CHAPTER 2
MONYE settled onto the worn brown leather couch, a relic from MISS LANKA's childhood, and helped himself to a slice of pizza. His eyes flicked to the wine bottle on the coffee table, and he raised a questioning brow.
XIA flopped into the recliner across from him, the one that still carried the faint scent of her father's pipe. "Go ahead. Help yourself," she said, her tone dry.
"Thanks," he mumbled, his mouth full.
She waited, tapping her fingers on the armrest, before pushing, "Spill it, MONYE. What's this about?"
He swallowed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "An alpha can bring out your wolf."
Her shoulders slumped. "If Cal could've done something, he would have."
MONYE shrugged, his gaze fixed on the pizza. "Every pack's different. Every alpha's different."
"Well, thanks for nothing," she muttered, leaning forward to snatch the pizza box and pull it closer. At the rate he was eating, there'd be nothing left for her.
He held up a hand, his eyes still on the food. "Hold on. Cal might not be able to, but I could. Maybe."
Her eyebrows shot up, and she gestured for him to continue.
"My pack has a history of helping nulls," he said, squaring his shoulders. "And I'm an alpha."
She rolled her eyes. "Sure you are." Every male wolf thought he was an alpha. It was exhausting.
He frowned, looking genuinely puzzled. "No, I'm serious. Why do you think Cal asked me to come to ABAKREEK?"
She crossed her arms. "Why *did* he ask you here? To leave no woman untouched?"
He winced. "That's not fair. Listen, your pack doesn't have an alpha. There's no one to take over after Cal."
That caught her attention. Pack succession was a big deal, and she'd had no idea ABAKREEK was lacking in alpha material. "Is Cal sick?" The thought made her stomach twist.
"No, but he's planning for the future," MONYE said, his eyes drifting back to the pizza box. She pulled it closer, pressing down on the lid. *Mine.*
"You're the future of the ABAKREEK pack?" She stifled a laugh. The idea of MASTER OBAI leading the pack was almost too much.
"Why is that funny?" He looked genuinely confused.
"Never mind. So, how exactly can you make me a wolf?" She leaned back, bracing herself for whatever ridiculousness was about to come out of his mouth.
He cleared his throat, his gaze darting around the room. "We have to sleep together."
The words tumbled out in a rush, and for a moment, her brain refused to process them. Then it hit her.
XIA shot out of the chair, her hand flying to her mouth. "Holy shit. You've got to be kidding me." She paced the room, her mind racing, then spun to face him. "This is a joke, right? You sick—"
"No joke," he said, standing up and raising his hands in defense.
"You've slept with everyone else. Why not add the null to your list, huh?" Her voice rose, her fists clenched at her sides. She wasn't as strong as a wolf, but she wasn't helpless either.
"Wait—" he started, but she lunged at him, her fist aiming for his jaw.
Instead of connecting, her hand was caught in his grip. He pinned her arms behind her back and pulled her close, his lips crashing down on hers.
The kiss was fierce, overwhelming. She froze, her mind blanking for a moment. A strangled gasp escaped her throat as she struggled against his hold, but he didn't let go. His mouth was insistent, his tongue probing, and the taste of pizza and wine filled her senses.
So this was what it felt like to be kissed.
"The thing is, XIA," he murmured against her lips, "you smell like wolf to me. I think she's in there, just waiting to come out."
His lips moved to her neck, his breath warm against her skin. She froze, her body tingling with sensations she didn't understand. The scent of fur filled her nose, and when she closed her eyes, she saw her.
A wolf. Light gray, with piercing eyes.
XIA gasped, her eyes flying open. "What was that?"
"What is it?" MONYE pulled back, his brow furrowed.
"I think I saw my wolf," she whispered, her voice trembling.
A satisfied smile spread across his face. "See? I told you."
She closed her eyes again, and there she was, pacing, restless. "She's beautiful."
"You've never seen her before?"
She shook her head, her eyes still closed. She'd heard about wolves appearing before the first shift, but hers had never shown up. Until now.
"So now you know I wasn't joking," he said, his voice soft.
"Am I going to shift?" The hope in her voice was palpable.
"It takes more than a kiss to bring out a wolf," he said, his lips brushing her neck.
"How do you know?"
"Because my mom said so," he murmured, his lips moving to the hollow of her throat.
"Did she also tell you to sleep with everything that moved?"
He paused, pulling back slightly. "You sound upset."
"You've been sleeping your way through town. It doesn't exactly make a girl feel special to be last on the list."
"You've got me all wrong," he said, his gaze locking with hers. "You were always first on the list."
Her eyes widened. "What?"
"You always smelled like wolf to me. From the moment I met you, I wanted you. I didn't know you were a null until Cal told me."
She stared at him, speechless.
"So then you slept with everyone else instead?"
He sighed. "I'm supposed to find a mate. Cal wants me settled in."
"Are you some kind of mail-order wolf groom?"
"In a way," he admitted, his tone light. "My pack has too many alphas. Yours has none. Cal made me an offer, so here I am."
She couldn't help it—she laughed. The sound made her wolf's ears perk up, her head tilting as if listening.
"So, are we going to do this?" he asked, his voice low. "Are you going to let me bring your wolf?"
She didn't hesitate. "Yes."
"I'm going to let you go now. Don't hit me, okay?"
"Sorry about that," she mumbled, her cheeks flushing.
He released her, and she shook out her arms, the tension easing.
"Let's start over," he said, pulling her close. His lips met hers again, gentle this time, coaxing. Her body responded, heat surging through her as his hands roamed her skin.
When he reached for the hem of her shirt, she hesitated, then raised her arms, letting him pull it off. His hands moved to her bra, and she reached for his shirt, tugging it over his head.
His chest was broad, his muscles rippling under her touch. She traced the lines of his abdomen, her fingers brushing over his skin.
"There's something you need to know," she said, her voice trembling.
He paused, his hands stilling. "What?"
"I'm a virgin."
He cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. "It's okay, XIA."
She laughed nervously. "At least you've had a lot of practice."
"I've had a lot of practice in a lot of things," he said, his lips capturing hers again. Between kisses, he added, "I wasn't always like this. I was a skinny kid with acne. A weakling alpha in a pack full of stronger ones."
She pulled back, studying him. "What changed?"
"I worked out. I grew into my body. But I know what it's like to live on the fringe of a pack."
His words struck a chord, and she relaxed, letting him guide her. His hands were gentle, his touch reassuring.
"Just let go," he whispered, his lips trailing down her neck.
And for the first time in her life, she did.