Beaufort Creek Shifters (10 book series)
The Alpha’s Pregnant Bride Chapter 5

Troy

Skye spat out about twelve more creative swears at the mid-morning traffic as we raced through town. Her control of the vehicle was commendable, however much my body opposed the jerking motions of the car. As soon as we pulled up in front of a rather crowded restaurant, she snatched the first parallel spot, expertly backed into it, and then shot me a proud smile. "Do you like subs?"

The smile I wore was far more playful than intended. "Sure do."

Red clouds dusted her cheeks. She grumbled incoherently, shoved her hair behind her ear, and then popped off her seat belt. "Come on. We're already like thirty minutes late." "For lunch?"

"For Emmett."

Ah, the doting brother. The protective brother. This was a lunch that would determine the course of our mating dance. If Emmett didn't approve, then our relationship wouldn't thrive.

I couldn't think of a better way to shake this woman from my life.

Any additional smiles from me would appear as though I was thrilled to meet her brother. The reality, however, was more satisfying. I'd never met Emmett. He had likely seen me interact with Blake and perhaps had heard plenty of stories about me. But at the end of the day, he didn't know what type of man I was or how I would handle his sister.

Good thing I'm used to lying about being okay, I thought as I approached the patio area surrounded by a small white gate. This might take all my strength to perform.

Heat swelled inside me when Skye grabbed my hand. She'd done it back in the barn, and had held it in the car for a while without much reaction. Yet the warmth that danced from her palm into my muscles made me think of that desperate, invasive kiss I had pressed to her lips in the stables. That wasn't a side of me I'd thought existed. It was entirely unfamiliar.

Though it was also engaging. Skye receiving me, regardless of how hard I kissed her, made me wonder what else she would accept from me. My gut ached to find out the very secrets of her skin. Perhaps if my plan backfired, I could figure those things out and have fun while it lasted.

I trotted beside Skye toward a table at the far end, darting between wait staff and patrons alike in sync with my announced match. She seemed open to my pushes and pulls, and even added some of her own. Such a rhythm was fascinating-and unique in so many ways.

It wouldn't get the best of me. Most people who spent any length of time in close proximity were bound to pick up a wavelength together. Skye was subject to such whims the same as me. We were simply reacting to our environment. Nothing more than that, I swore.

"Em!" Skye bounced forward, yanking me with her. "Em, you saved us lunch-lobster, yes."

"Lobster?" I parroted. "I thought we were having subs."

Emmett stood beside the table wearing a heart-filled smile on his khaki-beige skin. Bright, rosy cheeks bloomed with heat when he looked at me, his charismatic stance and proud posture doubling with confident energy as he stuck out his hand and bowed his head. "The alpha himself! I'm so honored, Troy. I'm happy that Skye brought you. It's about time she settled down with a man. I hear you're a man of honor. She needs that so much!"

I blinked with surprise as Skye released me with an annoyed groan. She propped her hands on her hips and glowered at her brother. "Em, cut it out. You're being weird again. People are going to stare."

"They're not staring yet, Skye," he claimed with a beaming smile. "You know I'll be able to tell the slightest change in our environment."

Right-he was a decorated soldier. That meant he would be able to pick up any nuance in any situation. It made me wonder if my original plan to lie would be sufficient to slide past his intuition. Maybe it would be better for me to postpone such an impulsive idea. When I finally took Emmett's hand, I smiled with genuine warmth and bowed my head till our foreheads were nearly touching. "An honor to meet you, Emmett Jervis. I've heard much about your service during the wars."

"It was my duty to protect my pack."

"You did so valiantly, Emmett."

A somber grin appeared. He nodded toward the table, eyes closing to slits while offering me a seat. "I've been wondering when Skye would bring you to lunch. She's a sneaky woman who hates doing anything she's told." Skye groaned while crumbling into a seat. I could see how her brother had managed to shove her into a bunker during the war-as he seemed to easily have some sort of sway over her.

"Thank you," I said while shaking his hand. I rounded Skye's chair and sat next to her, ignoring the pinch of disappointment when I heard her scoot her chair an inch away from me. "Wendell tells me you're a mechanic." Emmett's laugh was surprised yet cheerful. "I figured you'd research me when you could. Is Wendell the grumpy one?"

"There's two grumpy ones."

"The unmatched grumpy one."

I nodded as I rested an elbow on the table. "You're observant."

"You think I haven't researched you as well?"

We shared an impressed expression. At least, I was sure I was giving him the same face, for he seemed pleased with the exchange.

I chortled. "I should expect nothing less from a high-ranking soldier."

"Skye knows I can be willful."

Skye snorted while waving down the nearest staff member. "Hey, could I get a mimosa over here? Yeah, a jug, actually-just one glass-thanks."

I hid my amusement with little success as Skye turned her intense glare in my direction. I refused to look at her or acknowledge her frayed disappointment. If it bugged her that I got along with her brother, then it was even better than trying to lie. Being a man of honor was more important than winning-so when I got the chance to do both, I jumped on it.

Though Skye turned away to greet the staff member who brought her mimosa jug, I could still feel her ire. Some of it was playful, but most of it carried a tinge of betrayal. Did she not like or appreciate her brother? As far as I could tell, he was an outstanding protector and guardian. I had to imagine he had taken over the household when their parents passed away.

"You're a mechanic," I repeated. "Do you work on the ranch?"

"Nah, I have a shop in town." He shrugged. "Humans are easy these days."

I hummed. "Better than vampires, I suppose."

"Would you two not say those things so loud?" Skye hissed. "There are people around here who will probably snoop if they catch you talking about fairy crap."

"We're not talking about fairies," I claimed.

Emmett nodded emphatically. "We're talking about vampires, Skye. Keep up."

