The Alpha Begs for Second Chance

As minutes went by, Conrad watched as her expression darkened.

Alice couldn’t believe her luck. Her mate came from the family of the Alpha. But would he want her as a mate? She knew mates could be rejected. All she would bring to this pack was trouble. They might want to avoid that. She dashed her own hope. No way would they want her here. She was glad for this brief reprieve, though. It was nice to feel comfortable once in a while after so many months of discomfort.

“What’s wrong?” he finally asked, not liking how her face paled. It was rosy when she got out of the shower, and he liked seeing her with color. He could almost feel how soft her cheeks would be. The dress also looked good on her.

She gave him a sad smile, “You’re going to reject me, aren’t you?”

His heart skipped a beat at hearing her question.

“What made you think that?” His expression showed agitation. That would never happen.

“You’re avoiding me.”

He frowned at her answer. “I already told you. I don’t want to startle you. If you weren’t jumpy, I would have touched you already.”

Her eyes turned round at his admission. So, he did want to get close to her.

But . . . she didn’t want to cause them trouble. If she didn’t leave soon, those haunting her would probably attack this place. Remembering this was a pack, and maybe they had supplies? Maybe she could ask for some before she left?

“Do you . . . does your pack have potions? One that can conceal a wolf’s scent?”

Her question made him remember her situation. She was running away from her pack, a hostile pack at that.

“The borders alone can conceal your scent. They won’t be able to tell if you’re here or not.”

“But they already know I’m here. Just to be safe, I should also use potions.”

“I’ll check with the doctor tomorrow. They have a lot of potions in their storage, all kinds of them.”

This made her relieved. One problem is solved.

“You’re worried about masking your scent? How long have you been running?”

Alice knew what he was actually asking. “It’s been a few months.”

“How long have you been on your own? How did you survive?”

She didn’t want to be reminded of her nightmares but thought it would be rude not to answer his questions.

“A few months. Potions helped me a lot.”

Conrad could make out the trembling of her hands and her lips. He should stop asking these questions that reminded her of her terrifying ordeal. He should comfort her at this point.

Conrad stood up and walked near her.

“Are you afraid? Don’t be. I’ll protect you.” He kneeled in front of her so he could see her face. His hands were itching to touch her. He couldn’t move his gaze away from her eyes and her lips.

Alice heard his soft voice, and it soothed her heart. Suddenly, as if on impulse, her body moved. She was thrown into his arms, and he stumbled backward. Hearing him grunt in pain and the position they were in, she quickly apologized to him.

Her wolf purred in contentment.

“It was my wolf . . .” She weakly explained. She didn’t know how she’d get up without squashing him further. She put one hand on his shoulder so she could push herself up. Before she could do so, his hand wrapped around her waist and trapped her in his embrace. His breathing slowed down as her scent invaded his senses.

“You smell like apples.” They both said at the same time.

Their eyes widened slightly at this coincidence. Conrad moved closer to her and sniffed near her shoulder. She visibly shivered.

“What are you doing?” Despite asking, she was actually tempted to do the same. She quietly inhaled his scent. She inched closer and closer. The wonderful scent made her close her eyes. She was startled when the tip of her nose touched something. Her face heated up at realizing what she’d done. The warmth from his body enveloped her, and she didn’t want to move.

Alice yelped and grabbed his shoulder when she felt him licking her neck. It was only one stroke of his tongue, and then he was pressing kisses on it and her shoulder. She could feel some wetness on her skin. She was feeling light-headed, and her body seemed to be seeking something. She pushed herself closer to him, eventually laying her head on his other shoulder. She heard him groan. His kisses were now making noises she could hear, his lips smacking against her skin. She felt hot. ‘Is this how it feels to be so close to your mate? It feels good.’ She wanted to savor it.

Conrad was barely controlling himself. She was such a temptress. His own wolf howled inside his head. Her body, cradled in his, felt light. He needed to take this slow. She was only nineteen if what the middle-aged woman said was true. She was too young compared to his twenty-eight years.

He adjusted his position on the floor before getting up and carrying her. The movement did startle her, and she moved her head away, looking at him.

“Can I kiss you?” His muscles tightened in anticipation. This was only their first day. They didn’t know each other yet. He sat on the bed and maintained her position in his lap.

She looked lost and nervous, but she nodded her pretty head. Alice caught her breath when his hand moved up her nape and held her in place. His face slowly approached hers. When his gaze dropped to her lips, she did the same. Was she supposed to breathe? It would be difficult if she didn’t, right? It’s good that she brushed her teeth. Eventually, she closed her eyes. The first touch of his lips on hers made her feel a fluttering of wings in her stomach. Butterflies. ‘Is this the feeling they’re describing with that phrase?’ It started with just a pressing of lips together. When Alice started feeling that it seemed lacking, she gasped when she felt him licking her lips. As they parted, Conrad suckled on each lip. This made her squirm. It felt good. His lips were soft, and his breath smelled like mint, too. However, the scent of apples remained the strongest in her senses. Her hands gripped his clothes when his tongue delved inside her mouth, making her moan in helplessness. She didn’t want him to stop. It slightly felt like drowning, but she could feel his strong hand supporting her back. She noticed a throbbing sensation between her legs and didn’t know what to do with it. Something seemed to be pulling at her insides.

He explored every inch of her mouth and only tasted sweetness. Hearing her moan spurred him on, and soon, he was hard for her. He couldn’t touch her tonight, though. He wanted her to trust him first, to get close, to understand each other, to rely on him, and to love him.

Soon, she mimicked his actions, and her tongue slowly met his. Good. She was a fast learner. Alice could feel something hard and large beneath her. She was sure it wasn’t there earlier.