The Change (Fated Series: book1) -
Chapter 17 - Introductions
Nessa
(Nessa driving her friends to Blackwood’s pack house)
“Bloody hell, he is delish-ie!” Nicole exclaimed the moment the pack house came into view.
“I told you so,” Nessa agreed parking the car. Marcus was a catch. Too bad he knew it, too.
“Shirt and bumblebees, what the hell is that dog doing here?” Michelle gasped.
Nessa quickly looked at the direction her friend was looking. Brandon was walking down the stone pathway leading towards the backyard discussing something with Marcus and Cameron. She expected to feel the usual pang, constricting her lungs and leaving her week. But not today. Definitely not today. The sight of Brandon didn’t affect her. True, her fists itched for retribution from a different outlet. She knew she shouldn’t be as attached to a one-night stand as she was with Marcus. It wasn’t healthy to fume over his behavior. She couldn’t change or control it. Her only option was to distance herself from him and to forget him. But that was easier said than done. Marcus was simply too delicious in his wicked ways to be ignored. Their steamy night had ended, he had moved on. She should do the same and be done. The End. Finn… Or was it finito? Damn, Italian! It sounded so sexy in her mind. She made a mental note to herself to incorporate it in one of her stories. Sizzling husky Italian male was definitely going to provoke the sensual side of her readers. She smiled. She had to research it further.
Nessa decided to refrain from throwing hot glances towards the Alpha. He wanted to dip other honey pots then he could be dead for all she cared. On second thought, probably not dead, because it would mean she’d have to find another pack. She would never return Brandon’s law even if she had to be a lone-she-wolf.
Men! Good riddance to all of them!
The flock of females that gravitate around the males did not provoke her. If anything, it only solidified her conviction – she had no interest in the stoic Blackwood Alpha. It wasn’t until his stone exterior cracked by his megawatt smile that Nessa recognized the man who made her feel special, even if it was for one night. How could he be so Marcus with her and then still go be with someone else? They weren’t dating. There was no talk of a relationship. Yet, she wanted to know their time together meant something, even if it was for one night. The possessiveness over him could not be explained by deep feelings. No, everything between them was physical. Only the Goddess knew how hard it was to walk away from him without clawing his eyes out because of the betrayal, disrespect she felt.
Never before had she felt so frustrated with anyone else before.
Damn, his green eyes!
Nessa cursed herself for following her routine to pack in the backyard’s parking. They were in full view of the BBQ party. She was no coward and would face him, but that did not stop her for berating herself. She should know better. Especially after Brandon.
“That party pooper has the guts to…”
“I cut ties and accepted it,” Nessa replied, interrupting Michelle’s tirade.
“Wait. You did? Good for you. How did he take it?” Michelle questioned in one breath.
“I haven’t seen or talked to him since. But frankly, I don’t care. We parted ways long ago,” Nessa dismissed the concerned looks, taking her keys out of the ignition.
“Atta’ girl. I’ve been telling you the same for years, yet you needed Mr. Green Eyes to recap the message,” Michelle agreed.
“It’s all about the packaging,” Nessa started, only for Nicole’s interest to peak while Michelle gaped.
“I don’t want the nasties,” Michelle interrupted her.
“You’ll tell me all about his delicious sides, but first, who’s the stud next to the Alpha?” Nicole inquired, making Nessa laugh at Michelle’s reaction.
“Cameron, the Beta.”
“Doesn’t he look sturdy now,” Nicole licked her lips.
“Nic, don’t,” Michelle warned.
“What? It’s not like he wouldn’t enjoy it. Besides, I don’t see a claim so he is a fair game, isn’t he?” Nicole shot a glance at Nessa.
“Not that I know of,” Nessa replied, then admitted, “Goddess, I missed you so much!”
“Nes, I need you to use that bootie of yours to get me into his pack,” Michelle requested before Nessa chuckled, stepping out of the car.
“Sorry, but that ship has sailed. I still have your back, but it is not likely it would be that simple. Ignore your urges,” Nessa scolded Michelle playfully as they all exited the car rounded up the front of the car to join them. Just as she reached them, a loud growl sounded from the stone stairwell.
“Hope you didn’t forget to tell them we were coming,” Michelle’s voice weaved, paleness overtaking her features as a huge wolf ran down the path and right at them.
Marcus
Marcus smiled as he heard the rattling ford pulling into his driveway. Nessa’s gleeful laughter was all the music he needed to make his frustrating day brighter. He would let them approach him as was proper with visiting wolves. He didn’t want to seem overly excited to be in her company.
“Play it cool. She’ll come to us,” Marcus told his wolf as the animal wanted to be by her side.
Vincent’s growl ceased all chatter, forcing Marcus to reconsider his plan. Was he not warned about Nessa’s guests?
“Vince, stand down,” Marcus instructed through the link, but surprisingly that didn’t stop his third in command in his run for his prey. Insubordination only served to infuriate Marcus.
“Stop!” The Alpha command roared through the air freezing Vince midstride. Nessa pushed one of her friends behind her, preparing to take the blunt of the force as Vince soared through the air. Marcus could do nothing but watch Nessa fall backwards, while Vince proceeded to knock the remaining girl to the ground.
Marcus rushed to Nessa’s side. She had to be terrified. Who wouldn’t be?! Vince was his best Enforcer and boy, did he arise up to challenge. The massive wolf frame towered over the fallen girls. Only Marcus knew just how close they had come to getting their throats ripped open. The command brought Vince’s jaw too close for comfort.
