Grateful he’d been at the office only a few streets away, rather than at Wildlings, Drew threw his truck into park and hopped out, slamming the door behind him. Just as Maddox had said, the scent of another shifter filled Drew’s nostrils as he entered the building.
Who the fuck was sniffing around his female? The scent was unfamiliar, so not a member of a nearby pack. Where had he come from?
He paced the elevator car during the lift, attempting to cool his temper. Did Alyssa know him? She claimed to have never met another shifter, yet here was one visiting her apartment. Had she lied?
Stepping off the elevator, he caught the end of their conversation. Maddox and the stray were at a standoff, and Drew didn’t like that Alyssa was between them. “I agree. He needs to leave.”
Alyssa glanced over her shoulder, visible relief crossing her features. Maddox's posture relaxed as Drew approached, but the stray grew more hostile, his gaze burning into Drew. No doubt he’d smelled Drew’s scent on Alyssa.
“Alyssa, you need to go inside now.”
“What?” The relief vanished.
“Go inside now and let me deal with this.”
The blond straightened. “Nothing to deal with.” He reached out a hand as though to touch Alyssa’s shoulder but pulled it back when Maddox growled. “I’m just inquiring about a piece.”
Drew’s gaze narrowed. “I’m sure you are.” He knew exactly what piece the stray wanted.
“Mitch is a fan of my work,” Alyssa explained, still attempting to defuse the situation.
“See, we’re friends.” His smile was slimy. His expression pissed Drew off. If this guy thought he could talk his way out of this, thinking that Alyssa was still attainable, he was sadly mistaken on both accounts.
Again, he reached out to touch her as though he had every right to do so. Drew wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her roughly to his side.
“Well, no,” Alyssa said, and Drew had to wonder just what kind of relationship she had with this guy. It seemed he was constantly a step behind with Alyssa. “We aren’t really friends, and I’ve told you before yesterday, very clearly, as I recall, that I am not interested and for you to please leave me alone.”
Mitch’s gaze lingered on her before flicking to Drew, then Maddox. “You’ve made a grave mistake here, Alyssa.”
The threat was unmistakable. Drew’s teeth sawed together, and his hand tightened on her hip. “Go inside. Now.” He pushed her toward the open doorframe.
“What?” She balked at his order. “No way. You will not barge in here and start dictating to me.”
Now was not the time or place for their first argument as a couple. “Get in the apartment. Now.”
The blond man—Mitch—laughed. “A domestic spat. How cute.” His lips curled as he spoke. Drew was ready to shift and go for the throat, but Mitch brushed by. “You don’t need to worry. I’m leaving. I would hate to witness you getting your ass chewed too.” His gaze swung to Alyssa. “I want that painting. And a moment of your time. We have things to discuss.”
Enough was enough. Drew pushed Alyssa behind him. “Get out of my town.”
Pressing the call button, Mitch snorted, clearly choosing to ignore the order.
Next to him, Maddox emanated a low snarl. Mitch turned, his gaze sharp. “You can’t keep me from her forever.”
“You have until dusk to get out of town. If we see you again, you’re dead.”
“Drew!”
He ignored Alyssa’s gasp.
Mitch glared but said nothing until he was in the elevator. As the doors slid shut, he gave a slight grin. “Don’t worry. You won’t see me again.”
Drew snarled but didn’t make it down the hall before the elevator closed. “Damn.” He slammed his fist against the silver door.
“That’s not the last we’ll see of him,” Maddox unnecessarily informed him.
“No shit.” Drew pinned Alyssa with his gaze. “When I give you an order, you follow it.”
She cocked a fist on her hip. “I thought you said we were a team. That you were a modern man. Modern men don’t go all barbaric and threaten innocent people because they’re jealous.”
“Whether you like it or not, when it comes to your safety, you will obey every goddamn order I give. I’m not compromising on that.”
“I’m safe from Mitch, I assure you.” She scoffed, all attitude and anger. “I can handle one little stalker.”
The word stalker sent a chill down his spine.
“Want me to go after him?” Maddox was already at the stairwell, the door ajar.
Drew shook his head. “No. Get ahold of Callum. Tell him I want the pack assembled at Wildlings within the hour. Help him get it done.”
Alyssa eyed Maddox. “So he’s a shifter too?”
“You can’t tell?” Maddox asked with concern. When she shook her head, he and Drew shared a look. A shifter was stalking her, and she hadn’t realized it. She’d been in danger for who knew how long.
“Go,” he told Maddox before turning his attention to Alyssa. “Get back in the apartment.” Letting his wolf take a bit of control, he growled the words, demanding her obedience.
Alyssa glared at him before doing as he’d ordered. He met her in the living room, shutting the apartment door after Maddox disappeared down the stairs.
“We have to get a few things straight.”
“Damn right we do,” he replied, though he doubted she realized just who needed straightening out. “What the hell were you thinking? You shouldn’t be alone with him!”
“Why? Because I belong to you? Don’t feed me some line about being progressive, then puff out your chest and go all old world on me just because I’m having a conversation with a guy. You dictating who I can and can’t talk to will not fly. I don’t care if you’re alpha, president, or fucking king of your pack. That shit ain’t happening.”
