Page 18 of The Alpha's Arrangement
A rustling behind me has me turning and Carter standing up, getting in front of me, protecting me. The brown wolf and the twenty-something others from the past few days all come out.
Carter shifts back immediately, and I hear his bones breaking and twisting. That has got to hurt.
Soon, a very naked Carter stands in front of me, hands on his hips, ass turned my way. Damn, it’s a fine as hell ass.
“Shift!” he orders, and suddenly, my mind is blown again.
One by one, the wolves in front of me turn into humans; my brown wolf turning into Owen.
“Holy shit,” I breathe, taking in their forms, their very naked forms.
“Cover up,” Carter orders, and hands go to lower regions, while the women cover their breasts, yet Owen has a cocky smile.
I take a step back and my feet falter. As I’m heading down on my ass, Carter shows up quick as a flash and grabs me before I hit the ground.
“You’re a wolf.”
“Yeah, baby.”
“But, I thought those were only on TV and books.”
“Books?”
“Yeah, I read books about shifters all the time. Wolves, panthers, tigers, lions … and more.”
Carter growls, “Only animal you have is the one holding you.”
“I just … What does this mean?”
Carter turns to the other wolves. “Leave.”
Silence hits as they move farther away from us. Part of me is sad to see them go.
Carter sits in the grass with me on his lap, staring up into his beautiful eyes.
“What this means is that you’re my mate. This is why I haven’t had sex with you. I want you to know exactly what you’re getting when we do.”
“I feel like there’s more to this you’re not telling me.”
He smiles. “Love that you’re so damn smart.”
I say nothing, just continue to stare at him, waiting for some answers. Lots of them.
“Wolves have a very keen sense of smell. When we met in the store, you instantly hit me, and I knew you were my mate.”
“How?”
“It’s in our blood to know exactly when the one shows up. It’s like you have a place embedded deep in my soul, my heart, and my brain. When I inhaled you, there was no question.”
“But how can I be your mate, lover—whatever—if I’m not a wolf?”
“According to the Ancients, one’s mate can be anyone—human or wolf. You happen to be mine.”
“So, what does this mean? I’m your mate, so we start officially dating or something?”
A grin plays on his sexy lips. “We have been ‘dating’ for a week now.”
My mind reels as I play back the past week. He’s right. It may not be a traditional way of dating, but still, we’ve gotten to know each other, he’s made me fall for him in several ways, and I love his damn wolf. Tricky man. Or wolf. Shit.
