BETA: Her Alpha(12)

He’s cooking dinner, so I’m sitting in my office he made for me, working. It’s only off the kitchen, so when my brother calls, I can hear part of Erik’s conversation. “Can our mating desire leave us after a major incident like what happened to me?”

“No, it’s not that she doesn’t tell me or show me she loves me. It’s just because we…we haven’t gone at it. Do you think it’s my scars? These marks aren’t hard to miss.” My heart aches from his idea that I don’t want him because of that, and I let out a little whimper.

I can hear him walking out of the kitchen. “Thanks, Alpha. Yeah, I’ll meet with them. Is Ryan meeting with us?”

“Okay, see you tomorrow.” He hangs up, and his footsteps get louder. Then my office door opens up and startles me.

“I didn’t mean to startle you,” he replies. His words have a double meaning to them, and I know it’s about the five-inch scar that goes from his left cheek through his hairline and out around his ear. It’s not as bad as he thinks it is, but the meaning behind it is. I almost lost him; we almost lost us. When I look at it, the feelings of pain and sadness are still there. I rub my belly automatically because I can feel our little one moving with my agitation.

“Erik,” I mutter. Standing, I make my way to the man who I can’t live without. “I love you unconditionally. I’ve loved you since we first met. There’s nothing that can change that. By the way you’re still as sexy as you’ve always been.”

“Then why? Why have you been pushing me away if it isn’t because I look scary? I’ve seen the locals give me looks.” His anger, frustration, and pain are echoed in his words.

“Babe, we were out one day. You’re the sheriff. They’re just in shock that this could happen. Looking at your scar upsets me, but not the same reason it does you. I relive the pain of thinking I’d never hear your voice, or feel your touch. That’s it.”

“So you’re too fucking traumatized to want me? I just don’t understand. I’m in pain and I still want to mate, to love and fuck you all hours of the day.”

“Erik, I want you to get better. Remember in the hospital when you got lightheaded after we kissed? I freaked out. You’ve had one of the most serious and life-threatening injuries a person can have, human or shifter alike. I need you as much as you need me, maybe even more with these hormones coursing through me all day, but I can’t risk it.” My voice cracks as it trails off, and tears stream down my face.

“Chloe, I didn’t mean to make you cry. I promised never to do that to you, and I have again.” He wraps his hands around my waist, pulling me to him. His body is trembling, and it’s my fault. He’s probably shaking with need.

Pushing my head from his chest, I look up into his beautiful eyes and relent. “Erik, if it means that much to you, I’ll let my wolf loose. She wants you so much, I’ve had to jump in the pool and do twenty laps three times today. Trust me, it’s not something I really care to do, but I’m worried I’ll lose you.”

“Babe, no. It’s just, fuck…I’ve been trying to figure it out. Now that I know, I understand. I still want you, but I have something special for tonight, so it’s going to have to wait.”

“Oh, yeah?” I smile up at him. He’s perfect.





Damn, I can breathe again. Thinking she didn’t want me was killing me. I want to take her up on her offer to let loose, but there’s something I’ve wanted to do with her that I couldn’t before.

I set up our food on the breakfast counter and we eat for the next twenty minutes. It’s her favorite—chicken fettuccine alfredo.

“It’s my favorite. I can’t believe you remembered that.”

“Chloe, there isn’t a thing I don’t remember about you. From the flush on your skin when you ran up to Hunter’s house the day we met, to the way your eyebrows scrunch together when you’re sending a text.”

“Damn it, Erik. You’re a menace to my body. It’s been that way from the start.”

“Me, too, babe. Now eat, because the night’s only just beginning.”

Once we’re done, we wash the dishes together. She laughs at me because I got my entire shirt covered in water. It’s funny to her until I take off my shirt. Instantly, the giggling stops, and I can smell her pussy dripping in excitement. Looking into her beautiful green eyes, I can see her wolf eager to lunge onto me.

“No, no, no. Mrs. Smith, you must behave. I’ve got plans for us tonight.” Tapping her nose with my finger, I warn her off before walking away.

