In the Alpha’s Arms

Sense of Smell

Lita didn’t wake up all at once, like she normally did after a nightmare. She awoke gently, to the smell of French toast, bacon, sliced strawberries and orange juice, specifically pulp free orange juice. How she knew all of that from one whiff as she cracked open her eyes, she did not know. Or care.

Immediately, her mouth watered. As much as she could smell it, the food had to be practically at her bedside. She groaned, stretching her limbs and sitting up until her rib shot pain through her. Lita slowly started feeling her whole body again, the pain somehow worse than before she went to sleep,

She leaned back down against the pillow. Where was she? Brian probably took her to his apartment to monitor her, which had happened more times than she wanted to admit. He could be really sweet and attentive sometimes. The only issue was that it always came after he was violent and cruel.

She sighed, at least there was food. That was a positive worth focusing on. But looking around, she couldn’t find any food nearby. And she didn’t recognize a single thing about the room. This wasn’t Brian’s apartment or hers.

Lita not knowing where she was, upset her, but not nearly as much as the lack of food. Which was odd. She was ravenous as her growling stomach told her. More hungry that she could remember being in months. Perhaps it was because she needed energy to heal?

Her eyes went back around the room. Not a single feminine touch meant she was in a man’s room. That was more alarming, Where was she? Under the scent of the breakfast she couldn’t find anywhere, there was another scent, something familiar. She inhaled deeply, firewood? Something smoky. And fall air? Where had she smelled that before? It was nagging her mind like déjà vu. And it was wonderful. If they sold it at Bath and Body Works, she’d buy their entire stock

Oh my god, Brian’s apartment was trashed. Her mind seemed to snap back in place all at once. The memory of Cole smashing everything made her whole body shiver, What was she going to do? Brian would be pissed and he would be jealous, too. Terrible things always happened when he was jealous. He would tell her parents about Cole. They would all find out about the gym. As soon as they knew what she was doing, they’d nullify the contract, and she’d be forced to marry Brian early. Her mind raced with how one series of unfortunate events had potentially destroyed her entire life and her plan to get away.

She couldn’t stop herself from hyperventilating. What was she going to do? Where was Stace? Where was Cole? What happened to her apartment? What day was it? Her emotions ran away with her, a cold sweat breaking out across her forehead. This was bad, really bad.

They were wolves! The thought splintered everything else she was thinking. Lita was about to toss back the covers and jump out of bed in a rush, but Cole came into the room holding a tray of food.

“Oh good you’re u-” he froze mid sentence, staring at Lita like a character glitch, “Y–your chest, Lita.” He cleared his throat and looked away, as Lita looked down at her bare breasts.

“Jesus!” She snatched the large comforter

ter up to her neck again. How

“Are

you

the

he hell did she end up naked?

some kind of pervert? You don’t just stop at destruction of property? You’re into kidnapping and perverted shit too?!” she yelled, scooting as far away from him as she could go, wincing at the discomfort.

“Calm down will you,” he grumbled, sliding the tray onto her bedside table, “the doctor stripped you to assess your wounds.” His jaw clicked as if it angered him to think about it. “And fuck that asshole’s property.”

Lita eyed him carefully. He didn’t seem like he was lying at all. But there was no way to know. The cold sweat intensified

“I figured you wouldn’t want me dressing you while unconscious?” Luta cut her eyes at him and nodded, “Exactly. You can get dressed as soon as y

eat.”

you

Lita exhaled hard, why did he seem to raise her blood pressure? He sat on the side of the bed, turning to her, “Seriously, eat. You need energy to heal.” She snorted, knowing she’d just said the same thing to herself

you remember?”

it actually had French toast, bacon, and sliced strawberries. And when she looked at the bedside table, there was a glass of pulp free orange juice. How the hell did she smell that all perfectly through a closed door? She shook her head, must’ve been a lucky guess. Hunger

