Page 40 of Found Objects

“Nothing common about any of it. This house had to cost millions, and it’s out here in the middle of nowhere. If an architect had done this, there would be pictures of it everywhere.”

I shrugged.

“Tell me what kind of shifter you are, Merritt Baker.”

“How would that help you in any way?”

“The fact that you won’t tell me says a lot.”

“I’m not a shifter, I promise you.”

He nodded. “Kiss me so I’ll know.”

“No one knows from a kiss.” I chuckled.

“Just kiss me already. We both know you want to.”

“I think you⁠—”

“Please, Merritt. I wanna see you and kiss you and do all kinds of things with you. Mostly I have this incredible urge to hold you down and bite you, hard.”

Between his pheromones, which I could almost taste, the smoky, silky sound of his voice, the dimples, his smile, and the way his eyes were narrowed and fixed on me, the temptation was nearly overwhelming.

But I took a breath instead and said, “I know what you need, and I’m not it.”

He crossed his arms on my table and put his face down on them. “You’re killing me. Do you have any idea what you smell like?”

“I hope something good,” I couldn’t help saying.

“Yep. I got it in my nose last night, and it won’t go away. Your scent is at The Bower as well as here, of course. Did you do that on purpose? Smother me in your pheromones?”

“Only shifters can do that,” I assured him. “Which I am not. And you smell really good yourself, just so you’re aware.”

Instantly, he lifted his head, and there was his grin, wicked and hot. “Oh yeah? You wanna come closer and take a big whiff?”

“Who is the beta of your pack?”

“Weird subject change.”

It wasn’t, though, because as much as I already liked him, was intrigued by him, and very much wanted to know what he tasted like, I was, I knew, not at all what he needed.

“Who’s your beta?” I repeated. “It’s a simple question.”

“We don’t have one.”

“Every pack has one. The beta makes sure everyone follows the rules, and they’re the one you go to before your alpha.”

“Not in our pack. There’s never been one.”

“There was one,” I corrected him. “Abel was your father’s beta.”

“How do you know that?”

“Every pack needs a beta,” I stated.

“That’s up to Abel now, and Justin, someday, when Abel steps aside. It has nothing to do with me.”

“I think it has everything to do with you, which is why I’m no good for you.”