“What of it?” Joe finally asked, meeting his gaze.
“For a guy who lost his position as Alpha of a prominent pack, you sure seemed...I don’t know, normal?”
West wasn’t sure if ‘normal’ was the right word to use.
To his surprise, Joe let out a bitter laugh. Suddenly, he wished he didn’t bring out the big guns so soon. This Alpha genuinely seemed to like him.
There was definitely chemistry between him. But one more push from West could send Joe out the exit door. West couldn’t have that.
“I’m sorry,” West blurted.
Joe shook his head. “We’re moving to the hard questions. That’s fine. Its good you know who I am. I wish I could keep it away from you a little longer, you ought to know what you’re getting into.”
West stilled at those words.
What did Joe mean? Joe lost his position. Was there something more to that?
Joe continued, “I never wanted to be Alpha, never wished for the responsibility. It destroyed my dad. He tried so hard to be what the pack wanted. In the end, that backfired on his personal life, on my mom and me.”
He shrugged, spoke about it like he was talking about the weather. Joe continued, “You know what’s the kicker? When Zack, my dad’s former enforcer challenged me, I was actually happy. I fought, did my best, lost and that was that.”
“I didn’t mean to bring up something painful.” West meant what he said.
Joe shook his head. “The truth’s bound to come out sooner or later.”
“You said I should know what I’m getting into.”
“I’m supposed to pass by Ace Ville and move on.”
“Why?”
“Zack’s not going to be satisfied. He let me go to show the others he’s merciful, but I know Zack. He’s an opportunist and one hell of an actor. He’ll hunt me now. He’s too paranoid to let the son of the former Alpha live.”
West’s heart was in his throat.
Damn. After finally finding a guy who accepted his flaws, who could be his match—Joe had to come with baggage. Then again, West was the same.
West might be successful in his business, but deep down? He was one hot mess and had no right to judge others.
“So, Omega. Ready to bolt?” Joe wore a weary smile. “Let’s finish this meal at least.”
“I’m not running. Why haven’t you moved into a new town?” West demanded.
“You know the answer to that.”
West shook his head. “I truly don’t.”
“Because I met you. Can’t you tell, West? Your wolf knows the answer.”
West swallowed the lump in his throat. “We’re mates.”
There was it again, the intensity in Joe’s eyes. West became all too aware of the huge, rough and sexy Alpha sitting next to him.
If there was no table between them, they could finally touch, flesh-to-flesh.
“I need to know something,” West said.
Joe raised an eyebrow.
“Kiss me.” The words came out of his mouth before West could stop himself.
Joe leaned over, grabbed a fistful of his shirt and put their mouths together. The conversations of the other diners fell away.
All that mattered was Joe’s hot mouth against his.
The kiss began slow, tentative.
West responded, kissing back. The Alpha took over, the kiss turned rough and hard—exactly the way West wanted his kisses done. Joe clasped the back of his neck and thrust fire down his throat.
West’s insides melted. The Omega wolf in him wanted more, wanted Joe to strip him out of his clothes and have his way.
Joe deepened the kiss but West opened his mouth wider, so the Alpha could thrust his tongue down his throat. His jeans were unbelievably tight. West knew he sported a woody, but didn’t care.
His skin felt fever-hot. The table was still between them. Damn. West wanted Joe to take him somewhere private.
He needed to take his mind out of the gutter, but it was too late.
Feeling this all-consuming desire...was only right, because they were mates. West was born so this Alpha could own his body, possess his heart.
Those were the Omega genes talking.
No. This was something else. Joe pulled back, panting. So was West.
This Alpha could reduce his mind to mush with one kiss.
What would a touch do?
Completely obliterate his hard-earned defenses, but West was no longer afraid.
“Let’s finish up dessert and go someplace else,” Joe said, voice husky.
“Okay.” Shakily, West sat back down.
Joe seemed to sense his apprehension and returned to normal conversation topics. The Alpha looked genuinely interested in knowing his background and his growing business. Joe didn’t ask simply to get the date going. There was curiosity there, a hunger to know West more and West was the same.
This Alpha had some serious scars, both inside and out. That would’ve sent him running in the past, but he stayed for the promise of more.
They shared a strawberry cheesecake. Joe footed the bill.
“I need to head to the bathroom quick,” Joe told him.
