MY ALPHA FATHER'S BEST FRIEND 3

DAMON

I am so completely fucked.

Standing in Rob’s Alpha suite, surrounded by his scent and his authority, trying to will my cock to calm down after his daughter just pressed every single one of my buttons.

When Rob called me last week and asked if I could stay at the estate while they dealt with Marcus’s rogue problem, I should have said no. Should have made up an excuse about pack business or territorial issues or literally anything else.

But I didn’t. I said yes.

Because I’m a weak, selfish bastard who wanted to spend two weeks alone with Maya.

The Moon help me.

It started three years ago, the night of her first shift. I’d been there—Rob had asked me to be present in case she needed help controlling the wolf. Some young shifters struggled with their first transformation, needing an Alpha’s dominance to bring them back.

But Maya had shifted like she’d been doing it her whole life. Smooth, controlled, and beautiful. Her wolf was pure white with pale gold eyes, smaller than a male but perfectly formed. Strong. Fast. Dominant.

She’d looked at me with those gold eyes and my wolf had lunged against my control so hard I’d almost shifted right there.

Mine, my wolf had growled. Ours. Claim her.

I’d forced him down, forced myself to look away. She was fifteen. A child. My best friend’s daughter.

But my wolf didn’t care about any of that. He’d decided she was ours, and nothing I said could change his mind.

The past three years had been torture.

Watching her grow into a beautiful, powerful young alpha female. Watching her train, watching her fight, watching her come into her strength. Smelling her scent change as she matured—sweet vanilla and jasmine with an undertone of something wild and fierce.

And the way she looked at me. Like she could see right through my careful control to the wolf underneath who wanted to claim her, mark her, make her mine in every way possible.

She’d started testing me about a year ago. Standing too close. Touching me more than necessary. Wearing less clothing when she knew I’d be visiting. The looks she’d give me, heated and knowing, like she could smell exactly how much I wanted her.

Because she could. Wolves couldn’t lie with scent, and mine probably screamed arousal every time she walked into a room.

But I’d held firm. I kept my distance. Reminded myself over and over that she was Rob’s daughter, that she was too young, that I was twice her age and the Alpha of another pack.

It didn’t matter that she was eighteen now. Didn’t matter that she was unmated and fully mature. Didn’t matter that my wolf was constantly pushing at my control, demanding I claim what was ours.

She was forbidden.

But then she goes and jumps on me wearing those fucking shorts that barely cover her ass, and that tank top where I can see everything, and wraps her legs around my waist, and my cock takes over my brain completely.

I’d felt every curve of her body pressed against mine. Felt the heat of her even through our clothes. Felt her hard nipples against my chest. Smelled her arousal—sharp and sweet and absolutely maddening.

For about three seconds, I’d forgotten every reason why I couldn’t have her. Had almost carried her straight upstairs and…

No. Not going there.

I’d set her down before I did something unforgivable. Put distance between us before my wolf could convince me to do something that would destroy my friendship with Rob and probably start a pack war.

And now she’s put me in the Alpha suite. Right across from her room. And I have to use her bathroom.

I need a shower. A very cold shower.

But first I need to make sure the guards know I’m here. I need to check the perimeter, review the security protocols, do all the responsible Alpha things I’m supposed to be doing instead of obsessing over my best friend’s daughter.

I drop my duffel on the bed and head back downstairs. Maya’s in the kitchen—I can hear her moving around, I can smell something cooking. My wolf wants to go to her, wants to watch her move, wants to be near her.

I force myself toward the front door instead.

The head of security—a wolf named Derek who’s been with the Crescent Falls pack for twenty years is waiting outside.

“Alpha Kane,” he greets me with a respectful nod. “Alpha Ashford briefed me. You have full authority over the estate and all security protocols while he’s away.”

“Good. I want perimeter patrols doubled, especially at night. The full moon is in three days and I don’t want any unmated males getting ideas.”

Derek’s expression darkens. He knows what I mean. Maya’s scent will be stronger during the full moon, her pheromones more potent. Any unmated wolf within a mile radius will be able to smell her, will want her.

Over my dead fucking body.

“Already done, sir. We’ve also restricted access to the estate—only essential pack members allowed on the grounds. No visitors without your explicit approval.”

“Perfect.” I run a hand through my hair, trying to focus on security instead of the girl in the kitchen. “Any issues I should know about?”

“No, sir. Everything’s quiet. The pack’s stable.”

We go over the details for another twenty minutes—patrol schedules, emergency protocols, the locations of the safe rooms in case of an attack. By the time I’m done, the sun is starting to set and I can smell something burning.

I head back inside and follow the scent to the kitchen.

Maya’s standing at the stove, waving a dish towel at a smoking pan. There’s tears on her face and her shoulders are shaking.

Every protective instinct I have roars to life.

“Hey.” I cross the kitchen and reach for her. “What’s wrong?”

She immediately crashes into me, her small body trembling. I wrap my arms around her automatically, pulling her close. She fits against me perfectly, her head tucking right under my chin.

My wolf purrs in satisfaction. Comfort our mate. Protect her.

She’s not our mate, I tell him firmly. But I don’t let her go.

“I ruined dinner,” she says, her voice breaking. “I wanted to make you something nice and I burned it.”

I glance at the stove. Whatever was in the pan is definitely beyond saving.

“That’s okay, sweetheart. We can order something.”

But she’s still shaking, and I can smell the distress in her scent. It’s making my wolf agitated, pacing and snarling, demanding I fix whatever’s making her upset.

I cup her face gently, tilting it up so I can look at her. Her eyes are red and wet, and there’s something in them beyond just disappointment about dinner.

She’s trying to impress me. Trying to show me she can take care of me.

The realization makes my chest tight.

“Maya.” I brush away her tears with my thumbs. “You don’t need to prove anything to me. I know you’re capable.”

“But I wanted to…”

“How about this,” I interrupt gently. “Tomorrow night, we’ll cook something together. You can show me what you know, I’ll teach you a few things. Deal?”

Her whole face lights up. That smile could power the sun and moon combined.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Okay!” She’s bouncing now, happy again, and I try very hard not to notice what that does to her breasts. “What should we order tonight?”

“Whatever you want.”