Filed to story: Luna Lovette and Alpha Kodak Story
Seeing that the others were deep in conversation, he admitted, “It’s just a headache. It’s a pain I can deal with, so therefore I’m fine.”
“With pills?” she scoffed. “Let me take the pain away.”
He backed up. “No.” Because that would involve her touching him, and then Shaya would freak. He’d take the pain over that. Plus, the pills would kick in any second now.
Amber rolled her eyes. “Come on, Nick, you’re in pain. I’ll bet it’s not just the headache either. The mating urges must be painful too, since she won’t let you claim her-which I think is plain cruel. I know she was upset because you didn’t claim her in the beginning, but you’ve given up everything and-“
“Amber, that’s between me and Shaya,” he stated firmly.
She gave him a slight smile. “I’m your friend, Nick. I don’t want you to be hurting. I want you to be happy.”
“Shaya makes me happy.”
“It doesn’t look that way from where I’m standing.”
When Shaya had come outside to find no Nick in sight, she hadn’t been surprised since she was fifteen minutes early. She’d love to say it was because she was working on her punctuality, but the truth was that she’d known Nick would have to go inside the motor home at some point this morning to change clothes and clean up, and she didn’t like the idea of Amber around him. Yes, that should be inconsequential considering that Shaya didn’t want to mate with him, but it was consequential whether she liked it or not.
How could the idea of her mate with another female be anything but agonizing?
Her anxiety and restlessness had given her the jumpstart she’d needed and quickened her movements. Her wolf was eager to see him, to get him away from the other female, and was urging Shaya to go to him. But when Shaya came up close to the motor home, she froze at the sound of two voices talking.
“Shaya makes me happy.”
“It doesn’t look that way from where I’m standing.”
Amber. Bitch.
Rather than barging in there and making her presence known, Shaya didn’t move a single muscle, intending to listen closely and hear how the conversation played out. It was the best way to find out more about Amber and her “friendship” with Nick. Her wolf didn’t agree-she wanted to barge in there and bare her teeth at the female, dominant wolf or not.
She heard Nick then; his voice was soft and gentle- too soft and gentle for Shaya’s liking. “What’re you doing awake so early? You were always a late sleeper.”
A quiet, tinkle-like laugh that had a hint of flirtatiousness to it. “That’s true. There’s just so much going on, and with the court hearing looming…it’s enough to disturb anyone’s sleep. Roni’s missed you so much. So have I.”
“Oh, you’ve missed me, huh? Good. I missed you too.”
Red-hot anger surged through Shaya and her wolf. It wasn’t just Nick’s words that hurt, it was the depth of emotion there. He clearly cared a great deal for Amber.
“I wish you’d come back home, Nick,”-oh, fucking did she now?-“Jon’s great as Alpha, but it’s not the same there without you. Everyone misses you. You know how much Roni would love it if you came home.”
A short pause. Then he spoke in that same soft, gentle voice again. “So you still like being stroked there.”
A blast of rage exploded in Shaya’s mind and zoomed through her body. Oh, she’d slaughter them both! Amber for being a slut, and Nick for betraying every promise he’d made since he arrived. In seconds, she was up the steps and opening the front door. Stunned, she stopped dead and frowned. Nick looked up at her from his spot on the gray vinyl floor where he was crouched, petting Roni, who was still in her wolf form. And that was when it fell into place. He hadn’t been talking to Amber, he’d been talking to Roni while Amber looked on, chatting away. Relief washed over Shaya, making the rage subside. Her wolf wasn’t totally relaxed-her focus was on Amber, the interfering bitch.
Sensing Shaya’s anger, Nick frowned. “Everything okay, baby?”
Shaya forced a smile, still recovering from her brief attack of panic. “You weren’t outside waiting. I just came to see if something was wrong.” She could tell he didn’t believe her, and maybe Roni didn’t either, because she came to Shaya and rubbed against her leg in a move that felt supportive. She then sat in front of Shaya almost protectively, staring at Amber, as if making it clear exactly where her loyalty lay. Appreciating that, Shaya reached down and stroked the she-wolf’s neck. Sensing eyes on her, Shaya raised her gaze to Kathy and Derren, shooting them both an awkward smile. Had she not been feeling so off-kilter right then, she may have commented on how the motor home was a lot more luxurious than she would have ever expected.
Nick’s eyes danced from Shaya to Roni to Amber and back to Shaya. If Shaya felt slightly threatened by Amber as an unmated female, he wouldn’t be surprised; it was only natural for her possessive streak to trigger a jealous reaction. But he didn’t want Shaya to ever be under the impression that he wanted anyone but her. So, getting to his feet, he immediately went to her. “Come on, baby, I’ll give you a ride to work.” Shaya nodded once but didn’t move, as if to ensure that he didn’t intend to linger.
After nuzzling his hand slightly, Roni then trotted over to the TV, bumping Bruce out of the way. Without a backward glance at Amber, Nick ushered Shaya outside the motor home. It wasn’t until they were in the privacy of the car that he spoke. “You don’t ever have to feel insecure about us. I don’t want anyone but you.”
She almost snapped, “There is no us,” but instead she found herself confessing, “I heard you both talking. I thought you were saying those things to Amber, not Roni.”
Confirming his suspicion and pleased that she’d been honest with him, Nick reached out and kneaded her nape. “There never has been, and never will be, anything at all between me and Amber.”
“She wants you.” Her expression dared him to deny it. To her surprise, he looked genuinely confused.
“I know she’s a little…overaffectionate, but that’s all it is. She’s like that with everyone.”
Shaya snorted. “Trust me, she wants you.”
That made no sense to Nick since dominant females weren’t at all subtle when they wanted a male. “I don’t think so, baby. Amber’s never given me even the slightest indication that she’s interested; dominant females are pretty forward.”
Okay, Shaya could concede that. “If you can think of any other reason why she’s jealous, let me know.”
Nick still wasn’t convinced, but he had no interest in arguing with Shaya. “In any case, they’re leaving today. Unfortunately, they won’t be far. My mother wants to stay in the local shifter motel for a while, but don’t worry, she’ll leave you alone.”
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?