Chapter 11

Zac's Point of view “Just like I predicted, you're very approachable with your pack. You seem to know everyone's name, which I'm thoroughlyimpressed about. Most Alpha’s pay attention to those closest to them. Officials, advanced warriors, family, and maybe thecute she-wolves," she chuckles.

“You even know omega's names and who they're mated to, and the name of their kids," she nods approvingly.

“I like that," she adds.

My heart is pounding out of my chest at her praise and approval. I stop walking to look at her. She stops and looks up atme.

“Thank you; I'm glad that you appreciate that. So do you like it enough that you'd want to join my pack?” I ask.

“Maybe? It's something I need to really think over. It's a big commitment, and ... and I just need to be cautious for a littlewhile," she admits softly, looking down.

I put my finger under her chin and pull it up, making her look up at me. “Why?” 1 ask softly. She looks into my eyes, and Ican see the worry in them.

“I just... I don't know what the right decision is right now. I have a past, and I just don't want it to catch up with me oranyone else,” she says softly.

Her face holds so much pain. A single tear falls down her cheek, and she quickly wipes it away. I can't even help it; I don'tknow if it was reflex or maybe it was instinctual, but both hands cup her face, and 1 kiss her cheek where her tear had beslying just seconds ago.

I continue to hold her face in my hands and hold her gaze.

“Who are you afraid of?” I ask. Her face scrunches a little, and she shakes it—a silent plea for me to let it go.

“I'll take care of you, protect you; you just have to let me,” I whisper.

I let g0 of her face, and my hands fall to her arms. She doesn’t pull away, though. In fact, she gets closer. Her hands find rwaist, and they slide to my back as she leans in to hug me. I don't hesitate to wrap my arms around her and embrace her.I'm so grateful for this moment. I want to freeze time and savor the way her body fits into mine perfectly.

“Why would you want to take care of me and protect me?” She asks while her head is still buried into my chest. She looksup at me, and our eyes meet.

“You know why... You have to know... I'm crazy about you,” I admit. I'm not sure who started moving in closer first, but ourlips meet.

I slowly start to kiss her, and she’s kissing me back. I'M f*****g KISSING HER. The feeling of her lips on mine is unlikeanything I have ever experienced before. Her hands wrap around my neck, and I deepen the kiss. She continues to kiss mand her fingers lightly scratch the nape of my neck. Damn, this feels good. I want more of her, all of her, but I wanteverything with her. She's my forever, and I remind myself of that as I pull away. It goes against everything my body istelling me, but my brain is telling me she might be vulnerable, and now is not the time to get heated.Posted by FindNovel.net.coAs 1 pull away, I smell her arousal. f**k! I need to start talking to get my mind off the fact that my woman is aroused by mShe might not know it yet, but she's mine. I'll do whatever it takes to make her mine.

our foreheads are together, “Do you trust me?" I ask gently.

“I dot” She admits without hesitation, which feels incredible.

“Then tell me. Tell me who you're running from. Tell me everything”

“Ill tell you, but can you just give me some time. Give me one week, and I'l tell you everything. After that, we can layeverything out on the table, and we can figure out what we feel and what we want," she says.

“I know what I want; I want you,” I insist.

“Ym not your mate, though,” she rebuts.

“I don't care. I've never felt like this before. I'll never want someone more than I want you," I say confidently. She smiles alooks to the floor for a second before returning my gaze.

“I've never felt like this before either. I've never been as attracted to anyone as I am to you, and everything about you is..don't know how to describe it, but I can’t get you out of my head... That's also terrifying because there's a very realpossibility that I get hurt” she explains.

“l won't hurt you; I can promise you that. If you knew how I felt about you, you wouldn't be worried,” I assure her. Shesmiles broadly, and then somehow, we're kissing again. I can feel the desire she has for me as she pulls me closer.“Alpha.” I hear a woman's voice call. Lauren pulls away quickly, obviously embarrassed that we've been caught. I don'teven look to see who's calling me before I lean in to give her one last kiss. She's looking at me with so much love, and I'mdone for.

