*Hazel*
Mine?
Maybe he said “nine”?
Neither makes sense.
How could I be his? People don’t own other people, that is called slavery, and it was abolished ages ago.
Not able to withstand this intense stare off any longer, I take a hesitant step back and he drops his hold of my chin. His frown and displeased expression tell me that I have done the wrong move, but in my defense, I don’t really know what is expected of me now. My first instinct is to run off, without looking back.
“Hazel, I think you should go now!” Carol half-orders, placing her hands on my shoulders, and literally pushing me out of her office. For once, I agree with her.
We don’t manage to take even one step towards the door, that a terrifying growl makes the whole room shake like a leaf.
“She doesn’t go anywhere. And you, take your hands off her.” The terrifying were-man ordains in a glacial voice that would make penguins at ease.
I dare a look at him, which probably isn’t such a good idea, as his expression is now practically homicidal.
I don’t understand what’s happening.
That’s when Mr. Jones runs inside the office, eyes darting back and forth to assess the situation, and then harden to stone when they lay on the likes of me.
“Alpha O’Brien, it’s a pleasure to have you here. We are incredibly grateful for giving us this opportunity; we won’t make you regret your choice,” he says, while extending his hand for the Alpha to shake.
Oh my, so this is Alpha O’Brien, Alpha of the Crescent Moon pack, the biggest and most powerful pack in the country. The one I have been warned to keep my distance from at all costs. Great, just great.
Wanting to avoid being kicked out by the company, I subtly try making my way to the exit, but of course am stopped again by a hand closing on my forearm in a steal hold.
I turn toward the enforcer of this unbreakable hold, and find him glaring at me, his eyebrows still furrowed in annoyance.
“You stay, everybody else, get out!”
If I weren’t close to peeing myself out of fear, I would probably have laughed at the absurdity of the situation.
Everyone is staring at the demanding Alpha without knowing what to do, until Mr. Jones decides to become the hero of the moment.
“Erm, Alpha O’Brien, Hazel is not part of the team that will work on your project, so I think we should let her go back to her work, while we discuss the details with Carol and her team.”
Alpha O’Brien shifts his murderous gaze from me to Mr. Jones, then his lips curl back into a terrifying snarl that makes my boss retreat a few steps.
“I said that she’s staying. Have you forgotten how to follow an Alpha’s order? Get out!” he roars, while pointing his glare at each unwanted presence in the room.
Everyone scurries, and we are left alone inside Carol’s office, but I bet they are all just outside, trying to listen to what is happening in here.
I wish I was outside with them; even if they don’t like me much, at least they are less dangerous than this belligerent Alpha who’s standing beside me.
He shifts his position to stand in front of me, and pinches my chin in his fingers, making me look up at him.
His eyes are softer now, although they still look troubled, and possibly a little anxious, plus they are still glowing bright blue.
“What are you thinking?” he asks softly. His voice, again, makes a shiver run through me, confusing me.
What am I thinking? Probably, that I am soon to be dead; but I am not going to share this thought with him. What should I say instead?
“Do you talk?” he asks, pressuring me.
And dumbly, I nod my head yes, making the sexiest smirk on earth appear on his face.
My dumbness amuses him, good. I can deal with amusement, not with murder though.
I clear my throat to gather some courage, and try tentatively, “Would you mind releasing me? I swear I am not going to bolt for the door.”
He gives me a long look, then releases my chin and my arm, but doesn’t give me more room than that, we are still standing pretty close.
I take two steps backwards, to win back some of my most needed personal space; only, the Alpha stalks me and takes his now customary spot close to me. I take another couple of steps back, until my legs hit an armchair, and I flop helplessly on it, while the Alpha takes the opportunity to place his hands on each armrest, successfully encaging me between the chair and his big frame.
“Why are you running from me?” he asks, clearly annoyed, and if I hadn’t imagined it, even a little hurt.
“Because I’m scared and I need personal space,” I manage to say, without stuttering.
His frown deepens.
“Of me?” He seems surprised. “Don’t. In this world, you are the only person who doesn’t need to fear me.”
Now I am the one to be surprised.
“And why is that?” I ask suspiciously.
He doesn’t answer me immediately. First, he lowers his face to the crook of my neck and inhales deeply, letting out an illicit groan. Tingles spread on my skin where his hot breath fans me.
I don’t even dare move a muscle, his mouth is so close to my neck, that he could snap me like a twig with his teeth in seconds.
Then he places a chaste kiss on my collarbone, and I whimper needily in return, not sure why I would react that way. I mean, I should be terrified, instead I am kind of turned on; there’s something seriously wrong in my head.
I feel his lips form a smile on my skin, which means that at least one of us enjoyed my reaction.
Internally, I chastise myself for leading him on, and for wearing a low-cut shirt today.
His tickling breath travels up the length of my neck and jaw, until his gorgeous features come to stand in front of me again, only, much closer than before.
His eyes are glowing brighter than ever, but now are also clouded by a shade of raw lust that makes me scared and excited all at the same time. And when his lips finally gave me the answer to my question, every certainty I knew crumbled into thousand tiny little pieces.
“Because you are my mate.”