01 Taming the Wolf - Anna Avery (5 page)

Adam walked closer, resting his hand on the wall to pin me in my place. His blond hair fell forward as he looked down at me. Slowly, I trailed my gaze up and met his stare. We watched each other for a few moments before he spoke.

“The group is going to Weston’s tonight. I’d like you to come.”

“You think I’m ready to mingle?”

“Did you attack anyone today while shopping?” His voice was amused. Since I’d been living in the Big Horn Mountains, I’d never been allowed to leave. The fact that I left today, without his consent, was dangerous.

“No. I was going to ask, but I couldn’t find you and we needed groceries. I didn’t—.”

Adam placed a finger on my lips to silence my lies. I hadn’t even thought about asking for his permission, and he knew it.

“Then I suppose you’re ready. You deserve a fun night, and I know all the men wanna see your moves,” he quirked an eyebrow as his hand settled on my hip. I dug my fingers into the brick behind me to keep from reaching out.

“Okay.” I breathed, my voice uneven.

“Sir,” a voice interrupted and Adam stepped away, the stony alpha disguise was back in place. Adam went with Asher, and I took a moment to catch my breath. It pissed me off he thought he could toy with my emotions and then ignore me as if our interaction never happened.

I smacked the irritation away and focused on the fact that I was going to Weston’s with the rest of the group instead of staying home doing laundry. If the
men
wanted to see my moves on the dance floor, then this girl was happy to oblige.

Weston’s gravel parking lot was packed full of pickup trucks and SUVs. The barn siding of the bar was painted red and a wood sign above the door announced it was the best rootin’ tootin’ country bar around. I hopped out of Sawyer’s truck and adjusted my flannel shirt tied just under my breasts. A good portion of my stomach was exposed, and my denim skirt showcased my tan legs. The clothes, down to the brown cowboy boots, were Elle’s. My wardrobe didn’t consist of anything that would make a man drool, and tonight, I was on a mission.

Sawyer wore jeans and a tight fitting plaid shirt. His spiky blonde hair was perfectly mussed and his woodsy, spicy scent enticed me. Sawyer was growing on me. While he could be a pig most of the time, he’d taken his time and tried to get to know me.

“You ready, little lady?” Sawyer asked in his best cowboy voice.

I laughed and looped my arm with his as we walked into Weston’s. The entire place was one big dance floor with tables and a bar that surrounded it. Sawdust covered the ground and large industrial lights hung from wood rafters. Music beat against my sensitive eardrums causing me to cringe. I took a moment to tune it out as best I could. Sawyer and I walked towards the bar, his hand on the small of my back. My eyes roamed over the large space. The dance floor was congested with people line dancing. As my gaze traveled over the patrons, they stopped when they met with a pair of cobalt eyes. Adam was dressed in jeans and a tight fitting t-shirt that hugged his broad chest. His blond hair had been freshly cut and fell to his jawline now. He sat at a table with a group of our pack mates, Eve propped on his lap. My wolf roared at seeing her on him.

Adam looked away and laughed at something someone said, but soon returned his attention towards me. I stared bullets, hating that he caused this reaction.

“Anna?”

I broke my gaze and looked up at Sawyer. I grabbed the longneck he offered and took a long drink to snuff the fire that erupted in my stomach. Making our way over to the table, I leaned into Sawyer’s arm.

Adam’s eyes flicked to our closeness. His lips tightened and his hand on the table fisted. A smile curled my lips, happy that seeing me with someone else bothered him. Sawyer wrapped an arm around my waist, his hand caressing my bare skin. Adam squirmed even more.

“Well, lookie here. The pup is running with the big dogs,” Joe said, causing laughter to circle the table.

“I bet this pup can drink you under the table, old man,” I laughed. Joe wasn’t actually old. He was in his mid-thirties, but had been a wolf since he was nineteen. He ranked pretty high on the totem pole.

“Is that so?” he teased, a glint reflecting in his brown eyes.

I nodded. “Line ‘em up.”

