His stomach clenched, and his wolf growled inside his chest. Shit. The thought of Michelle touching him made him not only physically sick but mentally too. This was all the signs he needed to know the truth. Adres was his—he was his true mate. Had to be. Because there was no explanation for why he wasn’t ripping that flimsy piece of nothing off Michelle’s body and devouring her like he’d always done. And after last night, he should want to wind down in the best way possible—with mind-numbing sex.
But Adres’s mature, stern face was all he could see. His strong body was the only one he wanted to feel. Macauley wanted that adrenaline he’d felt when he was battling Adres’s shields and combating his power that almost matched his own. His heart battered against his ribs at the realization.
This is incredible!
It was near dark outside. He needed to leave. If Adres wasn’t awake yet, well, then he was going to extend him the same courtesy of showing up in his bedroom like he’d done to him.
“I can hear your heart beating faster.” Michelle licked her lips, looking resplendent and smoldering as she stalked towards him. She had a sinful sway to her round hips that made alphas fall to their knees… in private. “You can give me all of that pent-up frustration, handsome. Because you know I can take it.”
Her purring sounded like hornets buzzing in his ear. He didn’t mean to be rude, but a laugh bubbled up in his chest and exploded into her face. He slapped his hand over his mouth, but a couple of snorts still leaked out.
“Am I missing something?” She blinked incredulously.
Macauley hurried to straighten himself. “No, not at all. I’m just… I’m, umm…” Freaking out. Too excited to sit still.
“Hey. It’s all right.” Michelle ran her smooth palm up his chest, causing him to flinch. He tried not to overreact, but her hand felt like a rusted spike dragging over his skin. “Why don’t you let me fix you a plate. I made rib eyes, your favorite, and asparagus picked fresh from Jaclyn’s garden.
Her eyes shone with pride that she knew the way to an alpha’s heart. But his favorite wasn’t steak, it was Italian. Yep. He preferred pasta over a slab of beef. Some would say he wasn’t… Macauley snorted.
A normal shifter.
Macauley got his ass moving. He was almost to her door when she darted in front of him.
“Wait, Mac. What’s going on?”
“I’m sorry, Michelle, but I can’t do this with you. I only came to drop off the table.”
“Oh, I wasn’t thinking. I should’ve known you’d be in meetings all day.” She bit her glossy bottom lip between her teeth, then whispered, “I guess I’ll see you on the full moon.”
Macauley shook his head, knowing he had to be straight with her. He placed his hand on her shoulder in hopes to lighten what he was about to say. It wasn’t a totally uncomfortable feeling, but the contact was far from pleasant.
He’d just opened his mouth and uttered the first syllable of his apology when a loud banging startled him away from her. Macauley blinked, and the pounding started again twice as hard.
“What in the hell?” Michelle demanded, yanking her door open. Whatever she’d been about to bark died on her lips at the twin vampires standing on her doorstep.
“It would be in your best interest if the alpha left your home now.”
Macauley remembered their names were Omor and Daciana, but he couldn’t tell which one was who. Or why they both appeared to be terrified.
“What are you two talking abo—” Macauley caught a whiff of berries and leather on the wind, and his heart threatened to escape his control as he stepped out onto the porch.
Adres stood rigidly in front of the king’s legion, his eyes the color of polished opal glaring back at him, the darkness in them so bottomless, so intense, it stole his breath away.
Adres was beginning to wonder if living in the Volkov territory was good for his sanity. Anger roared through him, and rage poisoned his veins. He had his shields up, and the vampires standing behind him should’ve been thankful he had, because otherwise, the putrid odor of the hatred he felt for the female wolf would have had them choking on it.
He’d only managed a couple of hours of rest after his unexpected orgasm. He was up again before the sun had fully set, anxious to return to the woods. He knew how to protect his young wolf… his beloved. With Macauley occupying his thoughts, he’d dressed quickly and left at the first hint of dusk. The legion was already there in formation, waiting for him in two perfect rows of six. Adres nodded to them, and they bowed before the Lord Protector began to tell him about their assigned posts for the day.