Linked
Chapter 3

Alisha opened the door and let the big man in. His watch read 5:00 a.m. and he had arrived on time. Her day was beginning. She grabbed her purse and some files from on the table and followed him out the door and headed for the car. She gently rubbed the area under her eyes. She hadn’t slept much that night. In addition to all the pending work, the few 4 hours inside her bedroom were a total torture. When she closed her eyes the image of her new employee would visualize in her mind, she would open them meeting the ceiling of her room and close them again and there he was again. She couldn’t deny that the man was in his prime, she wasn’t blind. But it was one thing if he was ready to eat him, it was another if she wanted to eat him. She had given up on having a love life since her suspicions about the stalking began. She wouldn’t allow herself to trust anyone. If you fall in love you are vulnerable and if she wanted to stay alive a relationship was not the most feasible route.

She leaned back against the back of the seat, closing her eyelids and relaxing for a few seconds. Always being away from home made her feel uneasy, but, for a moment, inside that car with that man made her feel the safest woman in the world. Cristian watched Alisha’s expression in the rearview mirror with interest and enjoyed every inch of her face. Her always tight lips were slightly open and fuller than when she tortured them into the hard grimace. Long lashes darkened by makeup rested caressing her cheeks bruised from lack of sleep. Cris frowned, her partner wasn’t getting enough rest, a protective feeling ran through her chest. If she were reclaimed he wouldn’t let her work such long days.

Alisha straightened up and turned on the small laptop on her lap and he turned on the car engine. The day was beginning and it promised to be a long one.

The wolf’s temple throbbed painfully. He could no longer remember how many places he had visited between specialty stores, malls and boutiques. His job was a bodyguard, not an assistant shopper. The woman would go from one store to the next without having made up her mind about the clothes she wanted. She would select one here and there, of which she was unlikely to buy, and it wasn’t exactly for lack of money. She had to understand that a man of almost two meters, broad shoulders and more than 140 kilos of pure muscle, it was difficult for him to move among so many people and even more so if his life depended on him.

-Let’s go down to eat,” he said later, handing him the last of the paper jabas, which he took and grouped with the rest he had in his other hand. I don’t plan to cook today, so I’ll take the opportunity that I’m here, I have an acquaintance in the restaurant who will give us a good service.

-In my opinion we should go back as soon as possible, in such a crowded place the chances of being attacked are higher.

-That’s your job, protect me if they attack me, I don’t want to give up the life I have just because some guys who have nothing to do are chasing me- I pass by his side brushing him.

Cristian tensed the muscles of his arm and abdomen holding back the wave of excitement and heat that ran through him and took a deep breath calming himself in turn. Patience was a gift that nature had refused to give him, the only reason he didn’t rip out her venomous tongue was because just looking at her made his body prostrate itself before her. He needed s*x and fast or he would rape her right there.

Alisha wasn’t wrong when she referred to the restaurant’s good service. Maybe she would bring the rest of the sentries with her, which in turn or the man’s pantry would run out in seconds. The dishes in addition to being exquisite were plentiful and strong tasting and spicy, just the way he liked it. For a moment she stared at him as if she couldn’t believe he could eat so much. Half the menu was on the table.

-What, you women should know that shopping expends more energy than a full day at the gym, intense day.

-At least I know those muscles aren’t just from exercise, you’ve got to get it all in somewhere.

She blinked and for the first time he could see what might have been a hint of a smile on her face before it was overshadowed by the mouthful of ice cream. He wanted to be that ice cream. To feel her tongue run over his body…The very idea in his mind warmed him so much that he shifted uncomfortably in the chair. She was so focused on her own that she didn’t notice, though the wolf would like her to be more aware of his presence.

Cristian opened the door to the apartment and all his senses sharpened. He stepped back and placed his body protectively before his mate. He felt on his back the warmth of hands on his back and a slight trembling in them. A growl came from deep in his throat and it took more than he thought to contain his wolf. He sniffed the air again without recognizing the barely imperceptible new scent. He couldn’t quite make it out, but someone had been there and it wasn’t human.

