Working for the Alpha

4.Donovan

Donovan

The phone on my desk buzzed, making me jump in my chair. “Sir?” Becca's voice was clear through the speaker.

I took a shaky breath, willing my heart rate to slow back to normal before pressing the intercom button. “Yes, Becca, what is it?”

“Colin is on his way up. He said he needs to speak with you,” she said. I glanced back at the clock, noting it was nearly nine thirty, early for Colin to be in the office. “He also said he needs a few minutes,” she added with a growl. “He's not alone.”

I managed to suppress a chuckle at the bitter tone of her voice. She'd been trying to get Colin in bed for months, but he treated her like a little sister. I understood his hesitation. Even though Becca was my cousin, we'd practically grown up together and I often thought of her as my little sister. For Colin, having an affair with her would feel like a betrayal to me. “Thank you for the heads-up, Bec,” I said, smiling genuinely for the first time in days.

I stretched my neck and stood up to gaze out the window at the city bustling away below. My thoughts drifted, and I once again found myself wondering why Serissa hadn't shown up. Had something happened to her? I frowned at the thought. A city full of shifters could be dangerous for anyone, but especially for a human who was ignorant of the threat around them. Why had I brought her here?

My spiraling thoughts were interrupted briefly when I heard Colin's footsteps coming down the hallway, accompanied by lighter steps, but a strange gait, as though someone was limping. I narrowed my eyes at the door, almost as if I could see through it. My senses were on fire, my body trembling. It was the same sensation I used to get just before facing a particularly powerful challenger in the ring. I took a step forward, towards the door, readying myself for battle, but Colin's office door was closing behind him just as I stepped into the hallway.

My body went rigid as I sniffed the air. The familiar oceanic scent of Colin was there, but there was another scent. A hypnotic scent of freshly baked bread and warm rosemary. Conjuring a memory of home and a long forgotten feeling of safety. I closed my eyes, letting the scent caress my skin. I felt as though I was floating, or maybe falling.

“Van?” My eyes snapped open at the sound of Colin's voice. “I need to have a word with you in your office.”

“Who is with you?” I demanded, suddenly desperate to meet his mystery woman. I took a step towards him, but he lay a hand on my chest and looked me in the eye, more serious than I'd ever seen him before.

“That's what I need to talk to you about,” he said quietly. “Please, in your office.”

I hesitated, not wanting to turn my back on the delectable scent in the hallway nor the possibility of discovering the woman who had brought it with her. Colin pressed harder, though, and I nodded, retreating into my office with him close behind. “Leave it open,” I said quickly, almost panicky, when he moved to close the door.

One of his eyebrows arched slightly and he tried, and failed, to hide a small smirk, but thankfully left the door open before moving across the room to sit on one of the chairs facing my desk.

“Who is she?” I demanded again.

“Your nine o'clock,” he answered simply.

“Serissa?” I collapsed in my chair feeling like he'd just punched me in the stomach. “She's here? What's she like? She's so late, I didn't think she was going to show up. Wait, why is she with you?” Jealously lanced through me fast and hard and I clenched my hands into fists ready to take on my Beta for a woman I hadn’t even met yet.

He watched me with a curious expression, but let me ramble on. “There was a little incident,” he said cryptically.

“Incident?” My heart thudded against my ribs as I remembered the sound of limping coming down the hall. I was out of my chair and moving towards the door without thinking. “What happened? Is she ok? Does she need a doctor? Why would you bring her here? You should have taken her to the hospital!”

“Dude, you have got to chill,” Colin chuckled. He was between me and the door and I was ready to tackle him to get him to move. “She's human and if you come at her like that, she will run for the hills immediately.”

The thought was enough to have me backing up and sitting on the edge of my desk. “Explain,” I growled, “quickly.”

“Some of the boys from Red Creek Pack were doing their little machismo walk this morning through the crowd,” Colin said with a knowing nod. “Serissa stepped off the curb to avoid being run over, and twisted her ankle. It's not bad,” he added quickly, holding up his hand to stop me from rushing forward again. “Some ice and rest, she'll be fine. I promise.”

“Since when did you become a doctor,” I grumbled.

“You need to get a grip on yourself,” he said, ignoring me. “She's human and has no idea what we are. I have a feeling about this, but if you come on like... well, you... you will freak her out!”

I wanted to argue, but I knew he was right. I stood up slowly, and circled my desk to sit in my chair. “Ok, I can do this,” I said with a sigh.

Colin looked doubtful, but nodded as he got up. “I'll go get her.” He stopped as he reached the door and turned back to face me. “But for the love of all the Goddess stands for, please find a way to not f.uck this up.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I mumbled as he disappeared into his office. I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, trying to remember every lesson my uncle had given me on controlling my reactions to things outside my control. Of course, that was regarding anger and danger, not whatever it was that Serissa was bringing into my office.

There was a gentle knock on my door followed by the most angelic voice I'd ever heard calling out gently, “Mr. Rush?”

The world stopped spinning when I looked at her for the first time. A wild mane of brunette curls framed a feminine, heart-shaped face. Luminous blue eyes regarded me with guarded curiosity. Plump pink lips parted ever so slightly and her tongue darted out to nervously lick them, pulling at my resolve to take it easy with her. Her dress clung to her curves, showing off full, pert breasts, a little belly, and hips that had my fingers tingling in anticipation of holding tightly. My brows drew together in concern as my eyes took in the cut on her knee that was still bleeding, and her ankle that was slightly swollen. Sweeping my gaze back up to meet her eyes once more, it felt as though pieces of a puzzle were falling into place.

“Mine,” the word was a whisper quiet enough I hoped her human ears wouldn't have been able to understand. Whether or not she heard me mattered less than the crackling energy in the room. Her eyes went wide and I could smell her arousal. She may not have understood what we were to each other, but she was definitely feeling the effects. Still, she looked a little like a rabbit ready to run. A rabbit I would happily chase down and devour.

I was a dead man.