“Alpha,” I hear again. I keep my hold on Lauren but turn to see who's talking to me.

It's Joline, and she has a sour look on her face. “What is it, Joline?" I ask, annoyed.

First, she interrupts us, and then she has the nerve to look pissed. Not “Mrs. Potter says your friend left her phone at the daycare, and it was ringing,” she says with attitude. I walk to grab it froher.

“Watch your tone,” I warn her.

“Sorry, Alpha,” she says quietly. She stands there, staring at me. Her eyes bounce back between Lauren and me.

“Thank you for bringing it. You're excused, Jolie” She nods and leaves, and I hand Lauren her phone.

“Peggy called a few times; I should call her back and make sure everything is okay," she says, deep in thought.

I nod, “Go ahead.”

“Hey Peggy, I just noticed you had called. Is everything okay?

[pause]

Oh no, is he okay?

[pause]

Of course.

[pause]

Ill be there. I'll head over now. 'm about 10-15 minutes away.

[pause]

It's completely fine, don't worry about it. ll see you soon.”

She hangs up the phone. “Sorry to cut this short, but Peggy's brother had a heart attack, and she’s at the pub, and she hadeliveries scheduled to be in soon, and she wants to go to the hospital to be with him, but she can't because someoneneeds to be there to accept the liquor and food orders. She asked me to come in and sign for deliveries and open at 3 pnshe explains.

“s**t, I hope Peggy's brother is okay. Come on; I'll get you back."

In the car ride to Peggy's, we keep the conversation light. “We didn't get to eat lunch at the packhouse. Why don't I ordersomething and have it delivered to Peggy's, and we can eat when you're done?” I ask.

She smiles, “That would be really nice."

“What are you up for?”

“I don't even know what this town has; you know what's good, and I'm not fussy,” she insists as we pull up.

“Do you like Chinese?”

“I love it!” she smiles.

When we get inside, I sit at the bar while Lauren heads in the back to find Peggy. I pull out my phone and call the Chineserestaurant. 'm not sure what Lauren likes, I didn't have a chance to ask her, and I don't want to interrupt her and Peggy,I order a huge variety of things. Probably enough to feed ten people. Peggy comes out of the kitchen with red eyes, andstops when she sees me.

“Were you with Lauren?”

I nod. “Sorry to hear about your brother,” I add.

“Thanks. You remember what I said, right?”

“Yes, Ma'am,” I nod.

She nods and then walks towards the door, but it opens before she gets there. A large guy walks in, and I smell his wolf.Right away, I'm on guard.

“Hey, I was looking for Lauren?” he asks Peggy.

“Lauren? Hmm. I don't know a Lauren,” she responds.

What the hell is going on?

“Lauren Crane?” he asks again.

“Nope, never heard of a Lauren Crane. It's a small town too, so I definitely would have heard of her if she were in RedRiverview.”

He furrows his brows and nods slowly.

“Ym closed right now too, and I don’t open for hours; sorry!” She says and escorts him out. She looks back at me knowingand 1 nod.

I know she wants me to tell Lauren that some strange man was looking for her. When we came in, Peggy was receiving theliquor order, and Lauren took over, so she’s still in the back. I get up and look out the window to get more information. Ishe alone? I take his license plate number and car description. I see him start his vehicle, getting ready to leave. I head bato the bar to grab my phone and mark down the license plate number before I forget. I know someone who could run hisplates for me.

I need to tell Lauren. I only hope she doesn’t run when she finds out. Maybe I can convince her to stay at my packhouse tkeep her safe. What would he want with her? I put my phone down, and as I was getting ready to go to the back to find heshe came walking out, looking through paperwork.

“Lauren,” I start.

“Lo,” I hear loudly. I turn quickly; hes back. Lauren gasps and jumps. The papers in her hand fly to the ground as she turntowards him.