beautiful cover by @baddreamerxo

***

"Nobody's touching my car" I say for the second time, louder. Apparently once wasn't enough.

"No one will steal your stinking car." Suicidal idiot 2 groans.

"Listen and listen carefully sore loser number Two. One more comment on my car and you'll lose your head too." I warn him in a deadly tone.

He watches me disgusted. Seems he likes me as much as I like him, at least we're on the same page. I hear Nate sigh beside me. He hands his own keys to the guy before heading towards my passenger's side.

"Here, I'm coming with you, that way everyone keeps their head."

I'm about to complain but he sends me a warning glare, his patience wearing thin. I smile smugly at the two idiots and get in the car. I shudder when I close the door and can only smell his scent and mine around us. He's way too close for my comfort.

"So. Where to ?" I ask in an attempt to diverge from the crazy thoughts flying in my head. Like closing the small distance between us and claiming his lips, roaming my hands in his hair or sliding onto his muscular lap. The tension is unbearable. I don't know what he reads in my stare but his eyes show me his lust. After a moment he clears his throat and I watch his Adams apple move up and down. I lick my lips.

"We're not far, just follow the tracks."

I nod and start the engine. I drive down the road in silence glancing in the rear view mirror from time to time to see the other cars following us.

"You're good" He murmurs.

"What ?" I ask, not sure he was actually talking to me.

"I never thought you would be able to take a turn so tightly. I was persuaded I'd won."

I smile with pride.

"You just need a little practice." I joke.

"I see I'm not the only one with the big ego." He laughs. The sound is divine in my ears, even my wolf starts to purr. We arrive in front of a mansion in minutes and I gape at the sight.

"It's huge" I whistle.

I count three storeys, it's almost as if they added pieces to an already existing small castle. The new and old parts mixing harmoniously together. The gardens are perfectly mowed and there is an imposing fountain in the middle of the place in front of the entrance.

Someone's got taste.

Dozens of people are scurrying around working. I watch the spectacle impressed. Nate opens his door and I am bombarded with hundreds of different scents. How many people live here ? I'm not used to seeing that many people together. Rogues stay alone most of the time, or in pairs when they find their mates. The packs I met in the past were never that important in numbers.

I stay cautious as I feel six fighters carefully observing me, two hiding in the forest in their wolf form, at the ready for any coming danger. I smile sweetly at the one up the stairs in front of the entrance and he growls. I'm not surprised, nobody likes rogues. Even rogues don't like rogues. I follow Nate inside, taking my time analyzing my surroundings, the decor is more modern than I thought it would be, with high ceilings. I can see each alpha put his mark, changing it subtly each time. I spot a few artifacts; A Chinese vase from the early days of the Ming Dynasty, an Italian tapestry from the Fifteenth Century and even an African sculpture, knowing the style and its wood being so old I'd say it's probably from the Third Century. Once again I am impressed at what I see.

The alpha leads me to a room further in the house in an area less frequented. I can hear his beta already inside and I smirk, he must have hurried to arrive before us. I enter the room and am surprised to find it almost bare, the colors a simple brown, with a huge desk and chairs on each side of it on the left, and a white couch with a table in front on the right. Nate sits down behind the desk and invites me to take a seat in front of him with a wave of his hand, his beta standing at his side glaring at me. I think he wants to intimidate me by showing me the power emanating from him but he's only a beta, a fly under my shoe. My smirk is still embedded on my face as I stare at him, wondering how much I need to push to make him lose it.

"So, Hope." Nate starts.

I ignore him still concentrated on dumb number 1. I realized I have more control over myself if I don't stare at the beautiful emerald eyes of my supposed mate. I'm still not sure about that one, from what I've seen a mate wouldn't be able to keep his hands off me. I can feel the bond pulling me to him, making me crave his touch but it's as if the bond isn't reciprocated. Could it be that he's my mate but I'm not his ?

Ah... such a twisted endless curse.

I sigh loudly, fixing the beta of the pack.

"Damn I'm parched. Can you bring me some water ?" I request as if I had a butler in front of me instead, raising a brow, demanding.

He growls at me, his hands trembling at his sides as he tries to restrain himself.

"I wouldnt give you a drop if you were dying."

"Come on Scooby, bring water to mama." I coo taping my leg softly.

His glare intensifies if it's even possible and I hear Nate clear his throat. I look at him from the corner of my eyes as does beta, but both our bodies are still facing each other, ready to fight. My skin hums in anticipation.

"Hope please. Nobody is saying you don't deserve your prize." His mesmerizing voice tells me

"I am" His second interjects.

I nod impressed, at least he's being frank.

"That's to be expected from someone who arrived... what, fifth ?" I taunt.

"Forth" He grits.

"Oh, poor thing. Not even on the podium."

