“Alright, alright. No need to threaten an old man. See, people saw your show of affection yesterday. How you went to Lyonis after the news of little Stephanie.”
Willow waited for him to continue but he only picked up a white rag and started wiping down the already clean bar. As the white, swishing rag neared her, she slammed her hand on it to halt it.
“Answer me clearly and fully or I swear I’ll break every bottle of liquor in this place.” The bartender looked startled, then understanding set in.
“See here, Queen, I wasn’t trying to make you mad. I forget you’re not one of us. You don’t know the ways. See, you are what we call a wakipajan.”
A throbbing pain was starting slammed against her temple. “What the fuck is that?” Even she cringed at her language. Cursing was usually saved for at least ten in the morning.
“It means a fighter, a rebel of sorts. It’s a phrase we use when one mate is pursuing one that’s a bit more...defiant. You, Queen, are a wakipajan.”
“What does that have to do with what you said before?” The old man rolled his eyes like a sixteen-year-old girl.
“Aren’t you listening to a word I said? When a wakipajan takes the first step to comforting or helping the other in a rough time it’s the first big step towards becoming a mate.”
Willow dropped the coffee cup and dark liquid spilled over the bar. “Say what?”
The old man seemed happy by her reaction. “Everyone’s talking about how you helped the Alpha yesterday evening after the news with Stephanie. You helped to bring him down from his anger. Like I said, that’s the first step to becoming his mate.”
Willow grimaced and couldn’t bring herself to touch the fresh cup of coffee he set in front of her. “I can’t believe this. I was just...being nice. I didn’t even do anything.” Her mind scattered to remember every detail of that moment yesterday. Did she do something monumental that she hadn’t been aware of? She’d chased him out of the woods and hugged him. That was it. How the hell did that start the mating process?
“Hey now, don’t worry about it. The pack is happy is all. It’s a good thing too; we’ve needed some added happiness since Stephanie went missing. If you were looking for some advice, I’d say enjoy it. I’d say enjoy Lyonis too. He’s a great man. He’ll treat you as a man should.”
Willow snorted with disgust and slammed her twenty down on the bar before stalking out. As she wound her way through the streets she saw everything with a new set of eyes. So that’s why everyone looked at her like she was made of candy. They thought she was going to mate with Lyonis. If only they knew how wrong that was.
Chapter 16
Willow finished setting up the bedroom. She had the rope and a set of chains with a padlock in case that didn’t work.
She felt like some kind of psychopath, but what the hell was she supposed to do? She was starving, literally, and she wasn’t about to let that sneaky Alpha with his sneaky little touches get the best of her.
She’d get what she needed from him, then be done. That was all. The phone rang and she went and answered it.
“Hello?”
“Willow.”
His voice was dark and husky; she actually shivered at the sound of it. Maybe it was just the way he sounded over the phone but it was absolutely decadent.
“What do you want?”
“I want you to meet me at headquarters.” Willow looked back up the stairs and thought of the rope and everything she had placed up there, ready to keep the Alpha in place.
“Why? I was sort of expecting you here soon.” Willow bit down on her lip as she almost said home instead of here.
“Trust me, you won’t want to miss this. Can you walk or would rather I pick you up?”
Willow thought about it and figured she could still go through with her plan. It’d just have to wait until he was done showing her whatever. She checked the clock and saw that it was already a quarter after ten.
“Alright, I’ll be right there. I’m walking; don’t, don’t come here.” God she didn’t know if she’d be able to not jump on him if he came here now. Her breasts felt heavy and achy, her sex wet.
He chuckled on the other end. “Very well, I’ll see you soon, Willow. Be safe.” The line cut out before she could reply.
Grumbling to herself, she grabbed her new winter coat and set off towards headquarters. Willow found Lyonis in the gym wearing a pair of baggy shorts and a sweaty white t-shirt that accented his defined chest and arms. He smiled at her as she came in.
“There you are. I missed you.” He came towards her and wrapped her in his arms. Willow returned the hug before she could think twice about it.
“Why did you want to meet me here?” she said pulling away. If possible, his scent was even more alluring now, saturating every inch of him. Willow’s mouth watered with the need to lick his salty skin.
“Well, I’d planned on taking you out tonight and showing you the city, but there was too much work to be done. We’ll postpone it to another night, but I thought the least I could do was play with you.” He smiled at her, that one dimple popping up in his cheek.
“What do you mean play with me?” Willow looked anywhere but at him because every time she did, something tightened inside her.
“Well I thought I could show you how to wrestle.” Laughing, she walked away from him as he neared her. He began stalking her as a predator might a prey. He lunged towards her and she ducked to the side to evade him. A laugh floated out of her and his smile was infectious.
“See, this is how it starts. The maneuvering of two opponents around and around.” He made a grab for her but she laughed and skirted out of reach. “Until eventually one of them finally gets pounced.” He feinted left then tackled her. Willow’s back hit the soft blue mat and they fell into a fit of laughter.
He settled on top of her, his blue eye lighting up his face, making him look younger and happier than he had in the past few days. Willow felt the urge to trace her fingers over that face and memorize the features of him just like this.
“I have a feeling this isn’t how you wrestle with your other pack members.”
He arched a brow. “Only the women.” Willow’s snort turned into a case of belly laughter until she futilely started pushing him away.
“Get off me you big oaf.” His mouth opened in mock surprise.
“Willow, I think that’s the nicest thing you ever called me.” She rolled her eyes and slapped him on the shoulder.
“Not as good as ‘Oh Great Alpha’, I think.” His hands caught her wrists and slowly slid up her arms. The touch was gentle, soft even, yet it made her feel trapped under him.
“Let me go.” She bucked under him and tried to get away. His arms swooped around her back, bringing her flush against him. The strength of his chest crushed her breasts in a delicious way as he fitted his hips to hers.
“But Willow, today I realized I’ve made many promises to you since I met you.”
She snorted. “Promises of a sexual nature are for you, not for me; and they don’t count.”
“Of course they do. And tonight, I’m going to start making good on them,” he said darkly.
“What?” His smile was pure sin as he arched his hips against hers. She felt the rigid length of his cock brush against the needy part of her like a teasing caress.
“That’s right, starting right now I’m making good on some of my promises.”
Willow wanted to say something smart in retort but instead said, “Which one?”
Oh God, was that her breathless voice? Couldn’t be. All of his fantasies put her in every submissive way possible, which she wouldn’t allow. Heck, she already had the chains ready.