Loving Her Alpha

5. Mutual Attraction

Everly shut her room door and leaned against it. “H-O-L-Y S-H-I-T!” she thought. Whatever pack she wandered into had the hottest Alpha she had ever seen. “MERCY,” she fanned herself a little as she heaved off the door and made her way into the bathroom. Obviously, she made a great first impression. Walking out in her snow pants, soaked inner layer with mud caked on the side of her face and twigs tangled in her hair. Of course, the third man she saw was a freaking MALE MODEL with a GODLIKE face and body.

Declan was a few inches taller than Everly with broad shoulders, sculpted arms, and chest. His tight, long-sleeve underlayer t-shirt hugged his impeccable body perfectly. Square jaw, perfect scruff, olive brown skin with the saddest, most despondent, but beautiful brown eyes. His hair was perfectly messy—longer on top, and shorter on the sides. It was perfect. He was perfect. One sleeve of his shirt was pushed up revealing a well-muscled forearm and some sort of tattoo Everly couldn't quite see. Did she swoon a little? Maybe. But it was probably the pain in her ankle. Probably. When he wrapped his arm around her, Everly caught herself from a full swoon. He was so warm and smelled like a man. Given her tumultuous history, she had basically zero experience with men, and definitely zero experience with a man like Declan.

As the shower warmed, Everly thought about her situation. Even if she could, if she wanted to, how would one go about approaching Declan romantically? To this point she had steadfastly refused to entertain the advances of any male—somewhat terrified of what would happen when they found out what and who she was, and somewhat terrified of her lack of experience. Plus, there was the whole concept of a witches “chosen.” The singular person the Goddess had chosen for her, her fate. Few witches in this age waited for their chosen. Everly hadn’t decided to wait, but she hadn’t actively tried to not wait. As such she was a mid-20’s something, academic, virgin. She had shared the odd kiss or make-out with boys, but nothing serious and she had done some exploring of her own desire, but it was all solo to this point.

Suddenly, she found herself was warming up a little and not just because the bathroom was filling with steam. Everly found herself remarkably attracted to Declan. Thank Goddess she tightened her cloaking. He might have noticed something kind of “off” but Everly was pretty confident that he hadn’t guessed what she was…at least not yet. She pondered her attraction. Declan was so pretty! And hot. And sexy. And handsome. What woman wouldn’t be attracted to him?

One thing was certain, Declan was the Alpha. Everly hadn’t met many, but knew power when she sensed it and he was powerful—extremely powerful. She wondered if he even knew his full strength. His aura leaked dominance, strength, and control in spades. That excited Everly more than she thought and she wondered if he would be controlling and dominate in bed? She quickly stopped herself from fantasizing more. That would lead nowhere. Plus, there was something more to Declan, something melancholy and desolate. It was in his eyes and in the undercurrents of his aura.

It was likely that a man like Declan had women, many women, and Everly hated that thought for some reason. Not that she had any claim. For a fleeting second, she wondered if he was her chosen, but scoffed at the very idea. Until her cloaking was dropped, Everly wouldn’t be able to tell what they were to each other, if anything. Then all hell would break loose because Declan would most definitely know exactly what she was and that would bring questions Everly was unprepared to answer and most likely significant danger to the pack who were kind enough to offer shelter to a total stranger.

If Everly wasn’t careful, Declan could probably figure it out without her dropping her cloaking. He was, after all, an Alpha. This was going to be tricky indeed. As she showered, Everly found herself wondering if it would be so bad if someone found out—someone who was strong and had a pack, for example, to help protect them. Her thoughts had never traveled down this path before. She had never let them. Her solitude was her strength and comfort, but for just a moment she imagined what it might be like to have a person, a lover.

