Bound to Kill

Darius

After slamming the door in her face, I watch her through the window like a creep. For a while, she stands there stupified, then shifts into the most beautiful black wolf and disappears into the woods. I storm to my private gym and take my frustration out on the boxing bag. Why did she look sucker-punched? Doesn’t she feel the bond? With a roar, I punch the bag, knocking it off its bracket. Plaster crumbles from the ceiling, but my temperament slightly improves.

After a quick shower, I head to Dukes. All pack members avert their eyes as I barge past, but my sullen mood doesn’t deter Hunter.

“Darius, wait up. What happened?”

I watch his reaction closely. “The girl from last night, she’s my mate.” Silence seems to stretch on forever. “Bartender, a Scotch, neat.”

The chick behind the bar—Shelley, I think her name is—gives me a flirtatious look when handing me my drink, deliberately caressing my hand before biting her bottom lip. Anything else you need, handsome?” she purrs, looking at me with thirst.

I peruse her, appreciating her full lips that would look sexy wrapped around my cock. Smiling, I decide she’ll do nicely. “There is one thing I’d—”

“We’re good,” Hunter interrupts.

The bartender pouts and then moves to serve another customer. I glare at my Beta for cockblocking me.

“What the fuck?”

“Now isn’t the time tae worry about getting your dick sucked,” he growls, reading me perfectly, like always. “Lexi is yer mate!” Hunter shakes his head, a wistful smile on his face. “I know you’re spooked, but maybe this is good for ya. It won’t be like Kayleigh.”

My mood sours further. “Don’t mention that name!” I feel my wolf come to the surface but fight the shift. He’d only run to Lexi. What happened with our ex doesn’t concern him; he cares about one thing only—claiming our mate.

“For fuck’s sake, D! It’s been two years. Move oan. Don’t fuck this up for yersel. The mate bond is a gift, not a curse.” My Beta huffs out an air of frustration. “I spent a lotta time with Lexi last night. She’s a good match for ya.”

My wolf stirs as visions of Hunter and Lexi flirting all night run through my mind. I clench the glass in my hand tighter while attempting to regain control, but my response comes out harsh. Deadly. “I’m well aware of the time you spent trying to get into my mate’s pants.” It’s taking every ounce of willpower I have not to break my best friend’s nose.

He doesn’t back down. “Just so I kin keep up, are ya gonna run scared and fuck every female in the vicinity? Or be a possessive son of a bitch who’s gonna make heads roll for looking at Lexi?” We glare at one another. “I’m gonna say this because no one else will. Get. Yer. Shit. Together.”

He leaves me to stew in my misery alone. I can’t decide if I’m relieved or pissed off. I knock back the rest of my Scotch and slam the glass on the bar. “Shirley! Another Scotch!”

“It’s Cheryl, sugar.” She sways her hips on the way to pour my drink before sauntering over, leaning on the bar to give me an eyeful of her double Ds. “I finish at midnight. You should stick around.”

I watch as she strolls to the other end of the bar to serve one of the regulars. She’s undeniably hot: blonde hair, a perky ass and a killer set. Usually, a proposition from someone like her would make my dick twitch, but nada. For the first time in two years, I have no interest in a one-night stand. I’m screwed.

The bartender continues to make passes, finding reasons to touch me, fake laughing, dropping a pencil and bending over in my line of sight. I try to want her, but at this point, my cock has said ‘Deuces’ and went into hibernation.

Sometime later, when I’m hammered—a feat considering my wolf’s metabolism—I feel a familiar tug in my chest. A glance over my shoulder confirms my suspicion; Lexi entered the bar. She’s wearing tight leather pants and a tiny red crop top, leaving her toned midsection on display. My cock immediately stirs. Now you wake up? My gaze ascends to her heart-shaped face, perfectly framed by silky brunette hair that floats down her back. I bite the inside of my cheek while taking in her beauty. Those high cheekbones, cute button nose and hazel eyes narrowed and focused on Sherry, who is currently pawing at my bicep. Lexi looks fierce, possessive and pissed. And it makes my dick hard.

Alexa

It takes several hours of running in the Shadow Creek woods to get my head straight after the curveball Darius threw me. Mate. So that’s why I’m so drawn to him? A typical wolf would have picked up on the bond right away. But I’m not your average wolf. I grew up in a lab, ignorant of our ways. My wolf may be overjoyed we found our mate, but I’m still trying to wrap my head around him being my mark.

After freshening up at the hotel, I head to Dukes. The first thing I see is the bartender clinging to Darius. An uncontrollable wave of fury steamrolls through me. I have to battle my wolf to stay in control. My eyes meet his, a smug look on his face as he senses my anger. Dick! My nails dig into my palms so hard I break the skin, but the cuts heal before blood spills. Murderous thoughts run through my mind. I smile at him maliciously before flipping him the bird and heading to the opposite end of the bar.

As I sit, a message comes through on my work phone.

Handler: Update?

Alexa: No signs of foul play. I’ve requested to join the pack to dig deeper. Withholding information has slowed me down.

Handler: I’ve already told you the cause is not your concern. Just do your job, dammit!

A growl vibrates in the back of my throat. My fingers tap furiously on the screen.

Alexa: And I’ve told you I don’t kill innocents. If I don’t see a cause, the hit’s a no-go.

Not caring for his response, I switch my work phone off. I’ve got enough to worry about without dealing with his tantrum. I can’t help but wonder what his deal is. I’ve never seen him this wound up over a job. Is it personal?

I finally order a bourbon and take a swig while contemplating my next move. The mate thing is a mind fuck, but I still have a job to do. My burner pings.

Hunter: Hey, I heard the news. I’m guessing that’s why Darius was being an arsehole last night. Look, he has some... issues when it comes to relationships. It’s not my story to share. But give him a shot. It may take a minute to pull his head out of his arse, but he’s a good lad.

I don’t know what to say, so I put my phone away and buy another drink. Why couldn’t the Fates choose Hunter for me?

Suddenly, an arm wraps around my shoulder, some random guy looking to get laid. I don’t want to know what caused the stench coming from his mouth, but it makes me gag. Before I put him in his place, he’s ripped away and tossed halfway across the bar.

Every muscle on Darius’ body is tense. “She. Is. Mine!”

My jaw drops. Did he just stake a claim on me? This Alpha’s lost his damn mind! I spring out of my seat, charging over to him. “I belong to no one, and I had him (I point an angry finger at the creep) handled!”

“Really? Didn’t look like it from where I was standing,” he says in a low, dangerous voice that would raise my wolf’s hackles.

We’re in each others’ faces, neither willing to submit. Angry in our own right but feeling each others’ rage through the bond. And each others’ lust. It’s a heady combination. I don’t know who breaks first, but our stare-down turns into a battle of tongues, passionate and aggressive. I bite his lip hard. Darius hisses, then groans. His fingers grip my hair, tugging roughly, repositioning me to deepen the kiss. A wolf whistle breaks the spell. We jolt apart as if electrocuted. My eyes widen as I look at him, embarrassed by my lack of self-control. I can’t be around him right now. I’m out the door in a heartbeat.

Back at the hotel, I do some online research on the Alpha. Most of the information I find is already in the SEB file, but there’s mention of a girlfriend who disappeared two years ago.

“Darius was a person of interest,” I voice out loud. “Why would the SEB omit that?” A hundred different scenarios run through my head. Did he kill her?