Her Sweet Alpha

Chapter Nine

Dade opened his eyes. The bedroom was dark, but his internal clock told him that it was past six. A light rain pinged off the windows. The forecast called for a wet morning, but a sunny afternoon. It was his wedding day. Tonight, he would mark Halle and she would be his forever.

Halle was draped over his chest. Her sweet fragrance filled his nostrils. Dade breathed deeply. Halle stirred, nuzzling into his warmth. Her hips shifted over his rigid cock. A small moan left her lips. And then she did it again, slower, harder.

Dade held his breath as she began a steady rocking rhythm, her hips performing a circular grind that was going to have him spilling in his shorts. He gripped her plump buttocks with the intention of arresting her movements. Instead, he found himself squeezing her bountiful flesh and arching his hips. “Halle,” he groaned.

“Mm, Dade.” She lifted her head, her brown gaze feverish with desire. She sat up, bracing her hands on his chest, straddling him. “Is this okay?”

He nodded eagerly. “Don’t stop.” He held her waist, urging her to continue. She looked so beautiful on top of him. She had no fucking clue how much he wanted her. How hard he’d been fighting his instincts to claim her. She curled up to him at night, so trusting and innocent while the animal in him wanted nothing more than to roll her onto her belly and mount her.

He didn’t trust himself to remove his underwear, but as she rode him, he could see the head of his erection escaping his briefs. It lay wetly against his stomach, spilling pre-cum as Halle wiggled her way up and down his length.

Dade slid his hands up her waist and cupped her breasts, halting their jiggling motion. He tugged on her ripe nipples, stroking them with his thumbs. Halle shook and cried out as her orgasm hit.

Growling, Dade rolled her beneath him. He whipped her t-shirt up and feasted on her nipples. “Dade,” she moaned, her fingers curling in his hair.

He lifted off her and yanked her pajama bottoms off. The heady scent of her arousal overwhelmed him. Groaning, he dove between her thighs. He didn’t bother removing her panties. He licked her through the soaked silk.

It wasn’t enough. He needed more. Need for his mate clawed his insides. He ripped away the offending silk and licked her pussy from top to bottom. Her rich honey burst upon his taste buds. Halle writhed beneath him. She closed her thighs around his ears. Dade pushed them apart and held them open. He slid his tongue in her cunt, grunting when her fists tightened further in his hair.

The mattress jolted. Dimly, he realized that he was humping the bed. But he didn’t want to cum on her sheets. He wanted Halle to carry his scent.

He rose over her and shoved down his briefs. He ran his cock through her soaked slit.

Halle placed a trembling hand on his belly. “W-what are you doing?”

He knew he was pushing it, but he didn’t sense any fear in her. If he had, he’d have stopped instantly. “Trust me, baby.” He pushed the head of his cock into her. He groaned and his eyes rolled to the back of his head from the heat and the pressure. “You’re so fucking tight.”

“Oh, my God.” She arched her hips, causing her pussy to stretch around another inch of his dick.

Dade growled. “Don’t. Tonight, you’ll take all of me. But for now, you’ll just take my cum. You want that, don’t you?” At her enthusiastic nod and breathless “yes,” he pulled out and stroked his dick over her clit before notching the head into her cunt once more. “Touch yourself. I want you to come with me.”

Hesitantly, she reached down and rubbed her fingers around her swollen clit. He knew she didn’t have a lot of experience. She was still shy with him. That would change tonight. Once she became a shifter, it would give her a confidence and strength she’d never had before.

Dade braced himself on his palms, keeping his thrusts shallow. He didn’t think he could withstand the temptation to mark her if he penetrated her fully. And Halle was hellbent on being married before they consummated their relationship. He suspected that part of her thought he’d dessert her if they had sex. But she had no reason to worry. He wasn’t going anywhere without her. She would understand that soon.

Sweat from his brow, dripped onto her breasts. He couldn’t hold on much longer. “Come for me, Halle,” he commanded. At her cry of pleasure, he let go. Ecstasy whipped up his spine. His arms trembled as what felt like a lifetime worth of cum poured from him and pulsed into Halle’s sheath.

He fell to the side so that he didn’t collapse on top of her. He lay there panting, watching his seed slowly trickle from her opening. Halle’s thighs shook in the aftermath of her orgasm. He reached over and scooped up his cum and pushed it back where it belonged inside of his woman’s body.

Halle giggled and shook her head. “What are you doing?”

