Chapter Three
Matthew felt himself sway a little and he wondered if he had imagined what had just happened. Grey Lawson, the most powerful Alpha in the state, had asked him out on a date and he'd stood there, his mouth opening and closing like a brainless fish out of water.
Wendy's high pitched squeal snapped his attention back to the moment, and he glared at his friend as he walked over and whipped her butt with his towel.
"Happy now?"
"Yes!" Wendy hugged him, but he shook her off. "And you're going to get some happy tonight!"
"I doubt that seeing as I'm not going," Matthew snapped, yanking off his apron and screwing it up into a ball in his hands. "Why couldn't you just leave it?"
"Because anyone with eyes can see how much heat there is between the two of you." Wendy snagged hold of Matthew's arm to prevent him storming off. "Matthew, you're allowed to have some happiness in your life. You don't have to be alone. I just want you to be happy. It's Christmas, after all!"
"I am happy. I've got you," Matthew said, but he couldn't face Wendy because tears were stinging his eyes. He swallowed hard. "I don't need anyone else."
"Oh, honey," Wendy said, turning Matthew to face her. "Yes, you do and you're going on that date, even if I have to drag you there myself. I know that Kelvin hurt you, but that doesn't mean every Alpha is the same. Have some fun, and if you like Grey, give him a chance."
"And what happens when he expects me to breed? How happy am I going to be then when Grey dumps me just like Kelvin because I can't give him what he wants?"
"You don't know that Grey wants kids. Why not just go on the date and take it from there?" Wendy put her hands on her hips.
Matthew sighed, knowing that his friend was right, but he wasn't sure if he was ready to put himself out there again.
His heart still felt fragile a year after Kelvin had stamped all over it and he wasn't sure if it was strong enough to survive another break.
Grabbing his bag, he leaned forward and kissed Wendy's cheek. "Maybe. I'll see you in the morning."
"You make sure you're prettied up and ready to go at seven tonight. And I want details, juicy, juicy details. I'm even going to bake my famous chocolate cake for us to eat whilst you tell me those juicy details, so don't let me down."
Matthew pulled a face at his friend as he walked out of the shop, planning to head for the safety of his home to try to think of an excuse to get out of his date with Grey.
He walked through the streets, glad to be away from the stifling confines of the coffee shop and the overbearing Christmas decorations.
Not that it was any better in town, really.
Christmas was big business in River Mountain, and everyone seemed to have gone crazy this year.
Tall Christmas trees lined the streets, each one decorated with gaudy baubles and strings of glowing lights, beckoning everyone in to the bustling market that had been set up, selling, from what Matthew could see, mostly tourist wares, and tacky Christmas souvenirs.
He breathed in the scents of various packs mingling together with the festive smells of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts, but all it did was leave him feeling cold and empty and not full of comfort and joy like it should.
His Christmas spirit seemed to have completely deserted him, and he knew why.
He'd previously loved this time of year, and had gone all out, wearing festive sweaters, decorating the family home with his mom, and helping her bake, filling the house with delicious, warming smells of cinnamon, orange, clove, and cranberry, not to mention roast turkey, with Christmas music playing at full blast.
But that had been before Kelvin. When his family had first been approached by the Red River Pack, his mom and dad had seen it as a great honor.
Matthew had been barely eighteen and had only just had his first heat, but his parents had eagerly agreed to the conditions of the contract set out by the Red River Pack, and Matthew had been sent away to be the Alpha's mate.
He'd suffered from terrible homesickness, and as the months and years crept by and he'd failed to get pregnant, Kelvin began to make his life unbearable, sending him for expensive test after test, each one more invasive than the last, until he was finally returned back to his family, like he was something broken that could be returned for a refund.
His parents had been forced to pay the money back to the Red River Pack and as they had had more children in the time Matthew had been gone, the decision was made to kick him out, the additional burden of a useless omega who couldn't pay his way too much to bear.
