Chapter 1: A Stranger's Arrival
A knock at the front door pulled Bailey out of her daydream. Her parents wouldn’t knock before entering so it must be…
A smile lit up her face as she set down the plate she’d been scrubbing and hurriedly wiped her hands on a cloth towel. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she opened the front door to reveal her boyfriend casually leaning on her doorstep. An easy smile spread across his face, the porch light accenting his dirty blonde hair.
Luke Turner. The Alpha’s son, his muscled body matching the role of his potential future title. His deep brown eyes roamed over her, taking in her slightly misshapen appearance. Bailey self consciously hid slightly behind the door at his gaze, her dark amber tinted hair thrown up in a bun coupled with a loose t-shirt and flowy shorts.
A shy smile rested on her lips. “I didn’t know you were coming over.”
His grin widened, showing the row of white teeth that only bore a slight hint at the canines they could become. “I thought your parents meeting might run late, and that you’d want some company.”
Bailey offered a welcoming smile and opened the door wider, inviting him in. Another late night for her parents, helping their pack in an urgent matter that always seemed to carry late into the night. He confidently shrugged off the wall and walked into the house as if knew the layout like the back of his hand. Bailey realized by this point in their relationship, he probably did.
One last glance of the empty street told her that her parents weren’t on their way home yet. She shut and locked the door. The village has been peaceful for years, but her parents always reminded her to lock up the house. She got scolded enough for forgetting in her teen years that the swift maneuver was muscle memory.
As soon as Bailey turned from the door, Luke grasped her heart shaped face in his hands, pressing his lips against hers. She stretched on her tiptoes to match the passion before pulling away. The feel of his lips lingering on hers.
Luke draped an arm around hers, leading Bailey to her cramped bedroom. Only enough room for a bed, night stand, and dresser that hosted a small TV on top of it. Luke let go of Bailey to sprawl out on the bed, his calloused hands tucked behind his head, taking up most of the bed already.
He raised an eyebrow at Bailey hesitating in the doorway. “I thought we could watch a movie.” His eyes glanced toward the TV and then he patted the free spot on the bed next to him, inviting her to join.
Bailey debated the idea in her mind, wondering what her parents would do if they found them alone in her room together. But, she was an adult now, and they liked Luke. So, she smiled and nodded. She cracked the door to hear for her parents and joined him on the bed, reserved to her side. They debated over which movie to watch and eventually Luke’s pick won. Bailey pursed her lips but didn’t object to the action movie he had already made her watch a thousand times.
With the final decision made, Luke eased himself off the bed to slide the DVD into the older TV. He shut the door and switched the light off in the process, the only light in the room coming from the dim glow of the movie.
Bailey sat up slightly. “Do you want me to make some popcorn?”
“Mmm, still full from dinner,” Luke replied with a sly smile and slid back onto the bed.
They sat apart for only a moment until Luke asked, “Why are you so far away?”
Before Bailey could answer, his strong arms pulled her beside him, and she laid her head on his strong chest. She could feel her heartbeat increase at their closeness, and as his rough hand started circling the small of her back.
“Are you excited for your party?” he whispered, angling his head toward her.
“How could I not be? Considering how much effort has gone into planning it,” she lifted her eyes to him, “and to see if…”
Luke raised an eyebrow. “If we’re mates?”
Bailey’s cheeks flush from the question. “Yes, that... I hope we are.”
His breath was hot against hers as he pressed his lips against hers. “You know there is another way we could tell…”
Bailey stiffened and pulled back from his kiss. “That’s an old myth. The only way to tell is to feel the pull from the bond. Not by... doing that.” She couldn’t say the word out loud. Not when they’re already this close, the room already so dark.
He eased back to watch the movie, and a silent sigh of relief shuddered through Bailey. She knew what he wanted, why he came here when her parents weren’t home. His desire for her had always been strong, but his impatience had grown.
She hoped maybe tonight she could make him understand why waiting was so important to her. To know that they were fated mates meant to be together before becoming one together. The experience, she heard, is magical. Nothing – no one – else could compare to it. But, the bond between them hadn’t shifted into the mating one yet.
After a few minutes, Luke said, “You’ll be 21 in a few days, we already know we’re meant to be together.” He paused. “What’s the point in waiting a few days?”
Bailey moved her head from his chest, her emerald eyes intently stared at him. “My parents, they’ll be home any minute. And, I told you I want to wait.” It felt like a conversation they’d had too many times.
Luke’s muddy brown eyes matched her intensity, “The meeting will be late tonight, so we don’t have to worry about them.” He completely ignored the other part of her reasoning.
Slightly exasperated, Bailey responded, “Can we just watch the movie?” She pointedly kept her eyes on the screen and pulled away from him.
Luke let out a low chuckle. “But, this is much more fun.” His lips skimmed her neck. Sending chills through Bailey, and not the good kind.
He angled his body to face hers, nearly on top of her. A predatory smile on his lips, his gaze unfaltering from her mouth. He reached a hand through her hair, the other held tight to her waist.
Bailey tried to move from under him, but his strong arms held her there as he leaned to kiss her again. His intensity rose as he pushed his tongue into hers, loosening the bun in her hair. The hand on her hip grazes slowly upward, fiddling with the hem of her shirt.
Luke was older, and maybe that meant he expected more from their relationship. They had been together long enough that it would be normal, but still something tugged against Bailey. She wanted her first time to be with her mate, and it might be Luke... but if it wasn’t.
Her gut clenched, and she knew she didn’t want this with him. At least not right now, and with how he’d been acting toward her. Pushing her even with her objections, it might be a sign that he didn’t understand her true needs.
She shoved her hands against his chest, trying to move him away from her. Instead, he took it as a cue to keep going. The hand that had been rummaging her hair became more forceful, holding her in place.
“Please, Luke,” Bailey pleaded, “Stop, I don’t want to, Not tonight.”
He let out a predatory growl, and she tried to move again, to get out from under him. But his hands and legs wrapped around her pinning her with ease.
She realized there’s no way out of this, unless her parents come home. Although he seemed confident they wouldn’t. She begged again, “Stop, please.”
He didn’t, using her words as further ammunition as his hand lingered at the top of her pants. His lips on hers even as she kept her mouth closed, grinding her teeth. He unbuttoned his pants, and his other hand traveled to the hem of her shorts.
His hands froze as the front doorbell echoed throughout the house. Bailey’s eyes widened at the sound, and hoped it would be enough for Luke to stop, to get off of her. The bell echoed again, and Bailey urgently whispered, “I should see who it is.”
Luke’s face turned to a grimace, but didn’t protest as Bailey freed herself from his grip and ran out of the bedroom. She didn’t know who would be on the other side of the door, but she’s ready to thank her savior.
Bailey was so grateful she didn’t bother checking the peephole before opening the door as wide as it could go. Her breath caught as she looked upon the most attractive man she’d ever seen. His steely blue-gray eyes, shielded slightly by his shoulder length dark hair, wielded a ferocity in them she couldn’t quite understand.
Still breathless, her brows furrowed at the stranger. “Can I help you? Are you at the right –” She glanced to the bedroom where Luke, his pants now buttoned, sauntered out. His mouth snarled slightly at the sight of the other male interrupting him.
The strange male’s eyes ignored him, locked on Bailey. She felt vulnerable at his prolonged gaze, like what almost transpired was written all over her face – her skewed clothes.
She started again, “Excuse me, sir? Can I help you with something?”
The stranger’s hard face relaxed into a polite smile. “Hello Bailey, I’m looking for your dad.”