She snarls, and shouts, “Then put a fucking shirt on or I’m going to take what’s mine.” I just laugh and stroll into our bedroom for a shirt, not forgetting to lock the door behind me. I can’t trust her not to sneak up on me.

I hear the doorknob jiggle, and I crack up. Fuck, I unleashed the Kraken earlier. With a huff, she stomps away. My poor mate. I’ll make it better by the end of the night.

I’ve got a special movie for us to watch. It means a lot to her, and I happen to actually like this chick flick.

I walk back into the hallway, but she’s not there. I follow her scent, and she’s in the kitchen making some tea.

“What’s the matter? Is your stomach upset?” She only drinks it when she’s not feeling a hundred percent.

“No, I just had a craving for it.” She gives me an apologetic shrug.

I can tell she’s telling me the truth, but I personally hate tea. “I’m going to grab a beer, if that’s okay with you.”

“It’s fine. I’m not nauseous or anything.”

“Good.” I grab her hand and command her ass to move. “Come on, mate. I want to spend the night with my best friend.”

We head over to the living room with seventy-inch LED HD TV. It’s the first time we’re sitting here since we mated. We spent most of our time in bed, but I love football, so it’s great for game day. After the Seahawks’ last year, I almost pulled the damn thing from the wall.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to compensate for something else,” she says with a giant wink.

“And you’re the only one that knows better.”

“Forever,” she hisses in warning.

“Forever.” I would laugh, but I’m the same way with her—irrationally jealous.

We move over to the sofa, and I put my feet up on the coffee table, patting the seat next to me. She smiles and takes a seat at my side. With her feet tucked to the side of her, she lays her head on my shoulder.

Pressing play, the opening music plays, and she squeals, “Pride and Prejudice, it’s my favorite.”

“I know, babe. Come over and get closer. I want to hold you and touch you like I’ve always wanted to.”

“You wanted to touch me before?” she asks with

“Every time. Sitting next to you even without an erection, I wanted to have the right to kiss you like this.” I bend down and take a soft little peck. The moment our lips hit, hunger invades my bones, but I fight it.

Tucking her back into my body, I turn back to the TV and watch Keira Knightly walk into her crazy house, thinking I want a whole house full of little Chloes.





Chapter 11


“Hello, I’m Sheriff Erik Smith. You’ve all gone through several screenings before meeting with our chief citizen. I value his opinion one hundred percent. So when he says you’re right for the job, I’ve got no problem with it. However, if any one of you steps out of line, we’re not afraid of letting you go in a heartbeat.” I look at all the new officers a part of my team and wonder who is going to try and challenge me. Hunter doesn’t sense any need for domination from any of the men.

The woman’s a human and in no way a real threat to me. She’s looks like a no-nonsense officer. I’ve seen plenty of women on the police force in Seattle. Some of them are scarier than the men because they’ve got a complex about being taken seriously. I have a feeling she’s going to have that problem unless Hunter holds a pack meeting and spreads the word.

Ryan’s not here of course, claiming he needed to visit some family in Tucson. I haven’t seen Ryan for more than five minutes since I got out of the hospital, but then again, someone had to do my job while I was out of it, or so he says. His constant bitterness reminds me of Rocky, and gives Chloe’s concern a lot of weight. She told me of her dream and her suspicions, but I can’t recall much from that day so I don’t remember the scent like I should. It’s familiar, but I can’t narrow it down. Maybe I’ll figure it out once we find Lauren. After the incident with Rocky, she’s been on the run. No new leads have been found.

“Do any of you have any questions?”

“Yes. How come you need so many staff members when you only had two before? Has the crime rate grown?” the female officer, Deputy Maria Arroyo, asks while looking pointedly at my scarred and bandaged head.

“It has, but also it’s hard to manage shifts with only two people. With the new hotel, there’s more out of towners causing trouble. Teens are acting up, and fights are breaking out. As you can see I’ve been injured on duty, leaving only one officer to work all the time.” It seems to satisfy her questions and she gives me a nod of understanding.