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  Before I know it. He quickly takes my mouth with his.

  I won’t deny him anymore. I like him. This might actually lead to something if I can stop my wolf thinking about Theo. I fist my hands in the front of his shirt as I deepen the kiss.

  He lets out a moan and pulls away.

  Wow. What a kiss.

  “I was thinking the same thing,” he says, with a laugh.

  Oh good god. Did I say that out loud? What is it with men and me making a fool out of myself in front of them?

  He brushes his thumb over my lips. “I better leave before I kiss you again.”

  We say our goodbyes and he leaves without any more kisses.

  I enter the apartment building in a happy daze, still thinking about that kiss.

  My happy mood disappears when I step out of the lift; thanks to the sight of Jared sitting on the floor against our apartment door. He looks like he’s been there a while. God only knows how he got past the security guards. Am I ever going to catch a break?

  Looking dishevelled, he jumps up as soon as he sees me. His usually well-styled blonde hair is a mess; no doubt from running his hand through it every two seconds, exactly like he is doing as he stares at me.

  “Bel.” He sighs, leaping towards me, trying to take me in his arms.

  I manage to push him off before he gets a hold. “Jared, don’t. I’ve had a week full of annoying, pushy men and I’m not in the mood to deal with another. I shifted on the full moon but I haven’t run since arriving in Mount Roxby. I don’t want to have a forced shift.”

  “I just want to talk, baby. I’ve missed you so much.”

  I let him have his moment. I really don’t have the energy to argue about it. I open my mouth to reply, and close it again, having no idea what to say.

  The lift pings and Misty and Benji step out from it. Saved by the bell. Thank you, angels.

  “Look, Jared, it’s late. If you really want to talk, meet me at work tomorrow. My shift starts at five o’clock. It’s a bar called Misty’s down Main Street. Have you seen it?” A big public place is the best place to meet him. Misty’s is perfect.

  “Yes. I saw it earlier. I’ll be there. Thank you.”

  I step around him to unlock the door and gesture for Misty and Benji to enter before me. I daren’t look back at Jared. I might just break my resolve and fall into his arms. I have missed him. I love him. Of course, I have missed him; I just know we shouldn’t be together. We’re not right for each other.

  I need a pack, and he needs his pride.

  “He’s a bit intimidating—alpha level intimidating,” Misty mutters as we make our way through to the kitchen. She opens a cupboard and takes out three glasses.

  I run the cold tap and fill the glasses one by one, we all like to take a glass to bed with us. “Yeah. He’ll be taking over as Pride Leader when his father steps down. I hope you don’t mind me telling him to meet me at work, I just figured it would be better meeting him in a public place.”

  “Not at all. It’s safer that way. You’ll be able stick to your guns about not being together easier in public.”

  Thirteen

  WOLFING OUT

  ROSABEL

  Waking up the next day my wolf is practically crawling out of my skin. I really wish Theo had turned up to show me where to run. I am desperate for a good run, but because I don’t know anywhere safe to go, the gym will have to suffice.

  The gym looks busier than the last time. I head straight through to the lockers and dump my stuff; taking a towel and bottle of water with me and placing the locker key around my neck.

  Just as I place my bottle in the holder on the treadmill, Wesley stops beside me.

  “Rosabel, hi. Theo isn’t here today.”

  “Hi.” I frown. “Why would I think Theo was here?”

  “He owns the place, I thought you knew,” Wes says.

  I remember the card I memorised, the one Theo gave me with his number on it. His email did have the gym’s name in it. Why hadn’t I put two and two together?

  “I didn’t realise. I’m just here for a workout. I don’t know anywhere safe to run so this treadmill will have to do.” I step on and crank the speed up. I really shouldn’t take my anger out on Wes but I can’t hold it back.

  As I start to run I expect Wes to leave, so I am surprised when the next question comes out of his mouth.

  “You haven’t seen Paddy have you? The guy who almost wolfed out on you?”

  “I know who Paddy is.” I laugh, remembering how embarrassed the poor guy was. “No. I haven’t seen him since he left Theo’s after the meeting. Why?” I step off the treadmill so I can give Wes my full attention.

