The Wolf's Prey Page 4

  I keep my head down, I walk forward a couple steps and I can feel myself shaking. It's not just me I'm worried about. What if he thinks Tom was something more to me? Or blames Marta?

  "Closer." I hear him say and I start crying.

  "I'm sorry." I cry into my hands. The fact that I'm going to start my period in a few days isn't helping my emotional stability right now.

  I feel arms go around me lifting me up and cupping my bottom. My legs are around his torso as he carries me. He sits down in his desk chair and I straddle his lap. His fingers gently caress my back. I look up at him feeling stupid for crying. I hiccup. "Why are you being nice? I thought you were mad."

  "I am mad. What were you thinking?"

  I look down at my hands. "I didn't want to be left out. I didn't think it was going to be a big deal."

  "You should have never left with a man by yourself."

  "I know that now. I didn't think anything of it before. I didn't even know him." I reply truthfully. "It was just a ride."

  "Don't do it again." He replies seriously. There's a knock on the door and I smell chocolate.

  "Is that chocolate?" I ask, practically drooling.

  "Come in, Wendy." He says. Lennox is facing the door and I'm still facing him on his lap. I look over my shoulder to see a tall blonde woman with long curly hair come in with a big smile and brownies. Her smile drops when she sees me. I must look like a mess, I wipe at my tear stained face. She steps closer and I notice she's pretty with deep brown eyes and a perfect figure. She isn't dressed scantily; she's wearing a designer dress with wedge heels. She looks classy.

  "Alpha, I made brownies for you." She says sweetly putting them on the desk. She stands in front of us not moving. I start to turn to get off his lap, feeling inappropriate but his hands stop my hips from moving. "At least let me turn and introduce myself." I mutter.

  He turns me in his lap until I'm facing Wendy. "Hi, I'm Jocelyn." I lean forward as far as I can without standing up because Lennox's hands are holding me down.

  She takes my hand and shakes it. "I'm Wendy."

  "I really like your outfit."

  "Thanks." She replies tersely. "I like your bathing suit."

  I feel Lennox's thumbs pulling down the material of my suit bottoms and without thinking I turn to the side and smack his hands. He keeps his head down but looks up smiling. I suck in a breath. His smile is like getting hit in the stomach, unexpected and painful. He's the most beautiful man I've ever seen. His smile fades and he turns tense.

  "Thank you. You can leave now." He dismisses Wendy abruptly. She turns and walks away. When the door closes he brings the dish closer and offers them to me.

  "People just bring you food?" I ask amazed and try to control the feeling of butterflies in my stomach.

  "Yes."

  "Wow, can you request rice crispy treats next time?" I joke taking a brownie. I take a big bite enjoying the chocolaty goodness.

  He picks up his phone and hits a button. "I need rice crispy treats." He orders and slowly hangs up.

  *****************************************

  Alpha Lennox Hall's POV

  I turned her on. I can smell her and all I want to do is throw her on my desk and take her. I smiled at her, is that's what did it? Or playing with her bikini bottoms?

  "Did you really just order rice crispy treats? Just like that?" She snaps her fingers.

  I nod. She leans forward trying to see the phone better. "What else does it do?" I laugh. Startled she looks at me again. Her musk getting stronger.

  "Makes phone calls." I reply huskily. She looks at me in a daze. I stare into her eyes and not being able to stand it a second longer I cup the side on her face and kiss her. I turn her fully in my lap facing me and deepen the kiss. I take it slow, she moans and I feel my dominant wolf coming forward. My thinking clouds, my only thought is how badly I want her. I break the kiss, nibbling down her neck. I suck on the skin just below her ear. She bends her neck to the side moaning loudly. "Lennox."

  My canines extend scraping her skin. There's a knock on the door which I would have ignored if it hadn't made Jocelyn tense up and try to push me away. I growl loudly, glaring at the door. "What?"

  The door opens and Liam comes in. "Sir, the Robinson's are here to speak to you."

  ************

  Keep Telling Yourself Its Not Embarrassing

  "My parents are here?" I squeak. I know my cheeks are glowing red. This cannot be happening! Kill me, just kill me now!

