Claimed by My Ruthless Alpha Boss

Chapter 4

Dominic POV

“Found who?” Archer asks, impatiently opening his takeout container.

“My mate,” I tell them, and they both look up at me sharply.

“Where?” they both ask.

“Here. She works for me. I just ran into her in the elevator.”

I still can’t believe it, and one look at my friends’ faces tells me they feel the same. I confided in them that I’d given up hope just last month.

“What’s her name?” Stryker asks.

“When are you going to introduce her to the pack?” Archer asks, stabbing a piece of steak with his fork.

“I don’t smell her on you,” Stryker says before I can answer any of their questions, and Archer pauses eating to sniff the air, too.

“Me either.”

“I didn’t claim her yet.”

“Why the hell not?” Archer asks, looking at me like I’m crazy.

“She’s human.”

They both roll their eyes, sinking back in their chairs.

“That sucks,” Archer says, and I bare my teeth at him.

“No one will talk bad about my mate,” I growled.

Archer glares at me, his muscles flexing as if he’s about to jump me. Even though all three of us are alphas, we’ve never fought each other. One bad word about my mate, however, and I’m ready to tear into Archer until he submits to me. Wisely, my old friend takes a breath and nods, silently agreeing to never speak ill of her again.

I know Archer can be a d**k. He was second in line and left his old pack after his brother became alpha. Now his brother is mated to another wolf and they’re leading their pack. He’s jealous of that. He wants to be alpha with a strong mate at his side, but so far, he hasn’t found her.

Though Archer can be gruff and demanding at times, his bark is most certainly worse than his bite. I suppose that’s true of all of us. We have to be tough and in control to be alphas, but I now know one encounter with your mate will bring all of that crumbling down. Because she controls me now.

My mate.

Dammit, I didn’t get her name. No matter. I can track her down easily enough.

“How are you going to tell her about us?” Stryker asks, trying to break the tense silence.

“I don’t know yet. I should probably learn her name, though at least before I mark her and freak her out.”

“Just wait until next week. The full moon will be here, and she won’t be able to resist you. You’ll have her marked and bred before she comes out of the fog,” Archer suggests.

I ponder his suggestion as I dig into my own meal. I had certainly considered it.

Maybe he has a point. It would be the easiest way, and after it was over, I could explain how we were always meant to be. That nature had dictated it. Once the initial shock wears off, I’m sure she would understand. Most humans are reasonable, after all… I think. I haven’t spent much time around them, but surely the mating bond will soften her up enough to hear me out.

I nod as I work out some of the details in my head. Stryker catches my eye, shaking his head no. He looks very dubious of the idea.

“What does she do for you?” Archer asks, and I shrug.

“I don’t know for sure. She works on the third floor, so I’m guessing she just started and is some kind of analyst.”

“I’m surprised you’re letting her stay down there and work,” Stryker says, and I look over at him, confused.

“Why?”

“Well, if she’s human, then she might say yes if someone else were to ask her out or take her home.”

My wolf lunges, wanting to rip out the throat of any other male who dares to even glance in my mate’s direction. My muscles bulge and my teeth elongate as I heave out a growl. I can’t shift right here out in the open, but it’s almost impossible to control my territorial, possessive wolf.

“Calm down, Dominic. Someone is coming!” Archer hisses at me, and I grapple for control just as the elevator dings and my assistant steps off.

She’s carrying her own lunch, and she gives me a smile as she sits down at her desk. My assistant is a shifter, so she wouldn’t have been surprised to see a wolf in my office.

“I wonder how she’s going to take the news,” Archer says with a grin.

“What?” I ask, and he rolls his eyes.

“Dude, she wants you. She would kill to be mated to the alpha. She’s not going to be welcoming towards your mate or thrilled that you found her.”

I ponder his words, wondering how to fix this problem. Any member of my pack needs to respect my mate. I won’t accept any less. I’ll just have to make sure everyone understands that.

My friends leave soon after, and I get back to work. But the emails and spreadsheets before me are all ignored. Instead, I get to work planning how to run into my mate again.

Hopefully, next time we’ll be alone.