Alpha Prime: Shiftily Ever After(8)

Baldwin looked over at the women with mild interest. “I see some possibilities,” he allowed. “I see one I like. Hmm, that’s very interesting. I could work with that. I may have just spotted the future Mrs. Phillips.” He glanced at Miles. “With your permission, of course.”

“Wow, that’s a lot of words, Baldy. Must be true lurve,” Anders scoffed. “I see a date for Friday night. I’m just trying to decide who’s going to be the lucky lady.” Anders surveyed the women, his gaze roving over each of them.

Miles followed his gaze and found his attention drawn to a woman who was standing apart from the others, stretching and arching her back.

Hello. His day just got a little more interesting.

He felt a sudden rush of heat. Delicious full figure. Silky brown hair. Sweet round face with pouty lips. And on a bus full of single shifter females. How was it that no male had snapped her up already?

Anders’ two-way radio crackled, and he unsnapped it from his belt holster to answer it. “Pack Fenris, go,” he said, walking a few steps away so he could talk.

The brunette was talking to a redheaded fox shifter and a tall, skinny coyote female, pointing excitedly at the buildings in the town square and the mountains off in the distance.

Miles felt a smile tugging at his lips. He liked her enthusiasm, and how she wanted to share her happiness with those around her.

Anders was saying something, but now Miles’s attention was entirely focused on the new shifter female.

“Are you ignoring me?” Anders asked.

“Sure, sounds good.”

Anders spoke louder. “There’s a naked zebra unicorn running across the town square.”

“Uh-huh.”

“A thousand vampire bats just flew out of my ass.”

“Yep.”

“Are you even listening to me at all?” Anders said in exasperation.

Miles tore his gaze away from the sexy brunette who kept self-consciously touching her hair, and focused on Anders – but just for a moment.

“Nope,” he said. “Not in the slightest.”

Then he returned his attention to the brunette. The other women were invisible to him now.

Miles was so keyed up these days that he’d even stopped dating. Couldn’t enjoy it anymore. He turned down all the women who hit on him, to the surprise of his packmates.

But this woman…she called to him on a deep, primal level. Maybe she could ease some of the tension coiled deep inside his gut, just for a little while.

A man walked by and said something to her and she laughed, and he felt a rumble of anger deep inside. He kept his emotions wrapped up tight, not allowing his rage to hurt his two packmates, but he couldn’t stop the claws from curving out of his fingers. Who the hell was that guy, and what was so damn funny? Miles wanted to be the one who made her laugh.

The man cast a startled glance in Miles’s direction; without meaning to, Miles had let some of his anger leak out, directed right at him. The man tucked his head down fearfully and hurried off.

“Why her?” Anders asked.

Miles felt a flare of unexpected rage, and Anders let out a yelp of pain in response. “What do you mean, why her?” Without meaning to, he half growled and half said it. “Are you insulting her?”

Anders took a step back, eyes widening, looking startled. Miles was known to be a gruff, irritable jerk, but he didn’t take it out on those who were closest to him.

“Peace,” Anders said, holding up his hands and bowing his head in submission. “There were a dozen women on the bus, and I was just curious how you’d decided on that one. I’m not insulting her; you have great taste. She’s hot. Great body. Nice face. I mean, not that I’m interested in her. She’s not my type. Even though she’s gorgeous. Okay, should I just go tear my own throat out now and save you the trouble?”

Miles snorted. “Please do, but dig yourself a grave first. I’m going to be a little busy charming the panties off my new Mrs. Right…Now.”

Baldwin shook his head in mild disapproval. Anders barked out a laugh. “Now there’s the Miles I know and cower before. The hopeless romantic.”

“That’s me.”

“Well, before you go make her day, we’ve got an issue with one of the Stoney Creek bears who’s starting to clear part of the Bronwyn Beavers’ property like they own it,” Anders said. He held his radio out to Miles. “The head beav wants to talk to you.” He stifled a snicker as he said that.

Normally Miles would have laughed at Anders’ juvenile humor, but right now he felt a flash of anger and frustration. The female was calling to him sharply, waking his wolf and making it pace and howl. Unfortunately, she’d have to wait. The Bronwyn Beavers were under his pack’s protection, and they paid for it with dam-building and tree-clearing services. Pack business came first, always.