You’re on My Radar

         Rose was leaving the post office after sending off a few letters. She’d been making quiet inquiries about packs she could join. Rose used a PO Box to keep her father’s hands off the letters, and they weren’t allowed to have packages delivered to the packhouse. So, picking up packages was an excellent cover for checking her PO Box for letters.

         She noticed Jules flirting with a guy by the Jeep. Her attention was completely on him, as was her hand stroking up and down his arm. Well, that was something new for Jules and Rose didn’t recognize the sandy blonde head of a well-muscled man. She couldn’t call him a boy, not built like that. He was clearly a shifter and at least a gamma or enforcer type. Rose could tell just by the way he filled out the leather jacket and the way he stood. She’d have to ask who he was.

         “Need help to get those packages to your vehicle?” A deep voice off to her right scared the crap out of her.

         With a slight squeak, Rose had to juggle the packages in her hand. Now she realized another man straightened from where he’d been leaning against the wall. Like the first, Rose didn’t know who he was. But her eyes didn’t know where to look first. If there was a man who could be described as a tall drink of water, it was him. Dark hair moved in the breeze, and it matched his almost black eyes. He’d spent more time in the sun by the tan he sported. Rose knew she’d be hard-pressed to find any fat on this man. Her brain then registered this was the first time she’d ever considered exploring a man, a shifter, for anything.

         “I’ll take those for you while you recover. It’s my job to entertain you while your friend there becomes better acquainted with my friend Ben.” He smiled and even his smile fit his image. That slow, confident ease of movement. He knew exactly what it would do to her. Now he towered over her.

         She should have felt threatened, but somehow, she didn’t. He wasn’t pulling off a boy next door vibe well. He was far too much of a predator for that. She did sense him prowling in every shift of muscle. It wasn’t fear she felt, but a thrill.

         “Who are you?” Rose needed to have a name for the face.

         “You can call me Tyler.”

         “You’re new around here?”

         “Not really. I’ve been staying with my uncle. He’s the Alpha of the Blue Dalia Pack.” That explained the obvious signs of an Alpha. The families that bred one often bred others.

         But she’d never reacted like this to any male, and the fact his full attention was on her as well. She could feel his eyes assessing every inch of her and, for once, a man clearly liked what he saw.

         “What brought you here, Tyler?”

         “As in town? Or to your side?” Well, flirt much, man?

Rose was tongue-tied for several heartbeats before she said. “Town. What brought you to town?”

“A promise to a loved one.”

“Your mate?”

“Mother actually. I don’t have a mate yet. Though that might have just changed.” Now he stood close to her with her packages on one arm. He could have swept her up with the other at any moment.

“Well, I’m sure you’d like to get back to the lucky woman.”

“Oh, but I’d like to know who that lucky woman is. What’s your name, darling?”

“My… My name? Rose. My name is Rose.” He then graced her with another pleased smile that made Rose feel warm inside. Like she was laying out under the noonday sun, letting it warm her fur.

“That’s my girl.”

“Oh, I don’t think my daddy would like to hear you say things like that.”

“Then I’m glad your daddy isn’t here to hear them. Because those words are just for your ears.” Now his arm wrapped around her back and guided her gently to the Jeep. “Ben, this is Rose. Get the door for me so we can tuck these into their vehicle.”

“Nice to meet you, Rose. Ty this is Jules. They’re here doing a little shopping for the day.”

“Pity we can’t stay and visit with them. But we have a business meeting to attend. We’ll catch up with you later if you’re still in town.”

Ben looked at his watch and surprise crossed his face. “Where did the time go? You’re right, Ty, we do have to leave. Jules, it was a genuine pleasure to meet you, and I hope we can spend some time together real soon.” Ben’s smile lit up his eyes, eyes anyone close by would notice in a heartbeat. Blue fought for dominance in his eyes with green. It was almost startling. No wonder Jules stared at him and touched him. She wanted to make sure he was real.

We could never describe these two men as nondescript, even within shifter society. Most shifter men were strikingly good-looking. But these two seemed over the top and coordinated with each other.

Rose could see the Alpha and the Beta in these two. Some thought they were just titles, but they weren’t. The men bonded, and these two bonded early. No one could dispute the dominant feel they gave off unconsciously. She could swear it weakened her knees. That sense of dominance sent shivers of anticipation up and down her back.

“A pity. We’ll see you at the Watering Hole tonight, then. Stop by tonight. There’s a live band playing, and wings are cheap.”

“If we can, we will.” The two men walked off once the packages were in the Jeep. With friendly smiles and waves.

Once they were out of sight, Jules turned to Rose. “Wow. I think I just might have met my mate. Or my nemesis. Either way, I want a look under the cover, if you get what I mean?”

“Oh, I get it. I need to change my panties. First, he scares me, and then he turns to grace and charm. I wonder what they’re like when they aren’t performing like that. Not that I’m complaining. I was thinking about searching for things on his person.”

“We are in so much trouble. If your father finds out, he’ll kill him.”

“Then he’ll have a war on his hands. Ty is Blue Dalia Pack Alpha’s nephew.”

“Then we have some major trouble on our hands. I don’t think that two-take no as an answer.”

“Who’d say no to them?”

“Exactly. We’ve got trouble in tight blue jeans. This is going to be fun.” She didn’t mean fun in the usual way. She meant complicated and dangerous.