Chosen (3 page)

M
y head jerks
slightly as Devon drags a comb through my wet hair. Katie told her about my bite and that I’m in heat. She says, “You need to be mated. And ideally with your true mate.”

“True mate?”

“Yes.” Devon smiles in the mirror at me. “It’s pretty awesome. The bond is so strong that you’ll be in love forever. Once you meet, it’s almost impossible to be with someone else.”

Katie swings back and forth in the chair next to me and says, “And once you mate with him, you won’t care.”

I’ve never been in love, but the dreamy look on the two girls’ faces makes me wish I had. That would require a boyfriend, though, and I’ve only had one.

Katie asks, “How are you around men? Like do you want to rip their clothes off?”

“Ah, no.” My face starts to burn.
Besides Parker.

Devon says, “Oh, honey. We’re going to have to work on your modesty. Sex and nudity are pretty out there in the werewolf world.” She clips a section of my hair on the top of my head, and I envision a wild orgy.

My face must show my horror, because Katie laughs and says, “We don’t witness both at the same time. But sex is an open subject for discussion.” She stands up. “I think we should call Paul.”

“Agreed.” Devon’s scissors snip as she cuts my hair. “Paul Ryan is the alpha of our pack. Would you be okay if he stops by? I think he’ll be able to help us figure out what you should do.”

“Okay.” I’m shell-shocked by what I’m learning but also relieved that I’m about to get a solution for my predicament. Katie walks back out to the lobby to make a phone call.

Devon unclips my hair and says, “I know it’s a lot to take in, and it really sucks that someone changed you without your consent. But it’s not so bad. I really like being a werewolf.”

“Tell me more about what it’s like. Obviously you don’t have to be a wolf if you don’t want to, because I never have.”

“Well, shifting into one isn’t painful, and once you’re a wolf it’s fun to run with the pack.”

“How many of you are there?”

“Hmmm, I’m not sure. About a hundred, I think.
We’re like a big family, and it’s nice knowing so many people have your back.”

I imagine what it’s like to have sisters and brothers. After growing up with just Mom, it would be culture shock. I glance down at my hand and extend my fingers as I try to envision what I would look like as a wolf. It’s a creepy thought, and I switch gears to something more pleasant.

I say, “Tell me how you met your mate.”

“Bosun?” Devon chuckles and then tells me a story about a car accident. When she gets to the part where she was attracted to him even though he pissed her off, Parker comes to mind.

I interrupt. “Wait. You were mad at him but liked him at the same time?”

“Yes. When you meet your true mate, the body knows, even if your pride can’t see it.”

My pride.
Huh. The idea of falling for a player like Parker definitely doesn’t sit well with my sense of self-worth. He couldn’t be my true mate.

Katie has come back and says, “Paul will be here in about fifteen minutes.”

“Perfect,” says Devon. “That gives me just enough time to blow dry. You’re going to love how your curls look now.”

I’m gazing at the back of my head in a hand mirror when Paul walks in. He’s an attractive man, and even though he’s got to be my mother’s age, a flush of desire rises to my chest. Katie warned me that I might feel it around a strong male werewolf, and that it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. She made me laugh describing how she wanted to be with some old guy during her first heat, but it still doesn’t make me comfortable with my body’s reaction to the alpha.

He sits in a chair near me. “Hi, Trixie. I’m Paul. Forgive me for not shaking your hand, but I guess you’d prefer I don’t touch you right now.”

I nod quickly and fight my desire to crawl under the chair in mortification. “Hi.”

His eyes are kind, and I focus my thoughts on his words as I breathe through my mouth to block his tantalizing scent. He says, “I’m told you were bitten without your consent some time ago and have discovered what you are.”

I nod again.

“I’m here to help. The discomfort you’re experiencing is perfectly natural, and if you didn’t feel it for me, then I’d be worried. Please don’t be embarrassed.”

Katie and Devon watch me, and a chair scrapes against the floor as Katie drags it over to sit and take my hand. “Don’t be afraid. Dev and I are going to be with you every step of the way.”

I whisper, “Thanks.”

Paul says, “To mate, you need to have sex with another werewolf.”

The blood drains from my head, and I fear I’m going to faint. I take a deep breath as Paul quickly adds, “It will be completely your choice and won’t happen until you want it to.” Relief washes over me.

