The Alpha

Chapter 15

Ethan's POV

Her lips purse together as she scowls at me. I simply tighten my hold on her, feeling her body pressed

against mine. The feeling of her being this close is amazing and I wish it was under different

circumstances. "Fine. But hurry up," she orders and I can't help the smirk that appears on my face. I'm

typically the one giving orders, but I find that I like her bossy side.

She raises her eyebrows at me and I clear my throat, returning from my thoughts as I realize that now

is my chance to convince her to stay. "What you saw was... unfortunate, but it's not what it looked like,"

I start carefully.

She sneers at me. "Yeah right!"

"Ah ah. It's my turn to talk," I persist before she can continue to argue. "I was working in my office when

Nikki came in. I had told her I didn't have time, but she didn't listen. She sat on my desk and came onto

me for the umpteenth time." I let out a sigh as I shake my head in exasperation, thinking about what

had happened in my office. "I had told her to get out and had stood up to escort her to the door. She

suddenly grabbed me and kissed me. You and Isa walked in during that moment of surprise where I

hadn't had the chance to push her away yet. That's it. Even if you hadn't come in, I would have stopped

it. I didn't want it. I didn't want her."

"You expect me to believe that?! It certainly didn't look like you didn't want that kiss! You were holding

her! I saw your hands on her hips!"

"Yeah! Because I was about to shove her away!" She gives me a disbelieving laugh and shakes her Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

head at me as though she finds my explanation completely ridiculous. "Listen Scarlet. Mates can feel

what the other is feeling. It's like a sixth sense. If I had wanted that kiss, if I had been a willing

participant you would have felt it. What did your wolf feel? What is she telling you?"

Scarlet seems to relax in my grip as her eyes become hazy and I know she is talking to her wolf.

Finally, she looks up at me, her gaze softer than it had been a moment ago. "She thinks you're telling

the truth. She said that if you had wanted to be kissing that other woman she would have been in pain,

like her body was on fire. Instead, she felt shock, anger, and disgust..."

A smile spreads across my face. "That's exactly what I was feeling when she kissed me. I swear to you

Scarlet. You are the only one I want to kiss. No one else. I want you and only you. Forever."

I stand up and bring a hand up to her cheek, sliding my thumb across it as I wipe away a stray tear. My

words seem to have moved her and she brushes her fingers through my hair as she stares into my

eyes, searching them for the truth. Her warm body seems to melt into mine and without even thinking I

bend my head down, placing my lips against hers.

The kiss starts out slow and tender and she reacts to it almost immediately. Her arms wrap around my

neck and I lift her to be level with me as I deepen the kiss. She moans against my mouth and the

sound is heaven to my ears. I can feel myself hardening, yearning for her. She is everything I want,

sexy, fiery, compassionate. She will be an amazing Luna and I can't wait to make her mine.

In a heated frenzy I begin to kiss along her jawline and down her neck, down to the spot where I will

one day mark her. She shivers as I nip at the spot and kiss it deeply as my hand comes up to cup her

breast. She gasps and tightens her grip on me as though her body is begging for more and I'm happy

to oblige. Without loosening my grip on her I back her up towards the bed before we topple onto it with

me on top of her. One hand snakes behind her neck, holding it in place as I press another kiss to her

soft pink lips. My tongue swipes across the seam of her mouth, asking for entrance which she

immediately allows with a lustful groan. My other hand moves under the hem of her shirt, feeling her

supple skin under my warm palm, my thumb gently stroking her.

Suddenly, Caleb's voice enters my head and I stop what I'm doing, lifting myself onto my forearms. "We

found one of Ray's thugs, the one Scarlet called Frank. What do you want us to do with him?"

I roll off Scarlet as I answer, "Take him to the dungeons. I'll meet you there."

I stand up from my spot on the bed and Scarlet lifts her head and shoulders up as she reclines onto her

elbows. "Where are you going?" she inquires, her voice coming out breathy and sexy.

"We caught Frank. I need to go oversee his questioning," I reply as I head for the door.

"Wait!" she calls as she gets up and comes over to me. "I need to talk to you about something." "I need

to get going. We can talk tonight when I get home," I respond as I reach for the doorknob and she

swiftly grabs my hand and stops me.

"No Ethan. Now. It's important."

I let out a sigh and turn to face her. "Okay. I'm sorry. What is it?"

"I want to continue working at the shelter."

My eyes instantly narrow at her. "No," I state plainly before turning to leave again.

She grabs my arm and forces my attention back to her. "I'm not asking Ethan. This is important to me. I

can't keep spending all day doing nothing. I want to help serve meals at the shelter. I want to see my

friends. I want to do my part to help the packless."

"It's not safe there."

"It's plenty safe. I survived that place for twenty years. Besides for the occasional rogue attack, the only

thing to worry about is starvation or dehydration. That's why we work so hard to provide what we can

for everyone else."

"Why is this so important to you?"

"Because they are important to me. Those people took me in. They helped raise me. They're my

family," she explained earnestly.

I stood there silently for a moment, contemplating. "Fine. But I want at least five guards with you at all

times."

"No. Just one," she counters.

"Four."

"Two."

"Two and a driver. Final offer. Take it or leave it," I remark. She gives me a triumphant smile before

throwing her arms around my neck and kissing me deeply.

"Thank you Ethan!" she exclaims as she pulls away.

"You're welcome, but one more thing," I reply as I hold up a finger to her. She steps away and nods,

waiting for my request. "Do not go anywhere without your guards. Do not run off. Do not put yourself in

any unnecessary danger or I won't continue letting you go back there."

"Fine. You have a deal," she states with a smile.

"Great." I place a gentle kiss on her forehead before reaching for the door one more time.

"Ethan!" Scarlet calls out again as she steps toward me. I look back at her. "Thanks."

"Of course."

I finally leave the room, Tony and Levi still standing outside the door. I hope I made the right decision.

My anxiety is already growing at the thought of Scarlet being in that place. I shake my head. There is

nothing I can do about it right now. At the moment I've got bigger fish to fry. I open my mind-link to

Caleb. "I'm on my way."