Chapter One
Felicia Serna wasnât ready for the shock of cold air that hit her when she exited the sliding glass door of Huntsville International Airport. The chilly February air was a drastic change from the dry heat of Afghanistan.
The airport was bustling but no one would be there to pick her up. Sheâd kept her return home to Alabama a secret. Well, home was a relative word. After the way sheâd left two years ago, she didnât think the Alpha of her pack would want to see her. And if he did, it would only be to punish her for defying him. As far as she was concerned, she didnât belong to his pack anymore and hadnât for a long time.
She was through with pack rules and through with being someoneâs doormat. If she had to live as a lone wolf, so be it. She could take care of herself. Hell, sheâd been doing fine on her own for years. The only reason sheâd returned was because she had a few human friends here and had shipped most of her belongings back.
As she started to wave down a taxi, a dark SUV with even darker tinted windows pulled up to the curb, blocking her view. She grasped the handle of her suitcase and walked down a few feet so the taxi could see her. It was late and she didnât want to risk having to wait an hour for another ride. Unlike in Kabul, at least here she didnât have to worry about safe transportation.
When she raised her hand again, the SUV pulled up farther, effectively blocking her again.
An icy fist clasped around her heart and she tried to shake off the dread that welled up inside her. The driver couldnât be following her. She was just being paranoid. No one knew she was back. How could they? Before she took another step, the driverâs side door opened and out stepped over six feet of pure muscle and sex appeal and the only shifter whoâd ever made her panties dampen with just one look. Her mouth went dry when they made eye contact. What was he doing here? His Alphaâs territory didnât extend this far north so there was no reason for Alaric to be here unless he was specifically checking up on her. Because she knew for a fact his Alpha had a private plane and he would have no need to be at the airport.
When Alaric, the five-hundred year old shifter who starred in all her fantasies, walked around the front of the vehicle she automatically took a step back. She inwardly cursed the sign of wariness, but if any werewolf intimidated her, it was definitely this one.
Dark hair, dark eyes, generally dark disposition. Sheâd never seen him in shifted form but, even as a human, the man had a way of putting others on edge in his presence. It was no wonder he was second in command to one of the strongest packs in the United States.
His espresso-colored eyes assessed her from head to foot in a slow sweep. Though she was sure the perusal was cursory, her cheeks heated just the same. Sheâd forgotten what his mere presence did to her nerves. Okay, maybe not forgotten exactly. Just buried the memory.
Somehow she found her voice and was surprised when it came out strong. âHowâ¦why are you here?â
âIâm picking you up.â He answered as if it should be obvious. The deep timbre of his gravelly voice sent a shock of awareness straight to her lower abdomen. She didnât want to admit that it affected her but just hearing him⦠She fought off a shiver.
She hadnât seen him in almost five years, then a few months ago heâd contacted her via email out of the blue. Sheâd been more shocked than anything that the sexy wolf even remembered her, since theyâd only met once before that. When the last few emails had turned flirty, sexual even, it had freaked her out. At first sheâd thought maybe sheâd misread their tone, but then heâd gotten more blatant and sheâd known there was no mistaking he was flirting with her. Sheâd begun to wonder if heâd maybe confused her with someone else from her old pack. It made no sense for Alaric to be interested in her. So sheâd started limiting their contact.
How had he known Iâd be at the airport? She wanted to ask but keeping her cool around this wolf was important. Bigger, stronger wolves pounced on any perceived weakness. Sheâd learned that lesson long ago. Even if Alaric seemed different, she wouldnât forget the lessons sheâd learned as a cub. Some memories went bone deep.
âKnox recently expanded and took over all of northern Alabama. That includes your old packâs territoryânow my Alphaâs territory.â There he went with that voice again.