  “He hasn’t been seen or heard from since he dropped Chloe home after the meeting. It looks like the kidnapper has moved on from vamps to werewolves.”

  “Oh, no.” I didn’t know what else to say. What can you say to someone whose pack brother is missing?

  “I know.”

  Looks like I am not the only one who’s short for words. His phone rings and he digs it out of his shorts pocket. He glances at the screen before speaking again. “I have to get this. Enjoy your workout, Rosabel,” he says as he walks away to answer the phone.

  I work out for an hour before deciding it’s pointless. My mind is too busy thinking about poor Paddy—not to mention the equipment just isn’t doing anything for me. My wolf wants out, to run and nothing less will suffice. She feels more on edge than before I started.

  When I arrive home Misty and Benji have already left. I quickly change into my uniform, having showered at the gym.

  I arrive at work at the front entrance just as Misty opens up.

  “Hi, Tommy. Looks like ya have company today,” Misty says, laughing at her own joke.

  Tommy walks through the doors heading straight for his stool. “Sure do, Misty.”

  “Sorry I’m late. The gym was a waste of time. I don’t know why I even bothered,” I grumble, following Misty through the bar.

  “I bumped into Wesley. One of the pack members has gone missing. They think it’s the vamp-napper moving on to werewolves.” I go into the office and offload my bag before joining Misty behind the bar.

  “Who’s missing?”

  “Paddy. The one that nearly turned wolf on me last week.”

  “Poor thing, he’s a nice guy. I hope they find the kidnapper before anyone else goes missing.” Misty starts making Tommy his usual.

  Benji’s sitting in his usual seat with a drink in front of him. He’s starting to become like Tommy. “How did you get in here today?” I can’t see Misty carrying him in, not with the way he thrashes about trying to get away.

  “I walked right in. Misty made me a bracelet that negates the ward for me.” He holds his wrist up showing me the bracelet. The ordinary looking piece of leather cord suits his bony wrist. I reach out to touch it hoping to feel the magic, but I can’t feel anything. It just feels as ordinary as it looks.

  A group of seven witches come in together, and just as I hand the last one his drink Emmanuel walks in. He heads straight to my side of the bar and sits next to Benji.

  “Sorry, but I couldn’t stay away from you,” he says with a grin.

  Oh what the hell! I lean over the bar and give him a peck on the lips. Only, when our lips connect, I get a lot more than a peck.

  I hear a growl coming from the door and I pull away, expecting to see Jared. When I get far enough away from Emmanuel’s scent I catch the spicy scent from the other night and I realise too late that the growl belongs to Theo. I don’t need to be an empath to know that he’s sad and angry, when I catch sight of his beautiful face. The mix of emotions coming from him is so overwhelming; I can’t even pinpoint one of them confidently.

  He takes slow, sure strides towards me. “Bel, we need to talk.” He glances at Emmanuel before adding, “In private.”

  “Use the office,” Misty says, sidling up beside me. The last thing she wants is the alpha to go wolf in her bar. />
  I head to the office without saying a word. I have no idea what to say to him. Part of me feels guilty about being with Emmanuel, yet another part keeps reminding me that he stood me up.

  He follows me to the office in silence. He closes the door and rests his forehead against it.

  I can feel his energy pushing at my skin. “What’s going on, Theo? I’ve already told Wesley I haven’t seen Paddy.”

  “It’s got nothing to do with Paddy.” That spicy scent coming from him is getting stronger by the second. He takes a deep breath and spins around to face me. “There is a were-lion asking about you. He wants to reside here. I sent him to Dominick so I would have time to warn you.” I could tell that isn’t what he wanted to say.

  “You’re too late. He turned up last night, not long after Dominick warned me he’d passed on my address. But that isn’t what you really wanted to say though, is it?”

  “Yes, that’s it. I guess I could have told you in the bar after all,” he lies.

