Page 64 of Mated
I turn.
Caine and Gage push through the crowd in torn jeans, tank tops, and boots. They are devoid of weapons but their bodies more than make up for it. The demon pushes to my side, his body is leaner than even Tanner’s and covered in small scars that seem to wreath his torso in a story I am not sure I want to hear. They make my chest hurt oddly.
He peers at me. “You okay?” I nod shortly and he turns back to Callus. “Alpha, you seem to be leaking scent.”
Callus growls.
Gage steps between them, his emerald eyes backlit in a fire that could rival Caine’s. “I’m going to need you to step the fuck back, Alpha.”
“This is my land. My pack,” Callus hisses. “You do not give me orders here.”
“Then how about a polite request?” Tanner’s voice leaves me sagging, and I can’t rationalize why.
My head turns as he leaps from the top of the basin. His lean, lithe frame lands feet away, eyes swimming silver and his body clothed in a simple pair of acid washed jeans. They are so torn and ragged that his tan, muscular thighs peak through in little glimmers. He’s rugged, hardened. And pissed.
He walks to me, a rolling glide in his hips that leaves me salivating. His nostrils flare the closer he gets. The low growl that pours from him is primal, deadly. All around us, the pack shifts and begins to move back.
Tanner cups my face, his hand calloused, rough. But so very warm. “I see the dress has already found your first full moon wanting.” The teasing words do not match the tension in his frame.
Though his eyes are nearly the slow boil of mercury, his teeth remain normal. More controlled. “I wanted to match everyone else,” I say.
That earns me a grin. “And yet you outshine them all.”
My lips part in surprise, and he groans audibly.
“The run has not begun, Tanner.” Callus’ voice is cold.
T glowers at him, but does not let me go. “And with your Alpha scent all over her?” He tsks. “Seems even the Alpha cannot control himself tonight. How could a lowly pack guest expect to do anything more?”
Callus steps forward and Tanner moves to meet him. I slip between them. “Thank you, Alpha Callus, for allowing me to run here tonight.”
He blinks.
Tanner’s low rumble continues to pour from him, making my knees weak and my body burn. So I move away from them both and search for a not so threatening face in the crowd. The woman from earlier holds out her hand. I go to her, stomach quivering.
The men move back and allow it, though the restlessness remains.
“Perhaps we should make the welcome a quick one?” Callus says, his eyes never leaving me.
The woman bends a bit. “I’m Bonnie, by the way.”
“Nisha,” I whisper back.
She offers me a smile. “You have a full card tonight, love. I ain’t never seen no one stand up to Callus like you did. But he is a hard one to resist.”
He is attractive enough. Strong, powerful. But I don’t want him.
Tanner crosses his arms and the tattoos over him ripple. He stands between Gage and Caine, his silver eyes roaming from my bare feet up in nearly dizzying passes. I shiver and his irises flash.
I want Tanner.
“Welcome, kin.” Callus booms, turning around slowly to take in all those assembled. “And welcome guests.” Though his eyes flow over Tanner and the others with unbridled annoyance, he offers me a smile. I don’t return it.
“As you are aware, one of ours is not with us this evening.”
Daisy.
The twinge his words causes is palpable. It would have been nice to have my new friend with me. Across from me, Tanner dips his head slightly. Almost as though he understands where my head went.
