Finnian stood in the shadows of a closed store next to the library. It was dusk. Most humans couldn’t see well, but it didn’t affect his sight. He watched as Kalen stepped out of the back of the library and into the alley behind it.
Trusting, but she would have a protector tonight. He needed to learn as much about her as possible. If she was to be his mate, and her scent told him so, he would need to woo her. He only had a week before he had to escape to the woods for his change.
His body wanted to take her now. He could tell she was fertile. In the good old days, the alphas could just impregnate someone and they’d be his. Not anymore. They lived in a more enlightened time.
Finnian could understand the lure of the old ways, but he wouldn’t. That would be wrong.
Instead, he skulked down the road after her, like a stalker. Only marginally better in hismind. He meant her no harm. She walked with confidence, but she clearly had no idea he was behind her. She never looked over her shoulder at him.
Her house was a tiny affair, at the end of a cul-de-sac. She had left her porch light on and one light inside for herself. Finnian settled himself outside her window, in a tree. He could see both floors.
She didn’t own any cats thankfully. He couldn’t abide by cats. Kalen changed out of her work clothes with the blinds open. As much as Finnian liked that right now, she shouldn’t do that. She wasn’t far enough from the road. Anyone could see her.
She had an amazing body. Better than her work clothes let on. And a nice rack. His mouth watered to be on those tits. She was magnificent. And his. He knew it.
She walked to herkitchen, but hecouldn’y see her from this angle. He’d have to move his perch. There wasn’t another tree in the vicinity that would do.
He heard hissing as he climbed down from the tree. He stopped at the bottom to see a cat, it’s fur up and it’s fangs out. Shit.
“Go away,” he said.
The cat continued to hiss. Damn. He’d have to show the cat who was boss. So he let his canines extend. The cat sniffed the air before he could make a sound then ran away.
Yes, I am the alpha male here.
He slinked to the back yard of her house. She was making a steak for herself. Finnian lifted his nose in the air. It smelled good. The scent also reminded him that he had to pick up some steaks on the way to the woods before his change. He didn’t like killing animals so he ate raw meat instead. More civilized.
He must have made a noise because Kalen appeared at her back door. He stepped back into the shadows, but realized he’d better show himself. He’d knock on the front door like a human.
She looked around for a moment then went back inside. He heard the distinct snick of the door locking. Good girl. She had to stay safe until he could woo her.
He strolled around to the front door. What would be his excuse for being here? How did he get her address? What would be a reasonable explanation?
He couldn’t come up with one. Damn.
Should he just do this another night? Or could he just tell her that Erin gave him the woman’s address?
He stood on the front porch in agony, not sure what to do when the front door opened.
***
“Oh,” Kalen said.
She opened the door to find a man on her porch. Some part of her was not afraid. She should have been. She was alone in this house. Her neighbors were close, but she wasn’t sure any of them could help her. Before she could scream he said her name. “Kalen.”
“Finnian?”
She blinked. Why was he on her porch? How did he find her? Some part of her asked those questions. Another part of her was delighted to see him. Now that was not a normal reaction. She should be afraid that this guy that she just met and hadn’t given her address to was on her front porch.
“Yes, it’s me,” he said.
As if him being on her doorstep was a normal thing. She crossed her arms convinced he wasn’t a threat. “How did you find me?”
“Uh, I got Erin to look up our address.”
“Why?”
He didn’t move closer to her. He was making her feel safe. And she did feel safe. As if he wasn’t the bad guy and that if there was someone there to hurt her that he wouldn’t let that happen. How did she know that? Some part of her brain seemed to be connecting with him, feeling him out.
“Because I had to see you.”
“That’s not weird at all.”
“I’m sorry. It is weird. I’ll go, but I would like to see you. I know this wasn’t the right thing to do, but I’ve just, oh, never mind.”
He turned away from her and her whole body wanted him to stay. Some parts more than others. “Stay.”
He froze, his gaze looking over his shoulder at her. “You sure? I understand if you don’t want to see me.”
“No, it’s kind of cute that you wanted to see me. I’m watching a movie. You want to join me?”
He paused as if thinking about it. She didn’t feel a threat from him. None of this made sense, but he oozed sex and manhood and she responded to that. Being a big girl, men didn’t often feel the need to protect her. She could take care of herself. Her father had taught her to fight so she knew she could at least get away from most men.
Finnian wasn’t most men. He was a large man, but she could probably outrun him even at her size. Okay, maybe not. She was rationalizing why she felt safe with him. Something she’d never truly felt with any man she’d taken to bed.
They all usually left sometime in the night. She never woke up with a stray arm thrown over her. Never felt that feeling of security in waking up with a man next to you.
She sighed.
“I would love to join you. Are you sure? I know this is creepy and I’m sorry.”
She hesitated for a moment. If she let him in, would he be a gentleman? Did she want him to be? No, she didn’t. She wanted to jump his bones because he may be the hottest man she’d ever had in her house.
“It’s okay. I forgive you. Come in.”
He hesitated again, then walked through her front door. She closed it behind him. He had such a presence to him. He was all man and he was in her house.
What was wrong with him? Not that she couldn’t attract nice-looking men, but Finnian was clearly out of her league.
She sighed. She might as well enjoy him while she could.