Free A Mate for the Beta: by E A Price Page B

was time Mal backed down.  Mal looked suitably chastised and bared his neck to his Alpha.  “Kim, get Mal a soda and whatever the lady would like, put it on my tab.  Come join us.”
    Mal draped an arm over Terri and led her o ver to the other wolves and Liv, grinning.  He wasn’t in the least uncomfortable by what had just happened. Terri was trying to look invisible .
    Adam introduced everyone.   Mac and Luke were chuckling at Mal, who didn’t seem to care.  Carly laid a hand on Terri’s arm as she had with Liv and a warm smile lit up Terri’s face, and she relaxed into Mal’s arm who in turn snuggled closer to her.  They look adorable together thought Liv a little jealously .
    Mac and Luke floated away and were soon deep in conversation, Mac flicking her eyes at the bear bartender every few minutes.
    “Ed, I’m surprised to see you here.  Life in Alexandria too boring for you?”  Asked Terri, a sparkle returning to her eyes.
    Mal’s arm stiffened around her.  “You already know each other?”
    “Sure” said Ed easily ignoring Mal’s suspicious tone, “we met at University, Terri worked at the library while I was an undergrad.”
    “Then he introduced me to Liv...”
    “Then when Terri was looking for a new job I suggested she apply here.”  Said Liv happily, “everything worked out really well.”
    “Sure did.”  Mal took a swig of the soda Kim had brought him and gave Terri a squeeze.
    “Although”, began Liv a cheeky smile on her face, “I still don’t understand what Ed was doing in the library, I thought you prided yourself on getting through School without ever seeing the inside of a library.”
    Terri giggled.  “Well he wasn’t in there to study...”
    Adam smirked knowing where this was going.  “What was he doing then?”  Asked Carly puzzled.
    Terri rolled her eyes.  “There’s a camera blind spot on the second floor, next to palaeontology.  The kids use it to... you know... make out...”
    “In a library?!”   Carly could be quite naive .  “Is that legal?”
    “Well as a lawyer” started Ed with mock pomposity, “I can promise you it definitely isn’t, which is why it’s fun !”
    Terri beamed.  “Well I certainly found it funny, before that day nobody had ever tried to argue that reading books without your clothes on actually helped you absorb the information better.”
    “Really?”   Adam was liking the red wolf more and more.
    “Yep, our boy here is a born lawyer.”  Giggled Liv.
    “No argument too dumb.”  Muttered Terri quietly.
    Adam excused himself to go to the bathroom.  Ed called over to Kim to get him another beer giving her a devilish grin and a wink.  Handing it to him she winked in return, and he watched her retreat with interest focussing on her rear.  Liv elbowed him again and he yelped.
    “Tiny knives remember?!”
    “Oh wah wah wah crybaby!”
    Ed hooted with laughter and flinging an arm round her shoulders kissed her temple.
    A huge roar resounded through the bar.  That’s when it all went to hell.
    *
    A few minutes earlier .
    Alec wiped his hands on his jeans.  He was nervous and sweating.  Why was he nervous?  Just because he was about to see his mate and the mother of his future pups, the woman who his entire happiness rested upon, there was no reason to be nervous.  Was there?
    He sucked in a breath before pushing the door open.  He scanned the room, taking in the familiar sights, people and scents.  The worn bar stools, the shabby booths and dog-eared landscape pictures on the walls.  The smell of alcohol, sweat, perfume and arousal ?  It wasn’t such a surprise, people came here to hook up all the time.  But the smell had never been so strong before tonight.
    He noted numerous people he knew before alighting on his mate.  His heart stopped. She was wearing a tight low cut sundress and looked achingly beautiful.  She was surrounded by a few people who apparently were hilarious because she suddenly