Chapter 6

• Marcella and the girls were back I didn’t want to play happy family. I ran to my infested basement and locked the door. I needed a cold shower but when I came out dripping wet the ache hadn’t gone. An ache there because of someone I shouldn’t give a damn about.
• “Ugh,” I slapped my face.
• How could he mark me? He practically told the shifter world that I was his which I wasn’t. He must have marked me when he stuck his claws into my hand. In the shifter world wolves had a way of telling which she wolves were taken. It was effective on male wolves only. Most male wolves didn’t care but Ezra’s an Alpha and touching someone marked by an Alpha was a death sentence.
• What did it mean to belong to a man like Ezra? A mature man with a stare that could freeze anyone. Blake was a young Alpha and Jacob was a young beta but each thought they were on top of the world.
• Just thinking about them made me start hyperventilating. It’s over now, I repeated over and over in my head. He can’t hurt me.
• I calmed down enough to get dressed.
• “Summer!” Jade yelled.
• I groaned.
• “Just because you have a job doesn’t mean we have to starve to death!”
• How did they get along without me? They hired house help who unfortunately wouldn’t last a month before they left running. I couldn’t run, I lived here. I sulked to the kitchen while the girls drank wine in the dining room. Except for Jade, of course.
• I fiddled with the pots in the cabinets I didn’t notice someone walk beside me.
• “So—” Rachel started.
• I jumped, “Geez.”
• She frowned but it was gone seconds later. “How was your first day?”
• I shrugged, “Not bad.”
• “Did you see Ezra?” Her brows dipped.
• “No,” I swallowed.
• Rachel laughed, “Don’t lie.”
• “I’m not. He’s got more important things to do than lounge around at the bar.”
• “True, but I know he was there.”
• “Well, I didn’t see him,” I said grabbing pasta from the cabinet. “Are you two an item?” It didn’t seem like it but her perspective could be different.
• “Not that it’s any of my business anyway,” I added quickly.
• Rachel smiled, “It isn’t. Ezra and I are close. He’s getting to the point where he has to choose a Luna and I want to be on the forefront.”
• I nodded, “Everyone wants to be Luna.”
• “Don’t you? Of course, you’re a wolf-less and those aren’t allowed high honours in the pack. I’ll be a great leader.”
• “So you’re not in love with Ezra?”
• She puffed out her cheeks, “Don’t get me wrong. He’s fucking sexy. If it weren’t for your Father, I would know how good he is in bed already. I guess I’ll find out pretty soon.”
• I turned away. I poured water into the pot for pasta. I got the message. I couldn’t help but imagine a man like Ezra in bed. His body was sculpted. I hoped Rachel didn’t see my blush. I didn’t know what it was like to be dominated in bed Ezra looked like the possessive dominant Alpha in every sense of the word.
• ***
• Just like my boss asked I was at work bright and early the next morning. His car was parked in the driveway when I arrived. I walked in and everyone formed a circle around the booth in the corner.
• “What’s going on?” I asked Marley.
• “Staff meeting. We’re waiting for Hunter.”
• “Why him?”
• “He’s the Alpha’s little brother and I think this has something to do with pack business as well.”
• Hunter jogged down the stairs and joined our little circle. His eyes found mine. I looked away quickly.
• “All right, I’ll make this quick. The pack’s welcoming another tribe today. Alpha Ezra wants you all to keep your eyes open for anything suspicious because this will be their point of meeting. Don’t put yourselves out there just keep your eyes open.”
• “What about the betas?” Hector, a busboy asked.
• Hunter clapped his hands, “We’re all going to be busy protecting the borders. You can get back to work.”
• Everyone else scrammed as I was about to do the same I ran into Hunter. Literally.
• “Hey there doll face. You look good enough to eat,” he nibbled on my ear.
• I gasped and stepped back. Heat rushed to my face and there was nowhere to hide. Hunter smirked closing me down.
• “Hey,” I whispered.
• “Come on I don’t bite.”
• “You just did!”
