Carson's Conquest

3. Carson

After I dropped Aria at the hospital, I went to check in with hospital security. Since Aria had started working at the hospital Xavier had systematically started replacing the few security guards with pack warriors and improving the security system around the facility. As much as I love my responsibility of protecting Aria, it was nice to have some time freed up for other tasks. Today, I needed to take care of a few things at the coffee shop and a couple of the rental properties the pack owned around town. Rocco had been going crazy in my head all day and I just couldn’t get him to calm down. I tried everything to get him to calm down because I had a raging headache. Eventually, I gave up and shifted behind Xavier’s house and went for a short run. That seemed to calm him down some. Our internal monologue was a lot of “dude, quit it” these days.

For a Gamma wolf, Rocco was pretty chill--until it there was a direct threat to someone we cared about or the pack. His personality suited me well. But lately, he had been so rambunctious and irritating. I think he was trying to get me to actively look for our mate, but he wouldn’t actually say it. Instead, he just whined in my head or jumped around like a pup. For a ranked wolf, I was more laid back and easy going, I suppose. It was mostly because Wade was tightly wound and sometime had to relax our trio. With the fairly recent addition of Aria, Xavier had changed in some subtle and not so subtle ways as well. This mostly improved my life since Xavier was eager to leave the office at night, and was regularly out of contact in the evenings.

Finally, it was time to pick up Aria. She was waiting outside the hospital as I approached. I was a few feet behind her, when she turned to speak with someone who had stepped outside. I was smacked in the face with the most captivating scent—it was something floral, jasmine or lavender with the subtlest hint of sage, not just any sage, the witchy kind of sage. It was faint, but this woman was definitely a witch. That didn’t bother me in the least. Emerald Woods was open minded about these things. Plus, Serena had lived with us for years until she died protecting the magic of our land, and she was mostly a witch.

Looking up, my breath hitched and the world stopped turning as the most alluring deep emerald green eyes stared straight into my soul. Rocco leaned forward in my head at the sight, “MATE!” I knew my eyes had gone pitch black as I struggled to keep him under control. My eyes traveled down to her luscious lips, and her stunning black hair that fell halfway down her back. She had full breasts and delicate curves. It was as if the Moon Goddess had been living in my dreams and created this woman out of my subconscious. She was perfect and I wanted her. She was mine. My mate.

All sense of time left as I grasped her hand and felt the famous tingles I had heard so much about. They were as incredible as I was told. Her reaction was … muted, which surprised me. Witches were known for their intuition and passion. Maybe she was like Aria and didn’t know she was a witch. Perhaps she had never come into her powers. Honestly, none of it mattered. I had waited a while for my mate, and here she was, standing in front of me. Aria said something and then I heard it, a literal magical voice that soothed Rocco and me into the depths of our soul.

“I’m Addelina, but my friends call me Adde. It’s nice to meet you.”

I couldn’t help but grin at her, this perfection in front of me, “We just met, and I’m already your friend?”

Adde frowned just a little. It was subtle, but I caught it, “Don’t flatter yourself. You can call me Addelina.”

I was devastated. She must not feel a thing. Slowly, despair started to creep over me until I heard Aria speak up. “Adde, do you have dinner plans? My fiancée and I were going to have dinner with Carson at the local café. It’s one of our favorite places. Please join us. We would love to show you a little more of the town and answer any other questions you might have while you consider joining us.”

I jumped all over that. Anything to spend time with her and around her. To convince Addelina that we should be friends and so much more than friends. “Yes, please join us for dinner. Perhaps by the end I can convince you that we should be friends, Addelina.”

And there it was, the interest and maybe, just maybe, a hint of desire. She loved the way I said her name, that was definite. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. They sparkled in the light and reminded me of Ireland—with its deep green hues. Was that a slight blush I saw creeping up her cheeks? It was fvcking adorable. I never wanted to leave her side. Watching her response to me had my c**k enlarging in my jeans. I felt them tighten as we continued to look at each other. Goddess, I wanted her. Bad. She had the most perfect long neck, and my mark would look incredible sitting just below her ear.

I heard an excuse forming, but Aria, (bless her!) wouldn’t take no for an answer. She was legitimately the best wing woman in this moment. I had no idea how I would ever repay her.

I watched a cascade of emotions flash through Adde’s eyes. She was trying to say no, but the bond was already at work. Finally, she spoke up, “Well, I do want to get more familiar with the town. And I am hungry. As long as it’s not an inconvenience, I will join you guys,” Adde stated.

“It’s not. We want you to join us,” I assured her.

“I would like to go back to my hotel and change. What time should I meet you guys?” Adde asked.

This was perfect! I could spend a little time alone with her while being a gentleman. There was no way Rocco would let Adde go now, not when we just found her. “My next meeting is right next door to the hotel. I would be happy to drop you off and then we can head over to dinner together whenever you’re ready. My meeting should only take an hour.” No need for Adde to know that was a complete lie. I had no meetings, I was just making up an excuse to be close to her.

Adde hesitated, but agreed, “Uh, sure. I guess that will work.”

“Wonderful,” Aria replied. “Let’s all meet at the café in a couple of hours. You’re going to love it Adde, the food is amazing.”

Aria looked at me, “I’m going to head back to my office and finish up a couple of things. Xavier and I will meet you at the café in an hour or so.”

I knew she didn’t have work to do, but she cared enough about Xavier’s feelings about her being alone to wait at the hospital for him. Aria was a good friend, and I would have to thank her later. I held the door open for Adde to enter the car. As she passed me, I inhaled deeply, absorbing her scent—it was so sweet, I almost became lightheaded. I was never going to get enough of it, of her. Rocco was surprisingly at peace inside my head and my headache was improved for the first time in a week. He loved being near our mate as much as I did. I only hoped I could convince her to accept us soon. Plus, if she was a witch, it might be easier to explain Rocco and the pack because she would already understand that magic existed. On the other hand, her magical scent was so faint, she might not realize what existed in front of her.

Putting forth a full-on charm offensive, I entertained Addelina all the way to the hotel. I pulled up at the entrance and ran around the SUV to open her door. Adde slid one foot out of the vehicle and paused, she looked up with her mesmerizing green eyes, “Carson, I ….” She swallowed hard and sighed, “thank you for the ride. See you at dinner.” It seemed like she wanted to say something else, but stopped. Subtly, I leaned forward so her scent would surround me again. It was all I could do to hold Rocco back from touching her or marking her. He seemed unconvinced of the need to move slowly so our mate wouldn’t be frightened of us. I couldn’t help myself. My hand slid slowly down her arm to her hand, I grasped it softly, loving the tingles that traveled through me and straight to my c**k. “See you at dinner.”