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

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

me the beer as we walked, but I

don’t want your germs, and I doubt

brow, giving me a look that sent

wrong with you, Maeve?’ I thought to myself, breaking eye contact

you know that our mouths are

and it’s

“How do you know?”

brushed your teeth as a wolf? Maybe even

what do you think I am?

a literal

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 it back as we walked

was empty, the table cleared of

around for Myla’s tell-tale raven black

be meeting someone?” said the man, following

tapping my finger on the empty table.

sip of beer, emptying the bottle. “Well,

don’t know,” I replied, reaching up to twist my hair into a bun on the top of my head. It was hot, the sun

tied my hair back. I wanted

you from around here?” he asked, breaking the spell. I looked

here,” I said, purposefully leaving out the fact that I, in fact, lived at the

we began to walk away from Myla’s stall, his hands stuffed into the

curious. He was deeply tanned, his skin a fiery bronze against his loose, white button up shirt. He looked as though he had been

him. I reached out

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 wanted to

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 laughter as my companion motioned toward the man, sarcastically alluding to

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

the spring festival People come from all over, you know. There are a least ning packs in Valenia now, Drogamer being the biggest there are files over there” | sald, pointing

glancing over at me with

no They’re moatly event for

casual question, but his

single 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 one myself

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 my temple and pooled in the conher of my

you ao red?” he aaked, ahoving the drink at

letting the frosted glass

“You look awful.”

the lemonade and blinked into

you have

I

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?”

you’re doing?” | swatted his hand away, almost spilling

jacket?” he replied, giving me

“I can do it-”

reached down again, but I caught his hand in mine, digging my nails

with me? You’re trying to

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