The Alpha and His Human Mate

Tease!

Marissa leaned back in her chair, arms folded, eyes flicking between the three men seated at the table. “Seriously, none of you thought about giving a heads-up before showing up at our door like walking wet dreams?”

Felix smirked, stretching lazily. “What, you’d have turned us away?”

“That’s exactly what I would’ve done,” Marissa muttered under her breath. She could still feel the weight of Alex’s gaze burning into her skin even though he kept looking away like he didn’t know what to say. ‘Coward,’ she thought bitterly.

Louve sat quietly at the end of the table, dressed in a pale cotton tank top that clung lightly to her skin and a loose pleated skirt that grazed her mid-thigh. She shifted slightly in her chair, her legs pressed tightly together. Her whole body had been humming since Bardulf sat next to her. His presence alone was a wildfire licking along her skin. Every time his shoulder brushed hers, a new wave of heat pulsed through her chest. It was like he radiated heat and dominance, and it was maddening how much she noticed.

She tried to keep her eyes on her plate; stabbing at leftover vegetables she had no interest in eating.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Bardulf murmured beside her, his voice low enough for only her to hear.

“I’m trying to survive dinner without being caught setting you on fire,” Louve replied with a sharp tone.

A slow smirk curled at the edge of Bardulf’s mouth. “Careful, kitten. I happen to enjoy playing with fire.”

Before Louve could reply, her body suddenly froze in place. The man rested his hand on her thigh. It was like he was playing the piano, tapping his fingers along her thigh. His warm hand sent tingles throughout her body.

Louve tried to act natural, like it’s nothing. However, Bardulf wasn’t going to let her off. His hand trails up her knee, grazing across the smooth surface of her thigh.

“Ah!” she yelped suddenly, jumping so fast her chair scraped against the floor.

“Are you okay?” Amelia asked, blinking.

“I…. I just remembered we forgot to put water on the table,”

Before anyone could offer, she grabbed the pitcher and darted to the fridge. Her hands were trembling slightly. In the kitchen, she leaned against the counter, taking a deep breath. ‘Calm down, Louve. Breathe’. Her heart was racing so fast she thought it might leap from her chest. Bardulf had touched her, in front of everyone. Under the table, and worse, she liked it. The way his fingers had moved, slow and confident, like he knew exactly how to ruin her calm.

When Louve returned, she poured water into glasses with her hands that trembled slightly. Bardulf hadn’t looked at her again, but she could feel him beside her…solid, magnetic, patient, like a wolf watching its prey struggle.

She tried to act like nothing had happened. Her thighs, however, still tingled. She smiled awkwardly as she returned to her seat. Her gaze wandered towards the man who was still eating his food gracefully.

“Food was great, by the way,” Felix said, leaning forward. “You often cook?”

Marissa gave him a tight smile. “Only when I’m trying to impress.”

“Mission accomplished.” He winked.

“I’m just saying,” Amelia groaned, “this girl needs a Michelin star or something. That steak? Unreal. I’ve never tasted anything like it, and that sauce? Magic.”

Marissa grinned, tossing her ponytail over one shoulder. “Finally, people appreciate my culinary excellence. Thank you.”

Alex sat across from her, quietly picking at a piece of beef with his fork.

Marissa rolled her eyes. “Gamma Alex, What happened? Did your tongue fall out again?”

Alex blinked. “What?”

“You haven’t said a damn word since we sat down. Not even a compliment for my cooking.”

Alex opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Bardulf spoke loudly and sharply. “What in the bloody moon is this?” he stabbed the steak with his fork, like it had personally offended him. He sniffed it, curled his upper lip, and then stuck out his tongue like it had been scorched. “Did you grill this with battery acid or was the cow already dead for a decade?”

Marissa blinked twice. Her nostrils flared. “It’s medium-rare! Almighty Alpha of Blueblood” she barked, her eyes narrowing into slits. “Just how normal people like it!”

“This is medium tragic,” Bardulf replied, scraping his knife against the meat. “The cow died in vain, remind me again why I agreed to eat whatever this is?” Marissa shot back immediately, her eyes blazing fire. “Because you’re hungry and I cooked it. Medium rare, like a human who isn’t a whining pup Alpha.”

Louve coughed into her hand, trying not to laugh. Amelia clamped a hand over her mouth, her shoulders shaking.

Marissa tossed her fork down. “Don’t eat it, Your Highness. Starve.”

Felix, chewing in peace, glanced up and muttered, “Tastes fine to me.”

Alex leaned back, raising his brows. “You always cook like this, Marissa?”

“Don’t start,” she snapped, pointing a steak knife at him.

