CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER7

NOAH

My alarm started beeping at me and I slowly peeled my eyes open. The first rays of sunlight were peeking into my bedroom through the curtains and the events of last night came flooding back.

I remembered Lucas coming into the store, then him talking dirty to me while I jerked off. He could speak to me in my mind and that was twisted as hell. Thank God he couldn't actually read my mind, that would be something I couldn't handle.

He said he would answer my questions this morning and I had a lot of them!

I got up, had a quick shower and got ready for work. Then, I went looking for the furry overbearing pain in my ass. I opened the sliding door that led out onto the large back deck.

"Okay, where the fuck are—" I lost my voice as I looked at a large black wolf, curled up on the deck beside a pile of clothes. He lifted his head and looked at me. "Get dressed and meet me out front," I muttered and closed the door.

I hated to admit it, but he was a beautiful wolf. When he was an actual wolf, not the weird half breed looking version that he was the night we had met. His fur looked so silky and shiny in the morning light, it looked so soft that my fingers itched to touch it, to stroke his head and ears, which were always the softest parts.

I've always been an animal lover. It's why I joined the local group that takes care of stray cat colonies. Being in a small town meant we didn't have a proper shelter but we had a group of like-minded people who took turns feeding the strays and we fundraised to trap, neuter and release them.

I picked up my wallet and keys then went out to my car and waited for Lucas. He walked around the house, slipping his t-shirt on and I caught a glimpse of his tight abs.

Fuck me, his body is spectacular.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep myself from moaning as my mouth watered. I quickly looked away before he could catch me staring. Something told me he had enough cockiness already and didn't need to catch me ogling his body to make his head even bigger.

"Since you already found out where I work, we'll go to the café above my bookstore," I said, then hopped into my car. The food was good there and I wasn't going to go out of my way for him.

After what he'd done, he owed me.

I watched him through the windshield and he nodded then walked to a bike parked across the street. I realized that's why I didn't see the sneaky bastard last night; he was obscured by the minivan.

I turned the ignition and started driving to the café. He, of course, was right behind me the entire way. Why bother concealing himself now? He'd found out what he wanted to know last night and knows where I live now.

God, this man had the power to get under my skin like no one else. He both infuriated and turned me on in equal measure.

I parked in my carpark behind the building and walked around to the front and into the café. Lucas was waiting for me at the door and escorted me in then pulled out a chair for me at a small table in a discreet corner of the café.

I stared at it and then him, feeling conflicted.

"It's okay, it's just a chair. It won't bite," he smirked.

I sighed and shook my head, then sat in the chair.

At least he has manners I suppose.

Jade approached us. "Morning Noah."

"Morning Jade," I smiled.

"Who's your friend?"

"This is Lucas."

"Hi," Lucas murmured and smiled at her.

I watched as she fluttered her lashes and practically swooned. "Hi," she said breathily, "I haven't seen you around before. Are you new to town?"

"I come and go but I'll be here for the foreseeable future," he replied, giving her the full wattage of his charming smile.

"Oh, that's really nice to hear. If you need someone to show you around or recommend things to do locally, I'm happy to help," she offered, blatantly flirting with him.

An unwelcome surge of jealously sprung up within me suddenly.

Where the fuck did that come from?

Lucas looked over and smirked at me like he knew what was going through my mind.

Cocky bastard.

"Thank you, Jade, that's such a lovely offer but I have Noah here to keep me company."

Jade looked over at me like she forgot I existed and I couldn't help but arch a brow at her.

"Oh, of course you do. Um… what can I get for you guys?" she asked sheepishly.

At least she had the decency to look embarrassed. It wasn't like I cared if she was interested in Lucas, it was the principle of it. She didn't know that I'm wasn't interested in him, and we were sitting together so, she should at least assume we might be together instead of blatantly hitting on him.

"I'll have the bacon and eggs and a latte please," Lucas said.

"Sure thing. The usual for you Noah?"

"Yes please."

Jade scurried away and I sighed, looking at Lucas and crossed my arms over my chest. He'd pissed me off with his perfect smile that attracted everyone to him and his sexy smug look. And yes, I knew I was being unreasonable.

"You're sexy when you're all jealous," he purred.