He takes an involuntary step and my muscles tense.

Just a little more...

"So, as I was saying." Nate starts back, attempting to control the conversation. "We'll just ask you a few questions." I listen to his low and sexy voice. It's really hard to stay concentrated when a seductive alpha is talking to you in a tone rising out of patience.

"Say Droopy how about you go take a nap ?" I smile devilishly.

I'm having a lot of fun, it's been a while since I interacted that much with someone.

"How about you shut up Lafayette."

And he can respond. A-ma-zing.

He even knows his classics. Nate's hands shoot to his hair and he starts to grip at it. I want to do the same. I wonder how soft his hair will feel on my fingers.

"Jared, enough." He orders exasperatedly.

"He's right Rantanplan, you should listen to your master." I continue without a care in the world.

"Yo, Pluto, how about I teach you some manners." Jared bites back.

I can't help laughing.

"Out !" Nate yells suddenly.

Finally !

I stand up to leave but halt in my step when I hear him continue.

"Hope, you're staying. Jared out." He says threateningly.

"Unbelievable" I hear the beta mumble under his breath before exiting the room.

Right ?! I'm the one who wants to get out.

I sit back down pouting. What now ? It's going to be difficult to avoid looking at him if we're alone. He picks up a piece of paper and a pen on his desk.

"Name"

I roll my eyes.

"Name" He repeats in an order. It's not as if he already knows it right ?

"Tomb Raider." I answer as seriously as I can.

I see him start scribbling down before he stops abruptly, his jaw twitching.

"Tomb, T-O-M-B, Raider, R-A-I-D-E-R" I spell for him as if his only problem is the orthography of the name. I even tap the paper with my index to add some effect to it, telling him to write it down.

His eyes glow yellow and I'm already thinking about how to keep them glowing. I see him scribble Hope Michaels in refined cursive.

See, why did you need to ask then ?

"Age" He continues

Ah.. the big question.

I don't count the passing years anymore. I mean, there wasn't even a calendar when I was created.

"25." I answer a half truth. I stopped aging at 25. Wolves live longer lives than humans, we all stop aging at 25 because this is the age where we are the most powerful. Completely grown, in control of our capacities, agile. An old body would only slow us down. And then, after a long life we start aging again. However I never did.

"What ?" I inquire as I see Nate looking at me amused.

"You're older than me."

"Then show some respect pup." I smile.

He frowns.

"I'm 24" He feels the need to precise.

I relax in my chair.

"Still a pup." I shrug.

My god, 24, it's as if he were born yesterday.

"I can assure you nothing about me is anything but of a man." He says seductively his eyes lustful.

Alright, I'm undressing him right now to check it for myself.

He concentrates back on the task at hand and I tense.

"Old pack." He requests next.

"Wiped out"

Liar, liar, pants on fire.

"Still, I need the name."

"Don't remember."

He sighs but continues, however I'm sure he'll ask again later.

"Family."

"None. You ?" He seems taken aback by my question.

Am I not supposed to ask questions ?

"Killed by rogues." He tells me eventually in a quiet voice. I can feel his sadness mixed with anger.

I nod silently. Nothing I'd say would help. But I get why he doesn't like rogues. And if the last alpha was killed by them I understand their hatred for me.

The silence stretches before he regains his focus.

"Where do you live ?"

"I'm a rogue, I don't stay in one place."

He raises his brow to challenge me to deny that I have some place of my own. I roll my eyes at his tenacity.

"Manhattan."

New York is one of the rare cities not belonging to any pack, a place where meetings of different packs can occur. As Las Vegas, Miami and Chicago.

Alright, I might have had something to do with it too.

Nates brows raise further in surprise.

"What are you doing so far west ?"

"I travel a lot to race."

"Is that what you do for a living ? That's a nice life." I can hear the mockery in his tone and the yearning to be free of responsibilities.

"No. I'm a translator." I correct him.

"Really ?" He asks impressed. "How many languages do you speak ?"

"A few"

Right...

I talk almost all languages, even the dead ones like ancient Greek and Latin, and the ancient versions of Gaelic and German. I only have difficulties with the numerous African tribes languages. I didn't have the time to study them correctly. Nate nods and writes down on his paper again.

"Allergies ? I need to give instructions for tonights diner." He clarifies when he sees my shocked expression.

"I'm not eating here." I answer simply.

"Yes you are."

"No I'm not. There's a race in two days up north. I gotta go."

His grip tightens on his pen and the glowing eyes are back, enhanced by his tensed jaws.

"You are not leaving before I say so. Otherwise it'll be by foot."

I gasp. He would take my baby hostage ! The vile creature !

"Allergies." He tries again.

