I almost snorted at that line.
“Although,” he said and came closer, “I can think of a much better time than eating a burger.”
“Yeah, thanks, but
I’m pretty busy.” I smiled and turned but felt his hand on my arm. I stopped and looked over at him at the same time I felt this intense sensation move through me, this foreboding that something was about to happen, something that would change everything from this point on.
Chapter Two
Zakari
I smelled her before I saw her, this addicting aroma that was sweet yet spicy, soft and delicate. It had my entire body tightening, had my heart racing wildly. I curled my hands around the edge of the table, my nails starting to turn into claws as my bear rose to the surface.
Ours.
My human mate.
My bear’s mate.
That lone word was a growl inside of me, this feeling of completion, acceptance filling me completely. I slowly lifted my head and saw her, long dark hair in loose waves cascading down her back. She was standing to the side, her profile perfectly displayed. A tiny nose and gorgeous, pouty red lips.
I lowered my gaze to her chest, where large breasts—a perfect handful for me—pressed suggestively against the material of her shirt. I growled low again, this time knowing my brothers could hear it. She held a tray of six beers. Our drinks. She was coming here, to this table, as if fate had perfectly aligned this moment for our paths to cross.
Take her.
Claim her.
Make her know she is ours.
I needed to know everything there was to know about her, what she liked, what her voice sounded like, how she felt beneath me. I needed to know how she looked when she was lying in my bed, her hair spread out across my pillow, her mouth open as she moaned when I pushed my thick cock deep within her pussy.
Fuck.
I was sporting wood right now, a hard, stiff erection that pressed against my zipper uncomfortably. I was only focused on her. It didn’t matter if we were in a room full of people, she was my sole focus, the only person on this fucking planet who meant anything to me now.
My brothers were family, but she was life.
My life.
* * *
Bethany
The drunk still held onto my forearm, refusing to let me go. He lifted his other hand and reached out as if he meant to touch my hair, as if he wanted to push it off my shoulder.
Before I could push him away, to finish working and fend off another drunken patron, someone had the tray out of my arms, set aside, and then hands grabbed me around the waist. I was gently moved behind a very large, very masculine body.
I knew who it was even though I couldn’t see his face, even though the only thing that took up my view was a large, very muscular back. This man was so big, so strong, that his body blocked out everything else. The scent of him filled my nose and I felt myself soften, felt my body become pliant as if I had no control over it.
I took a step back when the shifter moved forward, going closer to the man who’d been hitting on me, the drunk who thought I was offering more than I was. The heat that came from him was intense and powerful, and I could practically feel his rage fill the air, coating me, surrounding me like a thick blanket.
“Zakari,” the drunk slurred. “I didn’t know she was yours.”
Zakari.
That name filled my head, moved through my body. I didn’t know him, but I knew him.
The hair on my arms stood on end.