Thirty minutes later the doorbell rang and a new guest appeared. If Alisha thought the man next to her was tall she was wrong. The tenant outweighed Cristian by at least 10 cm and had a few more pounds of muscle or so she could sense under the thick leather and fur jacket. For a moment she felt intimidated and trembled noticeably feeling fear threatening in her stomach. Cris must have noticed him touching her shoulder in a way that if it weren’t for her nearly collapsing from nerves would have felt too intimate.

-Meyer, this is Dakota, one of my buddies-” he gave the older man a warning look. She knew the pack commander was intimidating in every sense of the word, even a little more so than his alpha, and after getting him up from his bed she knew his mood wasn’t the best.

To her surprise the man interpreted her message and relaxed his muscles trying to look less threatening.

-Pleasure to meet you,” he extended his hand in greeting.

Alisha hesitated for a moment and regained her composure, stretched her back and shook his hand, still trembling.

-The pleasure is mine, I apologize for disturbing you at this time of night, my bodyguard insisted on calling you.

-And he did well, now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to speak with him for a moment.

He sat up and followed his beta into the kitchen, making sure he was out of hearing range of the young woman.

• What happened,” he could see Cris stir uncomfortably, leaning back on the plateau.

-Someone was trying to get into the apartment, I smelled the scent, very faint, but it was there. Not human Dakota, not wolf-

The older wolf frowned.

-This is getting out of hand, I’ll have to check with Serguei and increase the protection, if you say you can’t define what it is, the situation changes.

-For tonight I’ll stay here, I don’t trust them to be calm, and I don’t want to leave her alone in the state she’s in.

-So this is your partner, I still couldn’t believe it when the alpha told me about it”, he patted her shoulder, “congratulations”.

-Don’t congratulate me before my time, I’m having a harder time than I thought, the damned writings always mentioned a submissive couple willing to mate with us.

I have the impression that if I touch a hair on her head, she’ll castrate me right there- -Modern women don’t follow the same rules anymore.

-Modern women no longer follow the rational thinking of the old ones Cristian, but you are a dominant wolf, make yourself noticed as her soul mate and if extreme measures are necessary, take them.

-Dakota, you have noticed a simple detail,” his commander raised a doubtful eyebrow, “she is not a wolf, she is human, I don’t even think she feels the bond.

Dakota blinked in reaction and scrubbed her hair tangling it between her fingers.

-You’re right, in the texts there’s nothing about a wolf paired with a human, only with shapeshifters like us- he growled and Cris feared Alisha heard him.

-Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it, I’ve only known her for a short time and I didn’t want to pressure her either.

-But think about your wolf, do you have any idea how long it will last, if you wait too long, you might not be able to control it in the first mating.

-I know, I know,” he ruffled his hair in frustration, “I’ll do something soon, I know I’m a ticking time bomb, I can feel it.

-I’ll talk to Louwa about this, he must know something, he’s the oldest of us-” He said.

-Don’t mention his name and the word old in the same sentence again or he will tear your eyes out, remember what happened to Vladic” Cris smiled.

-Well, I’ll go around the area before I leave to see if I can find any trace of where the smell is coming from, I’ll send someone in the morning, don’t worry she won’t notice, the last thing we want is for her to panic.

Dakota left her a set of clothes that she always kept in reserve in her van for after every transformation, where the clothes never came out unscathed. He could be a little more at ease knowing that his commander was staying on top of the situation.

He had known Dakota since he was a puppy and had been in his care after learning of his potential as a beta. Though only 57 years his senior, the man was quite a genius in the art of war, he didn’t think there was a technique he didn’t know. Even his alpha consulted his opinion when the situation became tense.