After ten minutes, Joe and I stood on either side of an empty table, six shots in front of each of us. Our pack surrounded us, taking bets on who would finish first. Sawyer stood next to me, his hand rubbing my ass. I shot him a disapproving look, and he smiled and withdrew his grip.

“Ready?” Elle asked and we nodded. “Go!”

I slammed the first shot and then the second. The tequila burned my throat, but I wouldn’t let that stop me from winning. Joe was on his third shot. I slammed shot three and four down, took a moment to breathe and then attacked the last two. Joe and I reached for the sixth one at the same time. I slammed the glass right before Joe and the pack cheered.

“You’re pretty fierce, little one.” Joe laughed as he clapped me on the back.

“That’s what they keep telling me.” I smiled in return.

“Excuse me, but I believe I owe the woman who kicked your ass a dance,” Sawyer said, grabbing my hand.

“So long as she saves one for me,” Joe replied.

“I don’t know. I wouldn’t want you to break a hip.”

Joe tousled my hair and I laughed. He and I always went back and forth with the banter. He was like the brother I never had but always wanted.

I allowed Sawyer to drag me onto the dance floor. The line dancers were gone and couples filled the space.
(Kissed you) Goodnight
by Gloriana played. Sawyer placed his hands on either side of my hips, his fingers warm against my skin, and drew me towards him. Placing my arms on his shoulders, I let him guide me along the dance floor. I rested my head against his chest and inhaled the scent of him. It’d been so long since I’d been with a man. Sawyer may have been rough around the edges, but he was a good man. I had fun getting to know him and being in his arms made me feel safe. My body reacted to his masculinity, heating up and ready for him. I was proud I was stronger than my urges, but it frustrated the hell out of my libido.

“You feel so good in my arms,” Sawyer spoke softly.

“I was just thinking the same thing.” I smiled up at him, loving how his eyes sparkled when he looked at me. Ever so slowly, he lowered his head towards mine and with the softest brush against my lips, he kissed me. My fingers trailed up his neck and ran though his hair as our lips grew more eager.

Realizing we were surrounded by multiple witnesses, I withdrew and looked away with a fresh blush to my cheeks. A smile stretched across my mouth as Sawyer twirled me out and back to his chest. As we moved, Adam watched us with too much interest. He was
always
watching me. I ignored his gaze and enjoyed being close to Sawyer.

When the song ended, a man walked up and asked, “Mind if I cut in?” He was very much human and my wolf sneered at his approach. I tamped down her disapproval and tried to appear like she wasn’t attempting to break free.

Sawyer looked at me, and I looked at the man. He was young, around my age, and had a buzz cut. His skin held quite a few blemishes and his clothes looked like they’d been picked out by his grandparents. Overall, I was impressed at his courage.

“I’d love a dance,” I told him with a smile.

“Are you sure, Anna?” Sawyer asked in a warning tone. Everyone knew I had a hard time keeping a lid on my inner beast, but I was determined to get a handle on her. I didn’t want to spend the rest of my weekends stuck in the house while my pack went bar hopping.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I told Sawyer and accepted the young man’s outstretched hand.

“I’ll be right over here,” Sawyer said as he walked off the dance floor.

“I’m Tim,” the man said as he curled his arm around my waist. As he made contact the hairs on my arms stood on end and my gums became sore as my wolf pushed forward. I closed my eyes and resisted the change. When my wolf settled a little, I opened my eyes and smiled at Tim.

“I’m Anna,” I told him. “Sorry, I’ve had a lot of drinks and the room started to spin. I’m fine now though.” My lie for my bizarre behavior fooled him. He nodded as if he understood and began to move with the music.

Although Tim wasn’t my taste, I wasn’t a mean girl. Before I became a wolf, I would’ve enjoyed dancing with him, but now I could hardly stand to be next to him. I smiled and laughed while he made small talk, but keeping a handle on the wolf was distracting as hell.

