Page 2 of Wolf Traded
I had major respect for the former alpha but his son has always rubbed me the wrong way. He is weak and though I’ve only seen him at the occasional official event over the years I have a feeling he hasn’t changed.
I wonder what his mate must be like to be mated to such a weak alpha. She must not be impressive at all. A glorified pack whore with no real value to the pack. That’s what I see the fates gifting him with. I could be wrong but I’m not usually wrong about these things.
The little town still has an old time feel even if they have modern amenities. I can see the gabled rooftops from our spot on the hill overlooking the place. People are bustling around everywhere and it makes me optimistic about my chances of finding a worthy mate. I take a deep breath of the crisp mountain air and trudge down the hill making my way to the Inn we where we’ll stay.
“You go do your thing. I’m gonna go check us in at the Inn.” Angela pulls off to the left heading for the Inn without another word. Sighing, I make my way down the hill and to Main Street where all the local businesses are located.
The street is bustling with people but with the permanent scowl on my face most give me a wide berth. A tinkling laugh stops me in my tracks. I nearly stumble at the beautiful sound but catch myself just in time before anyone notices.
I feel like a complete creep as I turn toward the sound. Two women, one older and one younger are walking arm in arm into the local pub. I’m briefly frozen as I look at the younger woman. She oozes strength and a quiet grace. Her long brown hair shines in the sunlight and her eyes are piercing blue the color of the Caribbean Ocean.
I’m moving before I even realize what is happening. There’s a pull to her that I don’t understand. She is perfect. Her curves would fit perfectly in my hands. I shake my head to clear it of the lewd thoughts that are making my cock harden. I need to find out more about her. She’s the one I want. I realize quickly that I will give Grayson anything to take her as my mate. I just need to find out more about her.
It’s probably the dumbest thing I have ever done and completely reckless but I don’t care. I wait a few minutes and follow the two women into the darkened bar. They are already seated in a booth in the back when the bartender rushes around the bar toward me.
He is a stocky older man with salt and pepper hair and a graying mustache. He has a quiet strength about him that he tries to hide but I can see a mile away.
“Alpha Archer, so nice to see you. Right this way please.” The man rushes out his words. He looks flustered as he shows me to a booth not far from the woman. His kind blue eyes assess me as I hold up a finger beckoning him closer.
“Can I ask you a question?” I whisper so only he can hear.
“Yes, of course.” He replies a little too loud for my liking.
“Who is the girl in the booth over there?”
He turns to look at her and his eyes seem to soften momentarily with a deep affection for her. He turns back to me a smile on his face. “That is Jara. The alpha’s mate.”
The man drops off a menu and takes my drink order. Deflated, I order a whiskey but I refuse to let my disappointment show. “Do you know of any unmated females here that are like her?”
“We have plenty of unmated females but none of them are quite like Jara. She is one of a kind that one. Been fated to Alpha Grayson since birth. She’s a good one who will help our pack immensely once she becomes the alpha female.”
The man leaves with a grin on his face and I can’t help but look over at the woman again. Her and the other woman are whispering fiercely and her eyes lock on mine over her shoulder before she looks away quickly.
Does she feel this same connection? Or am I just going insane? There is something about her and I just can’t look away from her.
A throat clears and I turn to see a scantily clad red head staring at me with a coy smile on her face. She twirls her hair biting her bottom lip. “Did Mike call you Alpha?” She asks her eyes sparkling and I know exactly what kind of woman this is. She is an opportunist and I want nothing to do with her.
I nod but keep my expression hard. There was a reason Mike brought me to this booth and I was thankful for it until this woman decided to interrupt my peace. “Alpha Archer.” I grunt and nearly laugh when her eyes widen and her skin starts to pale.
She reeks of fear now instead of envy. Good to know my reputation as a brutal bastard has reached Grayson’s pack. She looks at the ground and anywhere except for me as she takes a step back.
“Sorry to bother you, Alpha Archer.” She squeaks out before turning and practically running from the pub.
Mike bustles over handing me my drink and I nod my thanks before picking the glass up and taking a sip. The ice clinks against the glass as I tip it back and I feel eyes on me.
Jara is staring at me with a smile so bright it lights her eyes. I wonder if the girl from before is a rival. It is entirely possible seeing as the other girl reeked of envy and desperation.
I hold my glass up in a toast as my eyes lock with hers. She looks away quickly and a blush stains her skin a pretty shade of pink. I nearly groan out loud at the thoughts of all the ways and all the places I could make her turn that gorgeous shade of pink. Fuck. I have to stop this. I’m sitting here coveting someone else’s mate when I should be searching for my own.
“She wasn’t to your liking, Alpha?” The man, Mike asks and I nearly jump. “Too bad. She’s the only one that is close to Jara in strength.”
“She didn’t look strong when she found out which alpha I was.” I raise a brow at him. “She was so scared, I thought she would pass out.”
“Good luck then, Alpha. Your reputation inspires fear. If you want someone who is without fear you might need to look someplace where people don’t know who you are.” Mike chuckles and walks away.
Finishing my drink, I stand and reach for my wallet and leave a few bills on the table before walking out. I need to get away from the woman. I need to find a way to get the image of her pouty red lips out of my head.
Frustrated, I storm to the Inn. This time everyone moves out of my way. I don’t care. They should be scared. It’s looking like this mission to find a mate is going to be a waste of my time. I never waste my time like this and now I’m stuck here watching the mating ceremony of the only woman in this pack that I want for a mate.
