Alpha Wolf_A Paranormal Shifter Romance Read online

  His smile widened. Kai was an excellent hunter, and Amelia didn’t know it yet, but he’d caught her good. “I own a house here.”

  Her nostrils flared and she looked annoyed. It had confused him at first, but then he started to pick up on her tells. Amelia didn’t like it when she found out something about him that she liked. Kai knew it was because it weakened her resolve.

  He couldn’t resist anymore. Kai reached across the table and took her hand in his again. She was so small and delicate, but he needed to touch her. The mate bond was riding him hard, but this is all he’d allow, all he’d give in to. Amelia had to be handled with care.

  “I don’t have a car,” she said. “And I don’t want to be somewhere unfamiliar. You can come over to my loft and cook there. But be warned, I own a gun.”

  Kai laughed again. What a firecracker. “Tomorrow good for you?” he asked. His wolf practically pranced, pleased she’d agreed to a date. They would take it slow, but she was already his whether she knew it or not.

  Amelia was the one to laugh this time. “Sure, it’s not like I’m busy. I get off work at five, and then I go to the gym. You can come by around eight.” She pulled away again, but Kai didn’t care. He’d gotten her to agree to see him again.

  “All right, Firecracker. Prepare to be stunned by my cooking skills.”

  For the first time since he laid eyes on her, she smiled.

  His breath caught in his throat and he couldn’t look away. Amelia was stunning, but when she smiled? She was devastating.

  Kai wanted her bad, but this was the long game. She was it for him, and he wasn’t about to screw that up.

  Chapter Seven

  Amelia

  “So Jonny in accounting said he would lend me his truck for the move,” Bonnie said. She chattered on as they took the stairs down to the lobby of Raven’s Publishing instead of the elevators.

  Amelia tightened her scarf around her neck and was glad she’d changed into boots before leaving her office. There were snow flurries outside and it was already dark despite the fact it was only five p.m. It was the coldest winter in a hundred years per the news, but Amelia wasn’t sure she believed that. It was always freezing, but the snow wasn’t usually so persistent.

  She made small noises of agreement here and there as Bonnie talked; tucking her hands in her coat and pushing open the glass door with her shoulder. Amelia was distracted and she’d considered cancelling the date half a dozen times every hour. The day had gone by so slowly it felt like it would never end.

  Only a few more hours left to cancel, otherwise she was committed. Amelia knew there was no excuse she could give that Kai would believe though. If she said she was sick he’d probably come anyway and make soup for dinner. A family emergency wasn’t one she could get away with either as it was very obvious from her social media that she wasn’t close with family.

  Amelia sighed. Maybe she could skip the gym and scrub her loft from floor to ceiling. When was the last time she’d cleaned the baseboards?

  “Hey!” Bonnie screeched and yanked her back right before a bus nearly squashed her to death. “Where is your head today?”

  She apologized, shaking her head. All day she’d been an utter nut-case. Amelia had poured half-and-half instead of milk into her cereal for fuck’s sake.

  “It’s that guy isn’t it,” Bonnie demanded, tugging Amelia along by her arm as they crossed the street.

  “What guy?” Amelia asked, trying to deflect from her personal life, as usual.

  People loved her because she was such a ‘listener,’ but honestly Amelia used every excuse to redirect conversations away from her. If the topic wasn’t shallow such as a conversation about work or surface experiences she would ask them a personal question just to keep them from asking her one. People loved to talk about themselves so it wasn’t difficult to stay under the radar.

  “Don’t play stupid, Amelia. I was at the club with you that night.”

  Fuck, she’d forgotten about that.

  “Did he knock you up?” Bonnie demanded.

  Amelia snorted. “No, he didn’t. And it hasn’t even been long enough to know if he had.”

  Bonnie was actually a really good friend. Amelia really didn’t even know how it had happened, but Bonnie had kind of adopted her and then never let go despite how much Amelia dragged her heels when it came to being social.

  They’d made editor at the same time and had spent years sharing a cubicle. Now their offices were next door and they’d both gone on a health kick a few years ago when Bonnie declared her New Year’s resolution was to lose twenty pounds.