“Making sure my woman smells like me.”

“I’m only going to wash it off. I have to be at work for the breakfast crowd.”

“Shifters will know.”

“Other than you and your friends, there have never been any shifters in this town.”

“Baby, you don’t know that. If I hadn’t claimed you, you never would have known we were here.”

“Um, I would have noticed you.”

Because of his size. Humans always stared at him. Were usually terrified if they got a good look at his eyes or his incisors. Halle rolled out of bed and straightened her top, the only item of clothing she wore. The cotton only extended as far as her belly button, leaving her delectable pussy visible to his hungry gaze.

He licked his lips. With some effort, he lifted his eyes to meet hers. “Other shifters aren’t as scary as me. They manage to blend in.”

Halle leaned over and cupped his jaw. “Baby, it’s not just your size. You’re gorgeous.”

He smiled. “I’m glad you think so.”

“I know so.”

He didn’t detect any deception. She truly found him attractive. Or maybe, in that way of humans, she’d developed an emotional attachment to him and that colored her view of him. Whatever the reason, he was grateful for it. “Well, you’re the only one who matters.”

She touched the tip of his nose. “Damn straight.”

He sat up so that they were close enough to kiss. “Are you getting possessive?”

“Yes, because you’re all mine.”

Hearing her claim him as her own made a soft, contented growl leave his chest. “I am,” he confirmed proudly. “And this is going to be the longest day of my life. Waiting for tonight is going to be sheer torture.” He wished that she didn’t have to work today, but she’d felt obligated. She’d given Emmett almost no notice that she would be quitting and leaving town. She was his best and most reliable employee.

“For me, too.”

***

Halle hurried out to her car, mentally going through her to-do list. She checked her watch. Her lunch shift had just ended. She’d refused to cover Angie’s dinner shift. The woman had some nerve, Halle thought with a roll of her eyes. Angie knew she was getting married today. Angie would just have to get used to working more until Emmett could find a replacement for Halle.

She was due to meet Dade at the courthouse in forty minutes. That gave her barely enough time to drive home, change into her best white dress, style her hair, and slap on some makeup. She had a full schedule. After they exchanged vows, they were having an early dinner at her grandmother’s house. Then they were hitting the road. She’d already packed her luggage and boxed up some of her belongings.

The last couple of days had been a whirlwind of activities. She’d barely had a minute to stop and think. Dade, bless him, was a great help. He and his friends had bought boxes and tape. Because Dade’s house was fully furnished, she didn’t need to take any furniture. There was only the question of what to do with the house. She couldn’t sell it. It’d remain on the market too long. In the meanwhile, she’d still be responsible for upkeep and taxes. She’d rather be able to concentrate on her new home.

Dade’s home. She was moving into his house sight unseen. The world seemed to tilt around her for a second. Halle swayed on her feet. She took a deep breath and fought off a panic attack.

“Everything is going to be fine,” she murmured to herself. Dade was a good man. Um, werewolf. Most brides probably had a moment or two of doubt on their wedding day. The important thing was that she didn’t feel it when she was with Dade. And she was going to be his wife today. Her earlier anticipation returned with a flood of emotion so strong that she felt like laughing. With a smile, she unlocked her car.

“Halle, I was wondering if I could have a minute of your time?”

The tone was so respectful that Halle did a doubletake. This couldn’t be Lamar talking to her. Even when they’d dated, he’d never asked her for anything. Not for her opinion or for her preferences. Not anything. He simply took what he wanted, did whatever he desired, and assumed that she would agree with him. It took her a while to realize that he hadn’t cared about what made her happy. He only cared about himself.

Lamar glanced around the parking lot furtively, probably on the outlook for Dade or his pack members. “Um, maybe we could talk in your car?”

“Can this wait? I’m busy.”

“Please, Halle. For old time’s sake.”

“I’m not sure what you think those memories will earn you, but I assure you it’s nothing.” She opened her car door.

Lamar slammed his hand on her doorframe, effectively shutting the door and preventing her from opening it. “Halle, I heard that you were going to marry that…monster. Don’t do this. I still love you. We could be together like we always planned.”

“Lamar, you’re delusional. And a liar. You’re not going to leave Amy and your kids and I wouldn’t want you to. I’m not in love with you. I’m not sure if I ever was.” She’d been trying to escape her lonely home life. Being with Lamar had seemed better than being alone. Boy, had she been wrong. “Don’t approach me again. I can’t keep protecting you from Dade.”

