Mate of Mine

can never h

ical contact to a minimum. Not to mention keeping her at a nice safe distance, where he can’t catch her scent. He already made the mistake

prisingly solid— not common, in the theatre industry— and even so, he hasn’t really had a chance to travel, to see what the rest of the world might h

ially

he sees Beth, right up to the moment he almost bowls o

anyway, because— costume party. Nobody looks like themselves. He can barely hear himself think over the music, and he’s already had to use his Alpha-voice on someone to

Beth’s steps dangerously unsteady. Sean catche

to smell like this. Like something sweet and succulent

nds himself.

and then smiles sweetly when

e checked her Snapchat story. Which he doesn’t do more than once a day. Usually. Oft

y once he’s certain she’s stable on h

mering shoulders. “You too! It’s good to see you.” She looks him over with a slig

d like a corset. The phoenix tattoo on her left thigh is fully visible under the hem of the skirt, but obscured by fishnets decorated with tiny gems that make her l

something back. A co

es sight of the wings on

ns. “Yeah, Tink.

me of them in person. She’s pretty crafty with a sewing

ig. Thanks, though!” She gestures toward the bar behind her. “I’m getting another drink, which I definitely don’t need,

before his brain does.

he can’t believe he didn’t notice before— her face a little flushed. Definit

this club, he thinks, even with two floors and a whole outdoor area for them to go to. The sweat and colognes and perfumes

eds to up h

ing a conversation.

he shrugs, staring directly ahead of herself. “Kirsti? I’m sure

o talk about in depth. Sean tells himself he

t to look at the rough, pink patch of skin on the side of her neck

s control slipping. He slips into the small space left between her and the person next to

She takes her drink and immediately starts to sip on it, swinging her hips a bit. She’s damn cute.

ecause all he can focus on is her scent glands, and the movement of

ot to get it tog

round the apartment that need fixing.” And, like that she has his attention. Some Alpha part of his brain perks up at the prospect of

tually nothing, barely even a real soun

re talking to her. He really needs to go find someone else to talk to. Maybe h

him, the straw falling from her

e, what do you n

came from his own mouth. He should back out now, while he still can. “I, uh… the chain on my ceiling fan broke, and I’m too short to fix it. I don’t have a la

er, and then sips at his beer w

oo heavy for me to hang, so it’s ju

some excuse and then go back to his rock solid, foolproof plan of being detached and mildly friend

ctly to Hell, and he’s not

can feel his resolve slipping away into noth

ows. “Happ

in between them. Sean immediately tenses up, the Alpha part of him gearing up to scare the other Alpha away, but he grits his teeth, and grips his beer glass

he says. She spares Sean a glance, and he recognizes her vaguely as o

name is, but he lifts a hand, and

lides a hand around Beth’s arm, the motion almost possessive,

er friend. It fades when they make eye contact, and she smiles, though it doesn’t reach her pretty, crystal blue eyes.

d vanish into the crowd. He doesn’t even realize how tense h