Cravings: Alpha City 2 (4 page)

Zoey slowed down as soon as she got closer to her car. Shifting, she reached in and grabbed her shorts and t-shirt. She could hear him coming as he crashed through the trees. He was a beautiful panther, black as night with beautiful emerald eyes. Unfortunately, he was growling at her and showing his teeth. Zoey pulled her shirt down as he backed her up against her vehicle. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her, but he seemed upset for some reason.

Kayden was big and tall even in panther form. His body came up almost to her head. She didn’t move as he ran his nose up against her legs. Then he did something she had never seen him do before. He stuck his nose between her legs and inhaled deeply. Before she could push him away, Kayden had shifted and stood closely in front of her. Too close, she was thinking. Heat was coming off his skin from running.

“Why did you leave?” Kayden demanded. He caged her in with his hands against her vehicle, so she couldn’t move. His moves were sharp as his head titled to stare into her eyes. He watched her every move then bent down and inhaled her hair. Zoey’s body became heated as Kayden’s mouth got closer to her face. She knew her body would put off pheromones, and that wouldn’t be good. Kayden would know exactly what she was thinking. Zoey did the only thing she could and that was to leave in a hurry before she embarrassed herself anymore with her childhood dreams.

“I need to go,” Zoey whispered but didn’t look up. She kept her gaze down knowing he was on edge for some reason. She could feel how agitated he was getting. Her body was being wound up as she inhaled his scent.

“Where?” Kayden growled. “Look at me,” he demanded and pulled her chin up.

“I just have to go, Kayden. What’s wrong with you?” Zoey snipped.

“You just ran off. You never run from me, Zoey. I want to chase you too much,” Kayden answered. His voice was softer, but it still had that edge to it.

“I’m sorry. I…I just need to go, and I…” Zoey stopped talking before she let the cat out of the bag and actually told him that she loved him. It was on the tip of her tongue.
Did he just say he wanted to chase me too much?

“It’s in our nature to chase,” Kayden added.

Yep, just like she thought, he meant nothing by it. “I’ve got to go. I’ve got to go pack.” Zoey used all of her strength to try and push him back with no avail, so she ducked under his arm.

“Where you going?” Kayden repeated, frustrated.

“Just away for business.” Zoey didn’t want him to know where she was going. Only London and Donnie would know. She needed to get away from Alpha City. Everywhere she turned, he was there. It was becoming too hard to be around him.

Zoey got in her SUV and rolled the window down. “You take care of yourself, Kayden,” Zoey whispered then drove off. When she looked in her rearview mirror, Kayden had his head down. He had broken her heart and didn’t even know it.

London sat on Zoey’s bed as she packed her suitcase. “I hate that I can’t go with you right now, Zoe, but I’m putting the finishing touches on the Guard. It needs to go up now before Claudia Blackwood starts anything. I’m still working on some more stuff too, hopefully to help keep all the shifters safe.”

“I know that. Don’t worry about it. I’m a big girl, and I know how to take care of myself. Remember this is what I do best, and that is close the deal. Plus, Ryder has spoken with Alpha Ringo, and he will have two of his guards on me at all times - Yeah!” Zoey threw her arms up in the air like she was cheering. “It’s not like I need them, but Ryder wouldn’t have it any other way. I asked him if he does this for other pack members, and he just said the same old thing. You know the voice he uses with me, like I’m a child. ‘Everybody isn’t my sister.’” London laughed along with Zoey as she closed her suitcase.

“I will close this deal, and we will have another happy client and more business than we know what to do with. We need to talk about hiring someone else, London. I never thought we would grow so fast, but they have to be a shifter or they can’t live here, and that presents a problem. I know Donnie is great, but he can’t do it all, and neither can you. We need a secretary for sure and another programmer.”

“Zoey!” Zoey stopped what she was doing and looked at London.

“I know this, and I’ve started looking for a programmer and a secretary. I think I may have found us a secretary. Ryder told me that Kayden’s dad called and said he was sending him a woman who could possibly be his mate. He said she worked at one of the offices in town. He even sent her resume. Odd, but hey, what do I know? I guess you guys do that?” London explained.

“He sent him a what? A possible mate for Kayden?” Zoey’s heart dropped. If it wasn’t confirmed for her earlier, it was now. Kayden was going to mate with a panther shifter.

London walked over to Zoey and put her arms around her. “It will all work out, Zoey. I promise. Just because he sent her doesn’t mean it will happen. From what I’ve heard he has sent other women to him, but he never takes them. Most of them are just glad to be away from his father, Marshal. So stop worrying.”

Zoey smiled at London, but it wasn’t a happy smile. “It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t feel that way about me and never will. It was just a childhood crush that I should have let go of years ago. You know?”