“You really want to marry him?” Lamar shook his head. “You’ll never be accepted in this town. Eventually, something will happen. Someone’s pet cat will go missing and everyone will believe that he snuck out at night and ate it. Can you live with that?”

“I won’t have to. We’re leaving.” She yanked at the handle, hoping to catch him off guard.

“Ha.” Lamar turned, leaning against her window. “You? Leaving? Halle, I haven’t forgotten how much you whined and cried about leaving for college. You hate change. No way are you moving.” He smirked. “I was worried there for a minute. Now, I know you’ll be back. You just wait and see.” He slinked out of her way with his serpentine smile. For once Halle wished Dade was around to confront Lamar. She just might have allowed him the pleasure of punching Lamar’s lights out.

Halle slid behind the wheel without another word. She wasn’t going to argue further with him. He wasn’t worth it.

She tore through her house like a whirlwind, shedding her clothing on the way to her bedroom. She got a quick shower to get the smell of burgers, fries, and grease off her skin, though she knew Dade would still be able to scent the remnants in her hair. But she didn’t have an hour to wash, dry, and style her hair.

Halle applied a light layer of foundation, bit of mascara, and berry lip gloss. It was very little make up yet it was more than she’d had occasion to wear in years. She didn’t bother with perfume since Dade liked her natural scent. Perfumes irritated shifters’ noses.

The white dress she’d picked was an ankle-length sheath with a lace bodice and sleeves. Halle unzipped it and stepped into it. She released her hair from its ponytail, applied moisturizer, and fluffed it out into shiny curls. Her hair must have realized how important today was because it was perfect. She grinned at her reflection before snatching up her keys and heading for the door.

Dade was waiting for her in the courthouse parking lot when she arrived. He leaned against the side of his truck. He straightened when she drove up. Her breath caught at how handsome he looked in his suit. The fit was so good, it had to be tailor made for him.

He met her on the sidewalk, a small smile playing about his full lips. “You’re beautiful.” He took her hand.

“And you’re so handsome.”

“Then marry me.”

She allowed him to tug her along through the courthouse corridors. “You know, you never asked me to marry you.”

“Asking presumes that you have the option to say no.”

She laughed, and she looked up at him expecting to see his smile. Instead, he was dead serious. “Dade—”

“There the two of you are!” Missy exclaimed. “Grandma dragged me down here a half an hour ago. Come on. Let’s get going.” She linked her arm with Halle’s and practically dragged her away. “Are you sure about this?” she whispered when they were a few strides in front of Dade. They hadn’t had a chance to talk again since the night of the awkward dinner date.

“Yes. And he can still hear you.”

Missy’s cheeks colored. “He can’t.” She glanced over her shoulder.

“He can,” Dade confirmed.

Missy made a noise and stopped. “Well, you can’t blame me for asking. The two of you had your first date this week and now you’re getting married. What’s the rush?”

“When you’re a shifter, there’s no question. I would have married your cousin the day we met, if she would’ve agreed. She’s it for me.”

Missy glanced between the two of them. “I don’t know whether to be jealous or scared.”

“How about you try being happy for me?” Halle asked.

“I’ll try. But at first, I’m going to be calling you constantly.”

“Sounds good. Now, I’d like to get married.”

Their wedding ceremony was a brief affair officiated by a government employee. Halle couldn’t have recited the vows they exchanged a minute after they passed her lips. They weren’t the same ones she was accustomed to hearing on television, but even if they had been Halle wouldn’t have remembered them. All she could recall was the look of devotion on Dade’s face. She didn’t dare to hope for more even as she thought that maybe…maybe there was a tenderness in his eyes indicative of softer emotions. Because though they were now married, they hadn’t exchanged those three little all-important words.

After a chaste kiss and some applause from Grandma Annie and Missy, they left for their wedding dinner. To her surprise, there was a change in venues. Instead of her grandmother’s house, their dinner was held at Millie’s Dinner. Emmett shut down the restaurant to host the event. Burgers and fries were served buffet style. Halle would have found it laughable, but it was more fuss than she’d expected. Her grandmother wasn’t like other grandmothers. She didn’t like to cook. Grandpa Julien had been the chef in the family.

Halle expected an intimate affair with only her grandmother and Missy. Instead, all of her co-workers were present. Also, her grandmother had invited a number of her Bingo friends. Though the majority of them had watched Halle grow up over the years, she suspected they only came to get a chance to gawk at the werewolf. Had she known that they would have so many guests, she would have encouraged Dade to invite his friends.

