Filed to story: The Alpha King’s Intoxicating Mate
I opened my mouth to protest when a young male approached the table, his eyes lingering on Leah. “May I have the honor of this dance?” he asked, with a small smile on his face.
How dare he! How f*****g dare he approach my mate. I let out a growl and he glanced at me, his face going pale as he realized who he was looking at. My eyes turned dark.
“My apologies Alpha King Kace” he stammered, bowing “I did not realize she was your date.”
He backed away slowly and then scurried off with his tail between his legs. I smirked with satisfaction and then looked back at Leah who looked pissed.
“You had no right to growl at him,” she said steadily, her nails digging into the table “You have not marked me, you have no claim on me and you haven’t accepted me as your mate. I can dance with whomever I like you insufferable prick” she breathed in disgust as I blanched.
“Leah” I clenched my jaw but she was already standing, her legs shaking as she stepped back from the table, her gait unsteady as she began to disappear into the crowd. s**t. I had really blown it this time. I didn’t understand the anger though. Most women would appreciate their mates acting possessive in regard to them. Why was Leah acting so differently to them all? Why did she seem so unhappy with me? Had I done something so unforgivably wrong? I didn’t understand my mate at all and it struck me that I needed to learn more about her and fast, if I had any chance in hell of making this relationship ever work.
“Damnit” I swore, slamming my hand on the table and getting up in frustration, my eyes scanning the crowd. She was nowhere to be seen. I ran a hand through my hair in exasperation and began to go find her. She couldn’t have gotten far, not in those heels, unless she had taken them off. I sighed and began to look for my mate, determined to wipe the slate clean and start the night anew. Maybe with some coaxing, she could tell me what was wrong or why she was so upset. I wasn’t a mind reader, but even I knew something was up with her. I just didn’t know what.
Leah POV
It took hours to get ready. Hours of being primped and pampered and made to feel like I wasn’t pretty enough to be the mate of King Kace. I refused to color my hair, offending the hairdresser who glowered at me. My feet were forced into tight-fitting heels with straps that cut into my flesh and I wore a dress that revealed entirely too much skin for my liking, the long slit exposing my upper thigh, the thong I was wearing beneath the dress uncomfortable and irritating. By the time I was finished getting ready, I was angry. I felt like a Barbie doll. I hadn’t enjoyed the experience, no matter how many times I was told how lucky I was to have this much attention lavished on me and how much was being spent on me. I hadn’t asked for this. I hadn’t asked for a designer dress and heels. I hadn’t asked to have my skin be all tanned and for makeup to hide the blemishes and flaws on my face. I was perfectly content to wear something comfortable to Brynn’s party. Instead, I was dolled up to look like someone else and it rankled. It was like it was making a statement to me that I wasn’t good enough and it hurt.
As I stormed away from the table, all I could think about was how much of an i***t my mate was. He had no idea what I was feeling at the moment or how angry I felt. I wove my way between the crowd, pissed that he had scared off a male who had only asked me to dance. It’s not as though Kace had decided what he wanted to do with me. One minute he wanted me as his mate, the next he didn’t. It was like being on a rollercoaster and never knowing if you were going to go up or down. I exhaled loudly, my feet stomping on the grass as I stormed outside and around the marquee, trying to take deep breaths in order to calm down. I was so sick of all this bullshit. I was so tired of feeling like a damn pawn in his game.
I wobbled in my heels and swore. I bent over and undid the straps on my shoes, pulling them off, one at a time roughly, before sending them flying through the air and across the ground with satisfaction. My feet sank into the soft, earthy grass, my toes digging in with blessed relief. That was so much better. They didn’t hurt as much now. I could walk without feeling like I was going to trip or fall over. The air was fresh and cool outside. I breathed it in greedily. I closed my eyes, feeling myself relax as the music softly played in the background. There were only a few shifters outside and most of them were disappearing into the forest for a run. Nobody was going to bother me out here. I was all alone and that’s how I liked it. I could breathe, if only for a minute.
My hand reached up and slowly began to pull out the numerous pins holding my hair into place. One by one, I dropped them onto the grass, my hair slowly cascading and flowing down past my shoulders, until my scalp felt less sore. I knew Kace was probably looking for me but at that moment I didn’t care. Screw him. I walked towards the forest, the moon shining brightly down. I was so disappointed that I hadn’t gotten my wolf. I could hear the leaves crunching beneath my feet as I made my way in deeper, my hands touching the bark of the trees, feeling its coarseness, I stopped as I reached a small clearing, leaning back against the trunk of a tree.
I jumped as a hand touched my shoulder. He had been so stealthy I hadn’t heard him approach. His eyes were glittering. “Do you have any idea how hard it was to find you out here?” he said with gritted teeth.
I just looked at him. “Do I look as though I care?” I said slowly and deliberately.
If anybody should be pissed it should be me, not him.
He frowned as I removed his hand with a huff. “I don’t understand why you are so angry,” he said “Is this because I haven’t marked you? I told you I need time,” he said with annoyance.
My temper erupted. I turned to face him, flinging my arms out wide. “Do you think this is just because you haven’t marked me? It’s because you can’t make up your mind Kace and I’m left feeling like I’m walking on a tightrope while you make a decision. It’s because you scared that man away that asked me to dance when you have no claim on me” I shouted, my voice rising as he blinked “It’s because you forced me to dress up like some stupid bimbo in this damn dress and look like something I’m not. I’m not some damn Barbie doll for you to play dress-ups with. I’m my own person, believe it or not,” I screamed, my chest heaving, my eyes glaring as he swallowed hard, his face expressionless. God, he just didn’t get it and it was bloody infuriating.
I panted, my emotions on overdrive. I turned to leave and he gripped my arm, forcing me to stop. “I didn’t mean to make you feel that way,” he said grimly, a tic in his jaw “I honestly thought you would enjoy dressing up. It wasn’t meant to be an insult to you, believe me, I think you’re beautiful as you are” he added.
“Really because it feels like I’m not good enough” I shot back, “After all I’m just a lowly wolfless mutt remember.”
His eyes darkened “Don’t talk like that” he warned.
“Like what? Telling the truth?” I was reckless now, provoking him in my anger.
I was spoiling for a fight.
“Nobody wants a wolfless shifter for a mate, so why don’t you just admit it and…” I trailed off as he picked me up and turned, shoving me hard against the trunk of the tree as he plastered his lips against mine.
I felt his hands gripping me around the waist as I moaned into his mouth, his kiss harsh and demanding, his tongue delving into my mouth. My legs wrapped around his waist, my body pressing against his. I felt electricity shoot through me. I panted, leaning back, my body desiring much more than what he was giving me. His hands raised my legs, putting them over his shoulders, my body easily bearing its weight against the trunk of the tree as I looked down at him in dismay, the kiss broken off, a mischievous light in his eyes, that had me wriggling. I was on display and highly aroused. His nostrils flared. A slow smile spread on his face. His hand reached up and skimmed along my thigh, making me give a small cry and wriggle.
“Don’t move” he breathed.
“Kace” I stammered.
He smirked and then shook his head. “This isn’t going to work” he muttered and I breathed a sigh of relief.
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?