dy'

e sales department, the whole flo

throwing out details as if they'd known the man for years

were sharing a secret. "Wendy, you lucky thing. You got to st

k standing next to the Alpha is such a prize, tell Lucy

er hands, shaki

t look in his eyes, that presence-wolves like us don't j

epartment manager, strode in and clapped her hands at us. "So everybody

ssian appeared again, surrounded by a cluste

epartment, listened to Lucy's quick rundown of ou

en Lucy, who usually kept her composure locked down t

s lips was whether an Alpha that un

d do to me if they knew whose name was written on the Alpha's marriage licens

and dread. Only after every last coworker ha

r. But how was I suppose

e I should go back to that apartment. The

e time. Bare

ed to walk. It would give me space to think about the two

the corner for some vegetables and meat. No matter how

I needed and car

hen I saw him-that silhouette that was somehow b

d and easy. From across the lobby he looked less li

ng up and trying to sound as

s expression didn't change at the sigh

ll smile and came t

ences only once, back on our second meeting. The rest of

een us, to reach for him somehow, b

ing truth about who he really was. It made the tho

nly reached a hand toward me. On instinct, I t

least bit bothered by the distance I'd put between us. He

with the groceries, and here I was, letting my

ift the heavy bag like it weighed nothing at all. Som

r together. Neither of us s

ged off my coat, and tied an apron over my clothes. "

said it lightly,

forced a smile that came out m

yet we circled each other like two

st how things were supposed to work. But the way he spoke to me,

ts foundation, I thought, shouldn

d went into the kitchen, washing the vegetab

he corner of my eye, standing there in the kitchen

nounced. Lone wolf. No pack protection un

ever. But underneath it, if you listened closely, there was

him for a

nother Alpha's pack was a wolf no one could simply reach out and take.

more than that quiet safety, and he w

said. "I'

ly banked. "Good. Jovan will handle the paperwork. O

een treated as an outsider-a scentless wolf who knew little of the world beyond her own p

ction I needed-that alone was enough. As for what kind

the kitchen, alr

r cuts of meat. Fresh herbs. Something wo

d do was feed him well and keep the quiet home I had