The Alpha’s Heart (Stolen Mates #3)

1. Guy

CHAPTER 1

GUY

A h, Luna. I scent anise again.

I used to love a good piece of black licorice, but that was before Guy Holsom set his predatory gaze on me. The dominant delta wolf had decided early last winter that he was done waiting for his fated mate. If our goddess wasn’t going to bless him with the one female meant for him, he was going to take matters into his own claws and choose a prospective mate from the unmated she-wolves in the River Run Pack.

Lucky me. I’m the one he decided to settle on, and no matter how many times I make it clear that I’m not interested in any of the males I’ve spent my entire life around, he just can’t take a hint. Wolf shifters are a stubborn lot; throw in a pinch of dominance and he’s sure that, if he keeps trying to ‘court’ me, I’ll eventually give in and accept him as my mate.

No, thank you.

As I duck around the corner of the schoolhouse, hoping that I’m downwind enough that he won’t catch my innate honey scent on the breeze, I wish I had a pinch of my own. A little backbone that would help me tap into my claws and fangs even when I’m in my skin. Maybe then I could confront Guy for the countless time and tell him to buzz off instead of scurrying in the opposite direction, hoping that I can avoid another ‘chance’ meeting with my packmate.

He’s not being pushy enough for me to consider going to Kendall about it. Our Alpha would step in if I petitioned him to, but even if I’m a low-ranking delta, I have more pride than that. I’ll handle Guy on my own, and if I’d rather not? I’ve lived on River Run territory my entire life, plus I’m a shifter. I can lay a false scent trail, then high-tail it to my cabin where even an infatuated male knows better than to risk setting even the meekest she-wolf off by encroaching on her territory uninvited.

That’s the single downside to being one of the four teachers who work with the pack’s pups: the schoolhouse is communal property. Just like Kendall’s den or the pack circle, any packmate can visit the schoolhouse. That means Guy knows where to find me, and though he won’t proposition me when the pups are around, I stayed late to share a cappuccino with Lissa, the reading teacher. Her mate, Caleb, works on the trucks down at the garage and she wanted a little company after school was done for the day. Of course, I was happy to oblige.

I’m just… thinking I should’ve ducked out a little sooner if I wanted to sneak past Guy.

He’s not a bad guy. He’s strong. A protector. Undeniably handsome with his wavy dark hair and soft brown eyes; they’re not gold like most other wolves, but I have a soft spot for males who are different since my dad had hazel eyes, too, just like mine. He’d make a good mate, just not to me.

What makes matters worse is that most deltas are happily mated by my age. I’m twenty-three, and while that might seem young to humans and other supes like vampires, shifters are all about finding a life partner as soon as possible. If not, then at least someone they can work off some of our species’ inherent lust with. But then there’s me. Not only have I never found a male I wanted to settle down with before, but I’ve always been the type of female who decided she wouldn’t lift her tail for any wolf that was sniffing around it. When I finally mated, it would be with my mate. Fated or chosen, it didn’t matter.

Only now that I’m one of the few she-wolves in my age group who still hasn’t found her male, my maternal nature is starting to kick in. My wolf wants her mate, and if you thought that would mean I’d be less picky than before, you’re wrong. Take Guy, for example. I could crook a claw at him, cock my head and bare my throat for his bite, and he’d be mine. Too bad I don’t want Guy, and as the scent of anise on the breeze grows fainter, I let out a soft sigh of relief.

From my right, I hear a familiar husky laugh.

I glance that way and, knowing that I was just skulking around my place of work when Declan caught me, I grin at him.

Declan Slate is my closest friend. Maybe even my only true friend, rather than just another packmate. A year older than me, he’s not mated, either, though he’s confessed that he has his eye on a special female he’s hoping to make his. Because Declan works off of pack land, trading with one of the local human cities with a government who knows that supes exist, he spends most of his time negotiating the pack’s needs.

I have no doubt in my mind that he’s fallen for a human woman. It’s not something that happens often, especially since so many wolf shifter packs are insular. Still, it would explain why he’s keeping her a secret while he’s obviously on the verge of the mating dance. Most humans—whether they’re aware supes exist or not—have a hard time understanding what it means to be a shifter’s mate. Us wolves can know we’re looking at forever with one glance, and if we’re sure it’s right, we’re usually bonded during the next Luna. With humans or non-shifter supes, the courtship takes a little longer.

And if it’s a determined shifter like Guy who doesn’t understand that I don’t see forever when I look at him, he’ll keep digging in with his front paws until I firmly slap him down or an Alpha does.

Declan isn’t an alpha wolf. Like me, he’s a delta with a mid-level dominance. He has a delta shifter’s build, too: a lean form with sculpted arms, flat stomach, and a hint of something wild about him. Maybe that’s his longish dark blond hair or the cut of his jaw, stubbled just enough to be, like, a three o’clock shadow instead of a five. He always has a smile on his face, and a friendly aura that’s lured my timid wolf out of hiding.

