Page 23 of Luna Trials
I tuned out the nearest Alpha’s voice, the one with the business suit jacket slung over his chair and hands big enough to engulf his fork as I focused on the breakfast options in the buffet line.
Warmth was spreading low in my belly.
Biology.That’s all this was. Just like I taught my students. Natural reactions. Unmated malepheromones combusting with my female biological needs. Alphas were all dicks anyway who demanded submission and did little to earn it. I needed to remember that.
“You know what I really hope,” the deep country accent said behind me as I loaded sausage onto my plate, “I want one of these Lunas to be the real deal. Could you imagine finding your fated mate here?”
Oh come on!
This wasn’t fair. I was not here to find an Alpha or fall in love and I’d just keep reminding myself of that.
I gripped the tongs like a weapon and gathered a whole heaping stack of French toast.
“Leave some for the rest of us, sweetheart.”
I looked over into stunning silver-blue eyes as an Alpha smiled down at me. He was huge with a mischievous smile that promised a good time.
This had to be a dream. I was still asleep.
“He… Here.” I dropped the tongs back to the tray, needing to get the hell out of there. The food would have to be enough. I wasn’t coming back.
“If she wants more, get out of her way.” A deep growl rumbled behind me that made vibrations shoot straight to my core.
I spun on my heel, colliding with a solid wall of muscled chest. The heady scent of pine and sawdust flared my nostrils as I breathed it in. I glanced up, pupils widening as my wolf’s eyes flashed in mine and shepurred.
My wolf had never purred in my life.
Dark brown eyes as deep as the earth caught mine in a predator’s gaze. Time slowed and my heart beat faster as I stared into them, seeing an image of myself in the soil-rich depths. The shadow of a stubble shaded his sharp cheek bones. His short black hair was slightly messy like he’d run his fingers through it. That was the only thing soft about him. Tattoos lined his biceps, disappearing under the sleeves of his black t-shirt, and the tips reappeared at the base of his muscular neck. His face was cut from marble and a frown creased his perfect freaking lips.
He was a god. A bronzed statue from some fantasy novel.
And he looked angry.
“Sorry,” I squeaked out, taking a step back and almost tripping over my feet. Strong hands grabbed my elbows to steady me and my soul wanted to leave my body at the touch.
I arched backwards, needing to get away before I did something stupid like moan.
He jerked his hands back as if I’d burned him and his frowned deepened. “Who are you?”
“Leaving.” I wasn’t sure if that answered the question correctly, but it was the best I could do right now. I used my tray as a shield between us and took another step back–straight into the blue-eyed beauty at the French toast station.
“Are you alright?” The Alpha behind me chuckled. I jerked away in a frightened panic, actinglike a cornered deer. My breath was coming too fast. The walls were closing in.
The dark beast in front of me snarled with the golden ring of his wolf flashing in his brown eyes.
I had to get the hell out of here.
“Are you staking a claim already, Ranger?” Blue-eyes asked as his hands brushed the top of my shoulders.
Ranger.Tall, dark, and handsome had a name to go with the feral growl that vibrated in his chest as he reached out to smack Blue-eyes’ hands away.
Danger warnings went off in my head.
I worked with inmates daily and knew a red flag when I saw one.
“Excuse me.” I ducked under his massive arm, using the chance to escape as my wolf pouted in disapproval. I wasn’t stupid even if she was. You wouldn’t catch me in the middle of some Alpha pissing match.
“You scared her.” Blue-eyes was still laughing.