Chapter 20: Chapter 20

RAGE

I wouldn’t waste anyone’s time and tell them I wasn’t afraid of my father. I’d been afraid of him since I was a little boy. Where my mother nurtured me, loved me, I was pretty certain he didn’t know what that word meant.

He’d been groomed for this position since his father was declared the alpha king many moons before. Taking the position seriously was an understatement. Not that I thought he should, but removing the stick from his ass might make him more approachable.

I left Everlee standing with my mother, who I knew would welcome her, probably with cookies or a tour of the house. The long hallway toward my dad’s office felt like the walk of shame.

Because I could count on one hand how many times I’d walked down there and not been reprimanded about something. Dad left the door cracked, so I shoved it open and walked inside.

The familiar scent of his tea and cigars filled his office.

It brought back too many memories, even the ones I wanted to erase.

Dad swung his boots onto the top of his mahogany desk and lit a cigar, as if he needed the break from reality being a werewolf.

“Yes, Sir,” I said, stopping in front of his desk.

He gestured toward the seat beside me. I reluctantly sat down, not wanting to waste any of my time that I could be with Ever.

“You got her here, I see,” he said, as if he didn’t think I could do it.

Not that he gave me a choice. He demanded it, and when your alpha demands something, you do it.

“You asked me to, didn’t you?”

Trying to keep the attitude out of my voice was harder than I realized. Dad sensed it, but he didn’t pick a fight, not with Ever down the hallway. “I did,” he said, flicking his cigar. “And I’m assuming the lycan knows she’s here?”

I shifted in my seat. “I don’t know if she told him or not, I guess she did. I don’t ask about him.”

“Good,” he said, swinging his feet down. “Don’t. It’s just you and her when you’re with her. Spend every second you can with her, build the bond between your wolves this weekend, too. Have you shifted with her?”

“Not since the first night, and Harlan was there.”

He stood. “Do it tonight. Take her on a run of the property so she can see what life is like here. Woo her. Your mother and I have made the dinner for tomorrow grand. She’ll be impressed.”

Maybe. Everlee didn’t seem like the type of girl to be impressed with things, but maybe it would help persuade her. The alpha king seemed to think so. “Can I go?” I asked, standing, eyeing the door.

I could vaguely hear mother talking her head off.

“Just one more thing,” he said, walking around the desk. He stopped in front of me, his infamous straight-laced look glaring down at me. “An alpha king keeps his word. So don’t mark her, but make her want it, son.”

Like I hadn’t thought of that already. I went to turn, and he put his palm on my shoulder. “We’ll make this happen. She’ll choose you. We’ll do whatever it takes to beat the lycan boy.”

I didn’t like the tone of his voice. I wasn’t a cheat, or a lowdown sleaze that needed to undermine Harlan to win. Leaving the room as swiftly as possible, I kicked the door closed on my way out.

The unruly way he stared at me made my skin crawl. Mother’s laugh drew me toward the kitchen where I saw Everlee sitting with her and my Aunt Michelle. Aunt Michelle was my father’s sister, but they were complete opposites.

“Well, if it isn’t Rage Freaking Hunt. You are your dad’s twin.”

I stopped her by putting her in a headlock. “Uncle. Uncle,” she cried, slapping the table.

I flexed my bicep. “You’re no match for this, Michelle.”

She chuckled and looked over at Everlee who had an amused look on her face. “We’re more like siblings if you can’t tell. Do you have any siblings?” she asked.

A strange look crossed Ever’s face. It didn’t really dawn on me that she most likely considered Harlan her brother growing up. “Not ~really,~ no.”

Aunt Michelle gave me a look, but I played it off. “Have you showed Ever where she’s going to be sleeping?”

Mom shook her head. “I thought you could. I introduced her to some of the she-wolves. The neighboring pack gets here tomorrow morning. We’ll need your help getting them settled for the night. But tonight,” she said with a smile, “is yours to spend with Ever.”

It was late, but I didn’t mind getting minimum sleep for her. “Is she staying in the spare?”

Mom walked over toward the fridge. “I had the room connected to yours set up for her.”

My wolf loved that idea, but I knew better. It’d be temptation at its finest.

“Okay.”

“Did you two eat on the way down here?” she asked over her shoulder.