He’s offered to challenge Guy for me, maybe go a few rounds in their fur to teach the other delta to leave me alone. It’s a sweet gesture, but I gently refused. Until I have a mate of my own to stand up for me, I can take care of this tiny nuisance myself.

Still, I’m sure he knows that I’m not doing the best job of that considering the way my honey scent turned a little sour in a bid to ward the other male off…

Declan jerks his chin at me, a tiny smile playing in the corner of his mouth. “Let me guess. Guy again?”

I just shrug. Guy’s pursuit of me over these last few months has kept the pack gossips in business. Last I heard, Kayla was taking bets and running the pool on how long before I wore his bite on my neck. Declan laughed and threw down a fifty that it would never happen.

I like how he has faith in me. We’re the only two that do, just another reason I’m glad to count him as my friend.

He hooks his thumbs in the loops of his jeans. “I’m off duty. If you’re looking for a bodyguard tonight, I could join you for dinner. Maybe if Guy thinks we’re spending time together at the hall, he’ll finally get it through his thick skull that you’re not available.”

“If only. It’s better odds that he’ll get a stick up his rump and decide to challenge you over being my friend.”

Declan’s pale gold eyes sparkle. “I think I can take him.”

I’m sure he can. “Thanks, but I’m planning on cooking for myself at home tonight.” Another shrug, an impish one this time. “He knows better than to skulk around my personal territory.”

He laughs. “That’s true, Sofe. Hey. Save me some?” Then, almost hurriedly, he adds, “As friends, yeah? I just like your cooking.”

Poor Declan. He was so quick to say that, like he wants to double down and make sure that I don’t mistake his ravenous appetite for anything other than a male shifter’s tendency to eat everything he can get his claws on.

I don’t blame him. In our world, making food for another shifter is a way to say: I love you, I’ll care for you, and you’ll want for nothing so long as I’m around. If I offered to feed him and he accepted, it’s a mating gesture… unless we make it very clear that it’s a meal, not a declaration of love.

He has his mysterious human woman. Me? I’m on my own, but if he wants to eat my leftovers so they don’t take up room in my fridge, I’m okay with that.

“Sure,” I tell him. I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear and smile. “Stop by after school tomorrow.”

“Will do. And since I’m on my way to my cabin, maybe I’ll make sure Guy’s distracted so that you can make it onto your territory before he hunts you down again.”

I laugh, grateful for an offer I can accept. It’s a trade. Some of my food for a head start back to my cabin. “Appreciate it, Declan. You’re the best.”

“Keep telling yourself that, Sofe. Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow,” I agree.

Declan squeezes my shoulder, then waves, starting off toward the other side of the schoolhouse while I continue on my way home—but we both stop when a brusque male voice calls out my name.

“Sofia!”

It’s not Guy. I know that much. His voice is slicker than that, and the anise has been replaced by Declan’s warm and sunny lemon scent. A hint of mint filters in, and my inner wolf—who’d perked her ears when she heard us being hailed—lays her muzzle down on her outstretched paws as she relaxes inside of me.

It’s Carver. Our pack Omega is a dark-skinned, grey-haired male with a thin face, pursed lips, and a pair of eyes so kind, you can’t help but feel calm around him. He’s been the Omega my entire life—just like how Kendall’s been the Alpha—but he’s so aged, the elder was the Omega when my mother’s mother was still part of the pack.

“There you are. I’d checked in with Samantha in the schoolhouse and she told me you’d just left. I hoped I’d catch you on your way home. I have a message for you.”

For me?

In a pack, the hierarchy is clear: Alpha at the top, Beta right beneath, with the gammas—our elders—and rank-and-file deltas making up the bulk of the pack at the base of the pyramid. The Omega exists just outside of it. An essential member of the pack, the Omega is right up there with Kendall, our Alpha, and Seton, our Beta. Carver is too busy and, well, too respected to be treated like a messenger wolf. So though my first instinct is to think, Oh, Luna, what does Guy want now, I know that even he would never use our Omega as a mouthpiece.

But our Alpha… our Alpha would, and I learn that when Carver adds, “It’s from Kendall. He’s the one who’s looking for you.”

Me?

Why would the Alpha be looking for me?

I glance over at Declan. Though his blank expression tells me he’s as confused as I am, he gives me an assuring nod.

“Um. Yes. Of course. What can I do for the Alpha?”

Carver’s lips thin, his own expression softening. “He’s waiting for you in the den. Go and see him, would you?”

When the Alpha summons you, you go. So with another bewildered look toward Declan, I thank our Omega, then switch directions. The Alpha cabin is on the western side of River Run territory, far from our natural river border. The pack den—a room attached to his cabin where any and all packmates can go visit the Alpha if they need to—is there, too. I’ve never had any reason to go there myself before, but all River Run packmates know instinctively where to find our Alpha.

I just hope I don’t run into Guy on the way over.