Poppy stood in the town square and stared at the pack. Tonight was supposed to be when the festivities started, bringing the two packs together. She stared at the florist. The young woman stood with her man. They were hugging. Her mate had a possessive hand over her stomach. Their first child was on the way. They looked so happy.
Everywhere Poppy turned, she saw mates.
Was this punishment?
They all looked so happy, the love shining in their eyes. the way they touched. There was no mistaking the arousal and deep connection the two people shared.
This was love. Pure passion.
Poppy had taken many times to sit on a bench and watch the pack, seeing the mated couples, and had hoped one day that she would know such amazing feelings.
It had never come to pass until her first transition and she’d learned her mate was Klaus.
As if her thoughts had conjured him up, he stood outside of his mother’s shop with Greg.
She’d never taken the time to truly look at Klaus. In high school, she’d done everything she could to avoid him. Outside of school, she’d done exactly the same. Never allowing him an opportunity to bully her. Klaus always found a way to torment her. It was like a sick and twisted game with him. One she didn’t want to play.
Poppy looked at him now, listening to his mother as she pointed up at the building in front of her.
He nodded his head and then nodded at something else, and Nicole looked excited.
Klaus chuckled, and then, as if he felt her gaze on him, he turned, and without anyone seeing, he gave her a wink.
That shouldn’t have made her warm and fuzzy, but it did.
I want him.
Greg suddenly turned to look at her and held his hand up in a wave. Poppy didn’t want to be rude, but she also didn’t want to upset the wolf within Klaus. She had no choice but to acknowledge Greg.
Klaus saw. Of course, he did. She also detected the way his nostrils flared.
It didn’t help that Greg started to move toward her.
She tried to stay perfectly still.
Klaus left his mother and also walked her way.
“Hey,” Greg said.
“Hi.” She kept her gaze on Greg, even though she wanted nothing more than to look at Klaus. To see him. This was so close to being a nightmare.
“Are you enjoying the tour of the town?” Poppy asked, attempting to keep the conversation light.
She inhaled deeply as Klaus approached, and she scented him. His masculine scent with a twinge of the alpha attached to it.
Poppy couldn’t ever recall him smelling so good. This wasn’t fair.
She detected his nostrils had flared as well. Did she smell good to him? What was happening to them?
“Yes, Klaus is being very thorough in showing me everything. I can’t wait until tonight.”
“Tonight?” Poppy asked.
“The celebration, or have you two forgotten?”
“Oh, yes, of course, the celebration.” She started to chuckle. “No, I haven’t forgotten. My mom and I have been baking up a storm.”
“I can’t wait to taste it,” Greg said. “I think everything your hands touch will feel like heaven.”