The Alpha's Temporary Mate(20)

       
           



       

"I didn't know wolves could sense magic."

He shrugged. "I've never felt it this way before. Perhaps it's our close quarters."

Thinking back, Chloe tried to remember anything about species that could  track a witch's power use. Usually it was only other magic users that  could sense such changes. Not weres.

"Has anyone been able to do that to you before?" Kieran asked.

She shrugged. "No, but I live alone. You might be right about the cohabitation thing."

"Surely other witches would have mentioned it?"

Chloe looked back down at her book. "I don't speak to them often."

Other witches had covens, families. Even when they tried to include her,  Chloe was always aware she was the outsider. Much like packs, it was  rare for a witch to switch covens. Usually, the coven a witch was born  into was the only option unless a witch married into another. Even then,  there was a family connection to open a door.

She'd had no one.

While a baby might have been adopted into a coven, a grown woman  wouldn't. After being rejected by a few groups in the sixties, she'd  stopped hoping she'd find some magical family to fill the void inside  her. Instead, she'd focused on creating her own bonds with other species  more accepting of a lone witch. Jessica didn't care what sort of  background she came from as long as Chloe could keep up with her at the  bar.

But eschewing her people had some drawbacks. She'd had to learn about  her magic on her own, with only books as a guide. Even after nearly a  century of study, questions like Kieran's still stumped her from time to  time.

"I'll research it," she said. "Let you know if I find an answer."

She glanced up at the wolf and found him watching her with sympathetic eyes.

Her fingers curled tightly on the spine of the book. She'd been doing  her best to keep her distance from the tempting wolf but when he looked  at her like that, her job just got harder.

"I'm fine as I am," she snapped, knowing he'd inferred more from her words than she wanted to reveal.

"Of course you are," he said evenly. "You don't need anyone else, right?"

"Right." She didn't long for the camaraderie he had with his pack. She  didn't wish for a mate to wrap her in his arms. And if she did, the hero  in her fantasies certainly didn't wear his face.

Kieran glanced at his watch and a smile tugged at his lips. "True as  that might be, little witch, for the next few weeks you're not alone."

The air left her lungs. He couldn't have known how the words would  affect her but they did. No one, in all her decades, had ever said them  to her. But Kieran meant them in a very temporary sense and she had to  be careful to remember that.

He looked up at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "How sporty are you?"

"What?"

"Saturday mornings a few of the younger wolves in my pack organize a  soccer game in the park. Time with them will guarantee a smile on your  face."

Warmth spread through her before she forced herself to rein it in. Was  he asking her to cheer her up or to set up another viewing op of their  relationship?

His eyes displayed only eagerness.

"Do you usually join them?"

Kieran inclined his head. "When I can, since I'm so close to the park. I haven't been out in a few weeks due to work."

"I'm not the most coordinated sports player."

He nodded, looking back at his laptop. "Don't worry about it. I wasn't  planning on being there today anyway. They won't be disappointed."

"No," she said. "I meant, you'll have to promise to overlook any  instances of me running into trees and things as I attempt to play."

The smile he gave her was well worth any bruises she would acquire in this outing.

"I'll go change and be back down in a minute," she said.

"I'll let them know to expect us," Kieran replied as he reached for his phone.

As Chloe headed for her room, she wondered how exactly a werewolf match  in the midst of mortals would turn out. Her nervousness was about the  potential for supernatural exposure, she assured herself, and not  because, once again, she was about to be judged by packmates that were  important to the man living with her.



He'd planned to spend the day going over every minute detail of a new  investment. Hours of work lay ahead of him-the reason he'd turned down  the soccer game invitation in the first place. Though he loved to meet  with members of his pack, business came before pleasure. Especially  business that helped line the pack coffers as well as his own. He'd had a  plan for his weekend the same way he had a plan for every other minute  of his days.                       
       
           



       

But now he was walking through Central Park with a bouncing witch at his side.

Everyone needs a break now and then. He tried to rationalize the  situation, ignoring the fact that he'd never been one to shirk a  responsibility.

This is a chance to show off Chloe to more of the pack. It's a strategic outing. Good for our ruse.

Giving his younger packmates a chance to meet Chloe would help pave the  way at the retreat and provide her with a few familiar faces to search  out when they were in the woods. This work was more important than his  investments if he wanted to protect his freedom.

That's all well and good, an inner voice whispered. But that's not why you asked her out.

No. He'd see the sadness in her eyes and wanted to do something, anything, to erase it.

Damned witch was wrapping him around her finger-a dangerous possibility he refused to dwell on too long.

"What are your packmates like?" Chloe asked.

"They're good kids," he replied. "Just relax. This is supposed to be fun."

"I am relaxed."

He arched a brow. The woman nearly vibrated with excitement and nervous energy.

"I just don't know what to expect," she defended. "I think we've covered that I don't regularly interact with werewolves."

"Be prepared for anything. Wolves are competitive and don't mind playing dirty in order to get what they want."

That brought a smile to her lips. "Good to know." She shot a pointed glance in his direction.

Unable to stop himself, he threaded an arm around her waist to pull her  closer to his side. His sensitive hearing picked up her swift inhale,  and the sound brought a smile to his lips.

"Just be yourself," he advised. "They'll love you."

She snorted at the words. "I think wolves are a little harder to win over."

He glanced down at her bouncing curls. She certainly wasn't having much  trouble making him enjoy her company. Though cohabitation was necessary  for his plan to look convincing, the past week with her had been far  easier to adapt to than he'd anticipated. Too easy, in fact. He didn't  want to get used to having her in his home when she was only a temporary  addition to his life.

"Is that them?" Chloe pointed at a group up ahead of them.

"Yes. Are you ready?"

She took a breath and rolled her shoulders back. "Bring it on."

He leaned down, allowing his lips to brush against her cheek as he whispered in her ear. "Remember the point is to have fun."

She turned toward him, her mouth a breath away. "And to pretend to be  madly into you," she whispered, low enough that no supernatural hearing  would be able to pick up on their words.

"That too." His gaze dropped to her lips. So close. All he had to do was lean down a little and-

His arms were empty. Chloe grabbed his hand and pulled him off the path, into the bright, sun drenched field.

Though he had to smile at her eagerness, the lust riding his body wished she'd held still just a few moments longer.

The group ahead of them turned to watch their approach. Eight young  adults gathered around, obviously enjoying being in each other's  company. A soccer ball lay at their feet, waiting for a game to start  up.

Glancing at the humans wandering by, he had to admit the group of weres  didn't appear to be anything more than a pack of kids looking for a  little exercise on a sunny day. But as soon as they spotted him, every  one of them froze to attention. Eyes dropped to the ground and heads  lowered in an automatic instinct as a more dominant wolf approached.

"Hello everyone," he greeted the group as they reached them. "Good to see you all."

Heads came back up and smiles lit the young faces.

"We're glad you could make time for us today," Kate replied.

"The pleasure is mine." And it was true. Looking at part of his pack, he couldn't regret taking a break from his computer today.

The group comprised some of the youngest of his family. Though they all  looked like college kids, each had at least four or five decades under  their belt. Still, they were young enough to depend on the pack for  comfort and stability. He liked to make himself available to them  whenever he got the chance.