“I like to run through the forest in my wolf form. I wasn’t planning on stopping here but then I saw you and thought it looked secluded enough that I could work my charm on you and get in your pants.”
I widened my eyes, not knowing how to respond.
He chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’m joking! Anyway, one of the first rules of being alpha is don’t screw around with pack members. Just makes things really messy!”
I began to relax. “What are some other rules of being alpha?”
“Well, let’s see, make sure you walk around shirtless as much as possible so that your abs can be admired, and don’t think I didn’t catch you looking“—he winked at me—”and don’t let drunk girls embarrass themselves falling over at the beach.”
I glared at him. He smirked and continued, “Also, it’s probably best if you’re not naked when you hang out with that now-sober girl at a different beach, especially if your first rule is don’t screw around with pack members.”
“You wish,” I replied.
“Oh please, if I took this towel off, I bet you one hundred bucks you couldn’t resist me. Trust me, the alpha genetics don’t end at my abs.” He smiled mischievously.
“Well, you’re not my mate, and my rule is no screwing around with anyone that isn’t your mate,” I replied earnestly, annoyed that he believed I would just fall at his feet.
“Wait, so are you a virgin then?”
My cheeks burned at his question. I nodded my head, not able to speak the answer.
He kept looking at me. “Wait, seriously? Have you really never done anything with anyone that isn’t your mate?”
“No, I haven’t.” I could tell that I was completely red, the skin on my body burning. Why did I have to blush so easily?
He stared at me for a while, his piercing blue eyes not blinking. Finally, he asked, “Have you ever kissed anyone?”
“No.”
“Wow, I can’t believe I’ve met a unicorn in the flesh. You’re actually completely saving yourself for your mate? I didn’t think anyone did that anymore.”
“I’m not the only one!”
“Well, I definitely haven’t met many others like you. And most that I have were still in high school.”
“I follow the scriptures of Artemis. Anyway, my parents would never let me date anyone that wasn’t my mate, and I still live with them.”
“What they don’t know can’t hurt them. Also, it makes things kind of exciting when you have to sneak around.” He smiled and seemed to zone out as if he were remembering something.
Suddenly, I felt my phone vibrate. I looked down to see my mom was texting me, asking me where I was.
Oh, shit!I had totally lost track of time. I quickly texted her back to let her know I was on my way home. “Shit, sorry, I have to go home. I didn’t realize how late it was.”
“No worries, it was nice to hang out with you for a little while. Maybe we can do it again sometime. Next time, I’ll have some clothes on, but only if you want.”
I laughed, waved goodbye to him, and turned to go. As soon as I was about to toss my leg over my bike to pedal away, he called out to me. “Hey!”
“Yeah?” I turned back to look at him curiously.
“Did you want your towel back?” he asked as he stepped toward me, his thumbs hitched inside the top of it, as if he was about to remove it.
“Oh.” I felt my face burn in reaction. “It’s not mine.”
He nodded, a twinkle in his eye. I turned back toward my bike and immediately left, speeding back toward my house. I wasn’t sure what to make of our meeting. It was so hard to read him. But something about him made me feel comfortable while simultaneously putting me on edge.
Chapter 4
Jasmine