Chapter 2

NADINE.

We arrived at the packhouse, and the first thing my eyes looked for was Mindy. But I didn’t see her. I saw other females around. They were probably the Omegas of the packhouse. 

They looked at us when we came in, but no one greeted me, even when I smiled at them. And Xander didn’t even bother to introduce me. They all made me feel like I was not welcome. They just continued with their routine without giving me a second look. 

I also thought Xander was the one who would show me my room, but he let someone else take me. I was directly ushered to the second floor. And no matter how I tried to converse with the female who walked beside me, she never replied and only told me where my room was.

And then I was left on my own. 

I didn’t even know what I was supposed to do. 

I had been walking back and forth, contemplating whether I should go down and introduce myself to anyone I would meet and, at the same time, try to find out who Mindy was. But then I was not sure if I was welcome to do that. I didn’t want to look aggressive.   

I was still undecided when I smelled Xander’s scent. Even if I didn’t want to, my body jerked up, and a smile curled on my lips. I couldn’t deny that I was excited to see him again. 

But I reminded my wolf to restrain herself. Xander, too, was the enemy.

“Hi!” I greeted him as soon as I opened the door, flashing him my widest smile. 

“Can I come in?” He asked. His deep, baritone voice sent shivers down my spine. 

I didn’t reply, but I opened the door wider. He stepped in and waited for me to close it before he spoke again. 

“I won’t be staying long. I just want to leave some instructions before I go.”

“What do you mean?” My eyes squinted.

“Don’t go out of the room while I’m away.”

“What? How about dinner? Are we not going to eat together?”

“I’m done with dinner.”

My mouth hung open at his words. I knew he didn’t want me here, but I didn’t expect him not to invite me to my first meal in this territory.

“How about me?”

“I’ll have someone bring dinner before I go.”

I bit my bottom lip to stop my teeth from chattering. 

“If you want to leave the territory, just say. And I will drive you anywhere. A hotel in the city. Or an inn. Just say it.” He added.

He was throwing me out. But I would not give him that pleasure.

“No. I want to stay.” I smiled.

“Then it’s settled. Do not open the door to anyone, even if it’s the Alpha.”

“Am I not supposed to meet Mindy?”

“What?” He looked surprised by my question.

“I’m not allowed to go out or even open the door. I’m assuming it’s because I’m not allowed to bump into her.” There. I finally said it. “Will she be upset if she finds out you met your mate?”

“Whatever you have in mind, throw it away. Don’t believe Maddox. My brother knows how to offend everyone, especially me.”

“So, she’s not your chosen mate?” I just wanted an answer.

“I’ll get something for you to eat. Do you have any requests?” He asked, ignoring my questions. 

“I want an answer.”

“We’ll talk once I’m back. Or if not, we can talk tomorrow morning.”

“I want to talk now.” 

“What do you want to talk about? I don’t have much time. It’s a full moon, and I will be helping pups who are shifting.”

“Exactly. It’s a full moon. I will go into heat.”

“I know…”

He was still cold. 

I had two choices. Either return the animosity he was showing me or pretend I didn’t notice how rude he was to me. 

I chose the latter. 

“I’m excited, Xander…” I bit my bottom lip and fluttered my lashes. “I’ve heard so much about a female’s heat.” 

I was hoping my act would tug something in his heart. 

“Are you? What do you think will happen?” A smile finally crawled on his lips, and in an instant, it made my pussy throb. Hard. 

“I don’t know. I guess it depends on you. You can also tell me what to do.” I smiled at him before throwing him another question. “I think it’ll be amazing.”

“Do you think so?” He asked, his brows hiking up.

I bobbed my head excitedly, still smiling at him. “Are you not excited?”

Xander grabbed my hand and placed it over his front, making my body jerk. I felt his erection, and it was getting harder.

“Oh, Goddess…” I mumbled softly.

“Does it tell you how excited I am?”

Before I could stop myself, I had already squeezed his shaft.

“Nadine…” He grunted. And my name came out so alluringly from his lips. 

“Sorry…” I tried to pull my hand away, pretending to be embarrassed by my action, but he wasn’t letting go. If anything, my action only made his cock swell more. 

“Are you really sorry for doing that?” He asked as a smug smirk tugged on his mouth. 

He was already handsome with a stoic expression on his face, but with a smug smirk on it, he was absolutely gorgeous.

I shook my head. 

“I didn’t know I was given a naughty mate.” His eyes dilated, and the way he was staring at me made heat rise from my stomach.

I couldn’t help the seductive smile that curled on my lips. And I swear, my eyes might be twinkling. I like where this is going.

“You’re beautiful… Especially when you smile like that.” He let go of my hand, and I slowly lowered mine, even if I didn’t want it away from his cock. Because, as crazy as it might be, it was my only proof that this man was also attracted to me. 

Xander cupped my chin and let his thumb brush against my skin. My lashes fluttered, and I couldn’t help but close my eyes as I reveled in his touch. 

The sparks and his addicting smell were making me and my wolf lose control. 

Focus. Focus. I kept telling myself. 

“We’ll talk later. I have to go.” His voice snapped me out of my reverie and made me open my eyes. 

He was still looking at me, his knuckles continuously brushing against my skin. 

“Can you stay? Please.”

“I have to go.” He repeated. This time, his voice sounded throaty, and his eyes kept dilating. His wolf wanted me. I had to take advantage of that.

“Please…” I said in a raspy voice before parting my lips.

I was ready to beg more, but his thumb brushed against my bottom lip, and the expression on his face as he parted his own lips made me speechless. 

He looked so sexy. He watched his thumb move as he slowly pushed it into my mouth. 

I moaned before closing my lips around his thumb. A growl reverberated from his chest as I began sucking it, and my hands flew to his torso, clutching his shirt as I pressed our bodies closer together. 

“Harder…” He grunted as his arm snaked around my body, and his hand landed on my ass.

The fire started igniting in my stomach, spreading all over my body. 

I closed my eyes and sucked his thumb harder, but then he slowly pulled it away from my mouth. I whimpered while opening my eyes, only to see his face closing in. My heart skipped a beat, and the moment his lips brushed over mine, I felt a wave of warmth envelope me. 

My arms coiled around his neck as his hand gripped my waist. His kisses started gentle and soft until they became aggressive, devouring every corner of my lips until his tongue forced his way inside my mouth. And I just let him in. 

The taste of him — it silenced every thought in my head and made me want him more.

Focus. Focus. 

A sultry moan escaped my throat when I felt my body being lifted and my back landing on the soft mattress. Xander was kissing me bruisingly hard, and the grunts coming from his throat let me know how hungry he was for me. 

His actions were building my confidence. He wanted me.

My hands went to his hair the moment his lips left mine and trailed down my throat. “I want you…” I mumbled.

“Damn, Nadine… I can smell your arousal…” He groaned as he pressed his bulging erection against my front.