“Really I’m fine, Zoe.I’m just tired,” I told her.I drank the glass of water down, soothing my dry throat before walking out with a tray to clear the tables.
Alpha Reid stayed all day watching me.Doesn’t he have work to do?Why is he hanging around the diner?Does he know what I am?Is he waiting for me to leave so he can slaughter me?My brain was working overtime, trying to figure out what his sudden interest in me was.When it came time to get Lily, I quickly took off my apron before walking out the door, towards the school.
When I was out of sight of the diner, a pair of hands clamped down on my arms.I knew instantly it was Alpha Reid by the sparks that ran all over my body.He pushed me against the brick wall of the building, pressing his chest against mine.He leaned in, breathing in my scent.My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it.I froze, waiting for him to kill me.Only he did not; instead, his hand moved underneath my blouse where my dressing was.He ran his nose along the top of my shoulder before lifting my blouse, revealing the bloodied dressing.He ran his fingers over it, letting out a menacing growl that paralysed me on the spot.“Who did this?” His voice was deep and menacing.
“No one,” I stuttered, my voice so low it was nearly a whisper.I tried to move to escape, but he growled warning me not to, so I stood there not daring to move an inch.Running his nose to the crook of my neck, he inhaled deeply.I could feel his canines protruding, pressing against my skin.They were sharp.I inhaled deeply, not realising I had been holding my breath.
“Why do you smell of wolfsbane?Is that why you’re not healing?” His voice was dangerously low.Frightened, I tried to push him back, but he did not budge.
“Please, I have to get Lily,” I cry out.Stepping back, he let me pass.I quickly took off in the direction of the school.
After I picked up Lily, we went back to the diner where Reid was waiting next to the door.Reid stepped right into my path, blocking us from moving further into the diner.
“Hello Lily,” he says, passing her a giant choc chip cookie.Lily took the cookie, smiling up at the Alpha.
“You can help with my homework if you want, Mr.Reid,” Lily told him excitedly, but before he could answer, Zoe saved me from telling her no and stepped forward, wrapping Lily in a hug and forcing the Alpha to move out of the way.Lily walked off to her usual booth, and I pushed past the Alpha before going into the kitchen to put my apron on.Reid never left.When my shift was about to end, I walked out the back to retrieve my bag and grab Lily, who was sleeping in the back part of the store where Zoe’s little studio was.
When I was bending down, grabbing our clothes out of the dryer and placing them in the duffle bag, I felt familiar hands brush my sides.I knew it was Reid, his tantalizing scent hit my nose just as he touched me.Sparks stretching throughout my body.Why does he have this effect on me?Thinking to myself, I spun around only for him to push me back so my ass was pressed against the washer and dryer.I watched him lean in, breathing in my scent.His other hand reached up into my hair pulling my head back, forcing me to look up and meet his gaze.Just as I was about to tell him he couldn’t be back in this part of the diner.
He smashed his lips hungrily into mine, catching me completely off guard, but the most surprising part was my own body’s reaction to him.An involuntary moan escaped my lips, and I felt my core tighten.His tongue traced my bottom lip, wanting access which I granted before he deepened the kiss, pressing his body into mine.Just as fast as he kissed me, he pulled away, I heard him chuckle to himself, “Now that’s the reaction I have been wanting.”
Confused, I was about to ask him what he meant when Zoe walked in.I felt my face flush with embarrassment as I stepped out of the laundry.Grabbing Lily, I quickly collected our things and ran out the door, not even bothering to say goodbye.I walked home as quickly as possible, and after an hour of walking, I finally reached the driveway.
Reid’s POV
As soon as I saw her walk to the back, knowing her shift was about to end, I couldn’t help myself, I followed her.I stood in the doorway, watching as she bent down to remove the clothes from the dryer, completely unaware I was watching.She bent over to grab the last of the clothes, and my dick instantly went hard as I stared at the shape of her plump ass in the air.I reached over, placing my hands on her hips, and she instantly froze.I watched as she sniffed the air slightly, spinning herself around so she faced me.I pushed my body against hers.I could feel her skin heating up under my touch.This is the reaction she should have had the moment we met, but she is only affected when I’m close or touching her.
Curious to see her reaction, I ran my hands up the side of her body and into her hair before grabbing a handful.I pulled it back so her face was looking directly at me.I could see lust and fear in her eyes; she wanted me to kiss her, but she still feared me.My lips crashed into her soft pink lips, making me growl.My wolf was howling in my head, pleased to finally taste her.I sucked her bottom lip before running my tongue along it, wanting entry to taste her more.I felt her lips part, and I plunged my tongue into her mouth, tasting every bit of it.Her scent was sending my wolf crazy.He wanted to claim her right now, but I knew it would scare her, so I pulled back.
“Now that’s the reaction I have been wanting.”
She stared at me, confused.She was about to say something when we were interrupted.Zoe walked in, and my mate’s face flushed adorably with embarrassment.Zoe glared at me, then my mate took off.I turned to Zoe, crossing my arms across my chest.
“I told you to stay away from her,” Zoe’s voice was calm but demanding, which irritated my wolf.
“She is my mate; you know this already.”
The old woman stepped forward.“That girl has enough going on.You think you can just come in here and confuse her?She doesn’t even know you’re her mate and she won’t until you mark her.She won’t throw Lily away to be with you.Ari has raised her since she was born.Loves her like a daughter, not a sister.Just because you are her mate, don’t think she will choose you over her.”
My wolf growled.Zoe raised a brow at my reaction to her words but did not look bothered.My body trembled as I tried to fight my raging wolf from trying to take over.
“I never said I would make her choose between us.I know wherever Aria goes, Lily will be with her.I’m not trying to separate them.I fucking love her and Lily.I don’t fucking care what you say she is mine,” I snap at her.Zoe’s composure faltered, not expecting my anger before her eyes softened and she let out a breath of relief.
“I thought you wanted to take her away from Lily, but it still doesn’t change anything.She doesn’t know you’re her mate, and Lily’s father isn’t going to just let Lily leave with Aria.”
“What do you mean, how do you know so much about her?They are siblings, and who is Lily’s father?” I was becoming more annoyed and confused by the minute, and my wolf had gone awfully quiet.I could tell he knew something I didn’t, but he just retreated to the back of my mind where I could not reach him.
Zoe’s face went pale, and she started to sweat.I could smell her fear coming from the pores on her skin.Now I was starting to get pissed off.First my wolf runs off and now Zoe has all of a sudden gone quiet too.
“What the fuck is going on?What aren’t you telling me?” I growled at her.Zoe looked around nervously.
“I knew her mother and father, that’s all I can tell you.”
“What?Whose mother and father?”
“Aria’s.Lily and Ari have the same mother but different fathers.”
Now her words made sense.He would not let Ari take Lily when Aria wasn’t even his daughter.So, if Lily’s father is alive, why is Aria raising his daughter?I had so many questions that needed to be answered, but I could tell Zoe would not be the one to give them to me.