Alpha's Pet - Free and Complete

Seven: Temperature Rising

Alice's fingers glided over his smooth cheeks before he jerked away from her. Justa's eyes sparkled with flames of defiance.

Alice took a shaky breath as he watched her. "Sorry."

"You're not," Justa replied as he took a step away from her and returned to his cooking. "You're acting like an animal though. You realize that don't you, Alpha?" he demanded.

She frowned. "Call me Alice."

He shook his head. "I can't call you that. It would make us too close." He set the succulent chicken on the table in front of her nestled in its bread pillow. "Try this."

Alice glanced away as she took a seat. He was right. She wasn't sorry. She wanted to be, but she couldn't be at all. The longer she was around him, the closer she was to her pet, the more she wanted him.

"Eat," Justa demanded.

Alice took the sandwich in hand. The spices from the chicken tickled her nose. It crackled as she picked it up. How had he managed to make it so crispy? Pushing the matter out of mind, she bit into it.

Her eyes popped open and the sandwich fell to her plate. She had to force a hand to her mouth to stop the food from falling out. Juice filled her mouth, flavors swept over her tongue like a tidal wave. This was unlike anything she'd experienced before.

Justa laughed. That cautious glow in his eyes had faded as his lips twitched.

Alice forgot to breathe. This human, this man was as beautiful as a statue. There was an elegance to him that she couldn't put her finger on. 

"Why in the world do you have a stocked kitchen if you don't use it? You know this doesn't make sense right?" He shook his head. "Food tastes better when it's cooked you know. Properly spiced, not bleeding all over the place, bones removed, I could show you so many things."

The haze that had settled over her dissipated a bit. "Stocked kitchen?" she echoed as she tilted her head to the side. "I thought that's what all kitchens are supposed to be like. We've modeled our places after what humans do so if we're ever found out, we can try to hide."

He raised a brow as he took a seat in front of her a similar plate to hers in his hand. "You know that humans don't typically have tunnels in their houses right? And how would you explain the wolf thing?"

Alice shrugged. "It's just the way we are. It's been this way for a long time. I know this stuff is used to cook, but I just never do." she waved her hand. "I'm impatient, I want to eat and right away."

Justa waggled a finger at her nose. Alice did her best to not pounce on it. "But look at how much better the meal is when you do." 

"Alpha?"

Alice frowned and turned in her seat. She'd been so absorbed in Justa she hadn't even heard Mark's footsteps. She didn't like the way his eyes questioned her and she glared at his silent question. "What is it?" she demanded.

Mark licked his lips as he ducked his head and entered the kitchen completely. "Everyone is gathered around outside. We just want to know what that smell is."

Justa laughed.

Mark blinked and stared at him. "What?" it came out sharp and Alice scowled at him. Mark lowered his head even more and repeated his question, softer this time.

"Do all of you have fully functional kitchens you don't use?" Justa demanded. "I mean, do they look like Alice's?"

Alice was thankful her mouth was full of another delicious bite. Even though she was a wolf, hearing her name on his lips made her want to squeak. If Mark noticed the strangeness of her pet using her name, he didn't show it.

"Yes, all our houses look the same. We have to keep them that way in case humans ever invade us."

Justa sighed. "You guys really don't have a lot of contact with real humans, I can tell." He turned to Alice who as usual couldn't tear her eyes away from him. "I will cook for the pack, and I will help you adjust things around here during my time here."

"Your time here?" Mark frowned.

Justa handed the other man a sandwich. "I'm not staying here longer than a week."

"Justa!" Alice almost choked. "You can't tell others that! You're lucky it is Mark this time. I trust him with my life, but you can never tell another soul what we plan to do."

Mark looked from one to the other. He had set his plate down but held the sandwich in his hand, his mouth just slightly agape as he prepared to take a bite. "I need to be filled in, Alpha," he nodded to her, and then he bit into the food.

Alice smirked. Mark sat down on another chair as he just stared at the sandwich in his hand and then at Justa. He took an incredibly long time to answer as he savored the taste. 

Not that she blamed him. Justa was practically a wizard in their midst with the insane power of conjuring up food that was unlike any other. 

Mark found the ability to speak only after he had devoured the entire crispy treat. "Do all humans know how to do that?" he demanded.

Justa nodded. "Most do, there are some that aren't very good at it. I've studied the art a long time."

Mark glanced over at Alice. "I can see why you wanted to keep him now. But I don't understand. What do you mean that as long as you're here? You mean until you die, right?"

"No," Justa replied. This time he glanced at Alice for permission.

Warmth exploded through her chest and she nodded at him. This human was going to be the death of her.

"I am leaving in a week. Long enough that I know that no one else from the pack will try to harm me. I will be returning to another human settlement with Alice taking me there."

Mark now turned his attention to Alice as his brows drew completely together as if they were just one dark furry line. "Are you sure about this? I thought he was your pet? And after what you've already gone through-"

Alice held up a hand. "I appreciate your concern, Mark. But I've made my decision. Besides, as you can see my pet has quite a few talents. More than enough to prove his worth and to earn his freedom."

Not that she wanted to let him go. No matter what it took, she would convince him to stay with her this week. The more she thought about letting him go, the deeper the chasm in her chest became. 

"Thank you," Justa nodded to her and then turned back to the stove. "Did either of you want more?"

Alice's mouth instantly watered. "More?" she whispered as she nodded.

"More!" Mark agreed with a grin.

Justa chuckled and the delicious scents wafted through the air once more. "How many do I need to make?" Justa asked.

"Just one each for now," Alice replied. She wanted to kick Mark out of the house as soon as she could. She'd spend as much of the night as she could convincing this pet of hers that it would be best for him to remain with her. 

"None for the pack?" Justa questioned.

Alice frowned. "No," she answered.

"Yes," Mark replied at the same time.

Alice glared at him. "There's no way I'm sharing," she growled.

Mark's eyes widened and his chair tilted back as he pushed himself away from her. "But, the pack deserves to try this too. They've all set up around your house because of the smell. We had to stop a few of the cubs from running in here."

Alice sighed. At this moment she regretted being an Alpha. If she wasn't an Alpha and didn't have to think of others, she could just absorb herself in winning over Justa. "You're right, please, Justa, make some for the pack to share."

Justa laughed as he shook his head. "If you guys are wanting that much more, I'm going to need my stock refreshed. This is the last of the fresh chicken."

Mark grinned. "After I finish mine, I will be more than happy to go out and hunt more for you. I'm sure with the entire pack hunting them down, we'll have more than enough for the entire pack."

Justa paused to give Alice her refill first with a gentle smile.

Alice's heart pounded so hard she was worried the others could hear it. She knew how Mark worked. It was no doubt he expected her to go with him to hunt.

But no way would she let them take her away from Justa.

Mark finished his meal in record timing and nodded to them. "I'll go out first. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"I'm staying here to protect my pet," Alice answered before he could ask her to go. "The others might be too curious and try to break in."

Mark frowned but nodded. "You're right. That makes sense. I'll be back soon Alpha, Alpha's Pet."

"Call me Justa," Justa requested.

Mark glanced at Alice and rushed from the room.

Good, she had his attention to herself once more. Alice smiled. "Thank you for your hard work."

"I want you to keep your distance from me," Justa said as he got to his feet and took a few steps away from her. "I'm not sure what you're planning, but I don't trust you. I won't trust you, and even if you think you can make me stay, I won't."

He faced her and stared into her eyes. "You can call me your pet, you can pretend that you own me, but after this single week I'll be out of your life." He tugged at the chain on his collar. "And you will take this off. I'm not going to be some meek prey for you to devour."