His mate's secrets

Chapter 10 - Visible desire

Flic groaned and jerked her head off her pillow as an incessant beeping yanked her from a blissful slumber. She shut off her alarm and peeled her eyes open, fighting against the weight of her eyelids. Though she was used to waking up early in the morning, the resistance to get out of bed never went away. With her new bed, feeling like a cloud beneath her, it felt especially difficult to start that morning and it didn’t help that it took her three rolls to get out of it, each one tempting her to give up and stay.

She got up and peeked out of the window. The pack was cloaked in darkness, only the streetlights casting a glow over the empty paths. In the distance she could see the highlands holding back the early morning light, their outline a bright gold that promised a nice day ahead. It was a beautiful sight, and she drew her curtains open while she got ready. Flic only needed a quick wash and grabbed some old clothes to throw on for the day before weaving her hair into a French plait. She preferred to have it out of the way while she worked.

That morning, she also applied a bit more make-up than usual to hide the dark circles around her eyes. Her and Damon hadn’t stayed up much longer after they had finished their drinks, but when she retired for the night, she couldn’t sleep. Too much had been on her mind to allow her to rest and now her head was foggy with fatigue. She looked forward to her morning coffee and, careful to not wake the Alpha, she slipped from her bedroom.

“Coffee?”

Flic almost jumped out of her skin, and cursed as she spun around to see Damon already in the kitchen, a mug in hand and an amused glint in his eyes. She scowled at him and scrambled to compose herself, but her gaze dropped to a second mug on the counter. A beckoning aroma of roasted coffee beans drew her closer and she was quick to claim it as her own.

“Someone making me a coffee in the morning, now that’s a first.” She chuckled before taking a deep gulp of the revitalising liquid. It was rich and decadent, flushing away her fatigue with its bitter burn. She sighed as she took a second sip and looked up at the Alpha over the rim of her mug. In just a grey t-shirt and joggers, it was the most dressed down she had seen him, a far cry from the shirts and suit trouser he wore when not training, though, as she trailed her gaze over him, she noticed it didn’t take away from his physique in any way. “You’re up early.”

“I didn’t want you to get lost on your way out and stumble into my room by accident.” He smirked, crimson eyes watching her.

Flic felt a playful stir within her and leaned onto her counter. It was the perfect height to make her jut out her ass and she pushed her breasts forward as she c****d her head. “Just to be on the safe side, which room is yours?”

Damon didn’t bother to hide his gaze falling to her cleavage and mimicked her with a smirk. He leaned onto his elbows, though his frame was taller than her, forcing Flic to tilt her head back to keep her eyes on him. The Alpha pointed a finger behind her, and she turned, smiling as she saw his door was right next to hers. As she looked back to her host, she sucked in a quick breath.

Damon was closer than before, close enough for her to admire each of his features. With a sharp jawline and high cheekbones, he was typically handsome. He had full lips, that asked to be nibbled, set within a close-trimmed beard, but it was his eyes that always caught her. They were piercing among his black hair and usual dark attire, sucking in anyone who dared to glance in his direction. There was a confidence within them that bordered on arrogance, and it spiked a challenge in Flic’s gut to test if it was deserved.

“It’s important we are visible today.” Damon spoke in a low voice that tickled against her cheek.

“Okay.” She answered. Though they had been seen together for two days in a row now, she didn’t object to spending more time in the Alpha’s company.

“I’ll be at the bakery at two. We’ll have lunch together.” A small smile played on his lips and Flic couldn’t stop her eyes from ghosting down to them. She nodded her agreement and found herself leaning further into his presence. “Don’t you have to get going?” Damon rumbled and she pulled back, taking sight of the clock on the wall. She was already late to start her morning work and she downed the last of her coffee with a grimace before running out of the door.

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There seemed to be even more wolves than normal filling the bakery that day. Flic didn’t know if it was her newly announced position, word getting around about her moving into the packhouse or maybe just that she closed early the day before, but she was rushed off her feet from the moment she opened. Thankfully, only a few wolves made passing comments about her now public relationship with Damon, but everyone wanted to stay and chat. The constant flow of people fortunately stopped anyone from hanging around for long enough to ask anything too inquisitive, however that changed as the lunch rush finished.

Whether it was bad luck or malicious intent, Flic wasn’t sure, but when the blond bombshell opened the door to an empty shop her stomach dropped. She donned the same smile she held for every patron and hoped her instincts were off as Beth approached the counter.

“Hey Beth, lovely afternoon, isn’t it? What can I get for you.” Her cheeks ached with resistance, but she maintained her happy service face, hiding her suspicions behind it, though it was all in vain.

Beth didn’t bother to smile back and scowled at Flic with a look that promised a headache. “I want you to tell me why I saw Beta Julien sneaking through the backdoor yesterday.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder and sneered. “Do you have something to tell poor Alpha Damon, or should I?”

She hardened her expression but didn’t drop her smile. Growing up with a brother that wasn’t nice and moving to a pack where she was an outcast for many years, had given Flic a thick skin that these light threats couldn't penetrate. Her eyes sharpened and she leaned on the counter, resting her chin on her hands. “You were spying on me? Beth, if you wanted something you only needed to ask.” Her voice dripped with honey, and she relished the mild confusion crossing Beth’s face that she hadn’t freaked out.