  Lennox still looks mad about being interrupted, he confirms this when he growls at the door. I hear my parents come in. I groan and tuck my head under his chin resting it on his chest. I'm practically naked sitting on the Alpha's lap. Maybe they won't see me? Stupid, stupid, stupid.

  "Jocelyn. What are you doing?" My mom asks confused.

  "Ah, I. Its ju-" I try to get off of Lennox's lap but again he doesn't let me move.

  "What do you need?" Lennox interrupts and plays with my hair. I'm so glad I can't see my parents' faces.

  "We need to talk to you about Jocelyn." My dad answers.

  Lennox waits for my father to continue. Finally, my dad does. "When we went back to visit my sister, Alpha Rhys approached us. He wants Jocelyn to come back to the pack. He plans to claim her the day of the Alpha Challenge."

  "No." Lennox states.

  I look behind me at my parents, my dad looks nervous and my mom looks downright scared. "Why would he want me all of a sudden?" I ask shocked at his announcement. Alpha Rhys has always been nice to me, but never affectionate. Honestly, he's almost as scary as Lennox.

  My father decides to speak directly to Lennox. "Apparently, he always has. Beta Burnett was in charge for two months while Alpha was away in Mackinaw City sorting out land contracts. During that time, I got the job with you, sir. We moved here with Beta Burnett's permission. Beta Burnett didn't know of Alpha Rhys' plans for Jocelyn. Alpha Rhys lied about my sister being in a car accident. He thought Jocelyn would come back with us and he was going to get her to accept a claim from him or keep her until the challenge. He didn't plan on you refusing the request to let her leave the territory."

  "She's mine." Lennox growls so loudly I feel it vibrate from his chest. It causes me to jump but he holds me against him tightly and rubs my back. Even as he rubs my back I am still afraid of him. The earlier kiss we shared forgotten momentarily. Alphas are known to be volatile when they're angry, it can't be helped. When their tempers start to show you should expect the worst. I've seen it first hand with Alpha Rhys, that's why I am so afraid of big men. Especially, Alphas.

  -Flashback-

  I was walking home from school with my best friend Angela my sophomore year of high school. We took a short cut deciding to take a run to the local diner and getting a strawberry milkshake and fries. Everything was fine, we even met up with a boy Angela liked and he offered to walk us home. Knowing Angela wanted to be alone with him, I told them to leave without me that I wanted to stop at the library. After they left I went into the woods to run home. I felt a presence behind me and turned to see Rodger Valiant. He was a senior, the only reason I knew him was because he and Marta were friends and he came over for dinner a lot. "Hey, Rodger."

  He doesn't respond he only looks at me. I notice he doesn't have a shirt on. I eye his muscled chest and the flexing of his arms as he clenches and unclenches his fists. "Who were you with?" He demands to know.

  "Angela." I answer, starting to feel uneasy.

  "And Jim Resinger."

  "Yeah, Angela likes him. Are you okay?" I ask, seeing that his arms are now shaking.

  "He was sitting next to you."

  "Yeah." I don't know what to say to take away his anger. I don't understand why he's even angry. "Did I do something wrong?"

  "Don't talk to another male again." He orders. Then seconds later he's on top of me. I can feel his breath on my neck. "You're mine." He states. I feel his tongue on my neck and I start whimpering.

  "No! S
top!" I scream at him clawing at his arms and back.

  "Get off of her now!" I hear Alpha Rhys command. Rodger stops immediately, complying with the Alpha command. Alpha Rhys stomps closer, I see his wolf surfacing. He backhands Rodger sending him into a tree. He follows after him picking him up and punching him repeatedly. I hear the crunch of his face being smashed. I look on horrified as Alpha Rhys continues his beating, snapping his arms and legs. At one point, I throw up and Beta Burnett lifts me up, walking away with me.

  I know without a doubt Rodger is dead.

  -End of flashback-

  "Jocelyn." I hear in my ear.

  "Huh? Yes?"

  "Why are you shaking?"

  "I was remembering something."

  "Tell me."

  I swallow, my throat feeling like sandpaper. "Alpha Rhys killed a boy who attacked me. I was thinking about his temper." I reply truthfully.