  “Theo. I’m an empath and a werewolf. If I couldn’t feel your emotions through my empathy, I’d still know you are lying. My wolf can tell. What do you really want to talk about?” I slam my hand on Misty’s desk to emphasise my impatience. I really don’t want to be pissed, but he’s blatantly lying and I can’t stand it.

  “An empath,” he repeats, stunned. That’s not exactly a good sign. Maybe I should have told him before. “Why were you kissing the witch? We’re mated.”

  “Theo.” I sigh. “You haven’t said two words to me since leaving Misty’s on Saturday morning. You promised to show me where it was safe to run on Monday but stood me up. I assumed everything said at the meeting, must have been bullshit, or at least the full moon causing you to do it. So when Emmanuel asked me out again, I said yes.”

  Theo finally steps away from the door, coming to a stop when I’m within reach. He reaches out and brushes my hair behind my ear. He doesn’t crowd me. He can probably tell that I’m angry and fighting my wolf for the change. I may not be part of his Pack but he is an alpha. He’ll be able to sense my wolf and how much she wants to get out.

  He takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry. Paddy going missing hit the pack hard. I’ve not had two seconds to even think since then. I know it’s no excuse. I came here tonight to beg for your forgiveness and to see if you would go on a date with me, since we pretty much skipped that step.”

  My anger dissipates with his words. How can I be angry with him when he has so much on his plate? “Theo. I forgive you.”

  Before I can say more, he grabs my face between his hands, and takes my mouth with his. As he runs his tongue along the seam of my lips, begging for entry, I pull away.

  “Wait. What about Emmanuel? He’s a nice guy; I can’t just trade him in.”

  He’s looking at me with such adoration that I can feel his love wrapping around me.

  I’m kissing him again before I even realise that I’ve moved. My hands are around his neck, fisting his hair. Our scents mix and Theo lifts me by the hips and places me on the desk, knocking papers to the floor. As his hands roam my body, mine take a journey over his muscular chest and down his abs. As I reach his belt and start to undo it, his nimble fingers work at my zipper.

  “I can’t let you do this,” Dominick says from behind me.

  Theo jumps away from me startled. “Where the fuck did you come from?”

  “Didn’t Rosabel tell you? One of the gifts I received from the tie gives me the ability to materialise wherever she is at just the thought of her name.” He smirks as I get off the desk and face him.

  “Why the fuck are you here, Dominick?” I ask him pointedly.

  “I told you the other day. I can’t let you seal your mating,” he tells me.

  “What does our mating have to do with you?”

  Theo and Dominick answer my question at the same time.

  “Death isn’t the only way to break the tie.”

  “Sealing our mating breaks the tie,” Theo adds with a smirk.

  I glance between them both, not knowing who to address. I focus on Dominick. “Is that true? When Theo and I seal our mating, the tie between the two of us will be broken?”

  “I believe so, yes,” Dominick states as the door opens and Misty comes in.

  “Sorry to disturb ya but I need ya out there.” She hooks a thumb over her shoulder indicating the bar. “Jared and Emmanuel are both getting anxious. I can’t serve and keep them calm.” She glances at Dominick as he dematerialises. “What the hell?”

  I dismiss the empty space with a wave of my hand. “He arrived the same way. He’s a pain in my arse. Sorry about leaving for so long. I’ll be right out.”

  Misty closes the door again leaving the two of us alone.

  “I need to go. Neither of us wants Jared losing control. He’ll cause a lot of damage and probably take a number of people out before anyone can subdue him.”

  Just as I reach the door to the bar, Theo spins me by the shoulder and pins me against it. His mouth descends on mine without warning. I kiss him with everything I have. How could I not? We were about to do a hell of a lot more in that office before Dominick dropped in. Theo pulls away from my lips resting his forehead against mine.

  “It might be a while before I get to do that again. It sounds like you’re going to be busy. I love you.” I stand there taking in his words as he pushes the door behind me open, giving me no option but to exit.

  I work my way back to the bar, without reacting to his words.

  I love you.

  Did he even realise he said that? I walk behind the bar in a daze, watching Theo join Wesley and a beautiful, petite redhead at Lucy’s side of the bar.

