Page 47 of Attraction

“No wait, slow down, I’m not gonna quit. But I do need options—like a plan-B. Look, the chances are I’m not gonna make this team. Hell… Darius already has it in for me and he’s made it quite clear he doesn’t like me—let alone want me on this team. And after what happened with Munroe, we’ll maybe he’s right to think like that, about me being a weakness.”

“Why would you say that? I mean, after yesterday and what you showed me. Your…”

“Look, things like this, if they’re gonna happen, I can’t have the team put at risk, not for me.”

“That’s how a damn team works! You were there for Oz when he needed help, and that’s what we do: help each other.” He sighs. Annoyed, he grabs hold of her waist, pulling her close. “Look, tell them… the guys.Showthem—show themLuna. Trust me, it’ll be for the best and they’ll understand.”

“No! No, I don’t want them to know. Ryan, I need to do this by myself, not with help fromher.”

“Kat, use her. Let her be the strength to help you. Darius, he’ll… well, it’s gonna be tough and I think you’re gonna need her. Believe me, you’ll need everything you’ve got.”

“No! Ryan… oh hell, I should never have told you. They won’t understand.”

“Believe me, they will. Look, Zak’s already suspicious and I won’t keep lyin’ to him. Trust me, it’s better if we tell them and if you make the team, then you’re gonna have to tell them, anyway. I can’t hide somethin’ like this, not from them.”

“Why? You wouldn’t hide it—not even for me?”

“No. No, I wouldn’t, and I won’t! They’re my team, my brothers, and I won’t lie to them. I won’t cover, not even for you. I said I’d give you some time, but that’s all. Hell, I don’t even know how they don’t know already. How the hell Zak can’tsmellwhat you are?”

“Wait,Zak? Are you saying Zak’s a wolf? Oh my god… and the others, they are too?”

“Yeah, all of them.” Digby nods. “What you didn’t know? How could you not?

“I guess I should explain.” she says. “The um… the reason, that Zak, and the others, the reason they can’t tell about me, it’s because they’re not meant to. I cover it—well, except it from you, I guess. Maybe it’s your exceptional sense of smell.” She smiles, brushing her finger on his nose.

“Or maybe it’s because there’s more to it… between us, I mean?”

“Yeah… maybe that as well?”

“Alright, so then tell me, how do you hide it from Zak and the guys? What, you got some magic-spell or somethin’?”

“No! Don’t be a dumb-ass, there’s no such thing as magic. You know you watch too much TV.” She smiles, stroking her hands against his cheek. “No, this implant I have, it’s notexactlycontraception—well not like anormalperson.” She sighs, laughing nervously. “It’s… it’s like a thing they use on… ferrets to stop them coming in heat. It also suppresses scent—confuses the male and stops him knowing when it’s time toget-it-onand knot. Obviously, this is a much higher dose for a wolf, but it works in the same way. It’s something I investigated with certain people, you know, specialist medics—for our kind. They were trialing it a few years ago and … I tried it. Well, times move on and not every wolf wants to get pregnant. But the side effects mean I have no sense of smell—or hardly any. It’s kind of a trade-off. They can’t smell me and I can’t smell them, makes my ‘Wolf-Radar’a little off-kilter. Except with you, you seem to hitallmy buttons. I mean occasionally I can smell an alpha, but he has to be dominant. That’s why it seems odd it’s only you and not Darius, I can’t smell him at all—except his aftershave.” She smiles.

“Shit! You know, I never knew this kinda thing existed.”

“Well why would you?” She laughs. “You don’t have that problem. It’s not like you’re going to wind up pregnant, is it? So, you have no reason to cover up. Anyway, you thrive on what you are. All those girls… theRosie’s, why would you want to? So anyway, now you know how it works.”

“Oh yeah, um… about that, about Rosie, I uh—”

“She’s pregnant? Yeah. I know—well I guessed. How defensive she got, that she went to you for protection—from me. I should’ve figured before I opened my mouth. Though I still don’t get why she wants your baby so much? But I guess that’s between you and her.”

“Yeah, that’s um… well it’s a complicated situation. I’ll explain it some time. But it’s kind of a debt I owe.”

“A debt?” She frowns. “Okay… well, I can’t wait to hear that story. Look, do we really have to tell the others? I just… I don’t want that hanging over me. I mean Darius hasn’t picked up on it either, which is surprising. Well, unless he’s just not saying anything?”

“Never can tell with Darius, he plays things pretty close to his chest. Anyway, I don’t wanna talk about him right now. I still can’t believe he’s been an ass and pulled the exercise forward. Though, I think that’s more to do with him flexing his muscles over me because I asked him to back off and give you some space.”

“Yeah, I know. He told me when I went to see him. He asked if that’s what I wanted, for him to back off, and I said no. I told him he could go ahead, do what he felt was best for his team.”

“Right. well, he’s done that then. So, this job… at the hospital? What, you don’t wanna make the team now?”

“Ryan, it’s just a backup plan. Even you have to accept that Darius doesn’t want me on this team and the chances are I’m not gonna make it. If you’re honest, you know that. If I don’t make this, then I have no plan to stay in the military. I’ve had enough of the military stuff and the hospital would be a new challenge. Being grounded and in one place—having to make friends and connections, that would be different. Maybe it’s what I need instead of being alone? Maybe then we could get to know each other better? If you wanted?”

“Yeah, yeah, maybe that could be interesting too.” He grins, kissing her. “I’m still not lettin’ you give up on this team though, not that easily. Okay?”

“Okay!” She smiles as his hands work their way up over her curves and his tongue finds her mouth. “You know, we should go to bed. Like you said it’s a long day tomorrow.” She grins, pressing her body close to him, her hand on his groin, rubbing against him as they continue kissing. Then backing away, she smiles. “Goodnight Ryan…”

“What? Kat… Kat wait!” He frowns, watching as she disappears into her bedroom—alone. “Kat… You can’t be serious? What the hell… you can’t tease me like this then go. Oh my god… shit.” He sighs. “What the fuck….” The pulse of his cock is throbbing hard in his boxers, but he can’t help but laugh. “Oh hell…. You are such a tormentin’ lil’ bitch! I’ll get you back for this!”

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