“I’ll take it from here,” a masculine voice interrupted one of Tim’s jokes. I smiled apologetically, but was thrilled to be free of him. Tim stared at Adam and lowered his gaze as he scurried away. He may have had the courage to ask a girl to dance, but not enough to refuse a man like Adam.

Adam and I stood in the middle of the dance floor as people danced around us. We stared at one another for a few moments. I’d forgotten to lower my gaze and worried someone in the pack would realize I was staring down our alpha. I dropped my eyes and stared at my boots.

Adam stepped closer, and my wolf howled in excitement. His fingers curled around my waist, sending waves of heat through my skin, and drew my body towards his. Lady Antebellum’s song
I Need You Now
played mimicking my thoughts. Despite my better judgment, I did want him, need him. He affected me in a way Sawyer didn’t. I wanted to lose myself in his embrace and drown in those cobalt eyes, but our pack was present and I had to play the good submissive pup.

Resting my head on his chest, I closed my eyes and listened to his heartbeat.

“Have you thought about what I asked?” Adam whispered.

“I don’t need to think about it, that’s not who I am,” I spoke against his shirt. His muscles tensed.

“I don’t like Sawyer touching you,” he said almost hesitantly. I smiled at his unease about admitting his weakness. Jealously wasn’t something an alpha werewolf felt for someone other than his alpha mate. Something they
shouldn’t
feel for anyone else.

“Shoulda thought about that before you promised me to him,” I paused. “I don’t like Eve touching you,” I admitted and then cringed at allowing my lips to voice my inner thoughts.

Adam’s fingers dug into my side as he drew me even closer, a noticeable bulge growing between his legs. His breath stirred my hair and a low growl echoed through his chest.

“Be mine, Anna. Visit my bed; let me claim your body.”

I groaned in frustration. My libido was revved up and ready for action, but I couldn’t allow it to control me. I would not become a mistress or allow Adam to think so little of me. I deserved his full attention, not just when he wanted to get his rocks off.

I pulled out of his embrace and began to walk away. “I can’t,” I told him sternly.

Adam grabbed my arm and tugged me back. “What do you want from me, Anna? Eve is my alpha mate. We vowed ourselves to each other.”

I snorted. They may not have been married, but the pairing of an alpha couple was serious business. Adam and Eve were born wolves and their pairing had been set in stone since birth. Something about uniting two packs. Eve, from what I heard, came from a pack in Montana. Since she was mated to Adam, the Montana pack was considered our brother pack. It was a bunch of political crap that I didn’t’ have the patience for. No matter how much Adam stirred the fire within me, I wouldn’t allow myself to give into it.

An alpha could only pair with a true blood, not a made wolf like me. All he could ever offer me was a romp in the sheets from time to time. Realization that the attraction I felt would never amount to anything was painful.

“If I can’t have all of you, I don’t want any of you,” I whispered and then broke free of his hold. He didn’t try to stop me this time. I could feel his eyes drilling into my back, but I ignored it. I caught Eve’s glare when I stepped off the dance floor. Annoyed, I headed to the restroom.

When the door shut behind me, I leaned against the wall and grumbled in aggravation. My life was a lot more complicated now that rules dictated my life and tempting men tested the boundaries of my willpower.

The door slammed open, causing my wolf to perk up and growl. Eve strolled through the bathroom and headed straight for me. The clacking of her high-heeled boots was menacing. Her short auburn hair bobbed up and down as she marched directly for me. When I stood up straight, she shoved me against the wall.

“Care to tell me what you and my mate were so chatty about?” Her voice dripped with venom while her nails dug into my shoulder. I winced against the pain and wanted nothing more than to break her hand.

“He was giving me tips to interact with humans,” I lied. “I had a difficult time controlling myself with the man I danced with.” Part of that was true, and I hoped it covered my fib. While my wolf begged for Adam’s attention, she didn’t like Eve at all. Although we respected her, that didn’t mean we liked her—especially when she was sleeping with the man we wanted.

“Just make sure you don’t get any ideas. I’ve seen the way you look at him,” Eve snickered. “Like an alpha would waste his time on a mutt.”