Free Bewitching the Werewolf by Caroline Hanson Page B

asap!”
     
    I think he looked briefly at my chest, and then, I think he said, “I hope you do get a handle on the situation.”
     
    I’m pretty sure he didn’t mean it suggestively, that he was just repeating my own words back to me, but my libido heard it differently and I almost combusted on the spot.
     
    He cleared his throat and adjusted his tie a little, which was a bit endearing. Then he started talking again. “People have been waiting for me to find a mate for years. Did you know that an alpha mates young? I should have been mated at 25. But they were patient with me. Now the patience is gone. If you can’t do it-- raise a spark in me or help me find my mate-- I’ll have to come up with something else. I don’t know what but I can’t leave these people with no children. I can’t fail them.”
     
    “ And there is no one you want?”
     
    “ Look. I’ve tried. I’ve dated. I’ve slept around. I’ve been to other packs and felt the moon’s call with them but there has never been that click. A wolf mates forever. It’s instantaneous and we know. That’s what I’ve been told. But not for me.”
     
    The thought of him sleeping around really bugged me but it was none of my business. I tried to push the jealousy away.
     
    He turned and looked at me then picked up a crystal paperweight from his desk, tossing it up and down in his hand absently. “The council believes I need to be more aggressive, take more partners until the beast decides.”
     
    “ They want you to sleep around.”
     
    He gave a small smile, “Yeah, why am I arguing right?”
     
    “ Why are you arguing? Isn’t it like a male fantasy to sleep with everyone in sight? Be panted over by lots of hot…bitches?” I wondered if it was alright to say bitches since they were female dogs. It should be technically correct.
     
    “ I’m not sure if I can say this without sounding like an asshole but…I’ve done that. I’ve slept around and I’ve played the field. Now I’m ready to…possess. I want to own my mate and be owned in return. That’s what missing. I don’t want to fuck every woman hoping she’ll be the one, but it’s getting to the point where something drastic will have to happen.”
     
    He scrubbed his face with his hands and then he looked at me with an earnest, almost pleading look. “My whole life I have expected to find my soul mate. I’ve seen it happen to others over and over…everyone says when it happens you know. So I thought I would. Now I wonder if I missed it or if maybe there is something wrong with me.”
     
    “ There is absolutely nothing wrong with you,” I said on a dreamy sigh.
     
    He frowned at me.
     
    “ Sorry. Okay, how can I help you?”
     
    “ Shouldn’t you know the answer to that question?” There was no animosity in his voice, but I could tell he was at a bit of a loss.
     
    “ You are exactly right.” And if you were not messing with my hormones I’d have a game plan. I stood up. “So, I’m gonna go and think about this and come up with a plan. I will need to see you interact with the pack and with… the females. A little hocus pocus and hopefully you’ll be poking your one true love in no time.” Oh man, I really said that. I was backing towards the door, while he looked at me like I was an injured bird he might have to put out of its misery.
     
    “ Fine. There is an auction tonight. A fundraiser for Muscular Dystrophy at 7pm. I’ll pick you up at 6:30.”
     
    I blinked.
     
    He smiled and I almost said something obscene. Little lines appeared at the corners of his eyes, and a trace of a laugh line was on each side of his mouth. Zack was even hotter when he was happy.
     
    Figured.
     
    “ We only run around naked and eating rabbits on the full moon. Most of the time we are quite civilized.”
     
    “ Oh.” Not my wittiest response.
     
    And then I bolted.
     

 
     
    Chapter 3
     
     
     
    I took the opportunity to dress up very seriously. It sounds