"Egoistical puppies"

His eyes shoot to mine, full of warning. I can feel the tension in the room, the power emanating from him and I marvel in it. The electricity grazes possessively my skin. Even the growl in his throat makes me shudder in pleasure.

The moment is broken when the door flies open without warning letting a woman enter. She's beautiful and elegant but I think she would look even better with less makeup on her face. Her blond hair tied tightly in an elegant bun and her blue eyes shining as they fall on him.

Is she his mate ?

My heart breaks at the thought.

'No. He's our mate.' My wolf growls.

"Nate" Her voice drools sickeningly. Her perfumes hits my senses and I flinch. She crosses the room quickly and throws herself on his lap, her arms wrapping around his neck. My canines elongate in my mouth and I close my eyes before they can see them shine red. My claws stretch into the armrest's leather of the chair as the girl shows him her enormous cleavage.

This is insane. I can't be affected that much.

"I was looking for you everywhere." She continues, ignoring my presence.

Maybe I should leave and give them some privacy. Also, I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to refrain myself from tearing her head off and throwing her limp body through the window.

My gaze meets Nate's, he's watching me, not missing a beat, an indecipherable expression on. Did he see my internal banter ?

"Baby, you said you would come see me after your race." She coos and I feel the bile rise in my throat.

Nate is still looking at me, ignoring her while her hands are slowly grazing down his stomach and disappearing under the desk where my eyes can't follow. I want to rip them off of him and place my own hands in their place, feel his strong muscles under my fingers. He sifts in his chair and I see the lust in his stare as he watches me. I feel hot suddenly. He grasps her arms to stop them from moving down and bring them back on the desk. He finally looks at her and I miss his green eyes on me.

"Listen Cory, I need to finish some papers. I'll come as soon as I'm finished."

"Don't take too much time." She pouts sweetly.

"I won't" He smiles at her before she gets up and leaves the room, but not before sending her most threatening glare my way as a warning not to touch what's hers. When she's gone we avoid each other's stare uncomfortably. I look at my hands concentrating on the traits marking them.

"Nice mate. She's beautiful." I try to say enthusiastically when I'm screaming inside.

"She's not my mate."

My head shoots up.

"She's just... I haven't found my mate yet." He adds awkwardly.

"Oh." I swallow with difficulty.

That's bad. Now I have thousands of ideas crossing my mind involving the both of us, naked in a bed preferably.

He fixes the papers in his hands, remembering why we're here in the first place.

"So no allergies."

"No." I mumble distractedly.

"Color of the wolf ? Maybe we can retrace your origins from it." He explains spiritedly.

"Brown" And here I go again. Another lie. "You ?" I ask intrigued.

"What do you think ?" He taunts me.

"I guess black." I shrug. "Most aphas are."

He smirks.

"I'm not most alphas."

I think for a second.

"Grey ?"

"White" He answers with pride. My eyes widen.

That's rare.

The legends say that only the most powerful wolves are granted the white fur.

"Nate Turner. You are full of surprises." I say to taste his name on my tongue. Divine. I see him shudder surreptitiously.

Suddenly I am reminded of an other legend.

"I heard somewhere that the white wolf has a full moon as a mark."

The mark of the Moon is a crescent moon somewhere on the wolf's body. It varies from one wolf to the other. Once the wolf finds his mate the mark is completed with the other half. However, as always, I'm a little different. Since I am the child of the Sun, instead of a moon I have a small sun drawn over my breast. Of course because the Sun is prideful he wanted his mark seen and put it somewhere everyone could see. Since then some genius invented makeup and I can mask it. Fifty years ago I even built an altar in his name. I can also hide it with a shirt since I don't have to wear a dress with a corset.

I start searching his body with my eyes as if, if I try hard enough, I'll be able to see through his cloths.

Or I could just take them off.

"You heard about that, huh ? Even my pack doesnt know about that."

"I think Cory is aware." I joke bitterly.

He looks away.

Touchy subject. Noted.

"Brown isnt bad either." He tries to change the subject.

It's the most common color for wolves, the darker they get the stronger they are. And then there's white.

And then there's yellow...

"You dont need to try to make me feel better about it. I like my fur."

"Sometimes it's better to be like everybody else. At first the pack didn't really accept me. They didn't know about white wolves. They still don't, not really."

"So, do you shine in the dark ?" I joke to lighten the mood.

A huge and amazing smile splits his face and my heart stops. I remember to breathe only when my lungs start to burn.

The phone rings on his desk and he picks it up.

"Yes ?"

I watch him listen intently to the caller. He puts his hand on the object to muffle the sound.

"Look I need to take this. Someone will bring you to a room we arranged for you and I'll see you later for diner."

I look at him amused. I could easily leave and no one would be able to stop me but I want to observe him a little longer and learn more about him.

"Sure." I nod and leave the room.