Page 14 of Anders
Get it together,she muttered, gathering her things.
She still needed to go grocery shopping, and the store would be closing soon.
But as she locked up the office, her body still hummed with awareness.Every sense felt heightened, alert.She found herself tracking Anders’s scent as he moved through town, though she told herself that was impossible.
The afternoon wind picked up, carrying the promise of rain—and beneath it, that wild, intoxicating scent that she now associated with Anders Hamilton.
Focus on work, she told herself firmly as she got into her car.Focus on the paper, on building a new life here.
But even as she made her mental grocery list, her mind kept drifting back to Anders.The way he moved.The sound of his voice.The moment when she’d thought he might kiss her.
The scary part wasn’t how much she’d wanted that kiss.
The scary part was how right it had felt, as if something deep inside her had recognized something inside him.
Just attraction, she told herself as she drove to the store.Simple chemistry.Nothing more.
But even she didn’t believe that lie.
Because nothing about Anders Hamilton—or her reaction to him—felt simple at all.
And some part of her, a part that felt ancient and wild and not entirely human—though that was insane, right?Because it couldn’t be real—whispered to her…
This is only the beginning.
CHAPTER 4
ANDERS ARRIVED ATMALCOLMand Larissa’s precisely at 7:00 p.m., having thoroughly showered and changed as ordered—actually for the second time that day, since he’d made sure to shower before he’d gone by Etta Barone’s office that afternoon.
To eliminate any extraneous scents that might give away something significant, he told himself.
Not because he wanted to seem more appealing to her.
The scent of something burning made his nose twitch as he approached Larissa and Malcolm’s front door.
Tactical assessment: Source appears to be kitchen.No signs of actual fire hazard.Likely just Larissa’s cooking, as predicted.
Before he could knock, the door swung open.Nick and Sarah’s young son, Javier, launched himself at Anders’s legs.Uncle Anders!You came!
Anders carefully extracted himself from the child’s grip, noting how the boy’s scent carried traces of both his parents plus an overlay of sugar that suggested not-so-secret cookie consumption.I did.And you appear to have been sampling dessert early.
Javier’s eyes widened.How did you know?
Because he notices everything,Nick said, appearing in the doorway.Come on in.Larissa only burned the first batch of rolls.
I heard that!Larissa called from the kitchen.
Anders entered, automatically cataloging exits.The house was a comfortable mix of Malcolm’s and Larissa’s styles—tactical maps hung alongside framed photos, weapons displayed with obvious care next to educational certificates and diplomas.
The twins, Conall and Quinton, were already sprawled on the couch, while Una helped Sarah set the table.Malcolm stood in the kitchen doorway, watching his mate withan expression that managed to be both amused and concerned as she pulled another tray from the oven.
These ones are perfect,Larissa announced triumphantly.
Absolutely,Malcolm agreed, though Anders noted the slightly charred bottoms of the rolls.Not that he’d mention it.
He hadn’t survived this long by pointing out flaws in an alpha’s cooking.
Despite the burned rolls, dinner turned out to be surprisingly edible.The conversation flowed easily, punctuated by Javier’s excited chatter and the twins’ good-natured bickering.Anders found himself relaxing slightly, though he maintained his usual awareness of his surroundings.