“That’s... That’s what I’m doing here.” She stumbled. “To give you a chance to confess.”

“Confess to what?” Flic asked, head c****d in feigned innocence.

“That this is all a sham.” Beth snapped, throwing her arms wide. “Either that or you’re cheating on Alpha Damon. Either way, you shouldn’t be the Luna.”

Flic’s jaw clenched and she slowly raised herself and walked around the counter. She dragged out each second she waited to respond, keeping her eyes locked to the woman who was starting to piss her off. Beth cringed under her gaze, but Flic had to admire her ability to not crumble under the weight of the tension that was building in her silence.

“Do you think you should be the Luna?” She asked in a low voice that dared her to lie.

“That’s not... It doesn’t...” Beth took a breath. “The point is you’re lying about something.”

“I assure you, I’m not.” Her smile fell and Flic approached the woman with a dangerous glint in her eye. “However, I suggest you leave now.” She headed to the door and turned to face Beth, her arms crossed. Even though there was a hint of truth to her words, Flic didn’t care to be questioned or threatened and wouldn’t prove herself to this woman.

Before Beth could respond, the doors behind Flic opened, the bell chiming in the tense silence. She didn’t need to turn to know who had walked in, his familiar scent enveloping her. A prickle crawled over the nape of her neck as she felt the Alpha approach, but she maintained eye contact with Beth. Without missing a beat, Damon snaked his arm around her waist and Flic tried to hide her surprise as he pulled her flush against his body. A tingle coiled in her belly, and she leaned back into him, lifting her head to look up at him. The Alpha’s eyes were locked to her, paying no mind to the woman in front of them and her breath caught as he leaned down to her. Soft lips pressed against her cheek then skimmed to her ear in a way that had her heart pounding.

“Sorry I’m late, Doll.” He drawled. She tried to ignore how her stomach twisted at the name, but the way the deep rumble of his voice vibrated through her, felt like echos of his voice, each one teasing the heat growing between her thighs. “Did you give Julien the thank you cake I ordered? He deserves one after lugging all your stuff yesterday.”

Flic blinked but quickly understood what he was doing and gave him a grin. “Sure did... Pumpkin.” She felt his chest rock with a suppressed laugh and turned back to Beth before she had the chance to dissolve into giggles. “I’m closing now, for half an hour...”

“An hour.” Damon corrected, resting his chin on her shoulder. She tried not to shiver as his breath tickled her neck, but she didn’t have to fake the pink hue that bloomed on her skin.

“Okay, an hour.” She giggled. “Can I get you anything before you leave?”

Beth looked between the pair, and Flic could see the suspicion glaring in her eyes but there was nothing she could say in front of the Alpha, not after he had explained away the Beta’s reason to be at the bakery the day before. With a shake of her head, Beth quietly left, and Flic let out a sigh of relief as the door closed behind her.

“Pumpkin?”

Flic spun in the Alpha’s hold to face him, still encased in his arms as he raised a questioning eyebrow at her. “Doll?” She retorted.

“You don’t like it?” Damon dropped his voice low, and his eyes flashed with something darker than amusement as he dipped his head towards her. Her lips parted to answer, but no words came. She couldn’t admit her knickers were wet at the thought of him calling her that as he pushed her to her knees or praised her for taking his d**k so well. “Or maybe you prefer Felicity?” A growl rolled over the words, making her lip tremble and she felt like she would melt into a puddle at his feet. Her heart was racing, and a heat was building between her thighs, stealing her focus as her chance to respond slipped away with a blush.

“Thank you.” She said instead, looking down to try and pretend she didn’t see the smug smirk on the Alpha’s lips. “Beth keeps asking questions.”

“You could’ve told her about Julien helping you move.”

“And let her think it was okay to spy? Not a chance.” Flic scoffed and threw her head back, a giggle on her lips.

Damon was watching her, the crimson of his eyes stealing her breath as they locked to her. His grip around her waist tightened and her breath hitched as her body moulded to his. Neither of them looked away or spoke, staring at one another with an intensity that drew them together. They were a breath a part of the verge of doing something dangerous and Flic watched as the Alpha’s gaze dropped to her lips, his eyes filling with a hunger he could no longer hide. She felt her breath become shallow, each rise of her chest pressing her breasts into him, creating a friction she ached for elsewhere.

A child squealing outside the bakery front made the pair freeze and snap back to their senses. Flic rested her hand against his chest and lightly pushed him back, not hard enough to actually move Damon, but enough to give him the decision to step away. Her stomach clenched with disappointment as she felt his arms slip from around her, but she hid it under a smile that forced down everything else within her.

“I’ll grab us some lunch and meet you outside.” Her voice was quiet and was the politest dismissal she could give the Alpha.

Relief flickered in his expression and Damon retreated to one of the tables at the front of the bakery. She smiled as he relaxed back in the chair and looked over the field of playing children and parents, seemingly without a care. The sun cast him into a silhouette, and she tore her gaze away before heading into the kitchen to prepare them some food.

As she walked, Flic pressed a hand to her neck, feeling the heated flesh against her palm. Whatever it was about the Alpha, she was responsive to his every tease and touch. Her only comfort was knowing she also had the same effect on him. Nothing else could explain the hunger she had seen in his eyes, like he wanted to devour her. Flic’s hand trembled on her skin, knowing if the moment presented itself, she would let him.