Page 21

The bell above the door chimed, and I looked up from the succulent I was potting, expecting to see a customer. It was a Tuesday afternoon, which meant it was slow as hell, so I was about to jump at the opportunity to help someone.

Instead, I saw Samson, and my stomach did a little flip-flop.

Joe wasn't in the store often, so the place didn't reek of Alpha energy, but Samson's presence was quick to change that. I was surprised to find that I didn't consider his specific brand of Alphaness to be entirely unpleasant anymore. In fact, I loved it.

"Hey, handsome," I said, stepping out from behind the counter."What are you doing here?"

Samson stepped around a shelf of air plants, his hands in his pockets. He was dressed in a pair of faded jeans and a gray henley shirt that hugged his muscles perfectly. Lucky shirt. "I just came to check on you," he said, his voice low. "Make sure you are safe."

I raised an eyebrow. "Don't I have a protection detail for that?" Ever since the attack, Samson had wolves patrolling the street outside the shop almost constantly. It was annoying, but I understood. What we'd experienced was terrifying.

Samson smirked, leaning against the counter. His eyes darted toward the front door, and he lowered his voice. "You deserve the best."

"And I suppose that's you?"

He nodded, a playful gleam in his eye. "Of course. No one else is good enough."

I couldn't help the smile he pulled out of me. It was strange, flirting with Samson. I'd been attracted to him from the moment I laid eyes on him, but we'd always had such bad blood between us that I'd never thought I'd get to have a chance at being with him. Now, I belonged to him, and the ties that bound us together weren't chafing at all anymore.

Samson reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered on my cheek, his thumb tracing along the line of my jaw. I shivered at the contact, eyes fluttering closed.

"So, you're off work now, right?" he asked.

I huffed. "You know good, and well, I'm not. I hung my schedule on the fridge. I'd like to believe that you can read."

Samson grinned, taking a step closer to me. He smelled like the forest cut through with a peppery note, his scent filling my lungs with every breath. "I can. I was just hoping to steal you away sooner."

It was tempting. Damn, it was really tempting. The store was empty, and I'd been a model employee. I wouldn't get in too much trouble...but no. My Alpha would have to be patient.

"You'll have to wait a few hours," I said, taking a step back. "I've got a few more things to do around here."

His arms wrapped around me, and he slid his nose over my scent gland, making my knees weak. "I could kill Joe. Would that change anything?"

I laughed, squirming out of his grip. "Joe's your friend. Don't ruin that for a few hours alone with me."

“You're right, even if I don't want you to be."

"I know," I teased, patting his cheek. "Why did you want me home so early anyway?"

Samson shrugged, finally giving up on his make-me-abandon-my-job seduction. "I thought we'd go on another date."

"Really?" I asked, fingers twirling the strings of my apron absently. "Just...out of nowhere?"

“Yeah. Why not?"

I snorted, amused. "Typical man. We should choose the date together. Or better yet, let me plan it so we don't end up hiking or just running in wolf form again."

Samson gave a wry smile, and I grinned back. His gaze dropped to my mouth, and I felt my cheeks grow warm.

"Fair enough.” He finally agreed. “Anything you want to do, we can do when you're off work, of course. But I have a price for being so understanding."

"...yeah?"

He paused, leaning forward so that his lips brushed my ear. "You have to let me kiss you right here, in front of God and everyone who comes into this shop."

I pulled back to look at him, shocked. "You'd really do that?"

"Why not? You're mine, aren't you?"

I bit my lip, trying to suppress the grin that was spreading across my face. "Yes," I said, nodding slowly. "Yes, I am."

"Good," he murmured, pulling me against his chest. His hands slid around my waist, drawing me closer until our bodies were pressed against one another.

Samson dipped his head, brushing his lips against mine. They were soft and warm, and I sighed into the kiss. His fingers tangled in my hair as he tilted my head back, his tongue delving into the cavern of my mouth. I wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him back hungrily.

