Nancy's POV
"Nancy, can we talk on the porch for a bit?"
My stomach flipped, my heart started pounding in my chest and my mouth got dry as my body warred against itself. Shay stood in the doorway, and he took my breath away. I'd never seen an Alpha who was so physically intimidating. He had to be six-foot-nine, he had to tilt his head a little to go through the doorway. He wasn't skinny, he was muscular, his shoulders so broad they touched the doorway on both sides. His black hair hung down to his shoulders, a leather loop pulling it away from his face. He had piercing green eyes, high cheekbones, a chiseled jaw and a nose that had been broken a few times in the fighting ring. He was everything a she-wolf could ask for, and I knew what was hidden under his basketball shorts and T-shirt was just as impressive as what was exposed. He had his arms crossed across his chest, causing his biceps to bulge out while he stood there nervously.
I couldn't find the words to even respond. My wolf was going nuts in my head, spinning around in circles and sending me images of him in the process of mating with me. She loved his power, his strength, and his loyalty to his Pack and his cousin. The story of his revenge had turned her on even more.
"I'll get you some drinks," Mary said as she ran for the kitchen.
I stood there staring at him, my mouth open.
"Awkward, party of one,"
my wolf teased. "
Go to mate, he is ours,"
she pleaded.
I let out a breath when he turned and walked towards the door leading to the front porch. I somehow got my legs to move as I followed him. When he held the door open, I scurried through, tingles rushing down my arm as I brushed up against him on the way past. He turned to follow behind me and I flinched a little, moving quickly to stay ahead.
I hated myself right now. Here was my mate, a worthy wolf, and my body's reaction to him was to behave as if he was just like the other men; the rapists, the sadistic bastards who would hit and hurt me at will. I snuck a glance back, and his face had fallen at my reaction as well. "I'm sorry," I whispered.
"It's all right," he said. I looked at the porch; there were several comfortable chairs, and a large hanging bench with cushions. My mind wanted her own space, but my wolf wanted him next to me. I moved to the bench and sat on the farthest edge while he looked at me. I smiled quickly and patted the cushion next to me. He sat down, the bench creaking under his weight.
I could feel the heat radiating from his body, it made me feel warm and protected inside. I hid my blush from him, looking out at the trees and the mountains while I tried to figure out what to say. I couldn't speak, I couldn't look at him, and eventually he took mercy on me. "Can I tell you a little about myself?"
"I'd like that," I whispered back.
"My full name is Shay Thomas Kirkpatrick. I'm twenty-two, and I have been Alpha of the Cascade Creek pack in Washington since I turned eighteen."
"Did you take over your Pack?"
"It was handed over to me by my uncle. My family is from British Columbia, my mother was the older sister of Uncle Seamus. He lost his mate in an attack when he was twenty and she was fifteen, before they could complete the mating under the law. With no heir, he turned to me; my older brother Patrick is now Alpha of my previous Pack in Jasper. As soon as I was of age, he turned it over to me."
"Why would he do that?"
His broad shoulders slumped. "His heart just wasn't in it. I can't imagine what it was like for him, he had all the responsibility of the Pack and he knew no one was there for him to share it with. Mom says a part of him died that day and would never come back."
I knew just what he was talking about, I could see it in the eyes of all the other Lunas. They told me it was like having a part of your soul ripped from your chest, a hole that could never be filled again. "I'm sorry."
He smiled a little. "He's better now. As a former Alpha, he's able to move around a lot. He's visited Packs all around North America, even Europe. He keeps busy mediating disputes, performing ceremonies and telling stories of the old days, even though he's only forty." He laughed, making my stomach flip again. "He acts like he's this wise old Elder, but he's my Uncle Seamus, who used to give me wolf rides and taught me how to fish."
My hand had fallen to the cushion between us as we talked, and somehow his did as well. I jumped a little as his thumb brushed against mine, the contact sending pleasurable shocks up my arm. I forced myself to calm, leaving my hand there. It was comforting, even though I was still jumpy at being so near a large male. "So you grew up in Canada, eh, hoser?"
He laughed. "Yep. The Cascades aren't that different from home. It's beautiful back there- the climate is a little milder, the forests are thick and old, the mountains steep and challenging. We have plenty of game, and we are isolated from humans. It's a winding drive on a two-lane road to our little logging town, and we don't get many visitors. We have to keep track of the hikers and campers, but we still have room to run as a Pack."
"How many in your Pack?" I swallowed as his hand moved over, my fingers almost moving on their own to interlock with his. I stared down at it, watching my smaller, pale fingers among his large, deeply tanned ones. His hand dwarfed mine.
"Two hundred thirty-eight, but I have eighteen women pregnant right now. Our Pack is doing well, we own a lot of land we harvest lumber on, and we do mail-order custom furniture and cabin furnishings. Our custom shop has always done well, and we are branching out into more mass production."
I looked down at his hands, they were the hands of a man used to working with them. "What... what are your Pack laws about women?" This was a deal breaker in my book, I could never be a part of a Pack like Alpha Kendrick's.
"Our women are respected and protected," he said. "I believe in giving every wolf the chance to be whatever they can be, to rise as far as their talents and will allows. You have seen my Beta and my Warriors, but there are others back home. I have female warriors, female Betas too, but most who choose to fight are men."
I moved my fingers, causing new tingles to erupt. "Why didn't any female warriors come with you?"