Her outburst would have amused him if he hadn’t been so pissed. “Are you finished?”
“No! How dare you think you can control me!”
He took a step forward. “When it comes to your safety, I am in control.”
“I’ve been on my own for years. I can take care of myself. I’ve been dealing with Mitch for over a year. I can handle him.”
“He’s a shifter.”
“What?” All the gusto left her. She seemed to shrink before his eyes. “No.”
“Yes. He is.”
The anger left her gaze, fear taking its place. “You’re sure?”
He nodded slowly. “Yes.”
“Oh my God.” She made her way to the couch and gingerly sat down.
“This whole time...” Raising her hand to her mouth, she shook her head back and forth. “Do you think he knows I am?”
Drew studied her before shrugging. “I don’t know. I didn’t. I knew you were my mate, though.”
“How? How did you know I was your mate?”
“By your scent. I knew you were mine by your smell, but I didn’t know if you were a shifter or human. But your smell was so alluring and powerful, and it just changed everything for me. You smell unique and definitely not like any pack I’ve come across.”
“So he might not know?”
“I doubt it, but he’s probably drawn to your scent. I bet it’s why he’s been following you. Now, though, he knows that Maddox and I are shifters, and likely he’s reevaluating what he knows about you.”
“If he’s drawn to my scent like you are, then how do I know he’s not my mate?”
Drew’s molars ground against one another. Jealousy spiked through him, hot and fast, but when he looked at her, he knew she wasn’t baiting him, but honestly in search of an explanation. “Are you drawn to him? Do you enjoy his scent? Does he make you aroused from just one whiff?”
Her nose wrinkled. “He smells rancid. No, I was never drawn to him.”
“But you’re drawn to me.”
He had to be clear.
Her gaze rose, those brown eyes burning into him. “I think I’ve more than proved that in the last twenty-four hours. What we’ve done together, what I let you do to me… It was foolish to allow, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself. My wolf has never felt this, this—”
“Alive?” He supplied.
“Content.” She rose and paced. “But all this time, I thought I was safe from Mitch, that if he ever tried to hurt me, I’d be able to defend myself easily, even kill him if necessary. But now, that sense of security was all a lie. When I think of how vulnerable I’ve been, the risks I’ve taken…” Her voice trailed off.
“You aren’t alone now. You have the pack and me to keep you safe.” She stopped pacing at his admission. “But that means you listen and obey when I give you an order, especially if it regards your safety.”
“My safety, yes. But you can’t control me in other ways. I won’t allow that.”
“When it comes to the pack, my word is law, which goes for your safety and theirs. Everything else between us can be a discussion, but this, your safety, is not up for debate.” He thought about that. “Well, I make the laws in the bedroom, too.”
Alyssa grinned along with him but taunted, “I think that should be up for discussion too.”
Her smile died, a little crease appearing between her eyebrows. “But I still need to protect myself. You won’t always be available. This morning proved that. There are some things I need to know. Can we die? Will I live forever? I already know I heal quickly, but am I immortal? Do I have any other powers I don’t know about? What exactly is involved with imprinting? How does a pack work? What do I do if Mitch comes back?”
Drew held up his hand to stop her rapid-fire questions. “I should have taken the time to answer your questions last night. That’s my fault. And I left you vulnerable today. Again, my fault. It won’t happen again.”
“You didn’t know about Mitch, plus you left that other guy to watch me. At least, I presume you did. Why did you do that?”
To be honest or not? He looked at his mate. Honesty would always win when it came to Alyssa. “I wasn’t sure if you’d try to run.”
Her mouth formed a surprised little O before she snapped it shut. “I’ve been on my own a lot. I was looking out for myself, constantly on the move. The impulse is still there, but I’ve always wanted a permanent home. A family. Someone who cares about me.”
“You have that now.”
She sent him a ‘yeah, right’ look.
“You have me,” he vowed.
Perching on the sofa once more, she sighed. “As long as I’m not feeling controlled or like I’m losing who I am, I’d like to stay.”
“Good.” Drew snapped into action. She’d clearly rummaged through her luggage to make the bed, shower, and dress. She had also painted based on the easel and half-finished painting in the living room.
“Then pack what you need, and let’s go.”
“Pardon me? Alyssa’s eyebrows rose. “What part of not being controlled don’t you get?”
Unaccustomed to having his orders questioned, Drew sighed. “It would make me feel better if you stayed with me, at least for a few days, until we know Mitch is no longer a threat. I don’t like the idea of you staying here, especially when I’m not around. He knows where you live. It’s no longer safe here.”
“You kicked in my door yesterday. I’m not sure how safe it was then, either.”
He laughed. “Will you come with me? I’ll sleep better knowing you’re by my side, and I’ll answer all your questions in the car on the way to Wildlings.”
“We’re going to Wildlings?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Making a judgment about the bags by the door, Drew picked up what he figured was a gym bag full of clothing. “Because it’s about time I introduce my mate to the pack.”