London hugged Zoey tighter. “I think you are wrong, but time will tell my friend.” London tried to make her smile, but it wasn’t working.

“It’s time to grow up now. Get on with my life. Maybe, I’m not meant to find a mate. Maybe my mate is my job and helping other shifters get jobs,” Zoey explained, but she didn’t even believe what she was saying.

There was a knock at the door. “There’s Ryder. He insists on taking me to the plane. At least I get to ride in comfort,” Zoey muttered.

“Let’s go then.” London picked up Zoey’s suitcase and carried it out for her.

****

“If you will look out of your window, Ms. Malone, you can already see the lights from Vegas.” Zoey rose up and looked out the window like the pilot suggested. She had never been to Las Vegas and was happy about getting to visit the city. Johnny Ringo said he would have a limo ready for her when she arrived, along with two guards.

Looking out the window, she could see the black limo waiting for them at the edge of the runway. Two men stood beside the car. Zoey couldn’t help but laugh because they looked like the characters from the movie,
Men In Black
. Both were enforcers; that was for sure. She watched as the men continued to scan the area.

Zoey stretched then grabbed her purse. She knew Johnny insisted on taking her to dinner, so she dressed up knowing it would probably be somewhere fancy.

It was already dark by the time she landed. She had forgotten to eat lunch before she left, and now she was starving. Zoey started walking down the stairs when one of the enforcers opened the back door. She had never met Johnny Ringo, but she had heard that he was a good-looking Alpha. They were wrong. He was gorgeous.

She could see a surprised look cross his face that was quickly replaced with a smile.
Wonder what that is about?
She smiled back at him because he made her feel comfortable for some reason.

“They told me you were beautiful, but this is something else.” Zoey stopped mid stride and gripped the railing harder.
Was he calling her ugly?

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Alpha,” Zoey lowered her gaze as proper protocol dictated when meeting an Alpha.

Zoey felt her face being lifted as she stared into the blue eyes of Johnny Ringo. “You are breathtaking, Zoey Malone.” Zoey couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her mouth. Nobody had ever called her that. Beautiful, but never breathtaking. She felt special for the first time with a man.

Johnny held his hand out for her to take, so he could help her down the rest of the stairs. “You are a welcomed surprise, and I’m glad you decided to come to my city.”

“Thank you, Alpha,” Zoey replied shyly.

“Do you not greet other pack members in the way of our ancestors?” Johnny asked as he pulled her closer to his body. Zoey nodded then stood up on her tippy-toes and nuzzled the Alpha’s face. She could feel the stubble from where his whiskers were coming in. She was about to pull away when Johnny grabbed her face and kissed her. When she gasped, he took the opportunity and stuck his tongue in her mouth and passionately kissed her. She had never been kissed like that before and didn’t have anything to compare it with, but she didn’t protest and allowed his tongue to tease with hers. She liked the feeling it brought to her body. She could feel her body reacting to his. It was a fantastic feeling of someone actually wanting her for a change.

Pulling away, Johnny moaned before he released her. Johnny kissed her hair and inhaled her scent, and then lifted her chin to look into her eyes.

“That was worth the slap I thought you would have given me,” Johnny answered.

“Maybe I enjoyed it too.” The look of shock crossed the Alpha’s face as Zoey pulled away then offered her hand to the enforcer who was standing next to the Alpha watching.

“Hello, I’m Zoey Malone.” She liked the enforcer’s smile as he shook her hand. It appeared to be genuine. She liked that he didn’t look to the Alpha before he spoke which told her that Johnny ran his pack a lot like her brother.

“Hello Zoey. I’m Andrew Greg.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Andrew.” Zoey’s stomach growled, and Johnny and Andrew exchanged a glance at each other.

“I need to feed the beautiful lady. I have a table ready for us in the hotel,” Johnny said. Zoey couldn’t stop the look she gave Johnny. “We will be having dinner with Andrew tonight in the restaurant, if that is okay?”

Smiling, Zoey asked, “Can I freshen up before we go?”

“Anything for you, beautiful.” Johnny opened the door for Zoey to get in. She slid across the seat as Johnny got in beside her.

Johnny took phone calls the majority of the time they traveled to the hotel but continued to watch her every move.

“Have you ever been to Vegas, Zoey?” Johnny asked, drawing her attention away from the window.

“No. This will be my first trip.”

“Then I will have to make it very special for you, so you don’t want to go home,” Johnny added. Zoey didn’t know what to say and looked back toward the window until they arrived at the Upton.

Andrew came around and opened Johnny’s door then stood beside him waiting for Zoey to get out.

“Your room is ready for you, Zoey. Please forgive me for not walking you to the door, but an urgent matter just came up that needs my attention. Andrew will escort you to your room to rest then he will be back to get you in…let’s say an hour.” Zoey nodded. Johnny picked her hand up and kissed it before he was whisked away in an SUV with tinted windows. She couldn’t stop the shiver that came over her as his lips softly touched her skin. No one had ever touched her with so much care.

