SLADE
I didnât realize what time it was as I looked up from my paperwork. 5:45.
âCrap,â I muttered as I pushed out from the desk and walked upstairs.
As I entered my room, I stripped down to take a quick shower and then dress before rushing downstairs.
I thought to stop and see if Addison wanted to walk down with me before shaking the thought from my head.
I jogged down the stairs to the common area to hear the bustle of the pack members talking, laughing, and being all-around cheery. I knew it was excitement over their new luna.
As I turned the corner, I was frozen. Standing in front of me was this beautiful, lavender-scented woman. The dress was perfect on her, and I instantly regretted sending my sister out to get it for her.
She looked and smelled amazing. It didnât help when she turned around to see me and gave a small, warm smile. My wolf was pacing.
But I wasnât about to give up control or let this girl affect me in the ways she already had. I ran my hands through my hair before walking up and speaking with various pack members.
Even though I wasnât big on crowds, these people were my people, my family. I felt more myself around them.
And then, of course, there was dinner.
As was the custom, the luna sat right beside the alpha. All. Evening. It took every ounce of my control to ignore my wolf and not bury my face in her hair.
I had to shake that thought away several times, and once she caught me shaking my head and gave me an odd look.
Thankfully, I got my wolf to chill just in time to look down at my watch and catch a glimpse of her legs. The dress I bought went just above the knee, but when she sat, it was midthigh.
Gulping, I decided to just look straight ahead the rest of the evening and eat my food. After a while, I felt eyes on me and looked down to find her staring at me, much to my dismay.
The blush on her cheeks showed she was embarrassed I caught her, and it sent a jolt through me.
FINALLY, dinner was coming to an end, so after giving a short speech and welcome, I quietly snuck away before I was destroyed.
I headed back up to my room to cool down. I hit the wall as I entered. âDamn it,â I half yelled before heading to the bathroom to splash water on my face.
I didnât want a mate. I didnât want her to have that effect on me. To make me lose control over myself. I flopped down onto the bed and shut my eyes, hoping I could just avoid her tomorrow.
But as I closed my eyes, all I saw was that brown-haired girl in a floral dress, slowly driving me crazy.
***
The morning came, and as I woke, I heard rustling. I looked over to find that I had slept in. It was now almost nine.
âCrap!â I rushed up and into the shower.
After throwing on a polo and some shorts, I ran out only to be hit with the most amazing smell.
âWhat is that?â I muttered to myself as I walked into the living room to find Addison, dressed in some very fine shorts and a blue T-shirt.
Her hair was up in a messy bun, and her cheeks were flushed from the heat of the kitchen. I couldnât remember the last time the kitchen in my quarters had been used, definitely not since I had become alpha.
Usually, it just held snacks and random items for quick meals if the alpha had to be somewhere. She turned toward me again, this time holding a pan just from the oven.
In it were the most appetizing muffins I had ever smelled. ~No~, I thought to myself and was about to walk past when she looked up and gave me that bright smile of hers.
âGood morning, Alpha,â she sang. âI didnât know what time you are supposed to wake up, and you missed breakfast. Would you like one?â
She offered up a giant, delicious-looking lemon-blueberry muffin. I stood there in awe for a moment. She had a brush of flour on her cheek, and a wisp of hair kept falling down to her face.
And those muffins smelled so good. I closed my mouth and just shook my head.
âNo thanks, Iâm running late to pack business.â And I walked as fast as I could down the stairs to my office.
After a morning of random paperwork, I ventured outside to check on warrior training. I was proud of the fact that my pack had such dedicated and strong protectors.
They did drills every morning and usually some sparring. The grounds were buzzing with men and women working hard.
In order to have a steady income to the pack, we used the six hundred acres we owned and put it to use.
We had a large garden of seasonal produce to use for the pack and to sell at local farmersâ markets. We set aside some acreage and raised buffalo for butcher. We did well, and we were comfortable.
After watching a sparring match between a couple of the protectors, I decided I needed to let off some steam as well. Just as I had that thought, Beta Sam called over.
âAlpha! Want to throw in and show these guys what real fighting looks like?â Sam was laughing as he goaded his leader into a sparring match, which wasnât hard because I was in the mood.
After beating on each other for a few good minutes, I was suddenly distracted by a laugh. I turned to see Addison walking down the hill with Hannah.
I was glad they had become friends, and something Hannah said had made them laugh.
My wolf caught on to my distraction and began yelling at me. â~What are you doing, man? Quit staring at that girl. Sheâ~â
SMACK. In my distraction, Sam connected a good hit to the side of my head, and I went down.
As I got up, Sam smirking proudly that he got the best of his alpha, I heard the rush of the girls running over to see if I was okay.
âAlpha! Are you all right?â Addison questioned. I could see she was slightly worried, which just irritated me even more.
âYeah, Slade, he knocked you right on your rear!â Hannah said, laughing. âNice hit, Sam!â
I got up with a harrumph, brushing myself off, and sulked off back to the pack house. I needed to make some calls anyway.