Page 30 of Follow Your Instincts

He moved away quickly, and Lucas took his place, opening his arms to me questioningly. I stepped into his embrace, and his sweet scent brought a rush of calm and comfort. I took a large inhale, my face buried in his chest.

Lucas released me gently.

I was already aching, my core clenching and wet, when I turned to Soren. He stood, unsure, and rubbed the back of his neck. I closed the distance and gave him a fierce hug, a fraction of what I wanted. “Thank you,” I breathed into his neck.

His arms closed around me, and I felt his nose brush across the shell of my ear. “For what?”

“For being there and stopping that asshole,” I said, horrified when my voice quavered. I shoved down the emotion as best asI could.

Soren’s arms tightened around me. “Always.”

I stepped out of the hug, breathing heavily, before I did something truly insane like lick him up the side of his neck. He looked a bit dazed as well, and Ben cleared his throat.

I started softly and turned to Lachlan. He was scowling harder than ever and once again refusing to look at me.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know you,” I said, extending an olive branch.

Lachlan nodded and met my eyes. “I look forward to that, too,” he said stiffly. Ben pushed him in the back until he stepped towards me, hand extended.

As soon as our palms touched, his dark, smoky scent washed over me, and the desire that had been slowly building inside since they walked in the door exploded in a conflagration. I whined involuntarily and stumbled into him, still holding his gaze, when my knees went boneless. Lachlan growled and caught me, pulling me into his chest, and wrapped himself around me in an almost punishing grasp. I pushed my face into his neck and inhaled his scent until my head went light and I whined again, trying to get closer to him. I felt feverish and desperate.Mine, a small voice sounded in my head.All mine.

“Shhhh,” he soothed and rubbed his jaw against my temple. I whined again and rubbed myself shamelessly against him.

He didn’t push me away. “It’s okay, I’ve got you,” he said in that gravelly voice and stroked down my back. A softer growl, almost a purr, sounded in his chest, and I pressed my ear to his shirt, the vibration calming the instincts that told me I needed to claim him asmyAlpha right now.

As my blood calmed, mortification took the place of the temporary madness. I stiffened in Lachlan’s embrace, and he stepped back, the vibration in his chest cutting off abruptly.

“Oh my fucking god,” I said, and I couldn’t look any of them in the eye. “I’m so sorry, I don’t…” I stepped back and hugged my arms tightly, missing the feeling of Lachlan’s arms around me.

“I’m sorry,” he said awkwardly. He seemed sincere, which was strange because I was the weirdo who attacked him. I looked away from his intense gaze.

“Please do not apologize,” Ben said, and pulled my chin up gently to meet his gaze. “We’re going to go because I’m pretty sure Steffi is about to kick us out anyway for making you perfume like crazy,” he said, and a mortified laugh burst from me. “But I will be here in the morning for our run,” he promised. “What time?”

“I usually go at 6, but that just seems cruel. 7 AM?” I asked and laughed at his expression of horror. “Still too early for you?”

“No, it’s perfect,” he said and moved back to join his pack. I still couldn’t look at the rest of them.

“We’ll see you soon, Maggie,” Lucas said as Steffi walked them to the front door.

Andreas stood up, and I shook my head. “Don’t even start with me,” I said.

His smile was too innocent. “I have no idea what you mean,” he said.

Steffi bustled back into the room, beaming. “What lovely men,” she said. “So, what were you saying yesterday about making up your mind and never changing it, dear?”

“I hate you both,” I said, but I smiled and gave them quick hugs before retiring to my room, where I could reflect on the meeting at length. Alone.Maybe in the shower, I thought, my blood still singing with pent-up sexual tension.

Chapter 11

Lachlan

Keep walking, I told myself.Get in the car and drive home. Every step felt forced as my instincts screamed at me to rush back into the Center and claim Maggie in every way. My inner Alpha wanted to rut her until she couldn’t walk and bite her where the whole world could see she was mine.

From the moment I smelled her peach and ginger scent, I knew I was lost. Even before I saw her. And then, of course, Ben was right; she was breathtaking.

She was tall and statuesque, fit but not thin, with a mane of ringleted curls that fell to just below her shoulders. Her face was heart-shaped, accentuating her large, green eyes and winged brows. Her lips were a soft, natural pink and when she’d smiled at Ben my heart stopped.

I’d had to hold myself back from her the whole time we’d been in that tiny, enclosed room. Her scent was overpowering my better judgment and infiltrating my brain.Mine, mine, mine, my Alpha chanted.

---