Page 3 of The Alpha's Runaway Mate
He’s quiet for a long second, eyes searching mine. Then his jaw tightens, like he’s fighting himself.
“Be back at eight, Jessica.”
I blink. “What?”
“Is that too late?”
“No, I… wait. Are you giving me a job?”
“Cash only,” he says, voice still that same gravelly calm.
“Cash only,” I echo, my brain catching up a full five seconds late.
He releases me and steps back. The space between us fills with cool air that somehow feels too empty.
I nod, backing toward the door. “Okay. I’ll… yeah. Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me yet.”
I don’t ask what that means. I just push the door open, step outside, and breathe.
The night air hits me like a slap, cool and sharp. The trees sway in the wind, whispering secrets I don’t want to know. I glanceback once, just once. Nolan’s still standing in the doorway, a shadow against the light. Watching me.
Something in my chest twists. My pulse hasn’t slowed since the moment I saw him. I don’t know if I want to run or walk back in there. “Get a grip,” I tell myself, fumbling for my keys.
When I reach my truck, I risk one last glance. He’s still there. Still watching. The light catches his eyes again, and for half a second, they flash gold. I blink hard. Gone. Just dark blue now. Maybe the lighting’s weird. Maybe I’m losing it. Either way, I get in the truck, start the engine, and pull out fast.
My hands are shaking, my breath uneven. I glance in the rearview mirror. The building shrinks in the distance, just a shadow between trees. Nolan’s still standing in the doorway. He doesn’t move. The further I get, the more my body starts to unclench, but my mind won’t stop replaying the way he looked at me… like he saw something inside me. Like he knew something I didn’t.
My heart’s pounding when I finally hit the main road. The woods press close again, dark and endless. I tell myself it’s fine. I tell myself I’ll go back at eight, get the cash, and leave.
But the truth slips through anyway. I want to see him again. And that might be the dumbest thing I’ve ever admitted to myself.
TWO
NOLAN DOYLE
I check my phone,hoping to see a message from Xander or Kolt, but neither have messaged or called me in a couple of days. Fuckers. I toss my phone on the table. They went off, searching for our cousin Declan who’s been missing for a little over a month. Why does everyone in my family keep disappearing? First Declan, and now my dick head brothers. Where the hell are they?
Whatever is going on, they need to figure it out quickly and get back. I didn’t think I’d be left alone to run our bar for over a month. They were only supposed to be gone for a day or two. Now I’m up to my ears in liquor orders, payroll, and trying to do the jobs of three men. It hasn’t been easy. What I need is help. What’s worse is everyone knows it.
I gave up on the notion of finding my mate years ago, just like Kolt and Xander have. It’s a big reason why we opened up Snarl together. We needed something to do with our time.
Snarl is the bar that every supe in Evermore Holler goes to. The humans in town usually stay away giving us a wide berth. It’s not that we’d harm them, not on purpose anyway, but we’restronger, faster, and well, magical. They tend to stay out of our way when we party because a lot could go wrong.
I take a sip from my glass of scotch when the door opens. Her scent hits me hard as soon as she enters. Who the hell is this human, and why is she coming into my bar? I don’t recognize her, but she could be new. It’s been a few months since I’ve been to town.
I usually don’t mind human women, but something about her has me going haywire. “Get out,” I growl as she comes closer.
She’s sassy as fuck and stands her ground, calling me on my shit. Being an ass isn’t new for me. It’s my entire personality, but I love the way her face scrunches up every time I say something to piss her off. When she’s had enough of it, she turns around to leave.
I watch her struggle with the door, trying to pull it open, even though she needs to push through. It’s hilarious and adorable to watch her scramble. Deciding I’ve been enough of a dick to the curvy human, I help her out. But the moment my skin presses against hers and I inhale her scent, I realize exactly who she is to me. She turns in my arms and looks up at me. Her hazel eyes sparkle as they search mine. Does she feel the connection? Can this little human really be my mate?
My cock goes rock hard in an instant and my canines begin to descend. I need to get her out of here before I go and do something stupid like mark her before I’ve had the chance to explain things. “What’s your name?” I ask gruffly.
“Jessica.”
She came in here looking for a job and got a hell of a lot more than that. “Be back at eight, Jessica.”
