Chapter Three
Dax
Fifteen Minutes Earlier in the Parking lot of Lugnutz
Just as I’m getting out of my truck my phone vibrates in my pocket.
Before I even check the screen, I know it’s Chase messaging me.
He’s been a wee bit overprotective since we got in a fight with the White Rock Wolf Pack and their old Alpha, Nolan Riggs, escaped.
Even with his brother, the new Alpha’s help we hadn’t been able to find him yet.
It was making Chase anxious and overprotective.
Chase: Where the fuck are you?
Me: None of your fucking business.
God he was acting like a stage five clingy asshole lately, like I can’t be out of his site for five minutes. It’s like he forgets I’m a grown ass man who can handle his own shit. I’m not some cub who can’t defend himself.
Chase: Nolan is still out there dumbass.
Me: And?
He doesn’t think we can handle a single wolf. Let him come for us, we'll rip his throat out. My tiger growls out and for once we are in agreement, a single wolf against us wouldn’t stand a chance.
Chase: And I don’t want you out alone until he’s found!
I can almost feel his annoyance through our bond, and it brings a smile to my lips.
Just as I’m typing out a response to him, I notice a Silverado pulling into the parking lot.
There’s something about it that catches and holds my attention.
With its fading paint job and dinged up body most people would just think it’s an old beater, but I notice the care that has been taken with it.
It’s a badass rig, but that’s not what has my tiger perked up and paying attention.
No, it’s the driver that has his full attention.
I can’t see all of her but what I do see of her keeps me captivated.
She has her hair up in a messy bun, not a stitch of makeup on, but her face captivates me, nonetheless.
I ignore my phone as I feel it vibrate in my hand.
Chase is probably demanding I come home or tell him where I’m at, but I ignore him to watch this truck.
I’m so entranced by her that I almost miss the fact that she’s exiting her truck.
Rushing out of my own truck I use my shifter speed to make it to her truck just as she’s opening her door.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry.” She rushes out, as I almost run smack dab into her door. Damn, that was close. Her scent hits me, and I know immediately why she has my tiger’s attention.
Mate. He growls in my head. No shit Sherlock, I figured that out.
“It’s okay, you missed me, no harm done.
My fault really, I was running between the cars instead of on the sidewalk like I should have.
” I say, trying to smooth things over, trying to look as humble as possible.
My tiger is at full attention, leaning in to get a good sniff of her scent like he’s trying to make sure he’s not imagining things.
She raises her arms sniffing her pits like she thinks she smells.
If she only knew how delicious she smells to me and my tiger.
Giving her a knowing smirk, I take a minute to really take a look at her.
She’s a tiny thing, almost elf-like at five feet, maybe a little more, with hips the perfect size to fit in my hands as I railed her from behind.
Just as I’m about to lay on the charm her face transforms from polite to slightly angry looking.
“Next time you might not be so lucky.” She says tartly and I’m confused as to what I might have done to anger her.
Giving her my most charming smile she responds by slamming the door to her truck shut and starts stomping off toward Lugnutz.
Slightly shocked by being dismissed so rudely I rushed to follow her, catching up to her just as she made the door.
“You’re a feisty little thing, aren’t you?
Hey, wait up. Let me buy you a drink to apologize for.
..for shit. I don’t know for being a complete idiot back there.
I’m usually smoother than that. Will you slow down and let me apologize?
Please.” I beg, I’ve never begged anyone for anything, much less a woman, but here I am begging this woman to give me the time of day.
Mate. My tiger growls out inside me, and I know he’s trying to make his presence known. She blinked at me and I’m sure she saw the shift in my face and eyes, but she didn't say anything.
“You don’t have anything to apologize for, it was an accident, nothing more.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve had a long day.
I just want to have a drink, eat some bar food, and go home to crash on my air mattress.
Oh my god I don’t know why I just told you all of that.
