k********g the Alpha's daughter

Chapter 3

Sue stood quietly at the center of the living room, facing her father, just as she had been taught. Her eyes never left his face as she listened to all he had come to tell her.

A visit from her father, the ruling Alpha of Peten’s pack, was always a formal matter from the time she was little. And any chance to be less formal was immediately frowned upon and abolished by her caregiver, Agnes.

Even now, the old hag stood to her right by the bookcase, quietly observing every action and taking note of every word spoken so she could lecture and criticize about it when her father had left.

Sue straightened her back and pasted a neutral expression on her face. Her father was going on about the “unfortunate incident” with her last three security details. What she had taken as friendly social behavior had been misconstrued into something far more sinister.

Without a doubt, Sue knew Agnes, the old bat, was responsible. And now her father was back again to bring yet another wolf guard for her. And he was not particularly pleased about it.

“Sue, do you understand what I am telling you?” His authoritative voice left no room for argument.

“Yes, father.”

“I will not hear of another incident. You will respect your position and do as expected of you.”

“Yes, father.” She was beginning to sound like a broken record, but that was the only response she was expected to give. She wouldn’t dare express her opinion on the matter, much less question her father.

As she stood quietly and waited for her father to conclude his speech on duties and responsibilities, Sue became aware of a foreign scent that hung in the air.

The musk was suggestive of a male wolf, an Alpha by blood. An unmated alpha male wolf, to be exact. His scent reminded her of pine trees and sweet blackberries. Something else about his scent made her feel warm, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

Her focus was split as she tried to figure out the unknown scent and pay attention to her father; so much that she almost missed it when her father asked if she was ready to meet her new guard.

Lucky for her, the Alpha had no need of her response. He went ahead and called out, “Rick, you may now enter.”

His dark midnight hair was what she noticed first. He had walked into the room like he owned it. Confidence radiated off from him in every step. Everything about him looked extremely serious except for his hair, that lay unruly over his head.

His scent confirmed it was him she had caught in the air. Now much closer, her nostrils flared as she took a good sniff of him. Definitely pine trees and blackberries and just male musk, she thought in amusement.

From his broad shoulders to his sheer imposing height, Rick was sculptured like a god. Sue stared speechlessly. It was a good thing that nothing was expected of her at that moment.

His eyes were cold and distant as he patiently stood behind her father’s chair and waited for the introductions to be completed.

“Sue, may I introduce you to Rick Ham? He will be your new security detail, and hopefully your last,” Kurian stated, adding the last part with a touch of irritation.

Sue swallowed a lump the size of an apple that had settled in her throat and nodded mutely. Her eyes were jumping from the imposing man to her father and back. Oh s**t. This is bad, really bad. She was thinking to herself.

“I will keep an eye on her, Alpha,” the old hag said with a slight bow. Sue resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the whole scene.

Pleased with the assurance, her father announced his leave. With only a nod to Agnes and a pat on Sue’s shoulder, he was gone.

Silence filled the room as Rick and Sue stared at each other. Agnes stepped forward and stood next to Sue and narrowed her eyes, regarding Rick with undisguised dislike.

Rick did not miss the cold distaste the old woman threw at him. He did not understand the reason behind it and could not begin to analyze it. For at that moment, his concentration and ability to reason were completely shuttered.

From the moment he had walked into the room following Kurian’s summons, his breath had caught in his chest. It was the first time he was laying eyes on Sue Daniels and nothing he had heard could have prepared him for the shock.

The woman before him was simply breathtaking. Her body was lean and tall. Even though she wore a loose dress, Rick could tell she had a figure in there. But it was not her body that had taken his breath.

Upon walking in, he had met a pair of beautiful brown eyes, and that was all he could think about. How beautiful her eyes were.

He gave himself a mental shake and gathered his thoughts. The room was still silent. The old woman was watching him too close for comfort.

He deliberately cleared his throat and addressed her caregiver. “Would you kindly direct me to my room so I can put my bags? Also, I would appreciate a tour.” He sounded as professional as possible, but Agnes still did not look pleased.

This one is going to be a problem, he thought to himself.

Right then, he heard a voice in his mind he had never heard before. She had a soft voice. “Don’t worry about the old bat. She gives everyone that disapproving look.” Rick blinked in shock but did not respond.

He mentally shut her out of his mind and he could tell she had noticed as her expression took a turn from calm and composed to disbelief and anger. Rick did not want to be rude, but he did not want her to think she had found a new friend, either.

Ignoring Sue, he began to walk out of the room, leaving Agnes no choice but to follow him and do as he had asked.

Agnes was just finishing the brief tour when she turned and faced Rick. Sensing she had something to say, Rick faced her and stood at attention, waiting for her to begin.

“She is the Ruling Alpha’s daughter,” Agnes informed him. He did not bother to ask who she was referring to and simply nodded. It was, after all, a fact well-known and there was no need to emphasize the point.

She continued to watch him before adding bitterly, “I will not allow you or any other wolf to distract her from her duty and responsibilities.” With that, she walked away, and Rick held his tongue and watched her go.