Felix snorted, almost spilling his drink. “Dude, it’s fine. Seriously.”

Alex leaned forward. “Come on, Marissa’s a decent cook.”

Marissa rolled her eyes so hard you could hear them. “Sure, if your palate is dysentery.”

Bardulf grinned, showing his teeth. “She once boiled eggs in the microwave, blew the door clean off.”

Marissa launched a napkin at his head. Bardulf didn’t flinch, but his eyes twitched, just enough.

“Careful, Marissa,” he said, chewing slowly now, “your cooking might be declared an international threat.”

Amelia laughed out loud. “Alpha or not, you’re getting slapped if she snaps.”

Even Louve giggled, poking Marissa. “You really boiled eggs in a microwave?”

“I was ten!”

“No excuse,” Bardulf muttered with his mouth full, “war crimes have no age limit.” He chuckled, flashing his teeth. “Truly, a renaissance of culinary chaos.”

Marissa stood and threw her hands up. “Fine. Starve.”

Felix shrugged around his steak. “I’m eating, thank you for cooking, sis….that’s entertainment.”

Allex grinned. “Best show here, actually.”

Bardulf offered a bow with a knife in his hand. “Applause for Marissa, the Disaster Chef.”

Marissa folded her arms, her nostrils still flared and her lips twitching. But everyone burst out laughing. Even Marissa cracked a grin, the corner of her mouth lifting.

“You animals,” she muttered. “Tell you what….next time, I’ll only poison you mildly.”

And with that, the room buzzed with playful chaos and laughter.

Meanwhile, Bardulf leaned in closer toward Louve, his muscular thigh brushing against hers under the narrow table. The contact was deliberate, slow, and completely unbothered by the others in the room. “Relax,” he murmured; his breath warm against her ear, his voice was smooth and dark like velvet over steel. “You act like I did something unforgivable.”

Louve stiffened. Her eyes stayed locked on her plate, but her fingers curled slightly against the fork. Her voice was low, controlled, but heat simmered beneath it. “You touched me in front of everyone.”

Bardulf tilted his head, amusement tugging at one corner of his mouth. His teeth peeked through in a cocky grin. “Correction,” he said quietly, “I touched you under the table, big difference.”

Her jaw clenched. Blood surged into her cheeks, heating her face until she felt like smoke might rise from her skin. “You’re impossible.”

Inside his head, Bardulf’s wolf stirred with a deep, vibrating growl.

‘She’s electric, Bardulf. Every breath she takes tastes like home. You felt it too. When your skin brushed hers…admit it…you wanted to rip the world apart just to keep her close.’

‘Not here,’ Bardulf pushed back, locking his jaw tight. ‘Not now.’

‘You’re holding back,’ his wolf growled again. ‘But she’s not glass. She’s fire. Every inch of her belongs to us.’

“Brandon, shut the f**k up; one more word from you and you’re out of my f*****g mind. The pack is in a lot of trouble now, I can’t afford to put her in danger”, Bardulf scowled at his wolf. Brandon recoiled, scared of being blocked out.

Louve glanced at him, just a flick of her gaze, but it was enough. He was staring again, his eyes were steady, dark and hungry. She hated how he looked at her like he could taste her heartbeat. “I should grab more dessert,” she blurted, her chair legs scraping sharply against the floor.

Marissa straightened quickly. “We’re fine, there’s plenty.”

“No,” Louve insisted, already reaching for her wallet. “It’s their first visit, we should do it right. I’ll be back in five minutes.”

Alex stood halfway, concerned. “Louve, that’s really not….”

“I’ll be quick!” she cut in without looking back.

The door clicked shut behind her.

Bardulf didn’t move. Then, barely a twitch….his fingers flexed once.

Outside, the sky split in two. Thunder cracked like a whip, loud enough to shake the windowpanes. The room trembled. Rain pelted the building like fists pounding on glass.

“What the hell,” Amelia muttered, stepping to the window. “It was clear five minutes ago.”

“She didn’t take an umbrella,” Marissa said, her brows pulling tight, her mouth tugging down in concern.

Alex scraped his chair back, about to stand. “I’ll go after her….”

“There’s one in the cabinet,” Bardulf said flatly, rising with calm precision.

Alex turned toward him. “Let me take it to her.”

Bardulf’s eyes flicked to him, no words needed. Alex met the look, and sat right back down.

“I’ll get it,” Bardulf said, already moving. He reached the cabinet in two strides, opened it, and pulled out the umbrella like he’d known exactly where it was all along.

With the umbrella in hand, he looked over his shoulder and said calmly, “I’ll be back.”