Mated To The Wrong Alpha
Chapter 16

Ava and the other ladies arrived at the house to discover that the men were planning a barbeque. The weather was unseasonably warm for this late in October and a final outdoor meal had been deemed just the thing. Potatoes were already on the grill baking and the steaks marinating. Helen immediately switched into her super-hostess mode and began pulling the salad fixings out of the fridge. Phoebe headed home to get some pies for dessert, while Zoe and Rose began gathering plates, cutlery, and napkins.

Having been sent to count how many were actually there, Ava stood in the doorway and began to number off the people who would be partaking of the meal. There was Arthur and herself, Helen, Zoe, Phoebe, their two spouses and four children, Rose, Daniel, John and Carrie, and two other couples whose names she couldn’t recall. In total that made nineteen people; she hoped there were lots of lawn chairs!

It turned out that there was no need to worry. The Alpha house was well-stocked with chairs, and Helen was more than capable of dealing with an impromptu meal for nearly twenty. Ava doubted she could ever be as organized as the older woman, and sincerely hoped that Helen would stay around for years to come.

The meal was a success and Arthur had inquired politely how her day was. Ava skimmed over the meeting with Marla, instead commenting on how much she’d enjoyed their tea at the Grey Goose. Phoebe had chimed in, telling about the boots and handbag she’d purchased, and Zoe described the new coats she and Rose had purchased.

“But Ava didn’t buy anything, Arthur; you won’t have to worry about her overspending.” Zoe had nudged Ava playfully to show the comment was a joke.

“You didn’t see anything that you liked?” Arthur queried while serving himself some more salad.

“Not really.” She took the bowl from him and passed it over to Zoe.

“Oh, come on, Ava. You were almost drooling over that green sweater at Carter’s Casuals.” Phoebe chided.

“I didn’t really need it.” She murmured, glancing at Arthur out of the corner of her eye. She’d really have to talk to him about getting a job.

Arthur looked as if he was about to comment, but then Zoe’s youngest knocked over her glass of milk and in the confusion, the topic was dropped.

After dinner, a small bonfire was lit for roasting marshmallows. Everyone gathered round, couples naturally drifting together, while Helen benevolently watched her grandchildren running about the yard chasing the bubbles she was blowing for them. In the flickering fire light, Ava scanned the assembled group. Carrie was sitting between John’s legs with her back resting against his chest. John’s arms were wrapped around her swollen body, gently caressing her belly. Zoe was snuggled up to her husband and giggling at whatever he was whispering in her ear, while Phoebe sat beside her mate, contentedly holding his hand.

Ava had learned that the other two couples were Michael and his mate Susan, and Franz with his fiancée, Giselle. The two men had helped look for Thomas the night before. They were sitting nearby, quietly talking about a movie they had seen recently. Near the edge of the circle of light cast by the fire, Ava could just make out Rose and Daniel holding hands, the sight bringing a smile to her face. From what she had seen, they were a good match, and she hoped things turned out well for them.

When everyone had first sat down, Arthur had pulled Ava to his side, wrapping his arm around her waist. Now he was moving his hand across her thigh, tracing lazy patterns on the sensitive skin. Frissons of awareness shot through her body. It was decidedly unsettling how his touch could affect her, and she wasn’t sure she liked him having such power over her.

Surreptitiously, she observed him, noting he seemed to be mesmerized by the dancing flames and totally unaware of what his hand was doing.

She traced his features with her eyes, taking in his straight nose and strong jaw. A strand of dark hair fell across his forehead; she had to clench her fists to keep from reaching up and brushing it back into place. Forcing herself to look away, she stared at the fire. Flames danced in the darkness, causing shadows to flicker across the ground and waves of heat to shimmer in the air.

Occasionally a log would shift, sending sparks into the night sky.

The other couples could barely be seen as darkness descended. Encased in their own little pool of light, it was as if she and Arthur were alone in the night. His scent drifted around her, invading her senses and clouding her mind. She found herself leaning towards him. With a start, she pulled herself back and sought a means of distraction.

Reaching for a marshmallow and stabbing it onto a stick, she nonchalantly worked herself away from him. The slight distance made her feel better, more in control, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Concentrating on toasting her marshmallow to perfection, she withdrew it at just the right moment; the skin a warm toasted brown with the promise of a sweet, melted interior. Her mouth watered in anticipation and she sat back, blowing gently to cool the treat in preparation for consuming it. Just when it was ready, a large hand reached around and pulled the stick from her grasp.

Indignantly, she turned around only to see her marshmallow disappearing into Arthur’s mouth.

“Hey! I toasted that!”

Arthur grinned at her. “I know, and I thank you for preparing it just the way I like it.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but Arthur swooped forward and covered her mouth with his. She could taste traces of the sweet confection on his lips and hummed in appreciation. Slowly, they withdrew and she found herself staring into his face, his amber eyes seeming to search hers for the answer to some unspoken question. Something tugged within her, as if she was being pulled into him and she struggled to read his enigmatic expression, wondering if he too felt a sense of connectedness.

Whatever Arthur was looking for he must have found it, for he smiled and lifted her up so she was cradled between his knees, her rear end firmly in contact with him. He pulled her back so that she was leaning against his chest, similar to Carrie and John. Reaching around her, he put another marshmallow on a stick and prepared it, while his chin rested on her head. At first, she was selfconscious, but soon realized that no one was paying them any attention. Slowly, she relaxed within the warm circle of his arms and Arthur, obviously sensing the change in her, growled his approval.

Over the next half hour, they fed each other marshmallows, each one accompanied by a k**s to clean the sticky sweet off their lips. Her breathing grew increasingly ragged. Eventually Arthur muttered something indecipherable then threw the marshmallow sticks into the fire.

In one swift motion, he scooped her up into his arms and stood. “We’re turning in now,” he announced to the others as he began striding towards the house.

She hid her face in his shoulder, embarrassed. “Arthur! What will they think?”

“That we’re newly bonded and I can’t keep my hands off my lovely mate.” And sure enough, the good-natured calls that accompanied them across the yard left her in no doubt that the others were thinking exactly that.