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Strong, without being intimidating, too.

Most of the wolf guys I’d met had a rough sort of dominance, but Bauther could maintain control without barking orders. And that was kind of impressive.

“Yep. He’s on duty eighty percent of the time,” I explained. Madd was Love’s alpha’s nickname—his full name was Archer Madden.

“He doesn’t look at you like a guard would,” Belle remarked.

Yeah, I’d noticed.

My friends had too.

Love and Tori had been trying to convince me to let him pop my cherry for months, but I still hadn’t talked to him for more than a few seconds at a time.

Honestly, Bauther was intimidating.

All that sex appeal was a lot.

Having a one-on-one conversation with a man that gorgeous still seemed like a risk.

Sleeping with him?

Wayyy riskier.

I always wore a ton of perfume to hide my scent, just to maintain my independence a little longer. Eventually, I was going to get stuck with some obnoxious wolf-man who would probably succeed at walking all over me.

Until then, I was satisfied with my virginity, and with ignoring Bauther’s intense stare.

I took another sip of my water, looking pointedly away from him.

“You should ask him out,” Belle said.

I ruffled my hair a bit, trying not to let myself get stressed. It was naturally honey-blonde, and I usually let it grow down to the middle of my back. I’d chopped it to my collarbone a while after moving to Wildwood, since it had been in terrible shape, so it looked decent.

Not great, but decent.

Still, I usually just put it up in a ponytail.

“Has he ever hit on you?” Melissa asked.

“No.” If he had ever tried, I’d walked in the other direction so fast he didn’t get the chance.

“Huh.”

“Yep.”

I took another sip of water.

Maybe pretending Tori was sick wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

“He’s probably waiting for you to make the first move, since you’re a blood wolf and all. And the alphas trying to get you mated probably makes it a little taboo,” Belle added.

“Ooh, taboo is sexy,” Melissa said.

“I’m going to run to the bathroom.” I set my glass down. They’d keep an eye on it. “Be right back.”

They watched me cross the room, leaving my bag hanging off the back of the chair. As usual, I had on a pair of comfy leggings, and a sweater with a cat on it. And cat hair, which was an accessory I could never quite be free of.

My cat and I were sort of arch enemies. My wolf certainly hated her.