The Hunter's Alpha: New Beginnings

CHAPTER 34: Unfinished

Devon

The Midnight Cafe looked like any other coffee shop. It was in a nondescript building amongst other small businesses on a relatively quiet downtown street. I parked and paid the meter before strolling inside. There was a black-haired lady at the counter-Lydia, I could only assume-and she smiled cheerfully as I entered.

What can I get for you? she asked.

Just a coffee, one cream.

She grinned at me. Ah, the no nonsense type. Coming right up.

I thanked her as she handed me my coffee. She had an impressive talent for passing as a human while still using her abilities to maximize her efficiency, and I could respect that. I could tell she was a vampire because of the fluidity of movement and the lack of scent, but if she had been walking across the street and I were not paying attention, I could certainly miss her in a crowd

Keep the change. I was actually hoping to speak to Dan.

Her whole demeanour changed. She glanced at the couple of humans scattered around her shop and narrowed her eyes at me. I don't want any trouble.

I was actually hoping for the opposite of trouble, ma'am.

She inspected me for another long moment, before relenting. Just a moment. She disappeared into the back and returned a moment later. He'll be down soon.

I took a seat and waited for the vampire to arrive.

I didn't wait long.

Oh. It's you, he said, looking as unimpressed as he sounded. Well, I hadn't expected fanfare.

Nice to see you, I lied. I understood he was an unavoidable part of my mate's life, but I didn't have to like him.

What did you want?

Just to talk. I cast a glance around at the oblivious humans. Somewhere private.

He frowned but nodded. Fine. You can come upstairs.

He sounded unhappy with his own invitation, but I quickly took him up on it. I followed the vampire through a back door and up a staircase so narrow my shoulders could almost brush both sides.

The door opened into the kitchen of an apartment, small, clean, and nondescript from what I could see, and he offered me a seat at a small kitchen table. I took it, and he sat across from me. Like the vampire himself, the room had little scent other than the smell of dust and other objects in the room, and the slightest hint of my mate's scent underneath everything. She had been here occasionally, probably only a few days before she had left to come back to me, and I had to push aside a pang of jealousy at the idea.

Dan spoke before I could begin. So, if this is about Sofia, I'm not going to stay away from her just because you order me to. Sure, she's hot- Was he deliberately trying to provoke my wolf? -but we're nothing besides close friends.

I exhaled. I didn't come here to stop you and Sofia from seeing each other.

Really? He looked skeptical.

I'd be stupid to put more restrictions on her than absolutely necessary for her safety.

That's surprisingly reasonable.

Is it really? She's torn between wanting independence and me, I'm not about to make that choice harder. No matter what my wolf would prefer.

Dan chuckled. It's just not the werewolf stereotype. Aren't you supposed to be irrationally overprotective?

I frowned at his condescending amusement, and reminded myself that he was probably resentful about my former relationship with Megan. Of course, I want to protect her but I can't lock her in a vault. I want her happy, too. I did let her go against my every instinct.

Fair enough. I'll give you credit for that. But since I guessed wrong, what are you actually here for?

I breathed out slowly while I tried to think of the best way to begin. I wanted to talk to you about Megan.

He chuckled. I don't know what interest that is of yours, wolf.

She's a member of my pack.

And your fuck buddy?

I exhaled. It's true we had an arrangement.

You'd better not hurt Sofia with your 'arrangement'.

I did say 'had'.

It didn't stay 'had' for very long when she was gone.

I gritted my teeth and gathered my patience. I'm not here to justify what I did. I wouldn't have done it if I had believed Sofia was coming back. She'd only ever denied having interest in me, and she's a human, so I assumed she didn't feel the bond between us. I regret it now.

How sad.

He had to be trying to be this aggravating, right? It couldn't come naturally. My wolf was growling in my head and begging to be released on the vampire. What's done is done and my regret changes nothing. I'm not here to make excuses.

Dan folded his arms and leaned back as he watched me, eyebrows raised in mocking incredulity. Oh? Then what are you here for?

Megan and I were friends growing up, and she's always dreamed of finding her mate.

I could see how desperately she was waiting for her mate while she came out of your office straightening her clothing. His voice was cold and sardonic, but his words gave him away. He did care what she had done, on some level, even if he wouldn't admit it.

"As we got older, the other wolves our age in our pack found their mates and paired up. We were the last two left standing, and at a certain point, we did use each other for companionship.

We never had a plan for it to go further than that, we always openly intended for it to end when one of us found our other half. The moment Megan knew Sofia was my mate, she backed off and redoubled her efforts to find..."

The vampire didn't let anything show on his face.

But then Sofia left me. My wolf was trying to break free and hunt her down. Megan's mate ball was a success of numbers, forty-three pairs of wolves found their mates, but of course you know she was not one of them. A while later, I found her crying in the kitchen. I was drunk out of my skull and we fell back into old comforts. I shrugged, as if the thought of what I had done didn't make me feel like shit. Not my proudest moment, but not something that would ever happen again.

Dan just looked at me. Nice story, but I don't know what this has to do with me.

I felt like punching him, this time for Megan's sake rather than because I was jealous. You're her mate, Dan.

I don't know about that. Maybe I was her mate when I was human…although she wouldn't even have been born yet when I was. And who's ever heard of a vampire with a werewolf? I know our species are mostly at peace now, but...I don't see how it would work out.