Samson let out a low growl, his grip tightening around my waist. He lifted me up, and I wrapped my legs around his hips. My back hit the wall of the shop, and he pinned me there. He broke the kiss, his breath coming out in ragged pants as he nuzzled my throat.

He kissed me again, slow and languid, like we had all the time in the world. I clung to him, lost in the feeling of his mouth on mine. I could feel his cock hardening against my thigh, and when he pulled back to look at me, his pupils were blown wide with lust.

"I want you," he said darkly, his hands sliding up my thighs. "Right here, right now."

Work, work, you're at work, my mind chanted, and it took every bit of my willpower to unwrap my legs from around Samson and stand again. "Later," I promised. He groaned in disapproval when I stepped away, fixing my now chaotic hair and clothes. "Stop trying to get me fired."

He huffed, but there was a smirk on his lips. "It wouldn't be the worst thing to happen."

"It would be to me," I said, pointing a finger at him. "Now behave, and let me finish up. I'll see you at home."

He narrowed his eyes, but he gave in, "Fine. But we're revisiting this tonight. After our date."

I smiled at him, and he leaned in to kiss my cheek. "Looking forward to it."

"I'll see you later," he said, heading toward the door. "Don't keep me waiting too long."

***

I clocked out at 2:30, handing over the door keys to Debbie and throwing my apron in the dirty linen bin. It was warm, only a slight breeze rustling the trees, which was exactly why I'd walked to work that morning. Samson hated it, but it was good exercise.

It was only a few miles back to Samson's house—well, our house now, I guess—and I enjoyed the walk, especially with the sun on my skin.

I pulled my hair into a high ponytail, sighing as the wind cooled the sweat on my neck. Business had picked up in the afternoon, and I couldn't wait to get out of my jeans and t-shirt and take a shower. Maybe even soak in the tub for a bit. I hummed, turning onto the sidewalk that led to the house. I wasn't quite sure how my night was going to go. I had a few date ideas, but I'd decided to try and convince him to give me a few days to plan. There wasn't much interesting going on in town on a Tuesday night, anyway.

I was lost in thought, flipping through date ideas, when something changed.

A smell, maybe. Or a sound. I wasn't sure what it was exactly, but I knew something wasn't right. It was almost like a sixth sense, a shift in the air around me. I stopped, looking around. The forest was quiet, too quiet. There were no birds chirping, no squirrels skittering through the brush. I couldn't even hear the wind through the trees.

A shiver ran down my spine, and I started walking again, a little faster this time. Whatever it was, it didn't feel like it was a good thing. I wished I'd brought one of Samson's bodyguards with me, but I thought I'd be safe on such a short walk home. I was beginning to regret that decision.

Then I caught the scent on the wind—Nayeli, and blood, just inside the forest that ran along the sidewalk. Instantly, I followed the scent, and the closer I got, the more I could feel her distressed energy. I should have called Samson, Waylon, or anyone else, but Nayeli needed help immediately, and I wasn't thinking straight.

The trees thinned ahead, and then I saw her, horror washing over me. Nayeli, her face contorted in pain, was caught in an old bear trap. I sprinted to her side, kneeling down next to her, panic making it hard to breathe.

"It hurts," she cried, tears streaming down her face. "I-I tried to get out, but..." She sobbed, trying to twist her foot away from the metal teeth clamped around her ankle. Blood dripped onto the forest floor, staining the leaves beneath her.

"It's okay," I said, reaching for the trap. "I'll get you out. It's going to be okay."

The metal was rusted, and it took a few minutes of struggling, but I finally managed to pry the trap open. Nayeli screamed, and I winced. My hands were scraped raw from the rust and the force of trying to get the trap open. Once it was loose, she pulled her foot free, clutching her ankle to her chest.

"We've got to get you out of here," I said as I fumbled through my pockets to find my phone. "I'm going to call—"

"Kiera," Nayeli screamed, "Behind you."

I whipped around, magic gathering in my palms, but just as I focused my power, a sharp pain exploded in the back of my head. Staggering forward, my vision blurred. Everything was spinning, and before I could make the call that would have saved our lives, the world went dark.