Bright and early the next morning, I got ready in my usual sunrise routine. I yawned as I grabbed my milk bucket and eggs basket and stepped out onto the front porch.

Suddenly, my body was shocked awake to see Adam standing just feet from me.

"Miss Winters," he greeted.

When my breath caught up, I smiled. "Hi, didn't expect to see you already." I strode from the porch and tried to step around him to go to my early chores when he grabbed my wrist, stopping me. My heart thundered. "Hey!"

"I'm making sure." His blue eyes surveyed my palm, as if he was trying to calculate exactly how long the wolfsbane lines were compared to eight hours ago. Luckily, I kept honey on it all night. He looked back to me as if satisfied. "It looks okay."

"See? Told ya." I grinned teasingly and started toward the goats. "I said it would be healed in just a few days." I turned back to gloat, but he was completely gone. "Adam? Oh come on, you can't just disappear on me." I giggled at the trees. "Really? No even goodbye?"

"Goodbye Miss Winters," was a low echo from somewhere in the woods.

I shook my head with a laugh and headed back to milk Buttons and friends. I talked to invisible Adam clear through chores and headed back inside with full containers of milk and eggs.

The rest of the day was normal. More weeding outside after breakfast. Break for lunch and then the days cakes for the diner. As I thought about it, that was my life. Those were my hobbies. I guess I was kind of just sailing through life.

I wish Nate wouldn't have pointed that out. Now it feels like there has always been something missing.

Rude.

I was fine.

Hmm... maybe Adam was right too. I did keep saying I'm fine an awful lot.

A sigh shook my chest as I plastered the date and label stickers on the fresh cake boxes.

Stupid wolves.

I had about an hour before work, so I started getting makeup and hair done.

Stupid wolves. But I kept looking at the clock and naming the time until eleven. Like they always show up just at closing time and it's when I'd get to see them?

That's dumb.

Also, eight more hours.

Stupid wolves, making me excited to see them.

When my routine was finished and I was ready for work, I decided to just go in. I had been on break for extra time last night, maybe I'd just off the clock make up for it with a little early work. That and I was bored with checking social media again.

I grabbed a cake and my keys and took it out to the truck, placing the cake down in its usual spot on the side seat and headed back for another two.

As I was coming out of the house, the final cake propped in hand both Nate and Adam were there. They never ceased to startle me out of nowhere. Were they trying to act not human?

"Hey Sweetheart," Nate cooed and grabbed the cake from my hands.

"Hey," I complained. "I had that just fine."

"Oh, but it's my cake," he scolded.

"Yours, is it?" I snickered.

"Yes," he stated matter of factly, and then held out a receipt. "They're actually all mine today."

I snatched the paper from his hands as he chuckled. It was legit. He'd paid for all four cakes today.

"You should have let me know. I could have made them with extra love," I teased and winked.

"I'm sure they've got enough love to go around, but maybe tomorrow."

Adam grabbed the cake from Nate's hands and took it toward a shiny black two-seater sports car parked behind my beat-up thing.

"Whoa, is that your car?"

He nodded, delighted in his baby. "Yep, it's an actual ..." and he kept talking about car names and stats I didn't care about. It flew by my head as I watched Adam take another of the cakes over. He moved so fluidly like a dance. I mean I took martial arts for years as a kid, but I was nowhere near the ease of movement of a wolf. I was annoyed at his graceful gate.

Stupid ballerina wolf.

I then snickered at the tutu'd image of a prancing wolf that filled my head.

"So, next week?" Nate must have changed topics while I daydreamed.

"Huh?"

"South Thai? We could go next week? On a date?" He eyed me with a prominent tilted gaze, his eyes boring into every speck of life I had.

The silence around us was annoying. His stupid gaze was annoying too.

Stupid wolves.

"No. And don't give me that pushy look."

"Pushy look, what?" He was confused and then grinned as he thought something through. "How about I really give you a pushy look." His dark watch shoved deep inside me, the air feeling heavy and he laughed like he was playing a game. "Elise Winters. Go to dinner with me next Friday night."

My mouth almost formed the words yes right away. There was a heat at the base of my skull reaching out through my limbs. Oh my gosh, was I being alpha commanded? Was Nate an alpha? Milo never did a command on me before, so I wasn't sure what it was supposed to feel like.

