, an addicting drug that her body now craved. What little experience she possessed came from her human days, and since then, she’d kept her lips to herself as much as possible. The other wolves, the ones that had thought of her as nothing more than a play toy, had never been interested in kissing.

  So ardently he fed at her mouth, teasing and tasting his way. Silently she begged for him never to stop, a frightening notion considering they’d only just formally met. The rich scent of his arousal embraced her as tightly as his arms. She shuddered, her stomach leaping at the feel of his erection, large and rigid, digging into her hip. The lack of embarrassment astounded her, and she rocked to the balls of her feet, stretching toward him as she deepened the kiss, exploring his mouth as eagerly as he did hers.

  Angel’s palms slid up the wide expanse of his chest, which was covered in a soft cotton shirt. Her fingers curled into the small dusting of hair peeking out from the low collar as the pad of her thumb ran over his dark skin. He tasted of wildness and life, and with it came a whisper of freedom. So warm, she found herself drawing closer to the flame, drinking from him vigorously. For the briefest moment, she allowed herself to draw the scent of his pack around her, surrounding herself in the phantom arms of his wolves, of her unfamiliar brothers and sisters. She’d forgotten how it could feel.

  Her touch seemed to change something, and the air around them shifted, heating with their passion. A primal growl fell into her mouth as a banded arm wound around her waist, crushing her against him. Together they stumbled, her back pressing into the wall, his fingers diving beneath
the thin threads of her shirt. Firm tips grazed over her stomach before drawing up her side. How quickly this was getting out of control, like a wildfire devouring the parched earth. His touch kneaded into her skin and her breath caught when his fingers, after finding her breasts were free and unbound, grazed over her nipple.

  Angel gasped into his mouth, her hands settling around the nape of his neck. She couldn’t believe the way he was handling her, or that she was allowing it. For years she’d sworn no werewolf would ever lay hands on her again, but this was entirely different. The doubts in her mind dimmed, her need to be touched by him conquering all else. Two strong hands held her pinned to him, his fingers pushing the hem of her shirt up to expose her middle. His thumb circled her hardened nipple, teasing the beaded nub until he elicited a low moan from her throat.

  Her shirt vanished to the skilled talents of his fingers, baring her to the chilled air of her living room. He tore his mouth from hers, his lips dragging down her neck and collarbone until they latched around her breast. The sensual press of his hot tongue swirling and flicking over her nipple brought a rush of heat from between her legs. Angel’s knees weakened and she grabbed hold of his broad shoulders, taking from him the strength she couldn’t muster.

  How had she gotten here? Hadn’t she been running? A faint thought surfaced, ordering her to get moving. Instead, she shuddered against him, groaning as his teeth closed around the hard nub of her nipple. He pulled the swollen bead into his mouth with just the right amount of force and her knees buckled, nearly spilling her to the ground. For the first time in longer than she could remember, Angel turned off all thought and ordered herself not to be a coward. Was this not what she had fantasized about night after night? Was this not her most secret desire? Right now she just wanted to enjoy the way this wolf made her feel.

  His hands slid around to her front, fingers dipping into the lip of her pants. Angel stilled until he popped open the button and delved within. Her body screamed for this, to be pleasured and ravished. As though he understood her blinding need, he straightened to reclaim her mouth while his fingers found their way past her damp panties. Her thoughts muddled, the seductive haze making it hard to think beyond all that he was doing to her.