Everly had not been around many devoted couples. Her own parents had separated when she was young because of her mother’s (and now Everly’s) gift. She wasn’t sure what it looked like to be a couple—to have a partner. She knew that her parent’s loved each other and it was that love that caused them to separate. Everly’s mother had explained it all in a letter Everly received on her 16th birthday. When Everly was barely two, Shadows of the Dark found Everly and her mom and attacked. Her dad had been wounded badly during the altercation. Once he healed, Everly’s mom sent him away to protect him. His identity was changed and he was hidden in plain site by a coven who remained nameless. Everly had no memories of him and had never looked for him, assuming he would still need the protection her mother worked so hard to procure.

Down the hall, Declan was having thoughts of a similar nature. For the first time since Ella died, he began to wonder what it would be like to have a woman in his life again. Someone to share the burdens of the pack, to provide warmth and belonging for the young warriors. Someone who might make him more approachable. If he was being honest, Declan missed waking up next to a soft body in the morning and falling asleep with someone wrapped up with him at night. He missed the s*x sure, but more than that, he missed those small moments where he could meet the eyes of a person across the room and that person would feel like home. The easy companionship, that was the thing Declan never let himself dwell on—that made the pain worse.

For a second Declan again wondered if Everly was his mate. The instant attraction was a sign, but Everly was a magnificent beauty which could explain the attraction. Any man would recognize that. Plus, Everly didn’t seem to reciprocate. Declan had heard fated mates describe the first meeting. A pulsating energy radiated out between the pair and the scent drove the couple together. It was as if the duo had tunnel vision and the rest of the world ceased to exist during that first meeting—the recognition of two souls finding each other for the first time. Declan and Everly didn’t have any of that. Declan turned the water off and wrapped a towel around his waist with a sigh. Apparently, it was his destiny to be alone and miserable.

After her shower, Everly opened her door to find some clothes sitting outside. She pulled them on and braided her wet hair. Shortly, there was a knock on her door. She was surprised to find Declan outside holding coffee and a delicious smelling tray. Her stomach growled loudly in response.

Confused, she looked up at him, “Where’s Jake?”

Declan scowled, “Busy. Whitney said you needed coffee and food and I was in the dining room. Hope you like it,” he replied abruptly, unhappy Everly had asked about the other wolf.

“Smells incredible. Could you set it on the desk for me? I’m afraid I will spill it. My balance isn’t the best with my ankle.”

“Sure.”

Well, Alpha Declan wasn’t much of a talker, that much was clear, Everly thought. She limped after him, almost bumping into his back as he set the tray down. She caught herself just in time and sat down hard on the bed, bouncing off a little and generally making a total fool of herself.

“Oh goodness!” she exclaimed with a giggle. “I’m a total mess today.”

Declan almost cracked a smile, “need anything else?”

“Nope. Thanks so much.”

“Want a hand off the bed?” Declan was surprised by his sudden need to touch her again.

She shrugged, “sure.” With surprising gentleness, Declan grasped her hand and helped her stand. “Steady,” he breathed as Everly took a few tentative steps to the desk. She clung tightly to his hand and let him help her. It was an odd feeling for Everly. No one ever helped or cared for her. She was fiercely independent both by necessity and personality. Now she was depending on total strangers to help when she was vulnerable. Declan pulled out the desk chair but before she could sit, Declan sniffed her hair.

“Did you just smell me?” she gasped.

He looked alarmed, “No! It was allergies!”

She looked at him a bit suspiciously, but let it go. “Lunch smells great. Please extend my gratitude to the chef.”

“I will.” Declan stood there awkwardly for a minute before he abruptly turned and left her room, shutting the door behind him.

“What an odd interaction,” Everly thought as she dug into the food. As she chewed, her mind wandered a bit back down the dangerous path of finding her chosen. Somehow, Declan’s face now dominated her minds-eye. Everly sighed. They could never be. Perhaps it truly was her destiny to be alone.

Declan paused outside Everly’s door after he shut it, mentally berating himself. How could he be so stupid? Smelling her hair?! That gave off total creep vibes. She must think he was a moron, and he hated that thought. Walking down the hallway, Declan wondered why he even cared what Everly’s impression of him was. One thing was certain, her scent was still intoxicating to him, despite the shampoo she used.