Delia had been plotting since the moment Rowan had mentioned a mate early that morning. The rumors were flying around the pack and when he came home alone she decided she still had a chance to seduce the Alpha and claim her spot as Alpha Female over that stupid bitch Eva.
While everyone was distracted she went up to her Alpha's suite, undressed, and lay naked under the sheets. She spread her blonde hair across the pillow and waited. She knew once Rowan saw her milky white breasts and small hips he wouldn't be able to resist and she would be one step closer.
When Rowan collapsed beside her Delia fumed. How dare he not even notice her? But she held back the anger and put on a seductive smile.
She leaned over him and pressed her breasts to his back. "Hey there sexy" she whispered breathily in his ear. When a smile came over his face she knew she'd won. But suddenly she was flying through the air and hit the plush carpet with a loud thud.
______
Rowan had started dreaming of Layla the moment he hit the bed. He remembered the feel of her soft body against his when he'd kissed her. When he felt the body behind him he thought he was dreaming of his mate until he heard Delia's voice. Rowan roared and jumped off the bed sending Delia soaring. Rowan's face turned red and for a moment he couldn't even speak. He wolf was shaking and practically frothing at the mouth in fury.
"What the hell are you doing in here?" he screamed. Looking at her cowering on the floor infuriated him. How dare she enter his bed uninvited when he longed for was his mate. Thinking of Delia touching him made his stomach turn and his skin crawl.
"Get out! Get out now,"
"Baby, I just wanted to make you feel good" she whined from the floor. She had never seen him so furious in her life.
"Get out!" He screamed again.
When Delia continued to tremble on the floor Rowan seized her arm lifting her to her feet and dragged her across the room. He wrenched the door open.
"I told you years ago we were through. Now I have a mate and I will not tolerate this behavior. I am your Alpha you will remember that. If you ever pull something like this again you will be dismissed from the pack immediately" he seethed.
Delia was shocked. Being kicked out of the pack was one of the worst forms of punishment. Wolf shifters lived for their pack being forced out was tantamount to a death threat. Not all wolves could survive on their own.
"Do not come on to me ever again."
It was still early enough that people were roaming the main house. It got quite as the pack members in the house heard his threat. They cringed at the thought of being kicked out of the pack but they were more alarmed that Delia would dare to approach a mated wolf or at even a potentially mated wolf. It was one of the worst offences a shifter could commit. Everyone knew of Delia's calculating ways but this was low even for her. Everyone heard the door slam.
Rowan was appalled. He could smell Delia in his room and on his sheets. He furiously threw the balcony door open to let fresh air take her odor way and gathered her clothes and the sheets off his bed. He had to get the offending materials out of his rooms. Opening the door to chuck them out he ran into Jessica an omega.
"Alpha" she said bowing her head to hide her shock at running into him.
"Hello Jessica" Rowan replied getting his temper under control.
"May I take those for you?"
"Yes, thank you"
"I will bring you up some new sheets in a moment Alpha"
Rowan paced in his doorway while he waited for Jessica to return. When she handed him the sheets he thanked her and went to remake his bed. Once he made the bed he took a deep breath. Checking the room for reassurance he settled back on the bed. Glad that Delia's nauseating odor was out of the room he closed his eye and drifted to sleep thinking about his mate.
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Layla was in his arms again. Hands tangled in his shirt but this time he had her pinned against a wall. He pressed his lips to hers. He ran one of his hands down her neck and gently massaged her firm breast. Her breast filled his palm and her nipple puckered up in arousal. When his other hand ran underneath her shirt and brushed her stomach tenderly Layla moaned allowing Rowan to run his tongue into her mouth. He stroked his tongue against hers enjoying the unique taste. Lifting her up he laid her across the bed stripping her off her shirt. He ran his tongue down her neck and over her speeding pulse, savoring her skin and enjoying the way Layla writhed beneath him. The moans that came from the girl under him called to him on a primal level. Rowan ground his erection into Layla's mound making her moan louder and expose even more of her throat to him. The scent of warm honey filled his senses calling to his wolf and making his canines elongate. He was about to sink his teeth into the point where her neck and shoulder met to claim her when a loud pounding distracted him.
