Page 31 of Alpha Brock

Brock’s expression remains stoic, though I do see a brief flash of surprise in his eyes, like it never occurred to him that I would’ve overheard his confrontation with his brother. Which is silly, because one, I was right down the hall in the kitchen and I’ve got shifter hearing, and two, they weren’t exactly being quiet or discrete when they exchanged words earlier.

“So?” he challenges, seemingly unruffled.

I arch a brow. “So, if you don’t like me, then why don’t you want your brother to get with me?”

Something tells me that Brock isn’t used to people being this blunt with him; I get the feeling that a lot of people walk on eggshells around him in response to his prickly demeanor. I can tell I’m definitely getting a rise out of him, because I see his wolf showing in his eyes for a second, shimmering in golden flecks.

He grits his teeth, narrowing his eyes. “Do you want to fuck my brother? Because if you do, then by all means, go right ahead.”

“What’s your deal, man?” I sigh exasperatedly, my head falling back. “Why are you like this?”

Brock shakes his head, grumbling. “You don’t know me.”

“It’s amazing that anyone does with how easily you let people in!”

He grunts in annoyance, spinning his chair sideways and rising to his feet. “We’re done here.” He goes to walk around his desk, past where I’m sitting on the edge, but I kick out a leg to block his way. He shoots me a glare and I glare right back at him, the heat between us smoldering. Rising. Threatening to burst into flames.

“You know what I think?” I ask, leaning back on a palm to look up at him.

“What’s that?” His eyes are stormy as he stares down at me, and the tension between us is stiflingly thick, the attraction combustible. We both may be annoyed right now, but our bodies have yet to get the memo. Somehow, this argument only seems to be making us even more hot for each other.

I shoot daggers at him through my eyes. “I think that you talk a big game, but deep down, you’re really just a big softie.” I lick my lips, and I don’t miss how his eyes flicker down to track the movement. “I’ll bet that under all that grumpiness, there’s a nice guy in there just begging to be let out.”

Brock steps closer- too close, because he must be stealing my air; its suddenly hard to breathe. He nudges my thighs open with a knee, stepping between my legs. Leaning down over me and invading my space. “Is that what you really think?” he murmurs, staring at me with a predatory look in his eyes.

My heart races, threatening to thump out of my chest as I return his stare, drawing ragged breaths. I couldn’t pull my gaze away from his if I tried- I’m locked in; captivated. A prisoner at his mercy. “Yes,” I whisper, my lips involuntarily curling into a little smirk.

Brock suddenly darts a hand forward, wrapping it around my throat. His hold is loose enough that I can still draw air, but tight enough that it delivers a carnal promise, sending a flood of heat straight to my core.

“You’re wrong,” he rasps, his face inching closer to mine until I can feel his breath fan across my own lips. “The nice guy inside of me died a long time ago, so if you wanna play, little girl, just know you’re playing with fire.”

I’m incapable of responding- all I can do is stare at him as my heart beats wildly out of my chest.

Do I wanna play?Um, yes please!I’m ready for him to rip my shorts off and take me right here on the edge of his desk. I’ve never had a man be rough with me like this; everything with Sam was always so sweet and tender. It never occurred to me that it would be a turn-on until right now. My cheeks flush in embarrassment as I realize that my panties are probably soaked- and Brock can probably scent how much this power play of his is getting me all hot and bothered.

He presses into me, leaning over me, and I can feel the hard bulge in his workout shorts against the apex of my thighs. And by that I mean hishugehard bulge. All rational thought goes out the window- the guy has been a total dick to me, but all I can think of in this moment is how much I want us both to give into this explosive chemistry. How badly I crave it; how much we both clearly need it.

His grip tightens around my throat, restricting my air as he leans in closer still, his lips brushing against mine. “Trust me, Princess, you don’t want any part of this.”

Holy hell.

But what if I do? The words are on the tip of my tongue, but before I can say them, Brock suddenly releases his grip, quickly straightening and stepping back, breaking all physical contact. He abruptly turns and walks away, storming out the door of his office. Leaving me panting, squirming on the edge of his desk. Leaving me bewildered, frustrated… yet still wanting more.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Brock

The night air is cool, but the thick undercoat of my fur keeps me plenty warm as I traverse through the forest on the outskirts of Riverton’s territory. It’s no surprise that I had to let my wolf out to run tonight after the way the last twenty-four hours have gone. I was already agitated enough following the events of last night and this morning; topping it off with Astrid’s little performance in my office this afternoon had me ready to explode.

Shifting into my wolf form and going for a run is cathartic in itself- and tiring out the beast within does wonders for keeping my temper and baser urges at bay. With Astrid around, I need to do all I can to dull my animal instincts because the girl is clearly a walking, talking trigger for me. It’s a miracle I was able to walk out of my office today without tearing her clothes off and having my way with her, especially because it was obvious how badly we both wanted it.

She’s so sunshiny, so fucking idealistic. She has no idea what she’s getting herself into with someone like me, someone incapable of forming any real attachments; someone so broken that they can’t help but break anyone else who gets too close. She can’t know how much she’s flirting with disaster by continuing to dangle herself in front of me, because if she did, she’d fucking run.

I’ve gotta get Astrid off my mind, because as I run through a small clearing, I swear I can fucking smell her on the breeze. I pause, shaking out my fur, staring up at the sky. The moon is barely a sliver of light overhead, the forest around me blanketed in darkness. It’s easy to get lost in how calm and serene the forest is tonight, so easy that I almost don’t notice the subtle shift in my senses that tells me I’m not alone out here. There’s someone else nearby- another wolf.

I immediately snap into the mind-link, calling out in an attempt to identify whether one of the wolves from my pack might be out for a run.‘Who’s out there?’I demand, but I’m met with no response. It’s an eerie feeling- the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as the silence seems to stretch on for an eternity.

After a beat, I try again.‘This is your Alpha, identify yourself,’I bark out through the mind-link, but again, nothing. I’m on high alert, a half dozen worst case scenarios rushing to the forefront of my brain as I scan my surroundings for any sign of something amiss.

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