Claimed By Her Alpha by J.E. Cluney

9

Dray.

* * *

Just being around her was driving me crazy, but I fought every primal instinct. She was actually quite pleasant to chat with, and I enjoyed her witty banter.

Until she’d made that sound. A groan.

My wolf had surged to the surface in that instant, and the image of her naked body on the hood of my car had flashed through my mind.

My mate. Mine.

I’d had to fight it back, restraining my wolf as it fought to burst free.

“So, just who are you exactly, Dray Ashford?”

I mulled over the question, wishing I could lay everything bare for her like she had for me.

This woman had clearly been through a tough time, and yet she wasn’t letting it drag her down. She’d just been confronted and slapped by her ex, and here she was chatting away happily like it hadn’t even happened. She was a strong one alright, and my wolf puffed out its chest, delighted with our mate. She’d make a fine Alpha for my pack.

“Single child, rose through the ranks until I became top dog and now run my own business,” I said after a moment of thought. I wanted to tell her the truth, that I was the Alpha of a Pack and I handled all the issues within it. Our small town was founded by wolves, so Bronman was prosperous. We looked out for our own. My father had taught me a lot about investing, and he’d built quite the empire. I managed it now, and I was thankful for all he’d taught me in taking care of it all.

“So, what kind of business is it? I admit I don’t quite know what it is Ethan and the others do. I thought maybe trucking or construction,” she said as she delicately sipped her wine. I was impressed with how quickly she’d gone through half the bottle already. I had a feeling she wouldn’t be driving home.

My wolf growled at this, and I had to shift myself to hide the stiffness in my jeans.

No, as much as I wanted to claim my mate, I wouldn’t just take her here. Not while she was intoxicated.

I needed her to know just what she was getting herself into first. Even if my wolf grumbled in disagreement.

“Now, it’s mainly investing and managing a portfolio,” I said. “But we own a few of the businesses in my town too, so I’m always managing them in person where I can.”

“Oh nice,” she said with a polite smile, but I could tell investing wasn’t an interest of hers as she held her wine glass against her plump lips. I wanted to knock it aside and claim them, to taste her as I showed her how she deserved to be treated, to ravish her body…

“What about you, got any life goals?” I changed the subject as I tried to push the heated thoughts from my mind once more. I wanted to know everything about this stunning woman, not just the feel of her body.

“I’m saving up enough to buy a house,” she stated. “I’m easy really. I just want to be comfortable and happy,” she said, her mouth quirking upwards as she let out a soft sigh.

I gazed at her, taking in those delicate features, that perfectly straight nose and long eyelashes.

She was a divine being, even in her waitress outfit and her hair pulled back in a messy bun. Her delectable vanilla scent tinged with lavender tickled my senses, and my wolf prickled beneath my skin.

I wanted my mate. This small talk was difficult.

My eyes dipped to the cleavage she showed off. I wanted to tug it down and reveal those perky breasts, to cover them with my mouth and hands.

“You?” she asked, her eyes flicking to the side to gaze at me through hooded lashes. Fuck, the look was torturous.

I pursed my lips as I tried to focus on what she’d said. My goals. Right.

Claim my mate.

“Meet Mrs. Right, maybe have a family,” I said. Mating with a human still produced wolf shifter offspring, although I knew it was different for other shifters. Our wolf shifter gene was completely dominant, so a child would still have traits from their human parent, but would be considered a wolf shifter. They’d, however, be weaker than a full-blood normally. Except when sired by an Alpha. Alpha offspring would have the strength of a full-blood no matter the shifter parents. Which was good in my case, as my offspring would be heirs to my title.

What would our pups be like anyway?

I blinked at how sure that thought had been. Damn, my wolf was determined. I knew in my bones that she was the one for us too.

“Sounds like a good plan,” she said as she rolled her head back and sighed.

She gazed up at the night sky, and I just took in every little beautiful detail. The few stray strands of hair that had slipped from her bun and framed her face, the lone freckle on the side of her neck, the way her lips stayed slightly parted.

My wolf paced with irritation and desperation within me, but I held it at bay.

“You know, before Ben showed up, I was hoping we’d hook up,” she blurted, her cheeks becoming rosy as she smirked at the stars.

My dick throbbed at the statement, and my wolf howled in celebration. So she did feel the same attraction then.

“Sorry, that was forward,” she snickered before those dilated emerald eyes turned on me once more, her mouth pulled into a seductive smile.

Fuck, she’d just amped up the moment ten-fold.

“Don’t be.”

“That sounds like you’re not against it,” she purred as she slid off the hood of my car and set down her glass and wine bottle.

Fuck, she knew how to make my wolf crazy as she planted herself before me and cocked her head. She drew her lower lip between her teeth as she studied me. My wolf cried for me to let it take control, to show her just who this Alpha was. How she was mine.

Fuck.