Matthew put his head down and walked back to his apartment.
He tried to keep everything that had happened with his family deep inside him, but all the Christmas cheer was starting to get to him, and stirring up memories that were painful and made him feel lonelier than ever.
And now he had a date with another Alpha.
Ruffling his hair, Matthew checked out his reflection in the mirror feeling an intense feeling of anxiety and stress he had been trying to suppress ever since Grey had asked him out.
The knock on the door sounded dead on seven and Matthew sighed.
He ran a hand over his hair one final time, and then crossed the living room to open the door.
His mouth ran dry when he saw Grey standing there looking hotter than hell, his tall, powerful frame enhanced by the expensive looking leather jacket he was wearing and black jeans that appeared to be molded to his muscular thighs.
Matthew dragged his gaze up to the Alpha's face, colliding with his golden eyes, the amber flecks positively glowing as Grey stared at him.
Matthew's resolve not to get involved with Grey was already crumbling.
He'd spent all afternoon trying to concoct an excuse to get out of the date because he knew the instant he laid eyes on the Alpha and breathed in his scent he wouldn't be able to resist Grey.
Now, here the Alpha was, and Matthew's mouth was already watering for a taste of him.
"Hi," Grey said, his voice deep and sure as he leaned against the door frame. "Are you ready?"
Matthew glanced at Grey again, before lowering his gaze, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck prickle.
The Alpha's power was like electricity sparking against Matthew's skin, sending his blood pulsing through his veins and pooling low in his groin, his cock already feeling hot and heavy in his jeans.
He nodded, his gaze skittering over the Alpha's face nervously.
Grey grazed his eyes slowly over Matthew, the blatant eye fuck sending heat rocketing straight to the omega's groin.
"Let's go." Matthew's voice came out a little strangled and he didn't miss the cocky smile on Grey's face, a look he was all too familiar with where Alphas were concerned, and it had the desired effect on Matthew.
He stepped out of his apartment and shut the door a little harder than necessary so he wasn't tempted to drag Grey inside and beg the Alpha to fuck him.
"Do you want to get a drink?" Grey asked as they walked along the street.
"Maybe after we've looked round the market," Matthew said, shoving his hands into his jacket pocket so he wasn't tempted to do anything stupid like try to hold hands with the Alpha.
It was well below freezing and he shivered as they walked along.
It wasn't far to Grey's truck, and after an awkward moment when Grey insisted on opening the door for Matthew, they were driving along the icy roads and before long they were pulling up in the little parking lot next to the market.
"Wow," Matthew said, staring out at the festive scene.
Every stall was decorated with colorful lights and the huge Christmas tree in the town square was the centerpiece of the show, lit up and glowing in the dark, frosty night.
Crowds bustled around the stalls, and a choir sang Christmas carols underneath the Christmas tree.
"Do you like Christmas?" Grey asked, as they walked over to the stalls.
Their boots crunched in the snow, and their breath fogged out in front of them as they walked, but Matthew could already feel the heat coming off Grey.
He made a beeline for one of the stalls and tried to get himself under control.
"Yeah, but it's not such a big deal when you're on your own, I guess," Matthew said, looking around at the different stalls, relaxing a little.
There was something about being in Grey's company, surrounded by his strong, musky scent, that gave him comfort and he felt safe for the first time in a long time. "Do you?"
"I used to, but I don't have anyone to celebrate it with now, so..."
Matthew caught the hint of sadness in Grey's tone and turned to look at the Alpha.
"I split up with someone last year. It wasn't going anywhere, but Christmas brings it home how lonely I feel."
"What about your pack?"
"Yeah, they're always there but it's not the same as having someone to wake up with on Christmas morning, do you know what I mean?"
Matthew caught Grey's gaze but then hastily looked away when he saw amber flash there. They were already heading into dangerous territory and Matthew knew he had to steer them away. "Yeah," he said, finally. "Do you want to look around the stalls?"