Her Alpha's Greatest Secret

Chapter 4- Something Borrowed

He was glorious- his dark blonde hair glistening with ice from the unanticipated swim- his white shirt revealing defined musculature, but he wasn’t broad or tall. He was slight and appeared graceful with perfect smooth honey skin and those glowing golden eyes. He was an angel- but his face was twisted in concern, annoyance, and sorrow. I puzzled over the dizzying combination of emotions while I reeled from his scathing remark.

“I didn’t ask you to save me,” I finally sputtered chagrined. I whipped around and attempted to stalk dramatically back up the stream bank, but my ankle buckled and ruined my dignified exit and his arms darted out and steadied me.

“You’re hurt,” he said quietly. His voice was a silk smooth tenor and I hated how it sank pleasurably into my bones.

“I am FINE, thank you for helping me, but it wasn’t necessary. I had the situation under control.”

He was standing before me again- blocking my way his eyes twinkling with amusement, “oh yes, I’m sorry, you looked well in control of the situation. I apologize for interfering with your afternoon swim.”

I glared defiantly, “I thank you, but my sister-in-law is expecting me,” I said stiffly, limping around him.

He reached for my hand as I passed and I pulled it from his reach defensively, “I’m sorry for shouting at you, I didn’t intend it- I have a bit of a temper,” he said with surprising sincerity.

I froze and met his gaze. My wolf was howling in my mind- begging me to throw myself at him, but I stubbornly refused to admit how affected I was by his presence. Every one of his heartbeats sent a ripple of intoxicating heat crashing into me. I leaned involuntarily toward him drinking in his heady smell. His full lips looked so soft, and his sharp cheekbones, and flawless skin were screaming to be touched, my fingers itched, but I clenched them into fists- my nails biting into my palms.

I realized he was leaning in too, but he seemed to come to his senses just as I became aware of it, and he took a jagged steadying breath and took a step back. The aroma of his breath had my mouth watering, and I dug my nails deeper into my skin to snap myself out of it.

“Well, can I at least help you get where you’re going?” he asked.

I nodded- unable to speak.

He grinned and paced further into the tree line where he snagged a jacket off the ground he had obviously discarded when he went into the water. He offered it to me, “your lips are blue,” he explained.

I had another idea for how I would like him to warm up my lips, but I accepted the jacket gracefully sliding my arms into the buttery leather- I was swaddled in a cloud of his delicious scent. He surveyed me for a moment, deciding, then put an arm around my back so I could lean on him for support. We made our way wordlessly toward the bustling streets of the capital.

I felt like everyone who passed was looking at us, “is it just me or is everyone looking at us?” I finally asked, breaking the loaded silence between us.

“Oh, I suppose they are,” he replied ambiguously like I was missing a joke.

I sniffed in annoyance, and he chuckled under his breath.

I gave him the name of the café and he steered us effortlessly along the busy sidewalks to the intimate business. He seemed to be on the same page and was studiously ignoring the electricity erupting where he touched me. Either that or he didn’t feel it the way I did. No, I know he did, because I could feel his racing heart and I caught him looking at me several times when I thought I wasn’t looking and once I felt him inhaling my scent at my wrist slung over his shoulder. Several outdoor tables were clustered around a surging propane heater in front of the café and I recognized Lilia and Saela at the table closest to it. I blushed in preparation for the third degree I was sure to get. Lilia was staring at me slack jawed and Saela looked utterly baffled. I steeled my shoulders hoping I didn’t resemble a drowned cat. We approached their table and I reluctantly unwound myself from my companion- my wolf growled in protest.

“What happened to you?” Lilia exclaimed.

“I… slipped. Into a stream. No big deal,” I said trying to remain aloof.

I sensed Mr, Dreamy’s delight again at my side, and I resisted the urge to look at him. Sitting in the unoccupied chair. Saela and Lilia were both gawking at him, and I felt a surge of possessiveness rock through me.

“Thank you again,” I said dismissively.

He was smirking at me, and I felt a thrill of glee that he was looking at me and not pretty Lilia or my goddess-like sister.

“My pleasure,” he assured me sweeping into a half bow. He nodded to both the other girls and then turned back to me, “it was nice to meet you.” He finished and then he walked away.

He may as well have reached into my chest and torn his claws into my heart. He didn’t even want to know my name, he just left like he didn’t care that I was his mate in the slightest. He was dismissing me. I felt sick to my stomach. I looked back at the others and knit my brow at their shocked faces.

“What! I fell into a stream, big deal,” I muttered.

“You don’t even know who that was, do you?” my sister asked incredulously.

“No, do you?” I replied blankly.

She shook her head in disappointment.

“Mellie, that was Alpha Evander!” Lilia gushed.

My heart stuttered. No, he couldn’t be. He couldn’t be the famously mysterious and merciless Alpha of Ice Moon. It was impossible.

I shook my head, “what?”

“He’s the ALPHA,” Saela repeated deliberately like she thought I was an i***t which I was starting to believe might be true. No wonder he hadn’t wanted me- he was a beautiful mysterious Alpha, and I was a silly, impulsive girl who almost drowned in a stream for no good reason.

I groaned and put my head in my hands. The action brought a succulent wave of his scent to my face, and I realized I still wore his jacket.