Mated To The Cold Hearted Alpha
Chapter 12

“Your art,” he explained and admitted, “along with a little luck. While visiting the Alpha in Vegas, I was shocked to replace a painting on his wall. It was a stunning portrait of a beautiful Wolf. But it wasn’t the subject of the painting that surprised me so much. It was the familiarity with which it was drawn. So very similar to the ones in your book. And when I looked closer, I knew for certain it was yours. The signature was not your name, but the initials were-HD. The letters weren’t obvious at first. They seamlessly blended in the swirls of the background forest, but they were there, and they matched the exact way you wrote them in your book. From there, it was simple to backtrack to your location.”

I ground my teeth together, hating that he discovered me as a result of my own foolishness. Never, should I have allowed my artwork in a gallery. And I certainly shouldn’t have included my real initials-how dumb could I be?”

I held out my hand. “It’s mine. I want it back.”

“In time…” he replied noncommittally, closing the journal back into his desk drawer.

“Why am I here?” It was my turn to ask a question.

Maybe it was a foolish inquiry, and the answer should be obvious, but his question regarding why I ran was equally silly, so there it was. I waited for his response.

Multiple emotions flickered across his face before he replied tightly, “To be my Luna.”

“I don’t want to be your Luna. Give the job to someone else. I’m sure there are plenty of shewolves falling all over themselves to have you.” I said the words and I meant them, except I wasn’t at all prepared for and hated the jealousy that reared up in my mind, suffocating and painful, at the thought of him touching another shewolf.

Damn bond.

Leander tilted his head, his oddly knowing gaze boring into my eyes.

Did he sense my jealousy?

The growing smirk on his face suggested precisely that.

I cringed and glared at him.

He placed his hands on the edge of the desk, as he rested back against it casually. “Unfortunately, little mouse, for the Claiming Ceremony to be effective, you know my only option is you.”

Woah, slow down!

Claiming Ceremony? What was I supposed to know?

Of course, I knew wolves mated but wasn’t even sure exactly what that entailed. I stared at Leander in confusion. “What do you mean Claiming Ceremony?” His eyebrows rose in surprise. “Didn’t anyone in your pack teach you?”

Anger rose in my chest for what he had stolen. I narrowed my eyes. Bitter sarcasm dripped from my tongue, “My mother was killed when I was young, and I haven’t exactly had any female Wolf influence since then.”

Without warning, Alpha Cyril was on his feet and hurled a glass of some unknown brown alcohol across the room. It shattered upon impacting the bookshelf, hundreds of splintering shards falling to the floor. The raging Alpha’s gaze landed back on me. Furious growls percussed from his chest, a cruel look of intent in his cold eyes.

Instantly, the Beta was also on his feet, positioning his body between the menacing out-of-control Alpha and me. The Beta urged quietly, “Alpha Cyril…now isn’t the time.”

Now isn’t the time? The time for what? And when would be the appropriate time for whatever volatile plan he had in mind for me? My heart thundered in my chest. I blinked. Why was he so mad suddenly?

Fear ran through me, leaving me cold and shaking. I shrank further back into my chair, trying to make myself the smallest target possible.

The elder Alpha had looked large while sitting down, but standing, he was absolutely massive, broad chest puffing up and down, his rage revealed.

I couldn’t hold his gaze and dropped my eyes. My Wolf cowered and whined, vividly aware of this dangerous Alpha who wanted to hurt her. I inclined my neck toward him. I couldn’t help it. He was radiating out power, and it felt like it would crush me like a bug.

“Stop!” Leander commanded loudly.

His hands were no longer casually holding on to the edge of his desk. Now they were clenched into fists by his side. His nostrils flared, body coiled and ready to spring.

His authoritative voice echoed in the large office. He wasn’t holding back any of his Alpha vibes either. The volatile force of him crashed over me like a wave. I was stunned to realize his power equaled- and exceeded his father’s!

My Wolf wasn’t sure she wanted any part of it, but she reveled in his dominance, purring out her approval. Our mate is strong.

Our mate is insane, I snapped back at her, still squirming in my chair.

Apparently, Leander’s reproach was enough to get the burly Alpha back under control. He snorted like a wild beast and then returned to his seat. I tried to calm down, but my heart still raced in my chest. I held tight to the chair to keep my fingers from revealing the trembling inside my body. I desperately wanted to know what caused his sudden break in composure but didn’t dare ask. I had no desire to risk a recurrence of his hatred for me.

Leander snarled, “Are you under control now? Can we get back to the matter at hand?”

Another unintelligible snort.

The Beta returned to his chair and sat down uneasily, his posture angling forward, in case he had to spring back into action.

Leander waited several moments for the tension to ease from the air. And then his voice went back to the epitome of calm and under control. Not that it made his next question any easier.

“Do you know how Wolves mate?”

I flushed pink, embarrassment of my ignorance, flowing hard through me.

Why hadn’t I ever asked Luca something so important and relevant to my future?

It would have felt awkward having that conversation with my brother, but it would have been a hell of a lot easier than this. I really didn’t want to have this conversation. I refused to reply, keeping my mouth locked shut.

Leander must have interpreted my body language correctly because his eyes widened in understanding at how very little I knew. He drew in a slow deep breath and let it out as he walked to sit in the chair next to me.

It was a little easier not having him tower over me, but I was certain the change in his position wasn’t going to make me any happier about the conversation.

Spreading his legs comfortably, he leaned forward slightly, angling his body toward me. Amethyst and cerulean orbs softened, to match his soothing tone. “Mating between two normal wolves entails s*x and the exchange of marks, preferably at the point of o****m. Additionally, our fur sides will engage in intercourse and repeat the process of marking.”

I blinked. Well shit, now he was just casually tossing around words like s*x, intercourse, and o****m. And I had no idea what to reply to all of that. The room suddenly felt twenty degrees warmer. A bead of sweat trickled down the back of my neck. Leander’s lips curled into a wicked grin. He knew the effect he was having on me.