I growled softly as I lurched forward, unable to hold back anymore.

She gasped as I pulled her hard against me, her sweet body so warm and supple against mine.

I claimed her mouth as my wolf snarled with the need to possess her, to make her mine.

Fuck, she tasted so sweet, and our tongues twined together as I pinned her against me.

She moaned as her hands slid up my chest, and I shuddered as the sound sent me over the edge.

I hefted her up as I spun us around, holding her ass with one hand as I balanced her on the hood of my sedan.

Her legs were around my waist, and I ground into her, my muscles rippling as the sweet essence of her arousal washed over my senses.

She wanted me just as much as I wanted her.

Fuck, her soft round ass fit so perfectly in my hand, and I couldn’t help but squeeze it as she moaned against me.

Each sweet sound from her only spurred me on more as I slid one hand up under her white tee, grazing it over her soft, warm stomach and skimming it along the bottom of her bra.

I broke away from her lips, littering kisses down the side of her neck as she lolled her head to the side and trembled.

Her scent was maddening now, and I couldn’t get enough of her.

Fuck her, claim her. Mine.

I ground my teeth together as I tried to calm myself, but her soft hand cupped my face, drawing me back in for a fiery, passionate kiss.

Her hands slid up under my shirt, and the sizzling heat her touch sent searing through me had my wolf nearly bursting through.

I removed my hand from under her shirt, knowing too well that I wouldn’t be able to stop if I kept touching her.

Instead, I fisted it in her messy bun, angling her mouth so I could dive in deeper and drink her up.

There was so much I wanted to do to her, and my wolf howled to claim her, to seal the bond. It was fate, destiny, whatever you wanted to call it.

We were made for one another.

And I fucking needed her. Now.

She pulled back to draw in ragged breaths, her chest heaving as she gazed at me with wicked desire, her mouth quirking upwards into a teasing smirk.

Fuck, I wanted to swallow it up and yank off her little black skirt.

It certainly didn’t help my resolve with how close I was to her core, especially as I involuntarily ground into her. Fuck, all she had was those little panties standing in the way. I could easily rip them off and drive into her.

She’d be so warm and tight, and my wolf wouldn’t be satisfied until we completed the bond.

“We should maybe take this somewhere else,” she suggested, her husky voice making my dick rock hard as I squeezed her ass automatically.

She was killing me.

“You’ve been drinking,” I said, amazed that my wolf hadn’t been able to swallow the words. I was not going to take advantage of her.

“A few glasses. I’m tipsy, not drunk,” she laughed softly, but then those eyes darkened with a hunger I knew I mirrored. “Besides, I want you.”

Fuck.

Yeah, nope. We’re not leaving here. Not with that look and those deadly words.

But logic managed to swim through the lustful haze as I pulled back.

“Cameras?” I asked as I scanned the parking lot. Fuck, I had been too caught up to think of that. I spied the camera angled our way on the corner of the building.

“Yeah, not sure Alex will approve of me fucking in his parking lot,” she said, those sweet lips pulling back to reveal her stunning white teeth in a mischievous grin.

“Well, we could always give him a show,” I growled softly as I claimed those delicious lips once more.

She moaned but pulled back and sighed. “As fun as that would be, I value my job here.”

Damn woman.

But this was good too. She was ordering me to stop. Not something my wolf enjoyed, but this was my mate. I would listen.

Somewhere else.

“So, where are you staying?” She breathed, a horribly suggestive smirk making me withhold a groan.

“With Ethan,” I said, unable to keep the disappointed tone from my voice. I was to stay with Ethan tonight and meet with his Pack tomorrow, then the other Packs throughout the day before returning home. That was what we’d agreed on.

“Well, I don’t live too far, and, to be honest, I’m not too keen on going home alone,” she said, as she fisted her hand in my shirt.

Fuck, she was making my protective wolf flare, along with my dick.

I knew she was turned on, her scent was taking over my senses and making it hard to remain in control. But it was also probably the issue with Ben. Despite my attempt to scare him off, she most likely still had some fear that he’d retaliate.

He’d be stupid to even think of it.

“I’ll drive you home. You’re not sober enough to drive,” I said firmly, ripping myself from my lustful haze. Focus, don’t let the wolf take control.

“Okay,” she said as I stepped away, hating the loss of her warm body before me. But I needed to get some fresh air and pull myself together. That had nearly gotten out of hand.

She collected her wine and glass, and I opened up the passenger door for her as she climbed in. I made sure to draw in her delectable scent again, unable to refrain from doing so. She was just so utterly tempting.

I rounded the car and got in, the engine rumbling to life before I peeled out of the parking lot.

Everly gave me her address as she turned to me, and I had to roll down the windows for some fresh air.

Her scent confined in the car would drive me to breaking point, and I couldn’t have that.

I just hoped I could keep this damned wolf under control.