“Just so you know, this isn’t the usual wedding reception.”

Dade paused with his burger half way to his mouth. “Well, that sucks.”

Halle laughed. Her grandmother had stumbled upon some of Dade’s favorite foods. Burgers and fries might not have suited everyone but her husband loved it. Halle was relieved that something today seemed to be catered for him. Dade had been so wonderful to go through all of this solely for her benefit.

Halle ate one of her fries. Because she worked at Millie’s she rarely ate the food. She ate it the first year or two for lunch and sometimes for dinner, but she’d hit her limit for the diner’s fair after that. Too much of a good thing.

Missy set her plate down and dropped into the booth across from them. “This party is practically geriatric.”

“I let you and Grandma handle it, so….” Halle shrugged. She didn’t really care. This wasn’t just a wedding reception. It was also a going away party of sorts. She wouldn’t be moving far, but she wouldn’t be living a short five minutes across town anymore. “Missy, I was wondering if you’d like to stay in the house? I know I’ll never sell it. You wouldn’t have to pay rent. Just take over the bills and—”

“Deal.”

Halle laughed. “Don’t you want the details?”

“Grandma and I need our own space. How am I ever going to find a man if I have to bring him home to meet my grandmother?”

“You seem to do just fine,” she said dryly. “We’ll talk about it more later and I’ll show you the bills. If you still want to do it, you can move in whenever you like.”

Missy pointed at her with a fry. “This is a done deal. You’ll be lucky if I don’t move in tonight.” She popped her fry in her mouth. “All I need is keys.”

Halle laughed at her cousin’s enthusiasm. “Grandma has a set of keys in case of emergencies.”

“Congratulations, Halle,” Emmett said. Her co-workers lined up on either side of him. He handed her an envelope with her name on it. “We would have bought you a gift, but it was short notice…so, we scraped together a little cash. It’s not much….”

“Thank you so much. You guys didn’t have to do this. I wasn’t expecting this. Any of this really.”

“Just be sure to visit us when you’re back in town.”

“I will,” she promised.

Someone struck a fork on a glass. “Who wants cake?” Grandma Annie asked as someone rolled out a large white sheet cake with pastel pink roses at the corners. The words “Halle & Dade Forever” were written in the center. On such short notice she was surprised to have cake at all.

Halle grabbed Dade’s hand. “Time for cake. We cut it together and then feed it to each other.”

He nodded at her. Someone pressed a knife into his hand. Halle wrapped her fingers around his and helped him cut the first slice. Her grandmother gave her a plastic fork and paper plate. Dade plated their slice. “I’ll feed you first,” she said. He opened his mouth obligingly. “How is it?”

“Mm. Sweet.” He took the fork. “My turn.” He fed her. Halle hummed as the sugar hit her taste buds. Dade leaned down and kissed her, his tongue clearing away the icing at the corner of her mouth. “But not as sweet as you,” he whispered in her ear. “I can’t wait to have you all to myself.”

When they parked in Dade’s yard, his two-story log cabin was well lit. It was a beacon in the darkness of the surrounding trees. Lights were on in every room. The porch light was on and small solar torches lined the walkway. He’d told her very little about his home—simply calling it a cabin. It was beautiful. She fell in love with it instantly. It was a moment before she realized that they’d been sitting silently for several minutes without making a move to get out of the car.

She glanced over at Dade. He tightened his fingers around the steering wheel. “Dade, is something wrong?”

“No.” He sucked in a breath and then exhaled slowly. “Yes.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve…been controlling the urge to mark you for so long…. I’m afraid of what will happen, finally having you here in my space. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t.”

He laughed. His eyes were glowing as he turned to face her. He stroked her cheek. “I’m glad you have such confidence in me, but I won’t risk turning tonight into a bad experience for you. Go on inside and make yourself at home. I’m going to go for a run.”

“But…it’s dark.”

He grinned. “I can see just fine. I’ll be in my wolf form. I have excellent night vision. I won’t be gone long.” He climbed out of the truck and opened the back door. “I’ll carry your bags inside.”

“I’m far from a delicate flower, you know. You don’t have to do this. I won’t break if you squeeze me too enthusiastically. I’d rather spend the time with you.” It’d been a long day. She’d been anticipating being with him intimately for days. Hell, since they met. She didn’t want to wait any longer.

