My Little Wolf

Chapter 2

ALPHA LORENZO

I was immediately informed when a stranger crossed the border to my territory. A potential enemy to my pack, Alpha Blake of the Shadow Pack, who had insisted on seeing me.

My first thought was he might have gotten over his grief, and finally accepted the deal I made him months ago about the water corporation. We had an unspoken rivalry, but we were business partners before everything else.

But that wasn't the case.

"I'm not here to do business with you, Lorenzo," he said to me. Consider this an official warning. You took what belonged to me, and I'm here to tell you I'm coming for everything you hold dear."

My jaw tightened as we faced each other. "I see you still haven't gotten over this."

His eyes flashed dangerously. "Of course I haven't. You killed my—"

“Three years, Blake. Three years you’ve blamed me for your pack’s blood. For the death of your mate. And you still dare to walk into my territory--to threaten me?”

"I'm going to say this one more time, Blake. I. Didn't. Kill. Your. Mate. You failed to protect her. Maybe use your time wisely and actually look for whoever attacked your pack, instead of laying blame on me. Now get the FUCK out of my territory."

His jaw tightened, eyes burning with something between hatred and denial. "I'll be back, Lorenzo. And next time, it will be an eye for an eye."

"I would like to see you try. Now, get out." I said, low and final.

He held my gaze for a long second, then stormed toward his car.

I ran a hand over my face, muscles tight with exhaustion. It had been three fucking years since the attack on the Shadow Pack—an attack that claimed the lives of the majority of his people, including his mate. Since then, Blake had been hell-bent on pushing the narrative that I was responsible, especially because the attackers had left a crest of my pack's emblem behind. Someone wanted a war between us. And Blake was stupid enough to take the bait.

The moon was high when I returned to the pack house, washing the surroundings in silver light. I breathed in the night air deeply, trying to calm the grinding pressure in my chest.

My wolf was prancing and whining. Agitated. "Calm the fuck down, Hunter," I growled lowly, "I miss her too."

"Alpha, you're back."

I turned to see my Gamma, Liam standing behind me. He had an apprehensive look on his face.

"What's going on?"

"You have a...um.. visitor," he said, scratching the back of his head.

My eyes narrowed in suspicion as I stared towards my quarters. My mouth opened to ask further, when a scent hit me like a punch in the face. A scent I knew so well that my entire body reacted, before my mind caught up.

I took in a lungful of breath to savor it, my body trembling slightly.

"Where is she?" I asked Liam.

"In your living room, Alpha."

I nodded and stormed towards my quarters, her scent becoming stronger as I got closer. My wolf was already going crazy with every step I took. And just before I burst through the doors to my living room, I froze in my steps.

The sudden rush of adrenaline slammed through me as I gripped the doorknob tightly. My heart pounded in a rhythm I hated yet craved. I had imagined this scent for weeks, craved it. Missed it.

I twisted the doorknob slightly and opened the door.

And there she was. Olandria Bennet. The object of my recent, unhealthy obsession. My walking temptation. The reason I’d been living in a constant state of frustration.

My little wolf.

She was sleeping on my couch. Curled into herself, her long hair spilling over the cushions, her chest rising and falling with each breath. She looked exhausted.

My eyes caught the suitcase beside her, and I frowned, my heart beating too fast to really understand what was happening, if this was merely one of the dreams I'd been having. I should pinch myself, but I didn't want to fucking wake from this.

Olandria was in my home. In my living room.

I stepped quietly into the room, each step feeling heavier than the last.

I knelt beside the couch slowly, careful not to make a sound. My heart was beating so loudly I was sure she’d hear it.

“Little Wolf,” I breathed quietly. “What in the hell are you doing here?”

A strand of her hair had fallen over her cheek, brushing her lips softly. Before I could think, I reached out. My fingers hovering above her skin. I shouldn’t. I knew I shouldn’t.

But I pushed the strand back behind her ear, and my entire body shivered from that single touch.

For years, I’d waited, and wondered. She had turned eighteen long ago. Most young wolves found their mates by then, but she hadn’t recognized me. Not once. Not even a flicker. I convinced myself it wasn't meant to be.

I told myself the bond wasn’t ours. I told myself I was imagining the pull, the wanting, the fierce instinct to claim.

But the truth was, I had accepted long ago that the moon goddess had made a mistake—or that I had hoped for too much.

She never looked at me the way I looked at her.

She never felt what I felt every time she walked into a room. Every time her laugh echoed through the pack house, every time she smiled at me with the innocence of a girl, almost half my age who never knew she was slowly destroying me.

Besides, she was the daughter of my best fucking friend, and I had no clue how he would even take this.

I forced myself to take a slow breath, my eyes closing for a moment before inhaling deeply.

I looked at her again. Carefully, this time. Her nails were bitten shorter than usual. Her eyes were puffy, even though she was asleep. Her breathing was shallow and uneven. She’d cried recently.

Something had happened.

My wolf growled low in my head, protective fury rising.

But then, her lashes fluttered, and she stirred, then woke up instantly—hazel eyes wide, alert, taking me in.

The moment she saw me, she practically jumped to her feet. “Alpha—I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to doze off...”

The sound of her voice sent heat rushing straight to my dick. I was rock hard immediately.

Fuck.

I cleared my throat quickly, forcing my expression neutral. “It’s okay. You don’t have to apologize for anything.”

My eyes flicked to the suitcase again. “What happened?” I asked gently.

She opened her mouth but froze. Panic washed over her face. “How long have you been here? Does my Dad know I’m here?”

I frowned. “I just walked in. And no—he doesn’t know. Not yet… what’s going on?”

Her lips trembled. Her shoulders shook once—barely noticeable, but I saw it.

“I’m sorry...but I couldn’t think of anyone else, and it was getting late. I just… I just need a place to stay for a while. I promise I won’t disturb you. I’ll be out of your hair in no time. Please.”

I wondered what might have happened for her to sound this desperate. I needed to ask, but I knew deep down I also wanted to be selfish enough to keep her here for as long as she wants. Her eyes were desperate, pleading, and I could myself agreeing in an instant. "Of course you can. There's plenty of rooms...."

She launched herself into my chest—so fast, so desperate that it nearly knocked me off balance. Her arms wrapped around my neck, her body pressing against me fully.

The warmth of her. The scent. The feel of her. Fucking hell.

My breath caught sharply. My body tensed so hard it hurt. My cock jerked, throbbing painfully against my pants.

Hunter roared desperately, clawing, demanding I pull her closer—claim her—touch her.

Goddess help me.

I inhaled shakily, trying to force control back into my limbs. Forcing myself to stay still. To think.

“What happened?” I murmured, my voice rougher than intended. “Why do you need a place to stay? What about your Dad?”

She choked on a breath and buried her face deeper into my shoulder. I felt the wetness in my shoulder. She was crying.

Something inside me cracked, the protective instinct slamming through my blood. My arms wrapped around her instantly, "Who hurt you, little wolf?"