Havoc's Mate (Badlands Territory #2) - Lila Rose Page 0,3
statement.
I grumbled under my breath and nodded. “Yes. For now.”
His hand came forward. “Welcome to Badlands Territory. I’m Alton Monroe.”
“Um.” I licked my suddenly dry lips and took his hand in a quick shake. “Cora Smith.”
“Alton,” Brea called. I walked with him over to the counter. He took the two takeaway cups of coffee, and I grabbed mine, but also the bag with my bagel in it. I started for the door and could feel Alton behind me.
Once outside, I faced him and said, “Thanks again.”
He gave me a smile, and then his eyes widened before I felt someone step up behind me. I stilled, then some more when I felt a nose hit my neck. A growl sounded behind me, and I wanted to pee myself.
“Havoc,” Alton said, amusement and surprise still in his gaze. “It’s okay, Cora.” The heat at my back disappeared, and another large man stepped up beside me, his eyes trained on mine, only they seemed wild.
“Havoc,” Brea yelled, coming out the door.
This, all of it, was strange, and that was saying something when I was used to strange.
When I took a step back, the man named Havoc took one toward me but stopped when Alton placed a hand on his arm. I was sure I heard another growl, but I ignored it.
“Hey, baby, I was hoping to see you,” Brea cooed as she stopped beside Havoc, who hadn’t even looked at her. No, he was still staring at me, and damn if I didn’t feel naked from the intensity he directed my way.
Even stranger was when my nipples hardened. I wanted to cross my arms over my chest, but my hands were full.
I wished he’d look away, because the longer he kept his dark gaze on me, the more I sensed my body coming to life. My heart raced, and for some strange reason, I wanted to reach out and touch him. Heck, I was sure my panties grew wetter from the tingle I felt in my core. However, the reaction worried me, twisting my belly in knots. Yes, he was good-looking, even more than Alton, but there was something fierce about him and his tattoos. He even had a septum piercing. Combined, all of it rolled into two words—bad boy.
I had to steer clear of any type of guy, especially one who had my clit throbbing just from his powerful gaze.
“Havoc?” Brea tried again.
“Brea, go inside,” Alton ordered.
“No!” Brea snapped.
I took another step back and said, “Uh, this has been, um, real, but I have to go.” Screw looking for a job. All I wanted to do was run back to the car and get out of there. Instead, I walked back slowly, even when I could feel the heat of his stare. On the inside, I was ready to vomit. I got in the car and sat for a moment to deliberate my choices in the world.
Okay, it could take longer than a moment.
Chapter Two
Havoc
I watched her go, and if it wasn’t for Alton’s tight grip on my arm, I would have followed her.
Mate.
My wolf was at the forefront, and he wanted me to chase her as well. But I couldn’t. She was human and didn’t have a clue about the “others” in the world.
She smelled amazing, slightly aroused, but more prominent was fear. The last thing I wanted was my mate scared of me. Only it was probably inevitable, since my wolf was a bastard just like I was. Yet being a prick wasn’t the only reason I worried my mate wouldn’t want me. No. I was too angry all the damn time. Ever since my father was murdered.
She can warm us though.
Ignoring my wolf, I rolled my shoulders to lessen the tension. It didn’t help.
Brea’s annoying voice registered for the first time after Alton barked, “Leave, Brea.”
“Havoc, honey, are you going to let him talk to me like that?”
Fuck, she was stupid.
Didn’t she know I didn’t give a flying fuck about her or any female? Shit, I hadn’t even been with one. Shifters waited for our true mates to complete us in ways no one else could or would. Brea was a human with the knowledge of our kind because one of her parents was a shifter, but the gene didn’t pass on to her.
Somehow, she got the idea I would fall for her eventually and had been trying to flirt with me for the last few months.
Not that it would ever work. Not only was I not attracted to