  I shake myself out of my stupor and make my way to Emmanuel. “Sorry about that. We had some crossed wires we needed to sort out.” I’m not going to dump him in the middle of a packed bar.

  He grabs my hand and presses his lips against it. I smell the spicy scent and turn to see Theo watching. I give him a smile to let him know everything is fine as I pull my hand from Emmanuel’s grasp.

  I hear the beginnings of a roar, a rumble coming from the back of a throat. It’s coming from beside Emmanuel. I glance over to spot Jared.

  Here comes World War Three.

  I tap Misty on the shoulder as she pushes the drawer back in on the cash register. “I’m sorry I’ve been a pain in the arse tonight, but do you mind if I take Jared to one of the booths so I can get this chat over with?”

  “Don’t worry, ya can’t help it. As long as war doesn’t break out in my bar, I won’t dock ya wages,” she says with a grin, before heading off to serve another customer.

  After hearing my conversation with Misty, Jared gets up and walks towards the tables.

  I follow him to an empty booth, ignoring half a dozen eyes I can feel watching our every move. Not only are Emmanuel and Theo watching, but so are the pack members who are scattered throughout the bar.

  “Okay. Jared, you wanted to talk, so talk!” I say before my butt even hits the seat. Once I’m sitting and my eyes connect with his. I can see the heartbreak in his eyes. Who am I kidding? I feel it too. Jared was the first person not related to me that actually loved me. He stood up for me when everyone else wanted me dead. He put his life on the line for me.

  “Why did you follow me Jared? You know we can’t be together. Your pride wants me dead. They won’t let you lead if we are together. You were born to lead. I can’t be the reason you don’t.”

  He reaches across and wipes a tear from my cheek before grasping my hand on the table. “I love you, Bel. I needed to make sure you were safe. We’re meant to be together. I would’ve left with you.”

  My wolf starts to pace inside me, agitated. She doesn’t want him. She’s always liked Jared. He protected us. I don’t understand her change in heart.

  I knew Jared would act like this. Putting his life on hold to protect me is what he does. “As you can see, I’m safe.” I let go of his hand and lift my arms to ge
sture at my unharmed appearance. “You need to go home, Jared, back to your pride.”

  “Bel, we have been through this a million times. It’s my father’s Pride, not mine.” His voice rises and everyone in the bar looks our way. The werewolves are no longer pretending not to be listening.

  Seeing red, I stand up. “Dammit Jared!” Before I can even finish berating him, my wolf takes my temper and uses it to come through. I’m suddenly no longer a human but a wolf. I hadn’t even felt the usual pain.

  Growling at Jared, my front paws on the table and my snout in his face; I can see he’s trembling, no doubt fighting his own change. But that doesn’t stop me snarling.

  Theo’s calming energy alerts me of his presence.

  “Rosabel. You’re not going to rip Jared’s throat out, are you?” I can feel his alpha energy pushing at me to obey. As much as I don’t like the thought of him being able to make me obey an order, it pushes my wolf back enough for my human half to realise the mistake I’m making. I don’t want to rip Jared’s throat out, especially not in Misty’s bar.

  I look into his concerned emerald eyes and rub my head against his hip. I jump down off the bench seat and lay down on the floor next to the table.

  Theo sits in my vacated seat and begins talking to Jared in a hushed voice. I can feel the tension throughout the room—even though everyone has returned to their own conversations. Emmanuel is blatantly staring in our direction but not making a move to approach.

  “Jared. I understand that you have protected Bel for a long time.”

  I growl, insulted at the fact that Theo is insinuating I needed protecting.

  Theo ruffles my fur to calm me down. “We know she doesn’t need protecting, but I’d like to thank you for keeping my true mate alive.”

  Jared’s anger dissipates within seconds. I look at him to see defeat in the slump of his shoulders.

  A whine leaves my throat as I rub my snout against his shin.

  “Your true mate?”

  Theo nods his head as he rests his chin on his steepled fingers. “If you choose to pursue her, I will have to take it as a challenge.”