  "He won't touch you. He won't even see you again."

  "I still have family in that pack. What if he hurts them?"

  He looks away from me and to my parents. "Your sister and other family members are welcome to join the Blue Shore Pack. If they can get out of the pack, they'll be protected here." He offers.

  "Thank you, Alpha Hall."

  "You can go now." Lennox says making it sound like an order. I watch as my parents turn to leave.

  "Alpha, would you like to come over for dinner tonight?" My mom asks before leaving.

  "Yes. Thank you." He replies. Smiling my mom walks after my father out of the door.

  "Should I go with them?"

  "Hell, no." He growls and kisses me again. This kiss is more consuming, passionate and demanding than the first. I'm shocked by his intensity. I can't help but respond, my mouth is his. Until another knock on the door interrupts us and he yells, "What?!"

  "I have- your ric-e crispy tr-eats." A woman stammers.

  He leans his head back and closes his eyes. I can't help but laugh. I think this is the only time I've seen him not control his reaction. He opens his eyes and looks at me. "This is not funny."

  I giggle harder. "Sorry." I apologize smothering a smile. He grins back.

  "Come in." He calls out. A woman comes in with a plate of rice crispy treats and I see her hands shaking. I know exactly how she feels. I smile at her but she has her head down. Placing them on the desk she waits to be dismissed which Lennox eagerly does.

  "Would you like to swim?" He asks handing me a rice crispy treat.

  "Okay, I'm sure everyone is still at the falls."

  "Not the falls. I'm not letting anyone see you in that."

  "My bathing suit?"

  "If that's what you want to call it." He replies huskily looking over my body.

  I blush. "Okay, where are we swimming?"

  He stands up carrying me to out of the room. I turn my head trying to see where we're going. I see his living room and through the French doors is an underground pool. He walks outside and sets me down on a patio chair. He kisses my lips softly. "I need to change. I'll be right back." I nod and watch the water. Thinking over the past half hour I'm still a little shocked. I didn't even know my dad worked for Lennox. I hear the doors open and my heart rate picks up at the sight of him coming towards me in black board shorts and nothing else.

  I look away and walk to the edge of the pool and dip my toe in. It's the perfect temperature. I jump in and Lennox does the same. I surface and wipe the hair out of my face.

  "My dad works for you?"

  "Yes. Most of the pack does."

  "Do you like being the Alpha?" He nods. I want to ask him why he's choosing to claim me. I bite my lip and think of other things to ask him. "Why did you choose me? You don't even know me." I blurt.

  His expression doesn't change as he looks at me. "I might not know everything about you but I can tell you're different."

  "I'm not different."

  "Yes, you are. You're better." He states.

  I shake my head. This is what he comes up with? This is why he wants me? "I'm not better than anyone." I disagree again. "You're going to be very disappointed when you see that."

  "You're perfect. That statement alone tells me that."

  I decide to drop the subject. It could have been worse. At least he didn't say he likes me because of my looks. "You're not at all concerned about potentially having pups as small as I am?"

  He growls lowly in his throat. "No, the only concern I have about that is wanting to claim you at this moment. Don't talk about making pups if you want to leave here a virgin."

  My mouth drops open and I look away blushing. There's something about knowing he wants me that makes my blood rush through my veins. I feel my nipples tighten and I get even more embarrassed. I know he notices, he never misses a thing. I start to back away from him.

  "Don't move another inch." I freeze. I can hear his breathing has changed; he's fighting with his wolf. "Don't move away from me, it makes me think of chasing you, mating you."

  I nod. When he's in control of himself I say, "I should go home. I need to shower before dinner." He doesn't reply. He just gets out and pulls me out after him. We walk to a lounge chair with towels on it and he wraps a towel around my shoulders. He doesn't towel off but walks into the house and I follow him.

  We go out of the front door and he lifts me up into his truck and drives me back home. I know there's going to be a lot of questions. Good thing I told Marta most of it or it would be even worse.

  *************

  Happy Birthday !

  Alpha Lennox Hall

  I glance at the door one last time and pull away. Frustrated as hell. Three times we were interrupted; twice I was on the verge of lifting my hips and grinding myself against her. She is so small and perfect. Holding her cemented the fact that I won't want another as badly as I do her.