• Hunter chuckled, “You like it here?”
• “It’s okay…”
• “With your body, I’m sure you’re getting lots of tips.”
• I rolled my eyes playfully, “I get good tips because I don’t dump food over everyone and I’m friendly.”
• “Friendly? You seem pretty hostile from where I’m standing.”
• “You must bring out the worst in me, Hunter.”
• He smiled. I couldn’t help but smile too.
• “You have a beautiful smile, Summer.”
• Before I could respond an imposing figure materialized behind Hunter.
• “Hunter,” Ezra barked.
• Hunter’s shoulders slumped. “Duty calls Doll.”
• “You really should stop calling me that.”
• He smiled and then turned around. He followed his brother out. They didn’t give me a second thought.
• ***
• A co-worker had to go home sick so I worked a double shift. I kept my eyes peeled like Hunter said but the visitors were harmless and great tippers. At this rate, I would have a new phone by next week. I also made it home after eight. I expected a blast from Dad the second I entered the house but I was greeted with hearty laughter.
• They had company.
• I peered into the dining room. The laughter died.
• “Oh Summer honey, welcome home!” Marcella beamed.
• Jade rolled her eyes.
• Dad sat beside his best pal Ezra judging by the empty bottle of whiskey he was a bit dazed. Even though he was a mountain of a man drinking wasn’t his thing.
• “Thanks… I’m going to go to bed,” I turned around.
• “Don’t be silly Summer. After you clear the dishes you have to eat something.”
• I pressed my lips together. Was there anything left to eat? The family piled out. I caught Rachel squeezing Ezra’s hand as she got up.
• “Alpha Ezra, shall we move to the lounge? We’re planning on moving to a bigger house one with a TV room and a drawing room,” Marcella said.
• Ezra chuckled. There was that enticing sound again. “You want a house better than mine.”
• “I’ve got another bottle,” Dad said, followed by a drunken laugh.
• Yeah, drinking wasn’t his thing.
• I dumped my bag on the chair Jade left and piled up the dishes. They had prawns with creamy pasta. I loved prawns. They had space for dessert too. There was none of anything left.
• “That’s wonderful!” Marcella chimed.
• Ezra shook his head. “He needs to get to bed or else he’ll give the rest of us shit for it in the morning.”
• “Alpha’s orders. You heard the man, Babe.”
• Dad grumbled and grabbed the empty whiskey bottle. Marcella and Ezra followed him out while I was left to deal with the dishes. Minutes later I’d loaded the dishwasher and gone back to the dining room to remove the dirty mats. It was too late to order a pizza I would have to settle with a glass of milk for a bed.
• A hand crept up behind me and grabbed my waist. Instinctively I snatched the wrist and whirled. I was met with Ezra’s cool eyes. He freed himself and slammed his body against mine, trapping me against his chest and the table.
• “Ezra,” I breathed out.
• The corners of his mouth twitched. I shut my eyes and sighed. I can’t call an Alpha by his first name.
• “You’re quick, Summer.”
• He didn’t care that I broke protocol, weird.
• “You took me by surprise.”
• He raised his brow, “You didn’t hear me come in?”
• “No, what did you do, turn off your footsteps?”
• He grinned, “No that’s pretty dumb.”
• “Geez, thanks.”
• Ezra had me glued to his chest. We were so close his scent would be stuck to my clothes. Despite our closeness, I kept my hands to myself, afraid I would get burned.
• “What do you want?” I cleared my throat.
• His intense eyes bore into me, sparking a flame at my core. I battled to keep my feelings in check because he could smell them. Ezra backed up finally giving me space to breathe.
• “Nothing.”
• I folded my arms and dipped my head to the side. “I doubt that.”
• “What do you think I want Summer?”
• Heat rushed to my face. He didn’t get to embarrass me in my own house!
• “Nothing, like you said.”
• He smiled, “Tell your Father I need the pyke plans tomorrow morning.”
• I nodded. “Goodnight… Alpha.”
• He sized me up before he turned around and left.