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

me the beer as we walked, but I shook my

know each other, remember? I don’t want your germs, and I doubt you want

arched one brow, giving me a look that sent a warm

thought to myself, breaking eye contact

that our mouths are cleaner in

I’ve heard that one, and

“How do you know?”

brushed your teeth

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

in a literal

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 on, stopping in front of

table

around for Myla’s tell-tale raven

the man,

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

another sip of beer, emptying

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

my neck as I tied my hair back. I wanted to

from around here?” he asked, breaking the spell. I looked for Myla one last

that I, in fact, lived at the Alpha of Drogomor’s castle. “What about you? I’ve never seen

away from Myla’s stall, his hands stuffed into the pockets

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,

you

Valoria. Thought I’d check it out. I’ve

if on due, a 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 the idea that this was the culture

my new friend asked,

over, you 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

He stopped walking, glancing over at me with

They’re moatly event

just amule people?” he asked. It was a casual question, but his face was

mates during these fostivals At least that’s

a little faster than usual. A bead of sweat rolled down my temple and pooled in the conher of my eye irubbed it away, opening iny eyes to find the man atanding in front

are you ao red?” he aaked, ahoving the

I panted, holding the drink with both hands and letting the frosted

“You look awful.”

took a drink of the lemonade and blinked into the overwhelming

you have

why I

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 bench, sighing with

“Hey!”

“What?”

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

of this jacket?” he replied, giving me

“I can do it-”

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

You’re trying to undress me

his eyes flashing with jest. “You want to go