  I was working my way through her defenses then her parents showed up. Things changed, she was more aware than the first time. She responded but she was still wary of me. Taking her to the pool was another bad idea. I couldn't stop staring at her. She has no idea what she can do with one look. When she started talking about pups, I lost it. My plan to make her feel safe with me evaporated. I saw the shock when I told her she shouldn't talk about it if she wants to keep her virginity. Dammit!

  I need her to trust me. Yet, I want her to know how badly I want her, too. I know I have to take it slow but I doubt I can. The mark I left on her neck is evidence enough. I almost marked her today and she would have let me. I don't know if it’s her innocence, or if she trusts me not to mark her until her birthday. I will mark and claim her as mine, willing or not. I just rather she be willing. I think she trusts me which makes her naïve and innocent. I can't guarantee that I won't take it further the next time we’re together.

  Should I tell her or let it happen naturally? Do I warn her not to let it go so far, like I did about mentioning the pups? At home I go inside and smell the revolting scent of vanilla immediately. "Wendy, what are you doing here?" I ask without seeing her. I like how Jocelyn smells like coconut, delicious. I can still smell her even under the strong odor of vanilla.

  "I wanted to talk to you." She replies.

  I hear her in the living room and stand at the entrance. "Make it quick."

  "Did you like the brownies?"

  "I said quickly." I reply irritated.

  She stands up and walks towards me. She sees that I'm turned on and thinks it’s because of her, I see it in her smile. "I was thinking maybe you could come to dinner tonight?" She asks trying to sound sexy. She only managed to annoy me more.

  "I'm busy." I turned and walked away. I hear her start to follow me. "Get out." I order and her steps stop. When they start up again it’s in the other direction. Wendy is a year younger than me; she tried everything to get my attention. Playing the good girl and then switching to party girl. She would try to get me jealous and then play the victim. She never has held my interest or anything else for that matter. I don't think I could touch he
r without cringing.

  I go into my room wishing I would have gotten Jocelyn here. I shower and get dressed for dinner. I leave the room and spot Liam walking towards me.

  "You have a phone call from Alpha Rhys of the Redwolf Pack."

  I growl and walk past him to my office to take the phone call. "Alpha Rhys."

  "Alpha Hall. I want to request that you lift the restricted leave on Jocelyn Robinson."

  "Request denied. She's mine." I hang up the phone. It's only 4:40 p.m. but I walk to the truck and drive to the Robinsons. They didn't mention a time for dinner and I want to see Jocelyn again.

  **************

  Jocelyn Robinson

  As soon as I got in the door I was besieged by questions from my parents, luckily Marta told them everything she knows which is pretty much all of it. "Do you want to mate with him?" My mom asks sitting at my desk while I get ready.

  "I don't know. I like him sometimes but other times he scares me. He's just so intense." Then I remember his smile and his laugh, my heat skips. "He really is so beautiful when he smiles." I add blushing.

  "If you don't want to be with him, you can find someone else to claim you before the challenge."

  The challenge, I shudder thinking about it. It’s the one time a year when anyone can challenge the Alpha for dominance. The winner gets to choose any unmated female from the pack eighteen years old or older to mate. Most years, I've heard Lennox doesn't get challenged but this year Tom said he was going to challenge him. I wonder if anyone else will. I’ve heard of the brutality of Lennox. I've seen Alpha Rhys fight these fights, too. Winning so quickly in some cases, all I did was blink and the other wolf was dead. I think about what Lennox said. You wouldn't like what I'd do to him if I found someone and shudder again.

  "No. There's no one else." Which is true, I don't want to have to rush and try to start impressing males, hoping to get them to mark me. They'd only end up hurt or worse by Lennox. I finish trying to curl my hair and give up, it looks just a little wavy. I put it up in a ponytail and gasp looking at my neck. Lennox left a sizeable purple mark on my neck, he even broke the skin in two places. It must have been left from his canines. I watch my mom smirk and walk out of the room. I guess I'll have to wear my hair down for a while. Mom comes back in with a bottle of foundation.