“We like it to be your true mate,” he says.

Devon asks, “How are we supposed to find him? I can’t imagine we’d bring her into a room full of werewolves in her state.”

Paul says, “No. We wouldn’t.” He gazes into my eyes. “I think it would be best to get through mating season like you have in the past. Is it unbearable?”

“Not really.”
Not unless I see Parker Hoyt again.
“I can manage.” But my face gives me away when it heats up with desire for Parker.

Paul studies me for a moment. “Trixie, what aren’t you telling me? I’m here to help you, but I can’t if I don’t know everything.”

Oh God.
I close my eyes as if it will be less embarrassing if I can’t see him. “There’s one guy that makes the heat hard to control.”

“Is it like with me? Or worse?”

“Worse.”
Much worse.

Devon exclaims, “I bet it’s your true mate!”

“Maybe,” says Paul. “Will you tell me who it is?”

Never in a million years would someone like Parker Hoyt be my true mate. I shake my head. “It’s not that bad. I think it was because I was tired.”

Paul is silent as he studies me, and Devon says, “I think you should test it out. Tell us who it is, and we’ll arrange it so you can see him again.”

“No.” The voice I hear from Paul is like an order, and I wonder if it’s an alpha thing. “If this boy is her true mate, they’ll figure it out.”

Katie squeezes my hand. “I hope he is. But if not, we’ll find him.”

The older man’s gaze on me is intense when he says, “You’ll know. The true mate attraction can’t be denied.”

Parker invades my head, and I recall his parting words to me.
You can’t deny it.

My voice is small when I say, “Okay. Thank you.”

He stands and smooths out his slacks. “You’re welcome.” He hands me a card carefully so we don’t touch. “Call me anytime, even in the middle of the night, if you need me. You’re part of the Winter Valley pack now, and it’s my job to take care of you. Got it?”

I nod.

“Ladies.” He nods at the girls as he strolls out.

Once he’s gone, I let out a big breath. “He’s kind of scary.”

“Paul? He’s a sweetie,” says Devon.

His power and size intimidated me, but I trust Devon and Katie, so I smile. “Maybe it was the alpha thing.” Or maybe it’s because I’m afraid of what my attraction to Parker might mean.

I
sense
Parker the moment he walks into the diner. As if we’re magnets, my body wants to press up against Parker’s, and I turn away when he tries to lure me in with his gaze. Like a coward, I retreat to the kitchen. But I can’t stay there forever, and I slink back out to deliver food to my table as if maybe Parker won’t notice my presence.

The plates are hot in my hands as I make my way to the booth. I see Parker sitting at the counter in my periphery. I ask the men I’m waiting on if they want anything else, but they don’t offer me any help when they say they’re fine.

I can’t avoid Parker any longer. He’s in my station, and I have to wait on him, so I return to where he’s sitting. I step in front of him, grateful for the counter between us. My voice is barely above a whisper when I ask, “Coffee?”

“Trixie, we need to talk.” He holds out his palm toward me. “Touch me.”

I shake my head quickly and step back. I bump into the coffee machine behind me, and the pot is hot on my back, making me flinch away from it.

Parker sighs. “Look, you can’t avoid me forever. We’re going to have to figure this out.”

I know he’s right, but my attraction to the man terrifies me, and I can’t find words. Darla has returned from her table and comes over to us. “Trixie, is he bothering you?”

“No. It’s fine.”

Parker pours on the charm. “I’m trying to get this pretty lady to go out with me, but she turned me down. Help me convince her?”

Darla says, “Girls like Trixie don’t date men like you. If she said no, believe it.”

I want to kiss her. But Parker doesn’t leave. He says, “Okay. Then I guess I’ll just have lunch.”

Darla glares at him and spits out, “What’ll it be?”

Parker looks at me and says, “A large milk, and the meatloaf special, please.”

Finally meeting his gaze makes me melt. His hair is standing on end as if he’s raked his hand through it too many times, and his eyes are rimmed in red. I surprise myself by nodding and writing up the slip instead of letting Darla handle it. Her grip on my arm is firm as she drags me into the kitchen. She says, “You don’t have to wait on him. I’m happy to take care of it for you.”

