It seemed fitting that I’d find my mate right here, in my pack mate’s bar, after living in New York. That my home was hers.
I tapped my leather boot on the floor with impatience. She wasn’t coming out. How long did women take in the bathroom, anyway? What was there to do besides take a piss and wash your hands?
A few women had gone in and come out while I waited, but my mate hadn’t emerged.
A spike of aggression snarled through me as the idea of missing her once again returned. Before I could think or dial it back, I lifted my meaty arm and pounded on the door then pushed it wide and stomped in.
“What the fuck? Get out!” A woman putting on lipstick in front of the mirror glared at me, then her eyes widened when she took an extra second to really look me over. I was big, really fucking big, and it made her think twice about snapping at me. I hated the way I was looked at. Like I was truly feral. Like she was afraid I might hurt her.
I wouldn’t harm her or any woman, but she didn’t know that. Especially when I was on the hunt for my fucking mate.
I ignored her because she sure as hell wasn’t my mate, lifted my nose, and sniffed.
Fuck! She wasn’t in here!
I spun on my heel and strode back down the hall just as a petite blonde cocktail server came out from behind the bar with a tray stacked with Bud Lite and Mountain Man Scotch Ale bottles. The scent of beer hit me first, then I caught the scent of her sweetness.
It was her! Holy hell, she was so fucking perfect. Tiny. Everyone was tiny compared to me. She probably came up to my shoulder, and her waist was the same thickness as my thigh. Shit, she was fragile. Breakable. Her hair followed her jawline and her bangs were a fringe over her forehead. It was the prettiest shade of honey blonde to match her scent. And blue eyes that were a pretty contrast to her hair. Her mouth was narrow, but full, and when she smiled at a customer… I wanted that aimed at me and no one else.
In fact, I wanted to go over there and rip the guy’s head off who she was chatting with. I doubted he was asking for her number while he tapped the credit card machine to pay.
Hell, he better not. It didn’t matter. Those smiles would be all for me soon enough.
I licked my lips because in her bar T-shirt and jeans, I couldn’t miss her curves. Proportioned, but no question I’d be able to cup a tit in my palm. I could easily span her waist with my two huge, dinner plate-sized hands. I’d–
“Whoa, there,” I said when she was about to go past me.
I shot forward, taking the tray from her with one hand as I looped my free arm around her waist and pulled her body up against mine. Yup, fucking tiny. But soft. Warm. Fragrant.
She gasped when her soft ass hit my hard thighs. My canines lengthened, and every muscle in my body trembled like a coil set to spring. I lowered my nose to her silky hair and inhaled deeply.
Fucking heaven.
There was absolutely no question. This was my mate. I had her in my arms. I could toss her over my shoulder. Carry her out of her. Take her to my cabin, mark her, and keep her forever.
Mine. Mine. MINE.
“Hey! Let go!” she cried.
It took me a second to realize she was struggling to get free, and the rise of her voice wasn’t her screaming from an orgasm but from panic. Of course, she would panic at being grabbed by a rough-and-tumble guy like me. Hell, I’d punch any asshole in this place who did the same to her.
Fuck. I immediately let her loose. As she whirled to face me, I caught the scent of both anger and fear on her.
That was when I realized something else from her scent. Something I should have noticed first–she was human.
My mate was human.
Holy hell.
That made her even more fragile. More breakable. I was huge. I could hurt her. Damage her perfection. I’d have to be careful. Hold myself back. Protect her.
Shit. I basically just assaulted a human female who didn’t know what the fuck was wrong with me. She couldn’t recognize me by scent like a she-wolf.
Didn’t understand my claim or why I grabbed her.
She probably thought I was a low-life jerk who felt entitled to be handsy with the waitresses.
I blinked my eyes, realizing they probably changed color and were showing my wolf.
