Page 47 of Mating With My Grumpy Alphas
When we broke apart, both breathing slightly harder, his forehead rested against mine while we processed what had just shifted between us.
“Tomorrow night,” he said quietly, “I’m going to watch you shine in front of people who recognize your talent. And then I’m going to take you to dinner and listen to you talk about how it felt to reclaim something that was taken from you.”
“Perfect,” I whispered, meaning it completely.
“Let me walk you home,” Elias said, his voice carrying a gentle authority that made something flutter in my chest. It wasn’t a question, but it wasn’t a demand either. Somewhere in between that made my omega instincts respond with warm approval.
I nodded, not trusting my voice after the soft intensity of our kiss. He helped me into my jacket with careful hands, his fingers brushing the back of my neck as he lifted my hair free from the collar. The simple touch sent awareness skittering down my spine.
The October night was crisp and clear, our breath visible in small puffs as we walked through Hollow Haven’s quiet streets. Elias stayed close enough that his bourbon and cedar scent surrounded me, but he didn’t rush to fill the comfortable silence with unnecessary conversation. His presence felt steady and protective without being overwhelming.
“Thank you,” I said as we turned onto my street, “for understanding what I needed tonight.”
“Thank you for letting me provide it,” he replied quietly.
When we reached my front porch, I expected him to say goodnight and leave. Instead, he turned to face me, his hands coming up to frame my face with a certainty that made my breath catch. The amber porch light cast warm shadows acrosshis features, and his eyes held something intense and patient all at once.
“Willa,” he said, my name carrying weight I’d never heard before.
Before I could respond, his mouth was on mine, and this kiss was nothing like the careful exploration we’d shared in his apothecary. This was claiming and thorough, his hands holding me exactly where he wanted me while his lips moved against mine with confident heat.
My omega instincts responded immediately, melting into his touch as he deepened the kiss. There was something about the way he held me. Firm but not harsh, directing but not controlling. It made every nerve ending come alive. He kissed me like he had every right to be there, like he’d been thinking about this moment for weeks and had no intention of rushing through it now that it was finally happening.
When his tongue swept across my lower lip, I opened for him without hesitation, a soft sound escaping my throat that made him pull me closer against his chest. His scent intensified, carrying notes of arousal and satisfaction that made my knees weak.
He backed me gently against my front door, his body creating a warm shelter around me while his mouth worked magic against mine. One hand stayed cupped against my jaw, thumb stroking over my cheekbone, while the other settled at my waist with possessive certainty.
“I’ve been wanting to do that properly,” he murmured against my lips when we finally broke apart, both breathing hard.
I could only stare at him, lips tingling and heart racing from the intensity of his attention. This was what it felt like to be claimed by an alpha who knew exactly what he wanted and had the patience to make sure I wanted it too.
“Tomorrow night,” he said, pressing one more soft kiss to the corner of my mouth, “after your exhibition, I’m taking you somewhere quiet where I can kiss you like that without worrying about scandalized neighbors.”
The promise in his voice, the way he looked at me like I was something he intended to thoroughly enjoy, made heat pool low in my belly.
“Goodnight, Willa,” he said, stepping back with obvious reluctance.
“Goodnight,” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.
I watched him walk away, noting the confident set of his shoulders and the way he glanced back once to make sure I’d made it safely inside. Only when his footsteps faded completely did I finally close my door and flip the lock, my lips still tingling from the intensity of his kiss.
Standing in my darkened living room, I touched my mouth where I could still feel the pressure of his lips, still taste the faint sweetness of chamomile tea mixed with something entirely him. Tomorrow night couldn’t come fast enough.
Chapter 20
Wes
The morning patrol through the eastern watershed should have been routine. Check the monitoring stations, document any changes in water quality, note wildlife activity patterns. Simple conservation work that usually helped me think clearly about complex problems.
Instead, I found myself distracted by thoughts of Willa’s gallery opening tonight, wondering if I should go, if my presence would make her nervous, if showing up would seem like pressure she didn’t need. The photography exhibition was her moment. Her chance to reclaim something that bastard Sterling had tried to destroy. The last thing she needed was three alphas hovering around making the evening about territorial dynamics instead of celebrating her artistic breakthrough.
But I wanted to be there. Wanted to see other people recognize the talent I’d witnessed firsthand during the open day. Wanted to watch her face when she realized that her work mattered tothis community, that her vision had value beyond commercial viability or someone else’s approval.
My radio crackled with an incoming call, pulling my focus back to the job I was actually supposed to be doing. “Wes, this is dispatch. You’ve got someone requesting to meet you at the old logging road access point. Says it’s about the Eastbrook development project.”
I frowned, checking my watch. The logging road was deep in the disputed territory, not somewhere casual visitors wandered. “Did they give a name?”
“Cassian Black. Says you’ll know what it’s about.”