Could you even command a human?

Nate's glance turned away from me and he spoke low as if he were answering Adam from behind him. It broke just enough of the hold. "It won't work on her, so it doesn't matter."

But I heard it.

Maybe he was an alpha. I tried to flush the burning through my limbs. Why was it working? Clearly he didn't think it should. I moved my body through the heat and tried twisting to coyness. If I wasn't getting out of dinner at least he couldn't know whatever the pushy look was, worked. "Fine. South Thai. And you better leave a very hearty tip."

He laughed but the air didn't thin. "I will, Sweetheart."

I gave him a mean look. "And don't you dare use that pushy look again. If you try to make me go to the movies or kiss you after or something, I'll fight it."

Oh goodness, I'd fight it.

His head tilted to the side amused. "Guess we better just see that kiss now instead."

What?

What?!

Oh goodness. Fight it. I'd fight it.

Stupid wolves!

The heat sucked through my limbs and all went to my lips. I forced them together like I'd squeeze the command away, but I couldn't. I'd have to do it! I'd have to stinkin' do it. I stepped one foot toward him and he grinned like Christmas. He was getting his way, but still thought I didn't have to. I'd just have to play it coy like I didn't mind, and thought to kiss Nate's cheek when Adam finished with the cakes and stood by his side. Nate momentarily glanced to him.

In that instant of a break I twisted to Adam, put my hands at his neck pulling him down to my level and kissed Adam full on.

My world paused.

It was beautiful.

What?

What!

My first kiss.

This was what kissing was like? This was what kissing was like! What the heck world! Why didn't I ever want to date or kiss anyone before?!

Adam's fingertips touched delicately at my hips, his lips soft against mine.

Holy. Kissing was freakin' awesome.

I was getting myself some more of these.

A clapping sounded from somewhere minuscule in the universe. Nate laughed, "Well played Elise. Well played."

Adam broke away with eyes wider and holding more emotion than I'd ever seen him with. He seemed petrified. He glanced to Nate and then sprinted into the woods, disappearing in a second.

I snickered embarrassed and called after him. "Oh no! Sorry! Adam? Sorry about bro code man!" I should not have kissed Nate's best friend!

But I couldn't say I didn't like it.

When I looked back, Nate was shaking his head. "That was mean."

I bit my lip in confession. "Yeah, I know." I called out to the trees again. "Sorry! It was my fault." I giggled and looked back to Nate. "Don't give him a hard time for that. I'm to blame."

Nate looked fakely worn. "I may actually have to punish him. I have to save face you know." He twinkled. "That is unless I get a kiss too. I might overlook it then."

The command air was gone, so it was back to silliness. But I nodded anyway. Maybe trying out another kiss wouldn't be too bad after all. I went for a simple one on his cheek. "There." I winked back. "Now I better not hear of you making poor Adam run laps or something."

He laughed. "I promise."

"Good."

He took a moment and then his posture changed. "Hey, so, none of us will be at the diner today. Sorry, I know you'll miss us, but I gotta get these cakes back to the group. We are having a bunch of planning meetings tonight and I don't think I'll be able to sneak away."

I shrugged nonchalant, but actually was a little sad. "No problem."

He lifted a brow playfully. "Do you want me to call you?"

"Hmm..." A smile was trying to be pressed down. "But nah. Not if you've got lots of work to do."

Nate chuckled. "Well, I've got my date and even a kiss. Getting a phone call will be easy."

It probably would be.

Now why wasn't I as irritated about that as I should be?

"Get out of here." I pointed to his sleek black beauty of a car.

He nodded and then kissed me on the forehead. It was sweet.

Wow, definitely didn't hate kissing after all. I'd been missing out. Was there this whole world of love out there I never cared about? I felt like my walls were cracking down. Maybe Nate was moving something buried inside me.

"I'll try to see you tomorrow, Elise. No promises, but I'll at least be back in a couple days."

"Bye Nate. Tell Adam I'm sorry again."

Laughing, he opened his car. "I bet he's not sorry."

Heat dashed up my neck and I turned back to my house in blushing mortification. I got a few steps in before I took the walk of shame back out to my truck.

I had to go to work.

Nate waved through his window and backed out of the drive.

I buried my hot face in my hands.

Stupid wolves.