An Alpha's Choice (Talon Pack #2)(14)

Her blue eyes brightened, a small sliver of gold rimming the outside, telling him her wolf was far closer to the surface than he’d thought. Shit. He hadn’t wanted this. Brynn had amazing control of her wolf, and if his mere presence brought her to the edge due to anger, then he needed to take a step back and let her breathe. Because having her wolf come out and slash her claws across his chest for daring to touch her would have been normal inside a den. He frankly wouldn’t have blamed her for it. But outside the den and in a world where every move they made was watched and studied, he knew he’d f*cked up.

Carefully, he moved his arm away and took a step to the left. “Thank you,” he said, his voice gruff. Her eyes tracked his movement and he saw her shoulders relax. Just two extra inches between them and she looked as if she could breathe again. He felt like a f*cking tool for even forcing her to that line. He wasn’t the type of man to encroach when not wanted, and yet he just had. There was no excuse other than he hadn’t been thinking. Instead, he’d angered the woman he knew he needed to be friendly with and nothing more.

He pulled out his wallet and paid before she could. He heard the growl escape her lips and knew it was quiet enough that no one other than him would have been able to hear the soft sound. He leaned close to her ear but was careful not to touch her. “Sorry for touching you. You can pay next time.”

There. He’d apologized. He’d do it again and in more detail later because he didn’t like that he’d hurt her somehow. This anger had to come from somewhere, and he knew he wasn’t perfect. Maybe he’d done something he wasn’t aware of, but for the life of him, he couldn’t think what it could possibly be. He’d fix it though. Because there was no way they could continue on like this and do work for their Pack if she couldn’t even look at him without looking like she wanted to maim him.

“Thank you,” she whispered back. A mere two words, and yet his body relaxed. His wolf stayed silent throughout the entire exchange. Yet that wasn’t too out of the ordinary, considering his wolf was usually silent when he was around Brynn.

It was weird, but he didn’t question it. Not when he knew things about his wolf wouldn’t be like they were with the others. That was just how it was, and he’d learned to deal with it.

They waited in silence for their iced lattes, their bodies close to one another since space was lacking, but not touching. He could feel the heat of her and could still scent every inch of her, but he didn’t move closer. He’d already crossed that line and refused to do it again.

He’d find out what made her tick though because damn it, he liked her. She was a strong wolf, one that protected what was hers. In any other world, they might have been friends, lovers, maybe something more. Now, though, he just wanted to walk into a room with her without her eyes narrowing and her body going tense.

It might be asking the impossible, but damn it, he was going to try.

The barista called their names, and Brynn stepped forward first, collecting both drinks. He let her gather his, not wanting to intrude on her space any more than he already had.

She handed him his drink, her fingers accidently brushing his in the process. She sucked in a breath, her eyes going wide and meeting his. He panted slightly and swallowed hard, not understanding what the f*ck had just happened.

“Thank you,” he growled out softly.

She pulled away, not quickly, but not slowly either. As if she were doing her hardest not to show her true emotions. Finn wondered what made Brynn Brentwood who she was.

He stepped aside and held out his arm, knowing she wouldn’t take it but making it look as if he were pointing to the door. They wouldn’t be sitting inside the coffee place that day, trying to make small talk while people stared at them. Instead, they were going for a walk and hitting a museum. Even after all these months of doing something similar to this, he still didn’t know her well. They’d been chosen to go together in the first place because they blended well. They were both attractive and usually put people at ease if they tried—despite their dominance.

Now they had to convince the world they were harmless. At least for now. Honestly, Finn didn’t think this approach would last long. There was only so much tension their world could take before something broke. The Packs would play the sweet and innocent wolves so the humans wouldn’t fear them. But he had a feeling that one day, the humans would need to fear them. His father felt the same why, but they couldn’t jump to that point yet. They had to go slow, integrate as much as they could.

Because his little brothers and his future nieces and nephews and cousins deserved to live in a world where they would be safe and not judged because of the blood in their veins. He’d do all in his power to protect his Pack from those that feared what they didn’t understand.

Even learn to be near a woman who seemed to hate him and yet he craved like no other. If his wolf had even pushed him in the slightest, Finn would have thought Brynn was his mate. As it was, he’d never felt such a strong pull towards another, but his wolf hadn’t uttered a single word. The damn thing just stayed silent, as if Brynn were just another wolf among the masses.

She led him to the outside patio and stopped on the sidewalk, taking a sip of her drink. His eyes followed the way her mouth sucked on the straw, her lips looking so f*cking delectable he had to make sure he wasn’t sporting wood.

Again.

This woman just might kill him in more ways than one before the day was out.