Page 2 of Drive me Wild (South Island Shifters)

“While it’s really nice of you, we aren’t interested,” Liliana repeats.

“Guys, the ladies said they’re not interested, now leave.” Christian balls his fists, and I know there might be a fight soon if these men don’t relent.

The first guy takes a swig of his beer. “Didn’t want to get with you bitches anyway.” They walk away, and I turn to the girls.

“That was the reason I didn’t want to play your stupid game.”

“Sorry, Winter, we didn’t think they could hear us, but it wasn’t all bad. You got a look at someone really hot,” Autumn says.

“True. Right ladies, I need to go to work.” I stand up. I hug Autumn, then Liliana.

“Do you want me to walk you to your car?” Christian asks.

“No, thank you, Christian. I’m not parked far,” I reply. I make my way to the bar and pay for my meal.

Heading for my car, I dig around in my purse, trying to find my keys, cursing myself for not pulling them out earlier. I get to my vehicle but fumble with the keys, dropping them on the ground.

I bend to grab them, but another hand gets there first before I do. Straightening myself up, I hope to find myself looking into the eyes of the mystery man, but, alas, it’s the guy without his friends from earlier.

He grins wickedly. “Looks like you can’t go anywhere without these. I’ll give them back if you get that drink with me,” he says.

“I can’t, sorry. I have to go.”

“Where?”

“None of your business.”

“Suit yourself.”

Balling my fists; if this guy thinks he’s got the upper hand, then he’s got another thing coming.

* * *

DECLAN

I had to get out of the main restaurant area. One look at the pretty blonde with the steel-grey eyes from across the room, and I was a goner. My entire body flushed with a magnetic pull to jump the bar and head towards the table to claim her as mine. It’s a force I have never felt before: powerful, all-consuming and intense. From what I have been told, the feeling is of finding one’s mate.

But she can’t be my mate. She’s a human. Impossible. I, wolf shifter and Alpha of my clan, Declan Stone, cannot mate with ahuman. I have resigned myself to the bachelor life, never falling in love again, nor to find my mate. I thought I’d found her once, but it hadn’t been the case.

Yet, something abouthercalls to me, making my blood pump faster, my heart race, and my body feel more alive than it has in years. I grew up in a family of wolf shifters. We’re all close. I witnessed the bonds of love formed and shattered. I thought once I had found that same bond, but my ex shattered that dream the night I proposed marriage. Never did I experience the same feeling with my ex as I have tonight with the mystery woman. It was instant attraction, instant arousal, and instantneedjust to be near her.

A hand on my arm pulls me back into the present and towards the barmaid, Tammy, who is flirtatiously smiling at me. She followed me out into the back room of the bar, not taking the hint that I’m not interested in her or anyone else.

But that human has definitely caught your attention, Declan.

A human mate. It’s impossible.

“Declan, we should go out sometime. You know we are both the same. I think we could be really good together,” Tammy says.

“Sorry, Tammy. I’m not interested in dating. Now, if you can excuse me, I have some other work to do,” I reply.

I’d hired her as a favour to her father, Edward, the Alpha of another pack here in Central Otago. We have a good relationship. They stay on their land and us on ours. If there is ever any trouble, I tell him and vice versa.

Tammy huffs. “One of these days, you’re going to say yes.”

Not bloody likely.

I finish what I’m doing in the back room and head back out to the bar, hoping my pretty mate is still there. I might just head over and introduce myself. When I get there, she’s gone.

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