Bound To The Alpha

3

We both looked over to where his date was standing, already pulling out her phone in an attempt to not seem so awkward now that she’d been abandoned.

“I can,” I said, offering him a conciliatory smile. “She seems nice.”

“Don’t make small talk with me. I know my f*****g father sent you.”

I tried not to grimace hearing Aiden talk about Kevin that way. I was pretty sure my manager was trying his best, and I didn’t come over here to embarrass the guy.

“He didn’t send me,” I said calmly. “I always give tours on the weekdays, Aiden. You just signed up for one of my days, that’s all.”

“Yeah, right,” he snapped, wrinkling his nose. “Delilah’s mother already gave me the third degree about what a failure I am, how I’m bringing her down because I’m not going to college. I know what my father thinks. I know what he tells people. I know you want to, too. C’mon, let’s hear it.”

I paused, waiting for the teen to stop ranting before shaking my head. “I’m not going to lecture you,” I said calmly.

“Then leave me alone and stick to pointing at things with lasers, nerd.”

I just shook my head again. “Look. Whatever you do with your time and your life is totally up to you, okay? I’m the planetarium’s employee, not your father’s.” And not after today. I sighed and reached into my pocket, fishing out a condom. I wasn’t normally the type of girl to carry those around, but I had kind of been hoping to have a romantic dinner with Ben to celebrate my last day. But at this point, I wasn’t in the mood for any sort of celebration—not anymore. I handed it to the young man. “But what she wants with her time and her life is up to her, yeah? So, if you’re going to do anything funny, at least be smart about it.”

Aiden looked at me like I’d hit him before snatching the condom out of my hand and shoving it into his vest pocket. “Yeah, whatever,” he said, looking a little mulish as he looked back at the young woman he’d arrived with. “She’s studying geology, you know. Likes space and stuff.”

“That’s great,” I said, my smile broadening. “And it’s nice of you to take her somewhere she’ll enjoy.” It was more than Ben did for me these days, at any rate. I nodded toward her. “Well, it’s about time for me to start, so why don’t you go join the group, yeah? And try not to scare any children.” I winked, and Aiden rolled his eyes, but at least he’d stopped cursing.

I gathered my things at the podium while he returned to his date, including that “laser pointer” he’d tried goading me about. I remembered how excited I’d been when I first started giving tours on my own. Tucking it into my pocket, I turned back to my group.

“Welcome to the Challenger Learning Center!” I greeted everyone, offering them my warmest smile. “Today we’re going to—”

A pair of amber eyes met mine, and I froze, my heart lurching into my chest.

What!? How? How is this possible?

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Standing at the front of the group, staring back at me, was the mysterious man from my dream.

Chapter 2

Fenris

Challenger Learning Center

Tallahassee, Florida

Frankly, it was amazing my head hadn’t yet to split in two, given the way my wolf was belting out his Fating Call. It felt like everyone within a ten-meter radius should have been able to hear him. The longer he went on, the more my head pounded, but I couldn’t simply roll over and give in. Oh no, that wasn’t the way this worked.

The only reason I’d come to Tallahassee at all was because some old business associates had been making waves in the area. I’d been further up the East Coast and thought I would investigate things myself. My resources were suggesting they’d been employed at a local business within the city itself. I only slipped into the planetarium to do a brief check when something made my skin prickle. I was not the only supernatural being here.

It could have been an object, but this wasn’t a museum. I sincerely doubted it was an object, but some niggling corner of my mind suggested there could be something lunar here. It was, after all, an entire building dedicated to space and everything beyond this lonely planet. A tour seemed the best way to scope the place out. I would even have the ability to question the guide if anything tickled my senses. There were few who could resist my charm—men and women alike. I didn’t need to flirt, nor did I ever need to threaten them. I had a silver tongue, and humans were exceptionally susceptible to it.

Call it a talent.

When she walked out, though, and our eyes met…

Khuya.

The word came to my mind out of nowhere as quicksilver pupils locked onto mine. There was a flicker of recognition there, and my wolf went wild for it, calling, as a thrum of excitement ran through me. Regardless of what he thought, I couldn’t deny she was stunning. Her silky dark hair was pulled up in a neat bun. The shirt hugged her curves just right, and she was pretty, commanding attention without demanding it. She might have been dressed in the standard employee uniform, but this woman wore hers with pride, and the confidence was stunning.

Even her voice felt like a song to me. She was a siren, and I was more than ready to be called in. It would take more than her soft lilt to dash me upon the rocks.

She paused suddenly during her greeting, and something not unlike a memory slammed into me. I inhaled sharply as the vision rolled over me like a fog bank off the sea. A dark room. No, not just a dark room. A room here. The planetarium. The overhead was lit with stars, but all these random people had at last disappeared. Good.

We were alone now, the woman with the silver eyes and me.