Breakfast

DELILAH

I collected myself and cleaned up my room, salt excluded. I’d either end up trying the spell again tonight or finding a vacuum before bed.

I was certain I would either find the spot tonight, or at least I’d get close enough that I could pull Cole from his alpha duties.

Then I could have them both with me, and find it by the time the moon rose.

But first, I needed some sustenance.

I hadn’t eaten much the previous day; travel makes me nauseated and with all the nonsense of my arrival, I’d had only half a bagel at the hotel, and a few berries from the woods.

I was famished, so I quickly braided my hair back and got dressed in my short coveralls over a white tee with some boots.

It wasn’t exactly “witchy” by any means—if anything I looked like a farm girl—but I knew I would be comfortable.

Leaving my bedroom, I wandered out down the hall, noting a door open that led to a bathroom and continuing down past two closed doors before reaching a common seating area.

There, the female wolf I had met yesterday, Jewel, as well as two males and another female all sat watching the news, drinking coffee, and chatting about a new wolf they were to help through the change soon.

I ignored the conversation, though I knew going through the change was a difficult process. I could help, but I wasn’t hired for those services.

Also, most wolves tended to stick with their own kind—having a witch involved in the change was taboo among a lot of their kind.

Despite how much good we could do, and despite how many of those that went through the change died.

The mortality rate was about sixty percent, if unprepared.

If they were healthy, listened to their inner wolves early, and trained well, that mortality rate dropped down to about thirty or forty percent.

But even then those odds…

I could only imagine being a mother with those kinds of odds placed on my children. Knowing what might happen if anything went wrong…

The thought had me walking briskly to the kitchen I saw behind the chatting wolves. I had no business worrying about things I couldn’t fix.

I was here to do my job after all. My feelings on the matter would be put aside.

I stood staring into the kitchen for a moment. Inside, two she-wolves were dishing up food onto large platters.

“You seem tense,” came a voice behind me. I jumped.

Cole.

He was practically inches from my back as I stood looking into the kitchen. “Do I?” I asked coolly, trying to not show I was startled.

However, my body language likely told all to the observant alpha as I turned around to look at him.

His nostrils flared as he looked down at me, a hunger building in his eyes.

He knew. He could smell it…

The thought made me flush and look away back at the kitchen, my stomach growling in response to the smell of food.

Cole took a step forward and placed a hand on my arm, and the contact made my skin dance with pleasure before he let go and walked past me, clearly on a mission.

I looked at him, tilting my head slightly and wondering what he was doing.

Then I realized he was going in and loading up a plate despite the she-wolves not being finished with laying out breakfast.

Ever the alpha. Neither woman complained, though I could see them rolling their eyes.

With a small smile, I walked away, noticing a sliding glass door to a balcony that overlooked the river connected to the living room.

I stepped out to enjoy some fresh air while I waited for the food to be finished.

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes as the cool, crisp air hit my senses and shutting the door behind me.

It was absolutely beautiful—the sun streaming through the trees, the sound of water trickling over the shallow rocks.

Just as I was beginning to feel centered, I heard the door open and close behind me, then the smell of food hit my nostrils once again.

Cole again.

Part of me wanted to steal his plate.

Or walk away. I was just so hungry. I almost wanted to groan the moment I heard him step behind me.

He wrapped his arms around me, sliding the piled plate of eggs, meat, and toast in front of me. “Eat.”

The way he said it—a low, rough growl, more an order than an ask—made my heart ache uncomfortably.

“I’m fine, Alpha Cole,” I said, trying to keep my voice firm and not looking at him, or the plate.

I looked into the woods instead, his warm arms still planted around me on the railing, the food right in front of me.

His lips suddenly brushed my ear, any space between us gone as his body pressed against my back. “I didn’t ask,” he growled into my ear.

I swallowed hard and tried to keep my voice even. “I s-said I’m fine.”

My mouth was parched suddenly. I felt as if I couldn’t swallow properly.

My breath hitched as I felt his hot mouth on my neck, kissing me.

His stubble ran over my sensitive skin, making my knees shake.

“I can smell your desire, and I can hear your stomach. My brother has only just started with his teasing. But if you don’t eat, I don’t give a fuck about the spell, or my pack.

“I will fuck you over this railing like you’re a bad girl, and keep you all for myself. Do you understand me, little witch?”

My mouth gaped open as desire flooded my core.

~Oh God.~ A shiver ran down my spine involuntarily as his teeth scraped over my neck, making me gasp out with need.

He wasn’t joking; this was an alpha. His warning was clear as day.

He was jealous, and he would claim me as his if I didn’t obey.

Oh, how badly I wanted to tell him to fuck off.

How badly I wanted to tell him I was unaffected. So many cocky responses…so many desirable endings.

But no…

I had a job.

Biting my lip, I swallowed my pride, trying to keep my breathing steady.

“Very well, since you give me no other choice,” I said sulkily. Taking a step away from him, I picked up a piece of ham and took a bite.

Chuckling, Cole took a step back. “Pity...,” he half muttered. Then his hand came up to my hair, stroking it as he moved to stand next to me. “Good girl.”

I smacked at his hand, rolling my eyes and continuing with my breakfast.

It was heavenly.

Thanking him though? After that?

I refused to give him the satisfaction.