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

on,” i stepped off the sidewalk and 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

walked, but I shook my head,

know each other, remember? I don’t want

giving me a look that sent a warm ripple up the base of my

Maeve?’ I thought to

that our mouths are cleaner in

one, and it’s not true,” I

“How do you know?”

you’ve brushed your teeth as a wolf? Maybe

“Of course, what do you think I

in a

I took it, drinking deeply and enjoying the bitter taste of it. I handed it back as we

was empty, the table

Myla’s tell-tale raven black curls. She was nowhere to be

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

tapping my finger

beer, emptying

top of my head. It was hot, the

his gaze lingering on the back of my neck as I tied my hair back. I wanted to look at him as intensely as

around here?” he asked, breaking the spell. I looked for Myla one last time before looking over my shoulder at

I, in fact, lived at the Alpha of

from Myla’s stall, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his faded jeans. “Just visiting,”

loose, white button up shirt. He looked as

fewer people than this,” he said as a woman shoved past him. I reached out and grabbed his arm, leading him closer to

brings you here,

“I’ve never been to Valoria. Thought I’d check it out. I’ve never even been to a big city before. I

man who was walking a few yards in front of us abruptly stopped walking, then bent over and retched loudly into a waste basket. I snorted with

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

know. There are 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 buildings gave way to somtiered

over at me

moatly

amule people?” he asked. It was a casual question, but his face was lined with concern as

people, I guess But people sometimes find their mates during these fostivals At least that’s what I was told, I haven’t been to

his eyes settling on a stall on the 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

you ao red?” he aaked,

and letting the frosted glass chill my fingers, “I don’t do well

“You look awful.”

1 took a drink of the lemonade and blinked into

because you have red

I look

and into the shade of an awning covering the

“Hey!”

“What?”

hand away, almost spilling the lemonade I was holding in the

you out of this jacket?” he replied, giving me an

“I can do it-”

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

with me? You’re trying to undress me in

arched one eyebrow, his eyes flashing with jest. “You want to go