Cheesecake and Heated Make Outs

RHIANNON

My own screaming wakes me from my sleep. My chest feels tight as I choke, gasping for air.

His hand was around my neck, he was holding me off the ground. I search frantically for my notebook. It’s still in my suitcase.

I unpack it quickly and begin to furiously sketch his eyes, deep red and menacing. He brought his face so close to mine I could see tiny flecks of gold in his lava eyes.

It felt so real. I rub my hand over my neck, almost expecting a bruise there.

Everything is fading so fast I don’t remember anything else.

A little tap on my door draws my attention. Shit. I’m not used to having people around. I probably woke someone up. This is the worst nightmare I’ve had since I arrived here.

I tiptoe toward the door, pulling it open.

Lily is standing there, wrapped up in a fluffy robe, concern etched on her face.

“You okay, Annie?”

“Yes, I’m so sorry I woke you.”

“Don’t apologize. Will you be able to get back to sleep?”

I look back at the clock. It’s nearly six.

“Probably not,” I smile.

“Want to come help me in the kitchen?”

I nod eagerly. I would love that.

“Let’s get changed. I’ll be right back.”

I’m not sure what we will be doing, but I assume it might get messy. I pick a pair of black skinny jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt. If I spill anything on myself, it won’t show.

Ten minutes later, we’re walking down to the kitchen together, creeping quietly through the dark, silent house.

“How about we have some coffee first? Then we can start with the other stuff,” Lily asks.

“Perfect.”

“Some of the guys threw a bunch of meat in the smokers last night. I was thinking we could make some cookies and maybe cheesecakes for dessert.”

“That sounds amazing.” I smile. I’m not sure if I’ve ever made a cheesecake before, but I would like to.

“Are you nervous about going to Las Vegas?” she asks while sipping her coffee.

“I’m nervous that this other pack won’t be as kind or welcoming as you have been. Do you know this alpha?”

“No. I’ve never met him. I know he’s friends with Alpha Hunter though. They did their leadership training together.”

“They have leadership training?” This is all much more official than I was expecting.

“Yeah, from sixteen to eighteen, future alphas go to a training camp in Montana.

“They learn how to lead a pack, about national pack laws, stuff like that. Plus, they make connections and friendships with other alphas.”

“Makes sense. How many of you are there?” I cup my hand over my mouth. “Was that rude? I’m sorry.”

She laughs. “It’s okay to be curious. There are about three million of us in North America. Worldwide, about seven million. It seems like a lot, but really, it’s a pretty small population.”

I try to hide my shock. Seven million werewolves seems like a lot to me considering I didn’t know they existed until four days ago.

We work through the morning and into the afternoon. I forgot how many people there are here. We made dozens of cookies and thirty-two cheesecakes.

An industrial-grade kitchen really comes in handy.

After lunch, several other people join us in the kitchen to make different side dishes. Everyone talks and jokes, and they all make a point to include me in the conversations.

I feel very at home here. They all know I’m human, but they welcomed me anyway. I wonder if all packs are like this?

With thirty-two cheesecakes chilling in the refrigerators, Lily and I decide to get out of the way.

“I’m going to shower and change before dinner,” I tell her before going back to my guest room.

I shower slowly, taking my time under the warm spray.

After drying my hair and styling it, I choose high-waisted black trousers with a wide leg and a deep green, long-sleeved V-neck.

After I finish dressing, I stare at myself in the mirror hanging on the back of the door.

I haven’t been particularly concerned about my looks in the past months. I’ve been more worried about remembering who I am.

Being around all these beautiful women has me spending a few extra minutes on myself.

My deep brown hair is waist length and wavy. My skin has looked paler than usual the last few days. I think it’s the shock of everything I’ve learned.

My eyes are unusually large and deep green. Maybe I’m weird-looking.

I’m considerably smaller than most grown women; my hands and feet are very small and, while proportional to my body size, my waist is very small.

I sigh and open my door. As soon as I do, the door across the hall opens so forcefully it’s almost ripped from the hinges.

The man standing in the doorway looks murderous. He’s sucking in ragged breaths.

His shoulders are tense and his muscles ripple beneath his white T-shirt. His rich honey eyes lock onto mine.

“Fuck,” he hisses. He’s in front of me in a single stride. With no warning, he crashes his lips against mine harshly. I gasp and he takes the opportunity to softly explore my mouth with his tongue.

It takes me about fifteen seconds to realize that I am fully making out with a stranger. Is this my first kiss?

