Wolf Girl (Wolf Girl, #1)(21)
My eyes widened. Sawyer was going to look those over? Yikes. Okay. That was fine. I mean, that was good actually, better than his mother.
“I know from my own experience this can all be a bit weird.” She looked at the alpha, who gave her a wink, causing heat to creep up her cheeks.
Okay, they were kind of adorable.
“But the rules are the rules and Sawyer cannot lead without a strong, loving woman by his side.”
The thunderous applause went up again and I found myself clapping along. I mean, when she put it that way…
The side door opened and then Sawyer entered, and holy hell he was wearing a three-piece suit and looked absolutely sexy as sin. The girls clapped like crazy while I just stared, trying not to drool on my dress.
“Alright, well, have fun getting to know Sawyer,” his mom said, and left the podium.
The moment the girls started clapping and hollering, Sawyer’s body language shut down. His eyes hit the floor, his shoulders drooped, and he looked majorly uncomfortable.
Eugene and some of his security guards flanked the room, standing up against the walls as Sawyer made his way to the front.
I recognized Walsh, Quan, and Brandon from my creepy kidnapper van ride. “So, are they like training to be security? Is that an academic major here?” I eyed the boys.
Sage nodded. “Advanced Techniques in Alpha Security. By the time we graduate, Walsh, Quan, Brandon and I will be the lead guards for Sawyer, his wife, and any children they have.”
Holy shit … I had been kidding.
I snort-laughed. “Advanced Techniques in Alpha Security! It’s a major?” I couldn’t get over this, it was too wild. I mean, the witches had Advanced Techniques in Potion Making, but this was somehow funnier to me.
The grin wiped off Sage’s face, and she leaned in closer to me. “When Sawyer was a child … he was kidnapped.”
My eyes widened. “By who?”
Sage looked left and right to make sure we weren’t overheard. “The Paladins, a rogue pack.”
Chills ran the length of my arms. “The who?”
She tucked a single stray lock of red hair behind her ear. “A pack that lives just outside the border of Wolf City, in the Wild Lands. They’re all feral and unsophisticated. They’ve always wanted to be alpha, and they claim to have alpha blood in their line. Their leader asserts that he should be given the chance to fight for the title.”
I gasped softly. “Fight for it? Like…?”
Sage nodded. “To the death. Barbaric, isn’t it?”
I tipped my head. “Totally.”
Before I could think more about it, all of the girls stood. One by one, they formed a line at Sawyer’s small table at the front, walking up to introduce themselves to him … shake his hand, kiss his cheek.
I stayed seated.
“Come on.” Sage pulled me up.
“I’ve already met him,” I told her, groaning.
Sage rolled her eyes. “Do you really want him to pick Meredith for his first date?”
Unrestrained jealousy bloomed in my stomach.
“He’s picking dates?” I stood and let her lead me into the herd.
Sage pointed to a printed menu I hadn’t noticed before. Underneath all the yummy food listed, it said:
Sawyer will have five, mini, ten-minute dates join him for dinner based on your compatibility quiz answers.
Ten minutes! Wow, these chicks were desperate for any time with him. The line was painfully long, and I found myself staring at the yummy steaming trays of food that had been brought in.
“What are you going to say to him so he will pick you for one of the dates?” Sage whispered as Meredith walked up to his table, leaned over so that her tits were in his face, and kissed his cheek.
I blew air through my teeth. “I dunno, I’m thinking maybe I don’t want him to pick me so I have more time to eat.”
Sage snort-laughed. “Say that. He’ll love it.”
I rolled my eyes and then it was my turn. Sage jumped in front of me and whispered something in his ear, before reaching out and messing up his hair. He grinned at her retreating back, before smoothing his hair, then his eyes fell on me and his whole face went slack.
My mouth went dry as his gaze raked over my tight red dress and he stood, stepping out from behind the table. He took two steps, closing the distance between us, and placed a hand on my lower back as he pulled me in for a hug.
Oh my shifter, he smelled so good. I swallowed hard as his arms came around me and I felt forty-nine daggers stick into my back as all of the girls were watching. When he pulled away, he gave me a devilish smile. “Do you really like video games or did my cousin tell you to say that?”
I didn’t know what he was talking about for a second, I was so enthralled in him just hugging me like we were old friends. Then I remembered the quiz.
I crossed my arms. “Name the game and I’ll smoke your ass.”
His gaze went half lidded. “I think you’re too good to be true, Wolf Girl. Quick, tell me your flaws so I can temper my excitement.”
Wolf Girl wasn’t an insult coming from him. On his lips it was an endearing pet name and I kind of loved it.
I grinned. “Is being too beautiful a flaw?”
He chuckled. “Certainly not.”
I was obviously joking.