Marcus couldn’t completely blame the big brown wolf. Vincent did what he was trained to do – protect the pack. Marcus’ word should have been enough to halt him. Even the Alpha Command had delay in registering through Vince’s brain which spoke of a much bigger issue in the pack. What happened next, Marcus could have never guessed – his intimidating and ready-to-kill-any-intruders third in command gave an apologetic lick down the poor girl’s face.
“Yiak, get off me, you, oaf,” the girl regained her composure faster than anyone else. She rubbed off his saliva as the most disgusting thing she had ever encountered. It earned her a growl from deep within Vince which would have convinced others it was their last breath, but not this girl. In true Nessa-spirit, she continued to berate his third in command, “Your breath stinks!”
Vince fought his wolf for control, reluctantly stepping away from the girl, who sat up, her eyes looking for Nessa. She visibly relaxed when she saw Nessa sitting in a very unlady like manner on her bum with equally puzzled expression.
“Nes, you okay, hon?”
“Yeah. You?” Nessa shot her friend a wavy look. “I promise we have permission, Michelle.”
“Yeah. Yeah. Who is that?” Michelle pointed over her shoulder to the brown wolf who stood on guard beside her.
“Pack,” Nessa guessed.
“What?” Nessa’s friends shouted.
Marcus smiled, anticipating where the conversation would go. Nessa had refrained from attending any of the pack gatherings and Marcus doubted she knew anyone but Cameron. That was until she met him. Marcus was yet to see Nessa in her wolf form and didn’t want sit well with neither him, nor his wolf, they did know her form.
“It’s not like I ache for runs,” Nessa shrugged, dismissing them.
“Just for A…”Michelle started.
“Alpha, twelve o’clock” the second girl as she spotted Marcus’ approach.
“…apples” Michelle covered her slip. Marcus grinned. By their interaction, Marcus knew that they were already aware of his relationship with Nessa.
“Apples are a fine fruit to be had,” the second girl added with a wink.
“Everyone, okay?” Marcus asked then offered his hand to help Nessa up who was in no hurry to stand up. Nessa’s hands moved over her butt, brushing off any debris. Marcus stared at her innocent gesture, fighting the urge to offer her his help. There was no question she knew what effect she had on him. The small smile on her sensual lips told him she enjoyed every darn second of teasing him. Marcus would let her have this moment. But later on, he would talk to her about apples and pies.
Reluctantly he moved to help her friend Michelle when he noticed Vincent’s stiff posture. Marcus glared at him until his Gamma lowered his eyes. Blatant disrespect was something Marcus would not tolerate in his pack for however long he was the Alpha.
“Good Lord. Haven’t you heard of modesty?” Michelle exclaimed as soon as she was upright.
Marcus was confused for a second before he noticed her attention was aimed over to his left, where his very naked third in command stood. Shifters had different set of rules for modesty as often they would shift in front of others.
“I don’t mind. What’s your name handsome?” The other girl offered, winking at Vince.
“Nicole,” Nessa said wary just as a growl vibrated through Michelle’s body.
“What?” Nicole snapped back at Nessa.
“I am Vincent, and I am spoken for. Right, Babe?” Vince wiggled his eyebrows into Michelle’s direction, surprising everyone.
“Babe was a pig. Do I look like bacon to you?” Michelle questioned.
The joke was on her as Vincent loved eating bacon.
“All yours, baby,” Vincent ignored her outburst, allowing her eyes to commit his body to memory.
It was remarkable his Gamma had found his mate. Vincent had given up searching for her after his thirty-first year only to discover her six years later at such a random occasion. It meant Nessa was now family to Vincent as without her, their paths might have never crossed. The grumpy old dog could finally settle down and be happy.
Nessa smiled at the scene, her fingers playing with her necklace. The far-away look she had told Marcus more than Nessa could have admitted. She enjoyed the amusing encounter, because no matter how it went down, finding a mate was beautiful. Romantic.
“Permission to whack some sense into your Gamma, Alpha,” Michelle asked Marcus.
“As I see it, he is all yours!” Marcus replied, curious of what the small framed she-wolf would do. The moment she was near him, she untied her decorative scarf and scrunched it in a ball and tossed it to Vince. It was an attempt to help him hide his jewels, but all Vincent did was bring the scarf to his nose and take in his mate’s scent.
The moment was interrupted by a very bright red handbag flying towards Vincent and catching him in his shoulder. Marcus could not have envisioned any better punishment for his third in command - beaten to death by a stylish red hand bag.
His surprise at seeing Michelle behind the offending red bag was priceless.
“That’s for topping off Nessa. She was trying to protect me, you idiot! Push Nicole instead!” Michelle started.
“Hey,” Nicole protested fists on her waist, making her chest look larger.
The furious she-wolf turned her anger from her Fated to her friend.
“I get he’s hot, but don’t get any ideas. He is mine,” Michelle claimed.
“He is off limits. Chill. I was merely stating the obvious,” Nicole explained herself. Marcus was certain he would have to separate the two she-wolves or risk a cat fight.
What he didn’t expect was Michelle to grin widely and agree proudly, “I know, right?”
Nessa and Nicole’s response was to erupt in fits of laughter. Marcus felt uncomfortable. Here they were in the middle of the yard, discussing the masculinity of his third in command, who was idiotically grinning their way. Michelle turned around and the red handbag flew again connecting to Vincent’s chest.
“This is for giving everyone a glimpse of what’s mine.”
Nessa chucked at Vincent’s face full of love for his mate. Marcus shook his head.
“So much for them possessing risk only to their credit cards!”
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