“The office is practical. It has the infrastructure she needs,” he repeated.
“It’s also your space.”
“Are you questioning my judgment?”
“Never, Alpha.” Coleman’s voice was mild. “Just noting that the pack will draw conclusions.”
“The pack can draw whatever conclusions it likes. My decisions aren’t subject to gossip.” He forced his hands to unclench and forced his breathing to steady. “Is there anything else?”
“Elder Howard is already complaining about the human presence. You might want to make an appearance before he works himself into a formal protest.”
Howard. Another headache he didn’t need. The eldest of the pack’s remaining elders was a traditionalist of the most annoying variety, convinced that any deviation from “the old ways” would bring ruin upon them all. He’d opposed the deal with Derek. Opposed the infrastructure investment. Would almost certainly oppose Harper’s presence with every breath in his ancient body.
“I’ll handle Howard.”
“Do you want me to escort the human to dinner?”
He knew the offer was innocent, but his wolf interpreted it as something else entirely. A challenge. A claim. Another male putting himself between Adrian and what was his?—
“No.” The word came out as a growl, and Coleman’s eyebrows rose fractionally. He made himself continue in a more moderate tone. “If she needs an escort, I’ll escort her myself. It would be inappropriate to send anyone of lesser rank.”
“Of course.” Coleman’s voice was perfectly neutral. His eyes said something else entirely. “I’ll see you at dinner, Alpha.”
He withdrew before Adrian could formulate a response, closing the door with a soft click that somehow managed to sound smug.
He stared at the closed door for a long moment, then dropped back into his chair and buried his face in his hands.
What is happening to me?
He’d spent eight years as Alpha. Eight years maintaining iron control over his instincts, his emotions, his wolf. He’d turned down offers from a dozen eligible females—werewolf and otherwise—without a flicker of interest. He’d built walls around his heart that should have been impenetrable.
One small human, and those walls were developing cracks.
It’s just attraction,he told himself.A physical reaction. It means nothing.
But his wolf knew better. His wolf had known from the first moment her scent had filled his lungs, from the first press of her small hands against his chest. Had known and claimed her in that wordless way of wolves, marking her in the deepest part of his soul asmate, mine, forever.
The instinct to go to her was almost overwhelming. To go back down the stairs, drag her into his arms and bury his nose in the curve of her neck where her scent would be strongest…
His claws extended involuntarily, scoring deep grooves in the surface of the desk.
“Stop,” he growled at himself. “She’s a consultant. She’ll be gone in two months. You will maintain control.”
His wolf’s response was a wave of longing so intense it bordered on pain.
Two months.Two months of her scent permeating his territory, his office, his thoughts. Two months of watching her interact with his pack, seeing other males look at her with an interest he had no right to forbid. Two months of pretending he didn’t feel the pull of her, the gravitational force that his entire being had apparently decided to orbit.
He didn’t know if he’d survive it.
Chapter Seven
The dining room had been rearranged to incorporate more tables and it was already filled with pack members when Adrian descended, the buzz of conversation faltering momentarily as they registered his presence. He nodded acknowledgements to several of them, but he was already scanning for another scent amongst the chaos of dozens of bodies.
There.
She came rushing down the hallway, then came to an abrupt halt at the sight of his pack, looking approximately as comfortable as a cat at a dog show. Her pink hair had come loose from its ponytail, floating around her face like a downy cloud, and her grey eyes were wide and uncertain behind those oversized glasses. She looked ridiculous. She looked delicious. She looked like she was seriously considering bolting back to her room.
“Ms. Bailey.”