Opening his eyes Rowan groaned in disappointment, Layla wasn't in his bed. The pounding came again and Dom barged into his room.
"X, its 11:00. Why are you still in bed? I thought we had to make a stop before the meeting"
Rowan shot up out of bed. "I'm coming. Get the cars we're driving separately. I will be down in time."
Rushing, Rowan jumped into the shower. As the hot water cascaded over him his dreams came back to him. His morning erection throbbed almost painfully when he thought of her lithe body and her gentle moans. He needed to relieve his erection but he had to get to his mate.
Getting out of the shower he dried his hair quickly and put on his suit. He exited his suite stopping by the kitchen where Mina shoved a plate of food into his hands.
"Don't think I didn't notice you avoiding me yesterday. I still expect information."
"Yes ma'am. Thanks for keeping everyone away from my room this morning."
"Of course sweetie. You needed the rest." Mina returned to work and Rowan headed out to the car. Eva met him on the way out.
"Johan is staying to help with the extra patrols. I'm going with you instead."
"Sounds good. Hopefully, we will be able to cut back on patrols again soon." Handing his empty plate to an omega headed into the house Eva and Rowan met David and Dom at the car where they waited.
"So where are we headed?" Dom asked.
"Church St. A shop called Small Treasures"
"Isn't that one of those tourist traps that sells snow globes? Why are we going there?" Eva asked.
"My mate works there. I promised her we would go to lunch but we have to go to this meeting first."
"We get to meet the mate?" Eva exclaimed.
"No! You will all stay in the car. Let's go!"
Wisely his betas stayed quite as they snuck grins at each other. They divided in the two waiting SUVs. David and Eva got in one while Dom and Rowan climbed into the other. The entire ride to the shop Rowan's leg shook nervously. He couldn't wait to see his mate. Before the car had made a complete stop he jumped out and almost ran into the shop. Not noticing his betas climbing out of the cars behind him.
The alluring scent of his mate lingered in the air but when he didn't immediately see her Rowan nearly panicked. His wolf fought to break free and start a hunt when she strolled out of back room her bag over her shoulder.
"You're early," Layla smiled eying him appreciatively. "Is everything ok," she said noticing his distress.
"What? Oh, yes I'm okay." He answered a little dazed. He was so relieved to see her he was momentarily speechless.
"I'm sorry. Can we meet later today? I have a last minute meeting I can't miss but it should be over by 1:30. Will you go to a late lunch with me?"
"Is your goon squad coming to lunch too?" she said waving out the window at his betas who were peering through the window shop like nosy kids.
"Um, no. They are just going to the meeting with me," he answered glaring at his betas over his shoulder. "Sorry, they were supposed to stay in the car."
"No problem."
Taking her hand Rowan led her out of the shop. "I should be done no later than 1:30."
"Sounds good. I guess I will go back to the motel for now."
"Aren't you going to introduce us Rowan?" Eva interrupted with a grin.
"No," he answered gruffly.
"Well, I guess I will introduce myself then" Layla said leaving Rowan's astonished as she step around him.
"I'm Layla and I believe I saw you two the other day," she said holding out her hand to Dom.
"I'm Dom. Don't go trying to steal my wallet now" he said feigning concern before surprising her with a swift hug that earned him a low growl from Rowan.
"Well then you shouldn't make it so easy" Layla held up his wallet twirling it between her fingers before handing it back to Dom who had an incredulous look on his face.
"I'm David and you have got to teach me how to do that," David gushed almost bouncing with excitement.
"Excuse them." Eva said pushing the others out of the way. "Sometimes they forget themselves. I'm Eva and it's nice to meet you. Rowan has said great things about you. "
"Really? Like what?" Layla asked curiously looking at Rowan. She was surprised with how easily this group seemed to except her but she had only been on one date with the man. How much could he have told them?