When lunch ended, Dn insisted on driving me home. “I can drop Sophia at the magazine office first, <b>then </b>take you back to Sterling’s ce.”
“That’s really not necessary,” I protested, my voice sharper than intended. “I can call Raymond.”
“I insist, Dn said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “It would be my pleasure.”
Sophia looked at me pleadingly. “Please? I have to get back to work, and this way we get a few more minutes together.”
Put that way, I couldn’t refuse without seeming rude. “Alright, thank you,” I agreed reluctantly, my shoulders
tensing.
Dn’s car was an expensive European model, sleek and ck with leather interior. He helped Sophia into the passenger seat with exaggerated courtesy, then opened the back door for me with a slight bow.
The drive to the magazine office was filled with Sophia’s animated chatter about an uing feature she was editing. Dn kept one hand on her knee, nodding at appropriate intervals, while his eyes repeatedly found mine in
the rearview mirror. Each time our gazes met, I felt a chill run down my spine.
When we arrived at the magazine’s building, he got out to open Sophia’s door and gave her a lingering kiss goodbye. “I’ll call you tonight, beautiful.”
Sophia waved to me. “Thanks for lunch! We should double–date next time you, me, Dn, and Dominic!”
The thought of Dominic and Dn at the same table made my stomach twist. Something told me Dominic wouldn’t appreciate the way Dn had been looking at me.
As soon as Sophia disappeared into the building, the atmosphere in the car changed. Dn slid back into the driver’s seat and instead of pulling away from the curb, he turned to look at me.
‘Finally alone,” he said, his smile taking on a predatory edge.
I pressed myself against the door, putting as much distance between us as possible. My heartbeat elerated, thudding painfully in my chest. “We should go. I don’t want to keep you.”
<b>He </b>chuckled and pulled into traffic, but instead of heading toward Dominic’s neighborhood, he turned onto a quieter, less direct route.
“This isn’t the way to Dominic’s,” I pointed out, gripping my phone in my pocket so hard my knuckles turned white.
12:11 Mon, <b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>
<b>??</b>?
Dn nced at me <b>in </b>the rearview mirror. “I thought we could take the scenic route. Get to <b>know </b>each other better. His voice dropped lower. “I’ve been curious about you, <b>Reba</b>. The human who caught Sterling’s <b>eye</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
The way he said ‘human‘ made <b>it </b>sound like a fascinating oddity. I stiffened, my breathing bing shallow. “There’s nothing to be curious about. And I’d prefer if you took me straight home.”
He ignored my request, turning onto an even quieter street lined with trees. “You and I have something <b>in </b><bmon</b>, you know. We <b>both </b>prefer to cross species lines in our rtionships.”
“I don’t think Sophia knows what you are,” I said carefully, trying to keep my <b>voice </b>from trembling.
Hisugh <b>was </b>cold. “<b>She </b>doesn’t need to know everything. Just like you don’t need to understand all of Sterling’s
world.”
He pulled the car over to the curb in a secluded spot, and my heart pounded violently against my ribs. I reached for the door handle<b>, </b>but he engaged the central locking system with a click that echoed in the quiet car.
“What are you doing?” I demanded, my voice higher than normal despite my efforts to appear calm.
Dn turned in his seat to face me fully. “I’m just curious about you. About your rtionship with Sterling. It’s unusual, you know he’s never marked a female wolf before. I didn’t think he had any interest in mates at all, and
then suddenly he’s with a human?”
–
His eyes tracked over me assessingly. I felt naked under his scrutiny, vited. “You smell like him. But not
I wrapped my arms around myself, as if that could shield me from his intrusive gaze. “My rtionship with Dominic <b>is </b>none of your business.”
We drove in tense silence until we reached the entrance to Dominic’s gatedmunity. Instead of dropping me at the house, Dn pulled over <b>just </b>outside the gates.
“This is far enough,” I said, reaching for the door handle again, only to find it still locked. My palms were slick with
sweat.
Dn turned to <b>face </b>me again. “I find you intriguing, Reba. As a Beta, I can sense things about you that even you don’t know yet.” His hand shot out and grabbed my wrist again, harder this time. I winced at the pressure. “I just want to understand what Sterling sees in you… what makes you special enough for an Alpha to choose a human…”
I struggled against his grip, panic rising in my throat. “Let me go! This is insane – you’re dating my <b>best </b><b>friend</b><b>!</b>”
<b>“</b><b>Rtionships </b>areplicated in our world,” he said, leaning closer, I could smell his cologne now, <b>too </b><b>strong</b>, making <b>me </b>nauseous. “I can smell his scent all over you, but not in your blood. He hasn’t imed you <b>fully</b><b>. </b>Why <b>is </b><b>that</b><b>, </b><b>I </b>wonder<b>?</b><b>” </b>
<b>Before </b><b>I </b>could <b>respond</b><b>, </b><b>my </b>door <b>was </b>suddenly yanked <b>open </b>with such <b>force it </b>nearly <b>came </b><b>off </b><b>its </b><b>hinges. </b><b>Dn’s </b><b>grip </b><b>on </b>my wrist broke <b>as </b>I <b>was </b>startled by <b>the </b>sudden movement.
<b>12:12 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>
Dominic stood there, his tall frame blocking the light, eyes zing with golden fire. The air around him seemed to crackle with barely contained rage.
“Take your hands off her, he growled, each word precisely enunciated despite the obvious anger. “Now.”
Relief flooded through me so intensely I felt lightheaded. My body sagged against the seat.
Dn immediately released me, his expression shifting from predatory confidence to thinly veiled fear. “Sterling! Just having a friendly chat with Reba. No harm intended.”
Dominic reached in and gently but firmly pulled me from the <b>car</b>, positioning me behind him. I gripped the back of his jacket, needing the contact, the security of his presence<b>. </b>
“I can smell your intentions,” Dominic said, his voice dangerously quiet. “You dare touch what’s mine?”
Dn raised his hands in a cating gesture. “A misunderstanding, truly. Reba and I were just getting acquainted as friends. Her best friend Sophia is my girlfriend-”
“Get out of my territory,” Dominic cut him off, his Alpha presence filling the space between them. “If I see you near her again, I won’t be so lenient.”
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