05

Brenton

She started laughing and I couldn’t help but stop and stare, she was so fucking beautiful. With her hair dyed purple and her beautiful eyes. Her features are so petite and fine. I wanted to see her wolf. I craved to see her running free in the woods with me by her side.

“Fuck, you are beautiful.” I whispered.

She shakes her head and looks over at Aria. “I am hijacking some clothes, I didn’t pack anything of my own.”

“No, let me go get you some clothes.” I step forward. She takes a step back.

“No you aren’t, I’m going to grab a tshirt and sweats from the back and then I’m going to go to bed.” She says as she takes another step back, hitting the wall behind her, grunting in pain.

I stepped up to her my arms beside her head, my head dropping to her throat as I took a deep breath of her scent, fuck she was potent. I almost wanted to say she was an Omega, but they were so rare these days. Coveted for their uniqueness and the power they can give to a pack. I shook my head and focused back on her. My lips against her ear.

“Sweetheart, I am barely holding it together, please let me do this for you. My wolf is dying to take care of you.”

She took a deep breath and locked her eyes with mine. “I can’t.” she whispered.

“Why?” I ask, pressing a kiss to her battered cheek.

“If I let you in, you will see.”

I tilt her head back by her chin, “What will I see.”

“How wrong I am for you.” she whispered, “How broken I am.”

‘You aren’t broken, baby, just let me take care of you. Let me keep you safe, let me fight your battles beside you.”

She barks a laugh, “Not for me?” she teases.

“Nah, You are a badass all on your own, I just want to be there to see you kick some ass.”

She laughs then rolls her eyes, pushes me back with just one finger. I step back. I want to prove to her that she is the one who is in full control.

She nods, looks over at Aria, “Are you sure I’ll be safe with him?”

I hear Aria laugh, “Yeah he’s annoying but he’s as loyal as they come and he will do whatever it takes to make you his. He’s an alpha like Jasper, he just chose to not create his own pack.”

I watch Katie process her words, she looks back over at me. “You can get me some clothes, but only a few outfits, from a thrift store, and nothing flashy!”

I grin, “Anything else?”

“If I agree to what you guys were talking about, about me staying with you, I want my own room. I want space. I also want a place to paint.”

I grin, “Done.”

“Also, no trying to get me in your bed. Just because your wolf is convinced I belong to him, doesn’t mean I believe that myself.”

“What does your wolf say?” I ask, crossing my arms and smirking.

She growls at me, “My wolf is currently hiding, she doesn’t like to come out and she isn’t speaking at the moment. She is weak.”

I frown and lean toward Katie. “She isn’t weak. We will bring her out together. I promise you.”

She rolls her eyes again, “Well, I hope you are up to having Rex at the apartment too, because the only way I will come is if he’s with me.”

“Babygirl if you think for one second I would mind having him in my home when he protects you the way he does, you have another thing coming.”

She nodded then turned and walked out the door. Without saying a word.

Aria laughed from behind me causing me to turn to her, “You are going to have your work cut out for you.”

I laughed and made my way out her office and through the building, waving and smiling at everyone I passed. 

I called my assistant and gave him directions on getting started on taking down Jacob Conley. I then called my chef and had him start preparing dinner for us, I then had him transfer me to the concierge for the building, asking him if it would be possible to get dog food, bowls and more sent to the apartment for a large breed dog. Luckily for a small tip, I was able to get a rush on delivery.

I wasn’t ashamed of needing to g****e local thrift stores. I had just moved to the area after all. My mind kept drifting to what Katie had said and the scent I had caught. Could she be an Omega? Could that be why her wolf was hiding. The wolf didn’t feel safe to come out. Not when she had been abused, and threatened over and over again with forced bonds. I climbed out of my jeep, and walked into the first thrift store on my list and grinned, perfect.

They had so many different clothes and even dresses that I could imagine my mate wearing. I even noticed some shoes that I would be checking.

I had a text from Aria and grinned, Katie’s size. Thank goddess, because I had forgotten to even ask.

I went through the racks and tossed a few t-shirts, jeans, and dresses over my arm before I walked over to the shoe rack and couldn’t help but grin when I found the shoes I had seen from the door were in her size. I then walked over to the counter and the girl at the counter frowned.

“Guess you are taken then.” she says.

I laugh, “yeah I found my true mate.”

“Lucky wolf.” she says.

I laugh, “Nah, I’m the lucky one.”

She smiles at that and takes my card. I had expected everything to be more, but was pleasantly surprised to see it was only two hundred and ten dollars. If I had gone to the mall I would have spent triple that on her. I still wanted to but damn maybe my girl had the right thought process coming to these stores was fun and a good deal.

I grabbed the bags that the clerk had put them in and walked back to my jeep. I was getting more and more excited about having Katie come to my apartment. I drove to the nearest Target and ran in, I grabbed one of the buggies and went to the women's section grabbing different kinds of bras, underware, and socks. I would be ordering much better for her. But for now this would be good enough.

I then walked to the hygiene section and grabbed some toothbrushes, tooth paste, I grabbed some shampoo that smelled like her hair did when he took in her scent earlier. I also grabbed some bubble bath and body wash. I found a loofa in purple like her hair. I threw it in the buggy as well. I looked across the aisle and saw candle warmers and candles and grabbed a few of each. I wanted to make her feel at home. I could have grabbed the food for Rex but knew that the concierge was grabbing it from the local pet store. I scratched my head and looked around. I couldn’t think of anything else so I checked out and threw them into the back of the jeep and made my way back to the shelter.

My phone rang and I hit the button for it to connect to bluetooth.

“Brent!” Aria’s voice came frantic over the line.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, pressing on the accelerator and driving faster.

“She’s gone.”

“What the hell do you mean she’s gone?” I snarl.