This is madness! I need to make him stop!

In ten seconds, I’m going to make him stop!

He runs his hands down my back and roughly grabs my ass, pulling me up into his arms. I steady myself against his hard chest. He steps forward, pushing me into the wall beside my door.

My brain and my mouth are battling. My brain is saying stop, but my mouth wants to keep going.

I feel him grind something very large and very hard against the inside of my thigh. Suddenly, I’m brought crashing down to reality.

“Whoa! Stop!” I push against him with both hands. “Put me down right now!”

He growls deep in his throat but places me on the ground. I’m standing between him and the wall. He’s got his arms just above my shoulders on the wall, effectively trapping me here.

“I-I…who? You’re…” I stammer. My brain is scrambled.

He opens his mouth but before he speaks, Hunter and Ilana walk around the corner.

Ilana bites her lip and looks down at the floor.

A shit-eating grin covers Hunter’s face. “Jacko! I see you met Annie!”

“Fuck! This is Annie?” he says angrily. If my feelings weren’t so hurt by the way he just said that, I would be thinking about how sexy his voice is.

I duck below his arm and run into my room, locking the door.

“Nice going,” I hear Hunter scolding him through the door.

I sit on my bed and close my eyes. My fingers instinctively go to my lips. I don’t remember my life before eight months ago, but I’m pretty sure I’ve never been kissed like that.

A loud knock on my door startles me; it’s less of a knock and more of someone trying to break the door down.

I don’t move. I’m not ready to see him yet. Why did I let him kiss me? It’s like I’m drawn to him. Even though I don’t know him, I want nothing more than to jump back into his arms.

His big, strong, muscular arms. He had a full-sleeve tattoo covering one arm, but the other was bare.

His dark hair is faded on the sides and longer on the top. He had it perfectly styled like he had just run his hands through it.

I hear another light tap on the door. It’s so faint I figure it must be Ilana. As I get up from the bed, he speaks. “Annie, baby, open the door, please.” His voice is silky and soft.

I find myself walking toward the door, as if pulled by an invisible force. I hesitate for a second before unlocking it and pulling it open.

He’s leaning against my door frame. His soft, pink lips look swollen from earlier.

For a second, I think maybe we knew each other before my accident. He’s looking at me like he’s known me forever.

He carefully runs his hand through my hair. I lean into his touch. He groans and steps forward, lifting me against his chest in a tight hug. He pushes his face into my neck and inhales deeply.

“Mate,” he whispers as he leaves a hot kiss on my neck.

Wait a minute! What did he just say? Why am I in his arms again? He sniffed me—what is with strange men sniffing me?

“Excuse me,” I tap his shoulder, “please put me down. Who are you? What do you mean ‘mate’? I’m not a wolf, sir. You can’t pick me.”

Ilana laughs from outside my door.

“This is amazing,” Hunter whispers.

The stranger groans in annoyance before turning, with me still in his arms, and slamming the door closed.

“Dinner’s in fifteen,” Hunter yells through the door. “See you downstairs!”

They’re just leaving me with him?! Some protectors! Admittedly, I feel atypically safe with him.

“My name is Isaac Jackson,” he tells me as he places me gently on my bed. “You know what? Bad idea! Not the bed.” He quickly jerks me to my feet.

“I’m the alpha from Las Vegas. I know you’re not a wolf so you don’t know how this works, but we don’t choose our mates. We meet them and we just know.

“They are a gift, a sacrosanct gift from the moon. Like soulmates, mates are created for each other, perfectly matched.”

Butterflies are going crazy in my stomach.

“You aren’t a wolf but somehow, you can feel it. I know you can. You’re drawn to me, like I’m drawn to you.”

“So you’re my soulmate?”

“Basically, yes.” His tone is completely unwavering, entirely sure.

“Look, I-I don’t know how much you’ve been told about me, but…” I say sadly. Once he knows about all the baggage that comes with me, he’ll ask for a new mate for sure.

“I’ve been well informed on your situation.” He raises my face in his large hand.

“And you still want me?”

He chuckles and my knees wobble. How does a laugh sound like that?

“I want you.”

I almost scream, “I want you, too!” but I control myself. I don’t even know this man.

He bends down, taking my lips tenderly. This is much different than before. This is love and promises, growing old and having a family, adoration and deep affection.

A moan slips from my lips and he freezes.

“Fuck, let’s go have dinner. I need to get out of this tiny enclosed space.”