Laughter bubbled from my gut. Skye swatted my shoulder and poured herself a hefty serving of mimosa. "Whatever. Give me that lobster roll, you twat." She grabbed the plate before Emmett could respond.

I listened to her chew angrily, almost turned on by the fact that she was so bothered. Why would that be the case? Well, I had to suppose that she rarely got agitated by anyone whose opinion didn't matter.

My view of her must be important if she was annoyed.

"Of all your researching," I said calmly, "what did you find most intriguing?"

Emmett looked at the sky while he pondered my question. It was like he was plucking the answer right from space. "The woodwork. I didn't expect that."

"Why?"

"You seem more focused on meditation and ritual."

I grinned. "There is plenty of meditation and ritual to be found in woodwork."

"That's interesting."

"Yes, so interesting," Skye said sarcastically around a mouthful of food, "that an alpha has hobbies. Next."

Emmett plucked a glass from the tray in the center of the table and poured himself a mimosa. He offered me one and I nodded in kind, accepting it with a friendliness I would have offered any long-standing friend. It was just that easy with Skye and her brother. Ages could have piled up in the minutes that I'd known Emmett, or so it seemed.

I was grateful that I hadn't needed to lie.

"And what about me?" Emmett asked. "Same question."

I chewed the inside of my right cheek. "The foreign films were strange to find."

"How so?"

"You just seem like a typical American male to me."

He barked with laughter. "I'm always keeping people on their toes."

"That's a good skill to have."

"I concur!" He raised his glass. "May you both have a long and healthy mating period."

I clinked my glass against his while Skye rolled her eyes. She was no longer thrilled about me meeting her brother, as she had been in the car on the way here, which she had expressed between colorful curses and irritated groans. Now, she sat with one leg crossed over the other and her arms snugly tucked in at her sides as she cradled her champagne flute. The t-shirt and yoga pants she wore barely hid her buxom curves, which were drawing my attention.

Could she feel that? My inner wolf smiled. She'll feel it later, I'm sure.

"It's rude to stare," she pitched in a low voice in my direction. "Didn't your parents teach you better than that?"

"They taught me a lot of things."

She scoffed. "Apparently, not how to treat a lady."

"I beg to differ, Skye. I think I've treated you with more fairness than anyone."

She couldn't argue with me because I was right. I hadn't dared to mistreat her, especially not publicly and especially not in front of her solider brother who could probably knock me out with a punch to the nose. While I had plenty of confidence in my fighting skills, I hated to waste those moves on a comrade. Fighting her brother was easily avoidable. Fighting with her? Not so much, it was quickly becoming apparent.

She lowered her gaze to the table. It was more of an aggravated pout than a defeated look, but she didn't try to argue with me. That was fine with me. I wasn't one to argue.

She shot up from the table while muttering, "Excuse me," under her breath.

I stared after her with a mixture of frustration and curiosity.

"She does that," Emmett commented. "The bratty attitude thing. She's super independent."

"I couldn't tell."

He laughed. "You'll get used to it."

"I'm not sure she'll get used to me."

His sigh drew my attention. "You just need to give her some time. She's not used to this sort of thing." He shrugged one shoulder. "I don't think any of us are used to this."

"Has your alpha announced your pairing?"

"No, I haven't been so lucky."

Luck-what a concept. Did he truly think being paired with someone his opposite was lucky? Skye was, at best, a plaything to pass the time, someone to bolster my reputation. No matter how sweet her lips and lovely her hips, nothing could change the reality of the situation. Our lives entwined because her alpha dictated as such. I wouldn't disrespect his word. But I would do everything I could to test her limits so I wouldn't have to participate. Even if it was appealing to be with her.

I glanced away from Emmett, almost embarrassed by the thoughts I was having about his sister. He clearly cared about her. Whatever energy I wore in regard to her name would be evident. Well-trained soldiers could pick up on that sort of thing.

"You smell like her," he whispered. I resisted the urge to look at him. "She's always smelled like fruit to me. She says the same." He chuckled lightly. "Actually, she says I stink of gooseberries."

“|

I suppose your scents would be similar considering that you're family."

He nodded. "Naturally. But you carry that familiar berry scent of hers."

"Is that bad?"

"No, it's not bad. I'm not sure about your pack customs, but ours are pretty relaxed. You're not in trouble." His smile grew. "Though as an alpha, I'm sure you've gathered plenty of my intentions through my energy."

He was a great soldier. That much was evident. "I certainly have."

"Listen, she's..." A clatter caught his gaze for a second. But he turned away from it to lean toward me. "She needs someone to love her. Don't let her down, alright?"

Consider me shocked that her brother was being so forward. Whenever I had encountered traditional wolf families in the past, the father had always taken the helm and forced arranged marriages throughout the family. Brothers took over when fathers weren't alive or present. My pack had disposed of such customs ages before my time.

Yet I found it endearing that Emmett was acting in such a supportive manner. He cared about his sister, indeed. She had no idea what he would do for her, did he?

No wonder he'd shoved her into a bunker.

Though I had to disagree with his methods and reasoning, I could sense his love and affection for her, for the remaining member of his family. He seemed to think that he owed her everything. And he did well to provide for her.

Before I could say much else, Skye returned. She settled into her chair and snatched up her champagne flute, swallowing the whole glass quickly. I chuckled while hiding my true reaction to the situation, one I hadn't ever anticipated feeling, yet couldn't seem to release once I got it within my clutches-approval.

And if I wanted to keep that feeling, I had to do something to keep her around. I had to make a move that spoke of my position and kept our relationship intact. To hell with shoving her away and denying what Blake wanted of me. I had to act as soon as possible. I had to act before the feeling faded.