“No. It’s okay. You keep telling me I need to learn to stand up for myself, and I figure it’s time to start.” I’m not going to cower in front of Parker.

Darla lets a grin cover her face. “You’re something else, Trixie baby. He’s a pretty big somebody to start with.” She slaps my butt lightly as I turn to walk out and adds, “I’ve got your back.”

I smile as I return to the dining room. Milk chills the glass I hold as I fill it, but the cold doesn’t even begin to tamp down the heat of my lust. I set it in front of Parker and ask, “What is it you need to say?”

He whispers, “Not here.”

I cross my arms in defiance. “I don’t trust you. No way am I going anywhere with you alone.”

“You have no idea, do you?”

I’m not going to make it easy for him, so I remain silent.

Parker asks, “Who’s your... husband? Or boyfriend?”

“Don’t have one. There isn’t one thing stopping me from going out with you except who you are.”

He grins. “You’re jealous.”

His cocky attitude pisses me off, and I resist the urge to glare. “Nope.” I place my hands on the counter as I take joy in knocking him down a peg and lean close to speak low enough for his ears only. “I don’t like
you.
” Big mistake, because the scent of him is intoxicating. “I don’t like how you treat women and act as if the world should bow in your presence. So let it go, big guy. The answer’s always going to be no.” Now my body is completely flushed with lust, and I step back as I tremble.

Parker stares at me and licks his lips as if I’m his next meal. My mind imagines his tongue in sensual places, and I’m tempted to yank him over the counter for a taste of my own. Shocked at my thoughts, I quickly retreat to the kitchen to regain my composure.

I reach up to adjust my ponytail as I take cleansing breaths. The aroma of onions and butter is strong, and it blocks out Parker. I don’t usually get mad, and I consider myself pretty even-keeled. But Parker seems to make more than my hormones rage, because I’m experiencing emotion times ten.

Once I’m calm again, I return to the dining room and manage to keep myself busy with my other customers until it’s time to give Parker his lunch. The plate is smooth in my fingers, and I avoid his eyes as I say, “Enjoy your meal.” I place it before him, and he grabs my hand. He just about brings me to my knees as pleasure races though me.

“Want to play games with me, baby girl? How about I hold on to you until you crawl on me to get what you need? How’d you like that?”

My voice is shaky as I whisper, “Please.”

“Please what? Please fuck me?”

His language is crass, and I flinch at the words while my body screams, “Yes! I want you!” I squeeze my eyes shut in an attempt at control. Parker lets go of me and says, “That’s what I thought.”

I turn and escape to the kitchen once again. Darla is scooping ice cream for a piece of pie, and she gazes at me. “He’s got you completely flustered, hasn’t he?”

You could say that.
“I’m fine. I need to do this.”

“You do. But it’s okay if you don’t do it well. It’ll get easier.”

I nod. But somehow I don’t think dealing with my attraction to Parker is going to get any easier. He’s right. We need to talk, because what I’m feeling has to mean he’s my true mate. I recall Devon saying that your true mate loves you no matter what. Parker may be frightening, but he’s not going to hurt me.

When Darla leaves, I grab the ice cream scoop to make the dessert that goes with the meatloaf special. The five-gallon containers are in a chest-style freezer, and the edge digs into my belly as I lean over to dig out vanilla ice cream. It requires strength, and it feels good to use force as I fill a bowl. I drizzle hot fudge over it, and whipped cream whooshes out of the can when I add that too. The cherry is sticky when I fish it out of the container, and I watch it sink a little in the cream when I finish making the dessert. Katie said that once you find your true mate, it’s almost impossible to be with anyone else.

I grin to myself as I walk back out and set the sundae down in front of him. “I get out around three. Wait for me in your truck.”

Parker says, “I’ve been waiting for you my whole life.” I gaze into his eyes and realize he means it. I’m not sure what to do with that knowledge, and I set his bill down on the counter before I walk away.

Dishes clatter as I stack them to clear a table. My stomach flips as I imagine what might happen in Parker’s truck. If he feels what I do, then that sexy man most women desire wants only me. Fear grips my heart when I understand what that means. It’s one thing to fantasize about sex with a gorgeous man. But it’s going to be something altogether different to have it actually happen. I recall the size of his cock, and the urge to vomit overwhelms me.
What am I going to do with that?