Sould As The Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 2: Some kind of Animal

Maeve

He stood only inches from me, his arm outstretched and his fingers gripping my arm. He had a bottle of beer in his other hand, the foam bubbling over the lip of the bottle. He let go once I regained my balance, giving me a sideways smile that showcased a single dimple in one cheek.

He was ruggedly handsome with tanned skin and brown unruly curls that were tucked behind his ears. He was tall, towering over my 5’8″ frame with ease. I felt hot, a little too hot, as I looked up at him, running my tongue along the inside of my lower lip.

“Uh, thanks,” 1 croaked, slightly taken aback. He nodded, his eyes taking in my face, eventually meeting my own.

One eye was blue, an icy, glacier blue. The other was steel gray. I couldn’t help but stare.

“Take a picture,” he said, his voice slightly lifted and playful.

“What?”

“Take-take a picture, it’ll last longer,” he stammered, his cheeks going a rosy pink as his mouth widened into a boyish grin.

I looked at him, blinking, then shook my head. “Are you serious? That’s the cheesiest-”

“Couldn’t help myself.” He breathed; his eyes still fixated firmly on my own. “I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to say that all day.”

I opened my mouth to speak, then closed it again, forcing down a laugh that was inching up my throat. There was a moment of silence then, just long enough to be acutely aware of the fact that we were still standing on the sidewalk,

staring at each other.

“You’re rather tall for a lady,” he said in all seriousness, taking a small sip of his beer.

“1-what?”

” SAID YOU’RE RATHER TALL FOR A—” he said loudly, leaning close as though I couldn’t hear him.

“I heard you the first time!” I interrupted, and this time I did laugh. “What’s wrong with you? Thank you for, um, stopping me from falling but… did you hit your head, or something?”

“Why do you ask?” He sipped from his beer again, his mouth twitching into a smile as the mouth of the bottle touched his lips.

“24” I was truly at a loss for words,

“Well, nice meeting you,” he said, turning away. I gaped after him as he took a few steps forward, then turned around again, tilting his head in the direction of the bar. “Want a beer?”

I did want a beer, and I was oddly curious about this man and his strange behavior. He was teasing me, trying to get a reaction out of me somehow. I liked it.

“You’re not going to try to kidnap and murder me, are you?” I asked in response. He pursed his lips, looking around at the crowd of people still hovering on the sidewalk as they watched the aftermath of the fight.

“Well, not anymore. Everyone heard you say that,” he said, looking around in mock suspicion before tilting his head toward the bar again in earnest. “You coming?”

“I’m actually supposed to be meeting someone

“Great, l’if go with you.”

“Why?” I laughed, shaking my head. “You have no idea who I am or where I’m going.”

“Well, I’ll probably know soon. That counts for something, right?”

hanter

some kind of Animal

woited for him to catch up, the beer still clutched in his hand, My stomach did a little flip as he reached my side. I didn’t know why I thought letting this, this lunatio, to put it plainly follow me around the market was a good

walked, but I shook my head, giving him

I don’t want your germs, and I doubt you

me a look that sent a warm ripple up

I thought to myself, breaking eye

you know that our mouths are cleaner in wolf form than

heard that one, and it’s not true,”

“How do you know?”

teeth as a wolf? Maybe even

“Of course, what do you think I am? Some kind

a

into a brilliant smile and he laughed, the sound full and genuine. He passed me the beer, and this time I took it, drinking deeply and enjoying the bitter taste of it. I handed

was empty, the table cleared

looking around for Myla’s tell-tale raven black curls. She was nowhere to

supposed to be meeting someone?” said the man, following my

is my friend’s stall,” I said, tapping my finger on the empty table. “I

beer,

a bun on the top of my head. It was hot, the sun beating down on the street and causing sweat to prickle along

felt the man’s eyes on me, his gaze lingering on the back of my neck as I tied my hair back. I wanted to look at him as intensely as he

he asked, breaking the spell. I looked

fact, lived at the Alpha of Drogomor’s castle. “What about you? I’ve

as we began to walk away from Myla’s stall, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his faded jeans. “Just visiting,” he said

loose, white button up shirt. He looked

this,” he said as a woman shoved past him. I

brings you here,

“I’ve never been to Valoria. Thought I’d check it out.

loudly into a waste basket. I snorted with laughter as my companion motioned toward the man, sarcastically alluding to the idea that

it always like this?” my new friend asked, his voice

a least ning packs in Valenia now, Drogamer being the biggest there are files over there” | sald, pointing to an open heht m the far distance where the old

glancing over at me with one blow arched “As

no They’re moatly event

question, but his face

mates during these fostivals At least that’s what

other side of the street. He walked toward i1, leaving me standing atupidly alone. I reached up to wipe the sweat from my brow, my breathcoming a little faster than usual. A bead of sweat rolled down

are you ao red?” he aaked, ahoving the

drink with both hands and letting the frosted glass chill my

“You look awful.”

of the lemonade and blinked into

you

I look

Before you pass out?” He didn’t wait for my reply, taking me forcefully by the elbow and leading me off the street and into the shade of an awning covering the entrance of a shop. I plopped down on a shaded

“Hey!”

“What?”

hand away, almost spilling the lemonade I

he replied,

“I can do it-”

in mine, digging my nails into his skin. “Ow! What’ s

the matter with me? You’re

one eyebrow, his eyes flashing with jest.