Cris saw Alisha come out of the shower a while later. She looked calmer and her skin slightly more flushed from the steam of the hot water. The shapeshifter had to hold the edge of the plateau to keep her body in control. His breath choked in his lungs. He felt his member on the verge of exploding from excitement. The still damp locks clung to each side of his face and droplets of water caressed his neck and strayed down the neckline of the thick sleep robe. She clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction. He would prefer something lighter that would allow him to devour that whole body with his eyes. Dakota was right, he had to hasten the claim or he had no idea what might happen, his wolf clawed at the inside of his conscience and demanded to do that which he so much restrained himself from doing, let his purely wild and primal behavior run free.

Asking Alisha’s permission he went as fast as he could into the bathroom and soothed his body with the cold water. The shock of the temperature sent shivers down her nerves but her h**s refused to give up. She had no choice but to soothe herself with her hand. He didn’t know if it was because it was her house or the smell permeating every object inside the bath, but it didn’t take him more than a few minutes to reach the delicious culmination. He gasped in satisfaction and with tremors running up and down the hair on the back of his neck.

-Damn, this can’t go on much longer!

Putting on the borrowed clothes he found the woman sitting relaxed on the couch with her head thrown back and her eyes closed. Like a magnet he crept up like a wild beast after his prey, avoiding waking her. He stood beside her but the knob on the table caught her attention. He picked it up and read the name of some sleeping pills.

He grunted. His partner had reached the point of taking sleeping pills to rest and by the amount left it was a habit for him to consume them.

-Meyer,” he called lightly, brushing his fingers against her arm. The simple touch made him close his eyes and restrain his wolf, he was still sensitive. The girl didn’t move. The only reason she was alive was the slight movement of her chest.

-Alisha- he couldn’t restrain himself from saying the name more sensually and increasing the contact on her skin, running his fingers to the beginning of her throat, where the skin was becoming soft and creamy.

The only thing he received in response was a slight movement of his lips. Cris followed him and swallowed dryly. Unable to contain himself he put his arm across the back of the sofa wedging his weight and brought his lips close to theirs touching them in fear of waking her up. He didn’t know how effective those pills were.

He cursed internally. The mere touch had him literally feeling butterflies in his stomach. He increased the pressure by turning his head slightly molding himself to her. He savored every inch of the tender flesh with his own and ran over them with the tip of his tongue. With his free hand he stroked her chin and moved it downward allowing his lips to open a little and allowing him to have full access inside her. Her claws came out and buried themselves in the fabric of the furniture as she felt the taste of him on her palate. He g*****d inwardly, that was the taste of his woman, of his mate, and he knew there was no way he would ever tire of it. He curled his tongue with hers tilting his head further arching her head allowing deeper access. He no longer cared that he was aroused, he had no control over himself, his body proclaimed for hers. He caressed her neck brushing it with the tips of his fingernails without hurting her while still devouring her mouth, he felt a m**n coming from her throat and smiled in pleasure. Her skin had risen slightly in temperature. He brought his palm to the bulge formed on the cotton nightgown. He closed it there and allowed its weight to fit perfectly in his fingers. She was perfect, she had been molded for him.

A tremor in her brought a light of reasoning to his eyes. He lifted his head and ran backwards stumbling over the table unable to keep his balance, he held on to the armchair. He ran his hand through his hair and wiped the sweat on his forehead. Both he and she were panting. More him than Alisha. It took him a few seconds to notice the crimson fur that was beginning to cover her arms. His nails were no longer human, but long and sharp like his wolf’s and the colors in front of him had distorted to shades of blue and yellowish. If he had continued he could not guarantee to remain human. Hell, he had no idea he was hanging on by a thread.

He moved around the room again and again calming his body and reversing the transformation with more work than he thought. His wolf refused to budge. After almost half an hour he managed to take full control. He approached his mate and blocking all his senses he carried her and deposited her on his bed. He needed to get her out of his sight for the safety of both of them. The smell of the room overwhelmed him again and he had to leave almost running so as not to claim her in his very bed. He opened the balcony door and let the night air calm his head and cool his revitalized limbs. Meeting his mate was the best thing that had ever happened to him but no one had prepared him for what that entailed.