Showering. You,” Lita’s face involuntarily flushed, “um Stace. And you trashed Brian’s apartment!” Lita couldn’t help but glare at him. That temper of his seemed to rule him in a way she didn’t like. It wasn’t so hard for a man to go from destroying property to hurting a person, as she was already well versed.

he asked, studying her face for any signs that she was hiding something. What was she

shape–shifting c

creatures?

it why? Was

werewolves? Cole couldn’t believe it. Wouldn’t that be the first thing someone would remember? Unless she hadn’t really believed it. That might have made it easier to suppress. Shir. He sighed, knowing he was going to have to put new rules in effect with the pack until she got her bearings. Maybe he could reject her and be done with it all before she

I been out?” she asked between

“This yours?”

today, most likely.

fuck me,” she mumbled, noticing the way Cole’s eyes got darker for a moment, “Sorry to put you

“Put me out?”

a guest room? Or on the couch?” she asked, stuffing an entire piece of toast into her mouth

large bed and Lita thought she

I slept on

something else very low under his

was supposed to be annoyed about the situation. Instead, she kept

you heard that?” Lita nodded. Cole gave her a

down the Of. Cole immediately tensed at the idea

the

had been a slow torture, for sure. A torture he found himself more than eager to do again. He shook his head. He needed to

can’t go back home… I could call your family, maybe? I saur your mom called a few

her chest closing in, breathing deeply but not finding any air. She could try to smooth things over with Brian, but her parents?

of the spiral of thoughts, “Where’d you go? It’s okay. I’ve decided you’re staying here for now, anyway.” Her cloudy eyes seemed to clear as soon as

her eyes. He leaned closer to her mouth. “Cole?” she swallowed, wetting her lips. That smell hit her like a punch in the gut. That firewood, smoky, fall air was Cole. It was the absolute best

that made his skin flush, eyes hungry. He growled, pushing himself off the

here soon to check you out again. 1-1 have to, uh,” he stuttered,

a boost of confidence for

behind her back with Alex, calling her psycho fan or ring bunny behind her back and to her

It was the look that first day that told her what he really thought of her. That dark, Judgmental look. Especially when she’d signed the receipt for such a large sum. What had been meant to make her leave hadn’t worked and instead of earning his respect,

had they gone from that to an entire make–out session at her apartment? A session she wasn’t entirely sure wouldn’t have gone farther. if she weren’t injured. Had she wanted it to go farther? Lita’s body felt hot all of a sudden, thinking of the things they would

between them? Cole… her body seemed to respond to just his name with heat. She ran her fingers through her tangled hair, what a complication

they nearly touched, when his body heat sent her head into a frenzy. His warm, muscular body, and that sexy hagrance he wore… He was fucking up her plans, and she wasn’t even sure what those plans were anymore. Now that Brian was most likely in and looking for her, she needed to lie low. Very low. Staying here was the only option next to staying at a Motel 6, anything nicer would require her card. She surely couldn’t go back home. And she probably needed to

that would run through Brian’s veins the second he saw his apartment trashed. And then the way it’d fully explode ence he realized she wasn’t home, either. She took a few calming breaths. He wasn’t here. She didn’t need to be afraid here. Her mind went back to Cole again. He wouldn’t let Brian touch her again, that much

once again that she was completely hare, she groaned. He

in the

into the hallway, there Cole stood, his head pressed against the wall right outside the door, shaking from head

okay?” she reached out to touch his arm, but he jumped away and hissed as if she’d burned

me, Lits,” he growled, turning away, “Go back in the room. Please, dear moon goddess. Go back

touch you. But you’re not okay… what’s wrong?” She drew closer

passed…” he growled so low it sent heat

here… you took care of

again and this time, when her hand touched his arm, she realized exactly why he didn’t want them to touch. Hot electric currents of sensation shot throughout her body. Her thoughts seemed to go straight out the window and her body short circuited. She knew she needed to let go, but she couldn’t. If anything. she gripped his arm tighter, pulling him

dilating as he turned back