  Somehow it had stuck and they’d started hanging out outside of work. Sometimes they went for drinks, or dancing, dinners, shopping, and nature shit during the summer. Amelia wasn’t a fan of the hiking and the camping and the fishing, but she did it because Bonnie wanted to. Last summer they did Goat Yoga.

  Worst. Experience. Ever.

  Bonnie was a standard hottie – a solid eleven on a scale of one to ten. She was as tall as a model and had these exotic eyes that tilted up at the outer corners into the shape of almonds, but they were bright freaking blue. The black hair really set them off too. Big tits, nice ass, and long legs – she had every man and woman eating out of the palm of her hand.

  Amelia knew it wasn’t just for her looks though. Bonnie would defend those she cared about until her dying breath. She could empathize and she didn’t pry. Never once had she tried to get Amelia to tell her why she had so many weird rules. She simply took them and ran, pointing out all the hot guys when they went out, becoming her gym buddy, and book/wine club buddy.

  Only once when they were sloshed in the back of an Uber had Bonnie said she was there if Amelia ever wanted to talk about it.

  It was the first time in years Amelia let her guard down and since then they’d been really close. She made a point to include Bonnie in her life, because she genuinely enjoyed her presence and personality. Something about the girl was just infectious. Amelia had found it difficult to keep her at arm’s length, and now she was really glad she hadn’t.

  “Then why are you frowning so much today?” Bonnie demanded. “It’s been really weird. One minute you’re grinning like an idiot – and you never smile without a reason – and the next you’re melting a cup with your death gaze.”

  Bonnie jogged ahead and yanked open the door to the gym before Amelia got there. They had a class to attend in about half an hour, some Zumba thing that Amelia actually really liked.

  “It’s nothing, Bonnie.” The locker room smelled as usual and she wrinkled her nose. Amelia threw her purse into an empty locker and started to strip.

  “I still think it’s that guy.” Bonnie pulled her hair up into an adorably messy bun Amelia wished she could manage. She gave Amelia a pointed look and took a swig of water.

  The pencil skirt was folded perfectly and then Amelia put on her workout pants. Bonnie was controlled chaos and fun. Amelia was boring and predictable. Maybe she should talk to the only other girl she knew about this. Bonnie knew about her rules, and she never questioned them or made fun of her for them. She would get why this was a big deal.

  “I’m breaking my rule, Bon. He’s coming over tonight to make me dinner.”

  The ear-piercing shriek that filled the locker room made Amelia wince. Bonnie threw her arms around her and squeezed tight. “Oh my god, are you serious? You must really like him. No! It’s because he’s got a massive dong, isn’t it?”

  Amelia laughed and carefully unbuttoned her silk shirt. “Partially, but he’s just really persistent. Bought me a few books and then took me out to a nice restaurant so I could explain why I’d rejected him.” Amelia sighed. She’d stayed up almost all night reading that steampunk romance. Just imagining Kai reading that book made her blush.

  Another squeal and Bonnie threw off her shirt and bra. The other women in the locker room glared at her bouncing tits, but they were just jealous. Bonnie had really nice tits. She threw on her sports bra and sat on the bench to tie her shoes. “He sounds really romantic, like one of your book boyfriends.”

  Amelia slammed the locker closed and set her stuff on the bench next to Bonnie. “I know that’s why I’m so nervous. I haven’t dated in…five years.” She slumped down on the bench. God that was the first time she’d ever told Bonnie exactly how long.

  “Girl, he’s really, really hot. Like, you could see his eight-pack through his shirt hot.” Bonnie shook her head. “His dick must have been fucking magic to convince you to date him.”

  She shot her friend a look. People were staring.

  “What?” she declared, laughing as Amelia tried to shove her off the bench. “You know it’s true.”

  Amelia tied her running shoes, but she couldn’t help smiling. “He has a motorcycle too.”

  “Oh my god!” Bonnie screeched. “Like a real bad boy, yum!”

  She really was the perfect friend.

