Page 10 of A Kitten for Alpha Kenny

His voice low, he replied, “Thank you, mate.”

We stood right there next to the car for a long moment after that. If I’d thought I could pull it off, I’d have taken him right there on the hood and marked him as well, but we were in a very public place, not exactly romantic for a first-time lovemaking. “If we don’t go back in, I’m not promising that I can control my urge to make you truly mine.”

“In. Oh my gods, I left my pack alpha there without saying a word. We do need to go in. You’re coming, right?” He shifted from foot to foot, chewing his lip in the most adorable way.

I brushed his lip with my thumb. “If you keep that up, you’ll make your lip bleed.”

Letting his lip go, he licked it and said, “Bad habit. But are you coming with me?”

“Of course I am.” I reached for his hand and linked our fingers. “Do I still have a lot of dirt on me?”

Mulder, and I truly did love that name, helped me to brush off the dirt so I didn’t shame myself and my pack by looking like a slob, and then we started up the cliff path back to Animals and the event that had brought me in scenting distance of my omega.

We never let go of one another, holding hands, brushing shoulders. An inch away from me was too far, and any alpha within arm’s length was too close. My wolf growled when a lion shifter bumped into us. I was happier than I’d ever been, but already I could see that having a mate would have its challenges. Ones I’d be happy to deal with.

“We should go find the pack alpha and let him know what happened.” Mulder grimaced. “He was not pleased with me before I came to find you.”

“He wasn’t?” Puzzled, I squeezed his hand. “He didn’t want you to be with your mate?” In my pack, that was a priority, and I’d encouraged any member to go after them the minute they came in scenting distance. We celebrated their good fortune, too.

“That wasn’t it.” We were standing in the middle of the crowded main room, and Mulder’s head swiveled in search of the alpha.

“No, it wasn’t.” The deep voice came from behind us, and I turned to find out who was interrupting our conversation. I recognized the alpha who had been talking to Mulder when wehad our misunderstanding. “Explain to your mate why I was annoyed with you.”

The blush returned, and I tried not to think about what else might have the omega’s cheeks redden in private. “Alpha Aspen was displeased that I stayed there and continued to try to do my job for Wolfe Enterprises when I had scented my mate.”

“Aspen?” I held out my free hand, which luckily was my right. “I didn’t know it was you. What a coincidence.”

He chuckled and shook my hand. “No coincidence where Fate is involved. I’d about decided you weren’t able to get here at all. What do you think of Animals?”

I looked around, taking in the club for the first time, although I’d been in here earlier. “To tell you the truth, I scented Mulder right after meeting Karma at the front door and then I was outside and back in and I’ve only had eyes for my mate. But now that you ask, this place is nicer than any I’ve been to in a city. And it’s way out here in the cliffs.”

“Animals is an extraordinary place. Warren opened it, but once he met Karma and she came on board, it became even better. She’s the reason humans are allowed. Everyone is allowed at all their clubs as long as they know how to behave in a civilized manner.”

“Are you telling him about the witch incident?” A huge bear shifter paused beside our little group, and I noticed he had Karma tucked into his side. “We don’t have a lot of rules, but once those ladies climbed on their brooms and flew all around destroying the place, we made a no-broom regulation.”

As I took in the big, high-ceilinged area, I couldn’t imagine how it had looked after the incident. “Whatever repairs were required, you’d never know anything happened,” I said.

“Get Karma to show you the video one day. I can’t watch it without my bear going nuts. I’m Warren Ursa, by the way, and Karma is my mate.”

I introduced myself and Mulder, hesitating but then proudly saying, “my mate.”

Karma’s laughter was musical. “They are very newly mated, Warren. I met Alpha Kenny on his way into the club, and if I’m not mistaken, he had not yet encountered Mulder.”

“That’s right.” I released my mate’s hand and put my arm over his shoulders, wanting him even closer than before. “Fate worked extra hard to bring us together. You have a fine club here. I hope we can visit again.”

“I hope you will,” Karma said. “We like happy couples around here, don’t we, mate?”

Warren rumbled in reply.

“But we have to get up to the front and keep things going on this fundraiser,” she went on. “I hope you don’t have to hurry away.”

We all assured her we were there to support the cause, and after they left to go conduct their business, the three of us strolled around the silent auction area, admiring all the items and placing bids. I had done this plenty of times in my city life, but it was the first time surrounded by shifters and all sorts of beings. It was nice.

There were a lot of different activities and opportunities to donate, as well as talk some with Alpha Aspen who kindly said he’d heard good things about our pack. Considering a few years ago nobody would have said that, I accepted the compliment in the spirit in which it was given. We rescheduled our meetings for the following morning as well. But after a few hours, I noticed Mulder was not too focused on our conversation or the things going on around him.

“Mate, you must be tired.” I hoped he didn’t just want to go home. Tonight was a lot.

“No, but I can’t stay out too late with my daughter at home. We have an early morning, and sometimes she manages to stayup too late with the sitter. She’s a charmer, that one. But I hate to ask you to leave early, Alpha Aspen.”

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