The Alphas’ P**n Star Mate

"That was fun." It's now morning, the sun starting to rise in the sky. I sat at the window watching it in Darren's room as he counted cash to give me from a safe in his closet. I wasn't concerned about the cash much, feeling sated and exhausted. I was just happy that I followed through with my revenge plan and that it was so fulfilling in so many ways. Darren insisted I take the cash now since Rodger was taking me shopping later. "We should do that again," Darren chuckled in a deep voice, rough with exhaustion as he wrapped a rubber band around a thick stack of money. "We can make it a regular thing. I've never had a woman take me the way you did."

"I'm down," I giggled. "That was the best I've ever had, without a doubt."

"Well," his lazy, seductive grin makes his handsome and tired face so much more alluring, "you know how to bloat a man's ego."

"I'm just being honest. I really did enjoy myself, Darren." I smiled warmly, feeling happiness exuding from every one of my pores. "Thank you."

A red hue spreads on his rich cheeks as he purses his lips.

"Damn, your Alpha must have been clinically insane."

Darren dug out a zipper pouch from his closet, then busied himself digging something else out of his closet, a big cardboard box that looked like it had seen better days. I went back to staring out the window at the rising sun as he did whatever it was that he was doing. I didn't realize that I had drifted off to sleep, leaning my head on the window sill, until he shook me awake.

"Chloe. Hey, do you want to just sleep in here?"

"No. That's okay." I stretched my arms above my head and yawned. "I can head upstairs." "Well, here. Take this." He handed me a large duffle bag. "Need help carrying it up?"

"No. I got it but what is it?" I looked down at the heavy bag curiously.

"I still had a lot of my mother's belongings, including her clothes. She was about your size. You shouldn't have to go out shopping in men's boxers and oversized sweats."

"Aw, Darren. I can't take these. They must be important to you if you had them for so long."

"Take them," he pushed the bag back towards me. "She would have liked you. It will make me happy knowing I held onto them so they could help you out."

I didn't know what to say, so I hugged him tightly around the waist. "Thank you. I'll treasure them too."

He walked me to the door and waved goodbye. Even though we just had hardcore sex a little over an hour ago, it wasn't awkward or tense. There was no romantic atmosphere or pressure to do anything further. It was just like saying goodbye to a friend at the end of a long and fulfilling night of letting off steam. I was really grateful to Darren for everything.

I leaned against the elevator wall as I rode up the four floors to mine. I was thinking about the howling and snarling I heard at the end of our session. Darren was oblivious, but it shocked me at the time.

Cameron felt it. He felt the betrayal, but I hold no guilt at all.

"You shouldn't. Your first time should have been more like it was with the bear. That asshole got what he deserved."

"But what about Rome?" I asked her softly. "Did Rome not feel it?"

Cortina's silence told me that Rome did feel it, but she didn't even feel guilt about that. She seemed proud. "Rome was happy you found a way to move on. He took pleasure in his counterpart's pain as well." "Still...."

Cortina sighed. "I know. I wish he didn't have to feel it too, but it's not as bad for him. He said he's felt way worse pain. It was....it was like he enjoyed it. He enjoyed knowing someone was taking care of you." "So, you can talk to him still?"

"Yeah. I can't now, but when I retreat I can." She grew quiet for a few seconds, then murmured, "That's where I've been. With him. Letting him know we are safe and you are happy. He won't tell his human. He swore to the goddess he wouldn't."

"I know," I told her calmly, happy for her that she didn't have to lose her mate completely. I'm a little worried about the future, but I know Rome wouldn't hurt Cortina or me. He has proven that. "I trust you, Cortina. I trust Rome too." She rejected him. Even if he didn't accept, I kind of expected their communication to be cut off. Especially with distance.

They really did have a strong bond, though. Mated wolves share a consciousness, unlike their counterparts. We can mind link one another, and when the bond is as it should be we can feel many of the thoughts and emotions of our mate. I never experienced that with Cameron. I just heard about it in school and from the few mated warriors I used to know.

When the elevator stopped, I tossed the duffel over my shoulder as I pushed away from the wall. As I was looking down, fumbling with the mass of keys in my hands, a key for the common areas and main doors to the building, as well as my apartment, a rough male voice startled me. "How did you get up here?" I looked up to see a tall, blue-eyed, well-groomed man in a tight black shirt and light blue ripped jeans. His eyes were full of contempt and distrust. He was standing in the hallway at the door across from mine with a small suitcase beside him and keys in his hand. He would be extremely handsome, in a casanova kind of way, if the tool bag didn't have such a deep scowl on his face. "We don't call the police here. We deal with trespassers ourselves. You won't like it if I toss your sweet ass out of here myself."

"Me?" I pointed at my chest and looked around me to make sure he was talking to me. "You think I'm trespassing? Who the fuck are you?"

"Don't play stupid, doll. I have dealt with enough of you crazies to recognize a creep when I see one. How did you get in?"