“Yes. I wouldn’t mind a water.”

She tossed me two bottles. “Make yourself at home, Ever.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” she said softly.

She followed me toward the front entrance where I grabbed our bags and ushered her up the stairs. Several unmated wolves and she-wolves lived on this floor. It was where I grew up, but most of them were out on a late run, or already asleep.

“Here we go,” I said, shoving open the door.

It smelled like candles and sweet fabric softener. Mother had the comforter changed to a downy one, and fresh slippers sat out for her on the end of the bed. “Wow,” she said. “This is beautiful.”

I looked over at the bathroom that connected the two rooms. “This is the bathroom,” I said, opening the door. It was fully stocked even though I knew no one had been in there in ages.

She poked her head inside, slowly walking through, she went toward my room. I rushed over, forgetting all the things I’d left behind.

She flicked on the light and smiled. It was simple, like my room back home, but there was a poster of LSU football, some high school yearbooks, and my old desk computer.

“Your room back at the alpha house doesn’t look too different,” she said, sitting on the edge of my bed.

I’d had many dreams about finding my mate and having her in that exact same spot. “What are you smiling at?” she asked, putting her palms back behind her.

“Just thinking about being a teenager in this room, praying I’d find my mate, and then bringing her up here.”

The corner of her mouth pulled into a smile. “Now I’m here.”

“You are,” I said. “Too bad we can’t play out what actually happened in those dreams.”

Ever stood up and slid her index finger across my chest while walking toward the doorway. “Not yet. I’m going to shower. Will you wait for me?”

I chuckled. “Of course.”

I changed into some sweats and a T-shirt while she showered. I’d taken one before we left, so I wouldn’t miss a second of being alone with her. Though I didn’t mind imagining her feet away from me, completely naked.

Fifteen minutes went by when she opened the door and walked inside. My dick immediately hardened, and the sweats I wore did little to cover it up.

A few missed droplets of water worked their way down her neck, and the end of her damp hair left a mark against her nipple, showcasing the hard bud under the white fabric.

Dear God, I was not going to make it through this weekend.

Her pajama shorts barely made it past the end of her shirt, showing me her tanned toned legs.

“That water pressure is amazing compared to the dorm room. I didn’t want to get out.”

“The alpha house has pretty good pressure if you ever want to come over. I can make sure no one comes inside while you use it.”

“I may take you up on that,” she said, stopping beside me. Her gaze shifted over toward the balcony door. “Can we go out there?”

I stood up beside her, interlaced my fingers with hers, and guided her over. Dad suggested we run tonight, but it was well past eleven. I’d take her out tomorrow, and hopefully, we’ll have more time to ourselves.

I opened the doors that hadn’t been opened in years and stepped outside with her. The moon was full, and stars lined the sky. You could make out the pond in the back field, and acre after acre of wooded area.

“Wow,” she said. “This is just so beautiful.” She leaned against the railing and stared out. My gaze traitorously glanced down at the end of her shorts, and I fought the urge to slide my palm against her smooth skin.

“We can go run tomorrow if you want to.”

She looked over, her hazel eyes bright. “I’d love that. Thank you for bringing me here. Your family seems nice.”

“Well,” I cleared my throat. “We’ll see after tomorrow. It can be overwhelming.”

She turned around to brace her back against the rail. “I’m used to a lot, and it takes a lot to hurt my feelings. You seem worried about your dad. I can tell.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “I ~dunno~. He wants me to win you over so badly, I just don’t want him to do anything stupid to try and help me get there.”

Ever looked curious but didn’t press.

I was thankful, because I didn’t know what my dad would do.

“It’ll all work out,” she said.

It sounded like something she said to herself, not to me. The soft reassurance in her voice seemed rehearsed. Surely she told herself something similar to get through the push and pull she had going on inside of her.

I laced my fingers around the back of her neck and rested my forehead against hers. “Rage,” she whispered, her minty breath against me.

“Yeah?”

“That bed is calling my name. Want to test our restraints?”

I pulled back. “What?” I asked with a chuckle.

She reached forward and brushed her fingertips against my dick. “Those sweats do naughty things to me. Want to test our limits? Because I can’t think of a better way to spend my Friday night.”