“This way, Zoey.” Andrew held his arm out for Zoey to take. She turned her attention away from the smiling Alpha and walked inside the hotel. Her body was buzzing for more of the Alpha’s sweet touch until she entered the lobby.

The Upton was everything they said it was, excessive and over the top. She couldn’t stop looking around at all the different areas one could go. The energy was invigorating as she walked further inside. It was decorated in a modern style. Everything looked new, even though the building had been here for years. She could spend days visiting all the different stores they had inside. She didn’t get to see much as Andrew whisked her into the elevator.

He kept her attention as he told her the story of how Johnny got the Alpha position.

“The last Alpha was a mean bastard who only wanted power and money. He ran the pack into the ground. He used all the money for himself and his enforcers. When Johnny and I came back from the military, he found out that his dad was almost dead from being made to work all the time. His mother was being made to work in the kitchen until she couldn’t even walk anymore. Every one of his pack members had to pay a fee each month to the pack. If he got information that any member was trying to leave, well let’s just say he made them regret it. He was cruel to everyone, Zoey, including his mate.” Andrew looked down then added the worst part of the story. “One night he tried to make his mate strip in front of his men, and when she refused, he punished her. He held her down and allowed every man to do whatever they wanted to her. She killed herself later that night by cutting her wrists.” Zoey gasped in shock at what the woman must have gone through. The pain she must have felt that her own mate would do something like this to her was unbelievable. “You can imagine what happened. When we came home and Johnny found out what was going on, he immediately challenged the Alpha. The man wasn’t just cruel, he wasn’t worthy of being an Alpha. He had a guard waiting on top of a building with a high-powered rifle. When Johnny entered the ring, the guard was supposed to shoot him, but he didn’t know that we had inside information. I killed the guard, and Johnny killed the Alpha.

Johnny has done a great job putting the pack back together again. At first it was hard to trust him, but the man promised them that he would only tell the truth and never do anything that would put any member into any danger. He informed them that if they trusted him he would bring the pack back to where it should be. Johnny Ringo has stuck by that promise, and in one year the man had the pack flourishing and happy again.

Johnny is a great man. I owe him my life, and many other wolves do too. He would never ask for a favor or repayment for his kindness like a lot of Alphas do. He really wanted to see the pack get back on its feet. An Alpha is meant to guide his pack. Well, you know that because your brother is like that. You see, it only takes one bad apple to mess up the whole basket.” Andrew looked up at the door. “Here we are.” Zoey was so caught up in Andrew’s story that she didn’t realize she was already off the elevator and at her room. Looking at the door, she realized she was at the penthouse.

“Andrew, um…I think you took me to the Alpha’s room.”

“No ma’am, it is your room. His room is on top of this one. It has glass all around the left side, so you can see the night sky lit up with all the Vegas lights. It is a sight to see.” Andrew moved his hand around describing what it looked like. She liked this man. He was good looking, but she wasn’t attracted to him. She felt he was more like a best buddy type of guy for her.

Andrew pulled the key out of his pocket and opened up her door for her. She did a double take when she walked further in the room.

“Shit.” Zoey muttered under her breath. “This is too much for just me. He could rent this room out to people who could be paying him. I don’t feel comfortable staying here when I know he is losing money because I’m in it. I don’t mind staying in a one bedroom, Andrew. Let’s go down and change rooms. Okay?”

Shaking his head laughing. “You are just too sweet. Alpha doesn’t rent this room out, Zoey. It is here for his guests to stay in, and you are his guest. It would make him feel badly if you requested another room. Trust me. The Alpha and the pack make plenty of money.” Zoey touched the back of the couch as she walked around the room. The furnishings were so expensive. She didn’t want to sit down or touch anything for fear of ruining it. There was a full scale living room, a kitchen with a door, and a guest bathroom. But the best part was when she walked into the bedroom. The bed was a king, and if the bed felt as soft as it looked, she may never go home.

“Enjoy this week, Zoey. That’s the great thing about Vegas. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” Winking at her, Andrew walked out the door leaving her to enjoy the room.

Zoey smiled then slipped her shoes off and took off running and jumped on the bed. The bed was unbelievably soft but sturdy, just like she liked it. The bedspread was softer than anything she ever felt. Zoey wiggled around until she got comfortable.

Zoey was in heaven as she closed her eyes.
Just a quick nap then I will get up and get ready.
That was the last thing Zoey remembered until she felt a hand stroke her face. Fear engulfed her body so that she reacted quickly before she realized it was Johnny. Grabbing his hand, she twisted it and then kicked out with her foot. She put everything she had in that kick slamming Johnny off the bed and onto the floor.