"I'm not jealous." Yes I was.

"Yes, you are. I can feel it."

"Your wolf senses must be broken because that's not jealousy," I muttered stubbornly. It was jealously.

"Really? What is it then?" he asked, smirking at me like this conversation was hilarious.

That just pissed me off even more.

"It's annoyance. I mean, it's not like I care, but you're obviously a player."

"If you don't care then why are you annoyed?"

"Because you… I don't like people with no morals. You say we're mated, whatever that means, but then immediately flirt with the first piece of ass that comes along. In front of me. That's just plain rude."

"All I did was smile," he said, still smirking at me.

"No, you… I mean she… whatever. I don't care," I huffed. Fuck, I was losing this battle.

He reached across the table and took hold of my hand, startling me.

"Noah. I swear to you, I'm not interested in her or anyone else. Only you."

My stomach went all squirmy with butterflies. He'd completely disarmed me and I didn't know what to do.

Jade suddenly appeared out of nowhere, interrupting us.

Thank you.

"Here are your coffees," she said in a nervous high pitch, placing them in front of us then scurried away again quickly.

"Thank you, Jade," Lucas called out.

Jade looked over her shoulder and smiled at him, blushing hard.

I pulled my hand back and stirred my drink.

"And for the record, we are mated," Lucas continued, "my bite on your neck says so."

"And what does that mean exactly?"

"We'll get to that. So, tell me about you, how did you come to own a bookstore?"

"Nuh uh, I don't think so. This is not a chit chat get to know each other, you have some explaining to do."

Lucas sighed. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything! Were you born or bitten? Can you catch rabies and do you have any STD's? Which legends are true, silver or wolfsbane?"

"Okay, slow down. Let's tackle this one question at a time," Lucas said, interrupting my word vomit. "I was born a wolf. I can't catch rabies or any STD's, werewolves are immune. Silver does nothing but if someone stabbed me with a silver blade it would injure me just as much as if it were steel and wolfsbane is just a disgusting plant that would give me a bad stomach ache if I ate it."

Jade placed our food down in front of us. We thanked her and she discreetly slipped away again. Lucas immediately started demolishing his breakfast.

"Okay, but you can't carry rabies or STD's if you're immune right? Like you won't have passed anything to me?"

"No. I assure you that you are safe."

Ha! "That's debatable," I muttered. "Alright, what about other wolves, I assume you're not the only one."

"I'm not. I have a pack," Lucas said before shoveling another forkful of food in his mouth. The man could put away a lot of food.

"What's a pack? Is that like a family?"

"Kind of, we're not all related, though some are. We're like a community made up of multiple families," he clarified.

"Right. You mean a cult."

"We're not a cult."

It sure sounds like a cult.

"Uh huh, and what happens on the full moon?"

"We shift into our wolves. We can shift at any time but we can't stop it on the full moon."

"Okay, and what about this mate thing?"

"You are my mate. The one single person on this planet that is meant for me. Luna chooses a mate for all werewolves, usually another wolf but it's not uncommon for a wolf to have a human mate. And for the record, I'm your mate too."

"Who's Luna?" I asked.

"Luna is the moon goddess, she created werewolves. She is the divine goddess and chooses our perfect mate for us."

"Oh right, right. So, you live in a commune and worship a moon goddess. That's a cult," I said, smirking.

I was thinking he was beginning to sound a little crazy, and I'd honestly believe he was, if I hadn't seen his werewolf body for myself. Actually, the jury was still out on that. I knew he was a werewolf but moon goddesses and soul mates. Really?

He chuckled. "It's not a cult."

"Sure, sure. Okay, story time has been fun," I muttered, finishing the last bite of my bacon and cheese croissant, "but I don't believe in soul mates. I understand that you're a wolf and you bit me, but that's all that happened. Now, I've got work to do so I can save up to pay for a tattoo to cover the scar that you've given me."

Lucas growled lowly. "Don't you dare."

"Sorry to break it to you, but you don't own me," I huffed, putting some cash on the table and standing up, heading for the stairs.

I unlocked the door and opened the shop, flicking on the light switches and walked over to the computer, switching it on.

"Hey, we're not done!" Lucas growled from the doorway that he filled completely.