“I’ll wait by the car,” West said. He needed some air to think.
On his way out, he bumped into another huge shifter.
“Watch your step,” he muttered.
A meaty hand gripped his skinny arm, the touch intrusive. He looked up to see a scowling and bearded shifter.
“Omegas should know their place.” The man snarled at him.
No one spoke up. The waitresses pretended to do something else. Right. This was the world they lived in right, where the strong ate the weak?
“Get your fucking hands off my mate.” Joe was suddenly in front of West, planting West behind him.
West was about to argue, but decided to keep his mouth shut at Joe’s furious expression. When he was pissed, Joe was one hell of a force to be reckoned with. It was hard to believe this was the same guy who teased him relentlessly earlier.
“He’s yours?” the other shifter asked, skeptical. “I don’t see any mating mark.”
“Fuck off. He’s about to become mine, unless you want to feel my teeth against your throat?” Joe cracked his knuckles and flashed.
Joe also showed off his sharp fangs to the other male. The Alpha suddenly looked terrifying, reminding West that Joe could be dangerous.
The shifter took a step back. “Look man, he bumped into me. That Omega has a mouth on him but I don’t want to fight you for that Omega’s skinny ass. It’s not worth it.”
“Get out of the way.” When the shifter moved, Joe grabbed West’s arm and tugged him along.
“I take my eyes off you for a second and this is what happens,” Joe grumbled.
They were back in the parking lot now.
“Who told you to be my knight in shining armor? Want to change me? Go ahead. Tell me I need some education. That I’ll need to respect dominant shifters and know my place.”
West sounded bitter to his ears, but he couldn’t help it.
“I don’t want to change you, but babe. You need to know how to pick your battles. Otherwise, you’ll get into serious trouble.”
All his anger disappeared and West felt stupid. “Sorry, you’re right. I have anger issues.”
They got back in Joe’s car.
“How can you be so calm?” West had to ask.
“I’m a patient predator. We have a longer lifespan, or so I’ve heard. Besides, if you worry so much over unnecessary things, you’ll never find inner peace.”
West shook his head. “No, seriously. How do you maintain your calm?”
“I do yoga, meditation. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have survived in my father’s pack.”
Joe turned the car out of the parking lot.
“Thank you for dinner.” The words were lame, but West didn’t know what else to tell Joe.
“Is that your polite way of telling me to drive you back home and leave you alone?” Joe asked.
West heard the disappointment in the Alpha’s voice.
“Sorry. I’m bad at dates. Awkward. It’s been some time since I went out,” West thought about it for a second. “Let’s go back to my place.”
“You apologize too much.” Joe’s smirk was back in place. “I told you. You’d eventually fall under my spell. I’m fucking irresistible.”
Unable to help himself, West returned Joe’s smile. There was something about the Alpha that rubbed off on him. He gave Joe directions back to his apartment.
Joe pulled into the parking lot adjacent to his building and West realized he’d crossed some major boundary tonight.
For one, he made it one of his personal rules to never invite a guy back to his place.
Growing up in a crowded pack house when he was younger, West never had a place he could truly call his.
Joe stepped out of the car. He followed, wondering why he didn’t bother going to Joe’s inn or someplace else. He felt comfortable around Joe. The Alpha was easy to be with.
Also...West could no longer contain heat trapped inside his body.
The Omega wolf in him wanted this Alpha as much the Alpha wanted him. West had resisted at first, but he had enough. Harper was right. His insecurities always got in the way of his happiness.
Often, West was burned by dominant shifters who turned out to be pricks. Here was the perfect mate. Once West got on this ride, he knew it there was only one way—forward, but he was ready.
“West? Thinking much?” Joe asked.
West realized he still remained in the passenger seat. He got out. Enough pussyfooting around.
It seemed that even the Alpha sensed the change in him. Joe straightened up. A soft growl emerged from the Alpha’s lips.
“I like that look in your eyes, Omega. What changed?” Joe asked
West approached his Alpha, planting a hand against Joe’s chest. Under his palm, he could feel the rise and fall of Joe’s chest.
If he concentrated hard enough, he could hear the Alpha’s steady heartbeats. So calm. So confident. Unlike the tumultuous rhythm of his own.
His breath hitched when Joe closed strong fingers over his hand.
“I’m sorry if I appeared ready to bolt any second. I’m all in now,” West said.