That was none of your business.” Her cheeks turn a glorious shade of red with embarrassment and I can’t help the grin that takes over my face.
I fluster her as much as she flusters me, we’re a match made in heaven obviously.
“You’re cute when you’re flustered. Did you know that?
Your nose scrunches up, and your eyes get a little squinty where I can barely see the pretty whiskey color.
I find it adorable.” Her eyes narrow on me and I know I’ve made a mistake in telling her I think she’s cute.
Before she has time to come up with a sharp retort, I reach around her, opening the door.
As soon as the door is open country music fills the air, and I motion for her to go on ahead of me inside.
She looks like she wants to refuse, but then her stomach growls and she moseys on inside away from me.
Watching her walk away is now officially one of my top ten favorite moments in life.
Dear god that woman’s ass was made to fit my palm.
Claim her already, she’s ours, she belongs to us. My tiger rumbled inside my head. She’s human and therefore doesn’t understand how fated mates’ work. We don’t even know her fucking name dumbass! How are we going to make her ours if we don’t even know her fucking name?
So go find out her name already, dumbass. He growls back, with a smug attitude that makes me wish I could strangle him. Some days it did not pay to have an animal inside me.
Yeah, but some days I’m your best fucking friend who saves your ass.
Now quit arguing with me and go find out her name.
Fine, on occasion when I’m in a fight or do something stupid you have saved my life.
You’re still annoying as fuck, even you are right.
I could feel the smugness wafting off him from inside me.
Scanning the bar, I can’t find her right away.
Great, you lost her, good job. Go find her, throw her over your shoulder and carry her away to be claimed already!
Shut the fuck up, she’s human we can’t just throw her over our shoulder, we’ll get arrested for kidnapping.
Lifting my nose into the air I barely catch a whiff of her scent.
It’s muddled by the smell of fried food, beer, and body odor, but it’s just enough for me to follow it.
As I’m making my way through the crowd, I see her sitting at a high-top table near the dance floor.
Her feet dangle back and forth to the beat of the music playing, while she’s talking to the waitress.
I’m struck again by how damn beautiful she is, messy bun and all.
The waitress passes me on her way back to the bar and I stop her.
“Here, this is for her meal and anything else she wants. I’ll take a dark side of the moon please and this is for you.
” Giving her a small smile I handed her a couple of twenties for my mate’s meal and another twenty just for her as a tip.
The waitress gives me a big smile, before she sidles up next to me giving me a wink.
“Sure, big boy anything you want and I do mean anything.” I take a step back and narrow my eyes at her.
“The only thing I want is for her to be taken care of. She’s had a long day and deserves it.
” I have no idea what made her day long, but I knew she said she’d had a long day.
I was going to make damn sure she had an easy night.
The waitress looks from me to her and back to me like she’s trying to decipher a puzzle before shrugging her shoulders like she’s given up.
“If that’s what you want, that's what you’ll get. I’ll get your orders placed and be back with your drinks soon.” The waitress walked away smelling of disappointment and bitterness.
She was hoping to hop on our dick. Doesn’t she realize our tasty mate is right there? Turn around Duffus, she's right there. Go ask her what her name is already!
I know she’s over there dipshit, I’m the one who sniffed her out.
Wrong, I sniffed her out. Without me you wouldn’t have been able to find her.
Oh my god, fine you sniffed her out! I’m still the one who needs to work his magic so she will tell us her name and become our mate. So, sit down, shut up, and hang on for the ride.
You better not fuck this up. He says before he flops down in a huff inside my head glaring at me.
Feeling exasperated at my animal I turn to find little miss matey mate staring at me.
Okay, staring is a bit of an exaggeration, it's more like glaring at me. What could I have possibly done since meeting her that would make her mad at me already? To be honest my feelings are a little hurt that she’s already pissed off at me, but I’m also kind of impressed I’ve been able to piss her off so quickly.
I’m kind of torn. I mean that has to be a record for me for pissing someone off so soon after meeting them.