Filed to story: Cara Nelson The Guardian: Werewolf Book PDF Free
“And are you in school still Lily?” Alpha Mahli continues with his questions.
“Yes, I’m a senior in high school, I’ll finish soon after my birthday.”
“Are you smart?” He asks. Not, ‘do you get good grades?’ which is what most people ask. It’s an odd question.
“I like to think I am.”
“Good, I like a smart woman.”
I look down at my plate, and take a bite of food, not sure how to respond to that.
“Your father tells me you are a strong warrior.”
“Yes. I am training for the warrior battles in June. I’m hoping to defeat most of the warriors in my pack.”
“Strong and intelligent. Excellent qualities in a mate, wouldn’t you agree?”
An uncomfortable feeling begins to settle in my stomach. ‘Andra, you don’t think he’s considering taking us a mate, do you.’
‘I’m beginning to think so. Thank the goddess we’re not old enough yet. I really hope he’s not our mate. He’s creepy.”
I’m still deciding how to respond when my father puts down his fork and stands. “Well, I have to get to that business we discussed Alpha. I’ll let the two of you continue to get to know each other.”
“Wait, dad.” I say and start to get up.
“Stay here honey, keep the Alpha company. I’ve told him all about you.” He says, leaning down as if he were going to hug me, but instead whispers in my ear. “And don’t embarrass me.”
I turn and look at Alpha Mahli and try to swallow the food around the lump in my throat. I definitely have a bad feeling about this.
After breakfast, Alpha Mahli gives me a tour of the packhouse, including his personal bedroom. Gross. It’s just as dark as the rest of the packhouse. I also realize that he has put me on the Alpha floor across from his room. Yeah, I’ll be locking my door tonight.
Then, he gives me a tour of the pack lands. I realize that he’s taking every opportunity to touch me possible, finding reasons to put his hand on my back to guide’ me, or sliding his hand across my back when he goes to point at something. The hairs on the back on my neck are standing on end and all I want to do is get away from this guy.
I do find out that he’s been an Alpha for nearly 15 years and his fated mate died. I try to consider that maybe that’s why he’s so awkward and why he likes the dark, but I can’t reconcile it in my mind.
Finally, he drops me off at my room, telling me he needs to do some work and that dinner will be in two hours. I wait until I hear his footsteps walk away before locking the door. The first thing I do is open the blinds, letting sunshine in. Then I find my bag and grab my phone. I send Clint a text, hoping that I’ll hear back, but doubting that it will happen. I know they are out hunting and fighting rogues. I feel like I need a tether to my real life to combat the eerie feeling I have about what’s happening here.
When I don’t get a response, I decide to take a shower and lay down for a while. I doze off and am awakened to the sounds a metal scraping on metal. I turn and see that Alpha Mahli has used a key to unlock my door and is walking into the room.
“You’ve slept the afternoon away, Lily. It’s time to get up and come have dinner.” He starts walking over to me and I quickly hop off the bed.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. Let me brush my hair and I’ll be ready to go.” I say, darting toward the ensuite bathroom.
“Actually, I bought you a dress to wear for dinner. Your father gave me your size. I’d like you to wear it tonight. I have something special planned.”
“Will my father be joining us?” I ask, hoping the answer is yes.
“No, his…..business, is keeping him busy tonight.” By the way he says ‘business’I get the feeling that it’s not business at all. But, if it’s not, I don’t know why we’d be here.
“Okay, where is the dress?”
He goes to the closet and pulls out a red satin dress with black lace overlay. It’s strapless and the black lace falls farther than the satin which looks like it will barely cover my backside. Honestly, it looks more like sexy lingerie than something that I would wear to dinner. And if I was choosing my own lingerie, this wouldn’t be my color scheme. It matches the tawdry d?cor of the packhouse.
“I think it will go beautifully with your brown hair.” He says, handing me the dress while sliding his fingers through my hair. My body shivers in revulsion at his touch, but his smile and the darkening of his eyes leads me to believe he thinks I like his touch.
“I’ll wait here while you put it on.” He says, stepping back. I’m not sure if he thinks I’m going to strip in front of him, but no, that’s not happening. I walk into the bathroom and firmly shut the door, listening to make sure he isn’t going to come in.
I quickly change into the dress and I’m just getting myself adjusted in the top when he opens the door without knocking.
He looks me up and down. “Beautiful. And there are these.” He hands me a pair of what must be 5 inch red and black stiletto platform heels. I lean down and put them on my feet. When I stand, I’m nearly as tall as he is.
He takes my hand and walks me outside to a waiting limousine. After helping me inside, he climbs in behind me, making sure he is sitting next to me.
“As you may have guessed Lily, I am a wealthy Alpha. I am in the business of making money.”
“What business is that?” I ask, truly wondering what this man does to support his pack. While I don’t care for the decorating, the packhouse building itself along with every other house I see on the pack lands are opulent. It reminds me of that line from Shrek, ‘Do you think he’s compensating for something?’ I have to quickly get ahold of myself, so I don’t snicker out loud.
“The business of luck and dreams.” He says. Whatever that means.
We arrive at an expensive looking restaurant, and the valet assists us out of the limo. Alpha Mahli takes my arm and guides me inside.
“Alpha.” The ma?tre d’ bows his head. “We have your table set up and ready for you.”
We are escorted to an empty room, with a table next to the glass overlooking a lake. There are fairy lights all around the lake, giving it a romantic feel. Not the feeling I want to have with this Alpha.
Without asking me, Alpha Mahli orders for both of us. When the waiter is gone, he shifts his attention to me.
“What do you know about me, Lily?”
“Well, I really only know what you’ve told me today.” And that you are a terrible decorator and possibly have a small dick. But I don’t say that out loud.
He reaches over and takes my hands in his. “I’m looking for a mate, someone that can be by my side, helping me to manage the day-to-day operations of the packhouse. I don’t need a strong Luna, merely one that is competent and one that can give me an heir.”
He pulls my hands to his lips, kissing them, then sucking on my knuckles. I have to swallow the bile in my throat.
“Your father thinks that we would be a good match. I would care for you, and your would want for nothing. You are young and sexy and should be able to give me many heirs.” Ewww, this time I think I actually threw up a little in my mouth.
I force a smile on my face, happy when the food comes, and I can pull my hands out of his. I wait until the wait staff leave before responding.
“Alpha Mahli, you are very kind. I am honored that you would consider me as a mate.” Not really, but I definitely don’t want to piss this guy off, especially when I’m on his pack lands and have no idea where my father is.
“I have always wanted to find my fated mate. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. Obviously, I haven’t reached the age where I can sense who my mate is, but I would want to pursue the option of finding my fated mate before taking a chosen mate.”