  Amelia slid on her ugly, massive shirt to hide any and every curve. She never dressed up unless she was on the prowl or at work. Otherwise she wanted to be invisible and standing next to Bonnie made it easy to disappear.

  “There has to be something wrong with this guy,” Bonnie said as they headed out to the main gym. They stopped at the cleared area and started stretching. “I mean, he has to live with his mom, right?”

  Amelia shook her head as she grimaced, the tight muscles in her lower back protesting. “He owns his own business, though I don’t know what it is.”

  Bonnie frowned. “Girl, what if he’s a drug dealer? Or some Sons of Anarchy shit?”

  She shrugged and lifted her leg to the barre for a deeper stretch. Damn, sitting at a desk all day after no sleep was hard on the body. “It occurred to me, but I don’t think
so.”

  Bonnie helped Amelia deepen the stretch and then they switched. “I know this is not your normal, Amelia,” she said softly, expression growing serious. “You have your rules for a reason, and one day I hope you’ll tell me why, but I think this could be really good for you.”

  Amelia nodded and then sat on the floor, widening her legs in a ‘V.’ Bonnie mirrored her and they took turns pulling. “It could be.” Or it could put her in the same position she was in five years ago, scared to do anything wrong, depending on a man who didn’t even really like her that much. Some deep part of her wanted someone to rely on, to trust. She wanted someone to take care of her. Not in the fifties housewife way, but in an emotional, reliable way.

  Maybe because she’d never really had someone take care of her before, not even her parents.

  Amelia shrugged off the morbid thought and pulled Bonnie to her feet. Her friend wore nothing but a sports bra and workout leggings that hid nothing. Men nearly broke their necks to watch her as the two of them crossed the gym to the weights.

  They did a few reps with the weights in silence. Amelia tried to ignore the differences between her and her friend, but it wasn’t easy. Bonnie was drop dead gorgeous. Amelia always felt overshadowed and normally it didn’t bother her, but it made her question Kai’s reasons even more. What could he possibly see in her that made him so damn persistent?

  “You’re frowning again,” Bonnie said.

  Amelia sighed in annoyance. “I don’t know how to look cute.”

  “Shut the fuck up, you’re adorable.”

  It was difficult not to let her eyes roll all the way back into her head.

  “Look, Amelia. You’re weird and I think that works for you. Just be you, and if he can’t take it then you don’t ever have to see him again.”

  That was true. Maybe that was the mistake she’d made before. Instead of trying to be who she thought Kai wanted, she should be herself. Maintaining false perfection never worked out in the long term.

  “Thanks Bonnie, I really needed to hear that.” Amelia took her friend’s outstretched hand and let her pull her up.

  “Now let’s go shake our asses and make these guys drool while we sweat off those donuts from this morning.”

  Amelia followed her friend into the classroom where women already gathered and a few brave men. She shook her head and couldn’t help the smile. Bonnie was the best thing to ever happen to her.

  Chapter Eight

  Amelia

  Amelia ran around her loft, picking up clothes she’d thrown on the floor, random bobby pins that seemed to multiply like bunnies at every opportunity. Why the shit did she have so many bobby pins? Why did she think an open floor plan was such a fabulous idea? All it did was allow any mess to be seen from anywhere.

  Her wet hair didn’t help matters. She contemplated blow drying it, but she normally left it alone. Taking Bonnie’s advice she put it in a braid just like she would any other day of the week. She wore her cutest yoga pants and wore a bra. Amelia didn’t care that she normally didn’t wear one; this was not the time for that.

  An alarm went off on her phone and she nearly panicked. That was the fifteen minute warning. Maybe he would be late. Ugh, that would annoy her if he was.

  The kitchen sparkled. It was the one area of her house she’d made sure was perfect. If he was going to cook in her kitchen she refused to let him see the perpetual spaghetti splatters and crumbs that accumulated no matter how much she wiped things down.

  Her feet were bare. Amelia froze. Should she wear socks? Bare feet were so personal.