She followed him onto the porch, watching as he put her bags inside. She touched his arm. “Don’t go. Stay with me.”

He inhaled deeply, his eyes fluttering closed briefly. When he opened them, he was shaking his head. “No, baby.” He cupped her cheeks. “This is our beginning. I won’t mar that memory for anything.”

“But—”

“If I stay,” he eased closer to her so that his thick erection rubbed against her belly, “I’ll end up fucking you like an animal. You deserve better than that—our first time.” He pressed a soft kiss to her lips before nipping the bottom one. “After tonight,” he continued, his voice dropping an octave, “you’ll crave the rougher side of me. And I’ll give it to you. Every. Fucking. Night.”

Halle sucked in a breath. Her legs trembled. No one had ever talked to her the way he did. “Dade….”

“I’ll come home from work hungry. But not for dinner. I’ll be hungry for a taste of your pussy. I’ll be hard from wanting you.” He backed her into the house, not stopping until her shoulders hit the wall. His big hands curved over her bottom and pulled her hips flush with his. “Sometimes, we’ll play a game. You’ll run. I’ll chase. But I’ll catch you every damn time. And when I do, I’ll claim the prize between your thighs.” He circled his hips against hers, letting her feel every inch of his hard length. “I’ll roll you onto your belly and fuck you hard and deep. You’ll take all of me for hours.” He bent and bit her earlobe. “But not tonight.”

When he stepped away from her, she flattened her palms against the wall. Her legs were so weak, she wasn’t sure she could stand on her own.

“I won’t be gone long.” He closed the door behind himself.

Halle blinked as though waking from a dream. An undulating wolf howl right outside the cabin broke the sensual spell she’d been under. She raced to the window. Dade’s wolf tossed back its head and released another long cry. It wasn’t long before the sound of other wolves joined him. With a final glance back at the cabin, he raced off into the woods. She had the strangest wish that she could follow him.

Soon, she would be able to join him on his runs through the wilderness that surrounded their cabin. A sudden rush of anticipation made her heart beat faster.

***

The wind whistled in his ears as his feet tore over the ground covered in pine needles and decomposing leaves. The moon lit his way as he weaved his way through the trees toward the sound of his packmates. Their continued howls directed him to the clearing that overlooked their pack lands for miles.

He was greeted with howls, yips, and subservient licks before they were all moving as one, racing over hills, splashing through streams, and finally chasing deer together. They allowed the game to go free as they weren’t hungry, but practice kept their skills sharp.

It had been over a month since he’d run with his pack. There was nothing so freeing as letting his wolf out, the earth crumbling beneath his big paws, his muscles burning as he pushed himself to full speed.

Halle thought that he considered her weak. He knew she was strong. For a human. Every day that he knew her, he was impressed anew by her strength. Mentally and emotionally and physically. His Alpha wolf wouldn’t have chosen a weak human.

But she wasn’t a wolf yet.

It was his fault that she didn’t understand why he had to leave her tonight. He’d been as gentle and patient with her as he could be. In other words, he wasn’t being true to himself. He’d made allowances for her because she was human. He’d courted her from afar when his instincts had been screaming at him to claim her. Bite her. Fuck her. Make her his and be done with it. Courting was for humans.

Halle had no idea what she was asking of him. She didn’t understand how tightly he’d been reigning in his baser urges. Werewolves were lusty creatures. Since meeting Halle, his libido had come roaring back with a vengeance. The overwhelming need that a shifter felt for their mate beat down upon him until he thought it would drive him insane.

But Halle would understand. Soon.

With his mate in mind, he began leading the pack back the way they had come. Travis, Jack, and Mitch followed him almost back to his cabin because their homes were close. He led the way, the others often so close that their shoulders brushed.

He burst through the clearing surrounding his cabin alone, his friends having branched off in their own directions. Though the cabin was the same in appearance, a two-story log edifice, it was different. Because of Halle. He wouldn’t be entering an empty house where the only sounds were those he created.

His clothing waited for him where he’d dropped it before shifting. He loped up to the steps. The front door opened, light spilling onto the porch and surrounding area, Halle’s silhouette greeting him.

Just the sight of her had hunger tightening his loins. The run had been for naught. He shifted and rose to his full height. He didn’t bother to pick up his clothes. He wouldn’t need them.

Halle was so sure that she could handle the rougher side of him. The time had come for him to stop holding back and to claim his mate.