He was trying really hard to act unmoved and I needed to break that apathy and force him to face the truth. You really should give her a chance. It would be worth your time. She's incredibly hot, you must have noticed that, and if you-

Shut the hell up! His eyes flashed red, his body tensed with readiness to attack me.

I leaned back and smirked that Dan had so easily taken the bait and confirmed he was far less detached than he was pretending. Every female I knew would have smacked me for playing on his jealousy-and Sarah might just have shot me-but it would be worth it if it helped Megan with the mess I'd caused.

He realized what I had been doing and that he had given himself away. Fuck. He glared at me as he leaned back into his chair.

So, now that we've established that you at least feel something... I get it, I hate you around Sofia-

At least I never touched Sofia, he said, glaring at me.

If my wolf were a cat, he would have purred at the confirmation they'd never done anything sexual, but that sweet bit of information wasn't what I was there for so I stayed on task. And I'm sorry I ever touched Megan.

What? She's just a regret to you now? You found your mate, so you're just tossing her away? he asked. The fact he was getting angry again on her behalf was another good sign.

No, of course not. I still care about her as a friend, that's why I'm here. If I didn't, I would just forget her, but I don't want to watch her fade away. She needs you.

He raised an eyebrow.

You know you left things unfinished.

Dan exhaled slowly. Did vampires even need to breathe? If not, was it for show, or just an old habit? "I wasn't looking for anything like that.

This whole mate thing is something between you wolves, and none of my concern."

You're her mate. That makes it your concern.

He didn't say anything.

Tell you what, why don't you come visit my pack when we go back? An open-ended visit, to see how Sofia's settling in. Then if you happen to enjoy Megan's company, well, you're welcome to stay if that's what you decide. I didn't really want him there, but it did seem like the best solution for all concerned. It also didn't escape my notice I'd probably gain bonus points with Sofia for inviting her vampire friend for an extended stay. The perfect win-win situation, although it seemed too much to hope that things could work out so neatly for everyone involved.

He remained quiet so long I thought he wouldn't answer, but then he said, I'll consider it.

I'll give you my number and-

I'll just text Sarah.

That'll work, too. Thanks for your time, I'll head out now.

He nodded, and I left the vampire to think about what I had said.

CHAPTER 35: Diluting

Sofia

A couple of weeks passed, and Sarah and I were mostly ready to move. Everything but the essentials were packed, and I was torn between nervous and excited.

Things were going well between Devon and me while we were in the city. Devon seemed more relaxed than normal, and all our problems seemed far away. I liked being able to talk to him straight between our minds because we could always have a private conversation even in my small apartment when Sarah was home.

And he'd already taught me how to shield my thoughts and emotions and vice versa, and I was getting more used to being able to feel some of what he was feeling besides.

Sarah had apparently gotten over her anger at Devon, and seemed to have accepted everything now, which made things at lot less stressful as well. Things were going well, almost too well, because I was afraid moving back would mess things up between us.

He kept sleeping on my floor in his wolf form every night. I'd tried to convince him on other various sleeping arrangements, but he was adamant he'd sleep best in the room with me, and I had to keep the bed. I didn't argue much. I liked having him there with me and it made me feel secure.

He was usually in his human form again and ready for the day by the time I woke up, and most of the time he just waited around. I wasn't a late sleeper, but it seemed he was even an earlier riser than I was.

This morning was no different, and he was in my room when I awoke, sitting in my desk chair and doing something on his phone. I smoothed my messy hair as I pushed myself up. He immediately left his phone and joined me, the mattress dipping under his weight. Morning, beautiful.

His appreciative eyes were on me. If he wanted to think I looked nice in the morning, who was I to argue? It was the best sort of delusion. I smiled at him. Good morning.

How'd you sleep?

Fine.

His brow furrowed. You had nightmares last night.

I shrugged. I don't remember them, so no harm done?

I don't like you feeling afraid. He pecked me on the lips.

I remembered feeling afraid of him, but that feeling was long gone. Even his aggressive wolf was a big softie for me. I'm not afraid when you're around.

His smile built the increasingly familiar ache between my legs, his smile always did that to me. I was getting used to craving him when he was present and longing for him when he was gone. When we kissed it only increase the fervency of my feelings. I was coming to love having his lips on mine. It felt aggravating and satisfying all at once.

We ate breakfast together. I was done with work, so my day was pretty much clear. Devon had arranged a moving van for Sarah's and my stuff. I probably didn't need it considering his pack already had everything, but I didn't want to leave it behind to go to waste. I was sure I'd never sleep in that bed again, not when Devon's was so much better and he was in it, but it could be repurposed for someone else's need, I was sure.

After breakfast, Sarah was already gone, apparently attempting to get in the maximum amount of socializing with her human friends before we left. I didn't mind because it gave me more time alone with Devon. When we got back to the pack, he'd be too busy to spend this much time with me, so I enjoyed it while it lasted.

We sat on the couch together and I leaned against him. His muscular arm wrapped around my shoulders anchoring me to his solid heat. I could have stayed beside him like that all day.

His voice was less sure than it usually was when he finally broke the comfortable silence. You don't have to agree, but it is possible for a human to become part of the pack, if you want to.

How?

"Same ceremony we do for