  She was being weird again. A groan escaped as she stood perfectly still in the center of her loft, utterly frozen by indecision. Fuck it, the kitchen was clean and she didn’t want to wear socks. Her toes were painted and cute.

  Kai would accept her or not.

  She jumped when the doorbell rang. He was early.

  Amelia ran over to the door and then hesitated. She didn’t want to look desperate. Lord help her, she felt like a teenager. This chaotic frenzy was not her, not anymore.

  Be weird, be weird, be weird, she reminded herself as she opened the door.

  Kai stood in the hall and grinned that heart-stopping smile at her. He had a crockpot tucked under one arm and his leather jacket was over the other. His shirt was tight around the muscles in his arms and she tried not to stare.

  “You’re early,” she said as she stepped aside. Amelia winced. She hadn’t meant to sound accusatory, she just didn’t know what else to say.

  Kai chuckled and stepped inside her loft. He didn’t stop and look around like she thought he would, but headed straight for the kitchen and set up the crockpot. Whatever was in there smelled delicious.

  Amelia closed the door and crossed her arms as she watched him. Sure, he’d been in her loft once before, but she thought he’d want to look around and pick her apart.

  “How did you bring that here?” she asked. Did he strap it to the back of his motorcycle?

  Kai turned once he was satisfied the crockpot was doing what he wanted and then he wrapped his arms around her in greeting. A soft, barely-there kiss on her cheek was all he gave her, but Amelia’s limbs tingled regardless. “Thank you for allowing me over,” he said.

  Right, manners. “Thank you for not being late.” Dammit, that wasn’t manners either. “I mean, I’m glad you could make it.”

  Kai smiled at her and leaned against the center island. “I drove in my car, but I forgot to grab a bottle of wine.”

  Amelia tilted her head and sniffed once. “What are you making?”

  “My famous pulled pork. I started it last night.”

  “I have a bit of whiskey that might go well with it,” she said with a shrug. There was wine in the cupboard, but whiskey would taste better if her nose was right.

  When Kai grinned, his white teeth looked sharp and she blinked in surprise. For a split second he looked feral. “I think whiskey would be perfect.”

  Amelia nodded and grabbed two glasses and the whiskey. She poured and Kai started puttering around her kitchen. Sweet potatoes came out of a bag and he started cleaning them, pulling out a pot, and setting up his ingredients precisely. She watched with wide eyes as he worked like a pro.

  “Did you make the bread yourself too?” she asked. Man had she been wrong about him. This guy could cook and he looked sexy as hell doing it.

  Kai shook his head but smiled. “No, but I did buy it from a bakery on the way. What movie did you choose?”

  She stiffened. Shit, she’d totally forgotten about that. “Uh, let me go look.”

  Amelia handed him a glass of whiskey and took her own to the couch. She settled against the cushions and nursed her liquor while she flipped through Netflix. It was one of those strange quirks she had. Sometimes Amelia liked browsing the selection more than actually watching something.

  She tried to keep her eyes on the T.V. but she couldn’t help little sidelong glances as he moved around her kitchen as if he’d known her for years. Amelia blushed whenever he caught her looking. But every time she told herself to find something for them to watch, she’d look at him again. A sip of the whiskey burned like fire and it was difficult not to cough like a baby.

  “You have a very nice place,” Kai told her. If she didn’t know better, he sounded a little nervous.

  “Thank you,” Amelia murmured. Giving up, she tossed the remote on the couch and watched him openly.

  “You don’t have any pets?”

  She shook her head. Had dates always been this awkward? It had been so long she couldn’t remember.

  “Why not?” Kai asked, preheating her oven and pulling out a casserole dish.

  Amelia shrugged. “When I first went out on my own I could barely take care of myself. Then I slowly started getting my feet under me, and the time was never right. I do too much out of the house and I’d feel guilty.”

  His warm, brown eyes twinkled. “Not allergic?”

  That was a strange question. “No, I would get a cat, but I don’t like litter boxes.” She shrugged. “They aren’t as needy as dogs.”

  Kai burst out laughing. “Cats are very independent,” he agreed.