Alpha Scent (Amber Woods Shifters) (6 page)

She really did not know how to answer that. Was it because he turned her insides into a puddle of need? Or was it because his dominating alpha vibes were so alien to her? She opted not to answer, so shrugged her shoulders instead.

“There is a service station at the next junction, we can stop there”

Sending a quick text, Luke turned off at the junction, pulling into the empty bay. Brianna practically groaned when she got out the vehicle, her muscles were aching and her headache had still not eased, making her even more grumpy. The dark shades she wore where a god send right now.

“Come on Lizzy
we will get take out, I need to use the bathroom as well. You want anything Luke?”

“Does a bear shit in the woods?”

Laughing she dragged Lizzy into the building. The place was busy, mainly truckers and business executives on route to some mundane meeting. Bypassing the main restaurant, they circled past to the rest-rooms. Passing the men’s, her sensitive nose crinkled at the testosterone practically pouring out of the door. Lizzy marched ahead, the mega volume of espressos finally landing in her bladder. A bulky shifter came out the men’s, causing her to bump into him.

“Sorry”

“No problem she wolf”

His eyes roamed her body and right now she wanted to claw them out of their sockets, sleazy bastard.
As he walked away her nose had identified a very unique scent, so out of place to the usual peppery scent of male wolf. Inhaling again, she almost gagged at the acrid almost sulphur odour flowing down her nasal cavity. It was so toxic, her wolf paced restlessly, hackles raised.

“
Bri?”

She heard
Lizziy’s voice, having to blink to bring herself under control again.

“Lizzy
, what do you smell?”

“
Ewwww, why do you want me to smell the men’s room?”

“Apart from the usual masculine scent, inhale deeper and tell me what you find”

Lizzy took a sharp breath in, her nose wrinkling in disgust.

“Nope, just the usual male wolves marking their territory. Come on, the sooner you get caffeine the better, but bathroom break first, I swear I’m going to pop!”

Brianna felt uneasy, if Lizzy did not pick up that toxic stench, it could only mean that her tracker instinct had kicked in, but for what purpose she did not know. Walking back to the SUV, she noticed the bulking shifter getting into a blacked out van. As always curiosity got the better of her.

“Lizzy
take the coffees back will you, I will only be a moment”

“Where you off to?”

“Just need to check something out”

Lizzy
nodded heading back to a parched Luke. Brianna casually strode over to the line of cars parked, the van at the end. After slow deep breaths and filtering out the unnecessary car fumes, sweat and environment, she slowly walked to the back of the van, making sure she was out of sight of the mirrors. Inhaling deep, her senses quickly picked up on the same pungent smell, stronger at the back. Again it almost made her want to gag. Hearing the sound of the engine turning over, she made quick work of making herself disappear, to behind some waste bins, to disguise herself and any scent. Watching the van drive away she noted the type of vehicle and registration. It was probably nothing, but when her wolf paced she knew she had to be alert.

Once out of sight, she stepped out of her hiding place, turned the corner and walked into a large chest of muscle.
Crap.

“Do you always like to go off alone?” Marcus questioned.

“Do you always follow people around?” she returned.

Out of sight of the main car park, he pushed her against the wall, using his frame and build. Staring down at her, his face was stern.

“Only when it involves my mate, you were supposed to stay with the group, be in contact, in sight at all times, I need to know you are safe baby”

“Yeah well, I don’t follow rules, it’s what makes me a good tracker”

The moment Marcus had received the text from Brianna he had recognised that they probably did need a break, his mate would need to eat and drink. They had followed them into the service station, but as soon as they had got near the teams SUV he noticed that the women were missing. He knew that they would not be far and in a public place but his protective instincts were in overdrive. After growling at Luke for not keeping them in line of sight he had gone searching for them. Seeing Lizzy walking with a tray of refreshments he had asked her where Brianna was. She was carrying a bag of sweets in between her teeth, so had generally nodded in the general vicinity of where his mate was. Following her sweet scent, he watched her as she was in obvious alert mode. The alpha in him took over.

Staring down into her beautiful blue eyes, he was mad and intrigued all at the same time. Swooping down he crushed his lips to hers, her hands grabbed onto his shirt and her sweet moans had him plunging his tongue inside
. The fire that she ignited in him was burning intensely. He needed to get control, he was not going to take her against the wall like some young pup eager to make his mark. Reluctantly he stepped back.

“Some rules are meant to be broken, and there will be many baby, especially in
our bedroom, but out here you are mine to protect, now what were you tracking?”

Brianna blinked rapidly, her lips tingling from that one kiss.

“Tracking?”

“
Bri, as my mate I expect no lies and you are trying to mask your scent right now, so what the hell were you tracking”

Huffing, she stepped away, but his arms pulled her back, again caging her against the wall. What the hell is it with alpha males and the need to dominate?

“I’m not sure”

Cupping her face, he stroked the line of her jaw with the pad of his thumb.

“Tell me baby” his words soft and encouraging.

“It was just a scent that was toxic, very unusual, after I accidently collided with a
shifter on my way to the rest rooms. I saw him get in his van and wanted to get a closer look, it’s the tracker in me, but don’t ask me what I found, I can’t explain it, at least not yet”

Marcus stepped back, scanning the lot, he inhaled deep but nothing seemed to register as unusual.

“You are sure?”

“Very, It is part of my tracker instinct, if no one else can smell it, then it can only spell trouble”

Marcus wrapped his arms around her shoulders, eyes constantly scanning the area, alert for any threat that could harm his mate. The sooner he got her back to pack territory the happier he would be.

6

Brianna almost breathed a sigh of relief as the landscape changed and the rolling hills and rugged mountains became permanent. Winding down the window, she took long deep breaths, inhaling the purity of the air. The smell of the grass, trees,
and stream’s overloaded her senses. Luke followed the pack SUV for another hour, the roads more uneven, landscape dense and unforgiving. Finally, they came to a clearing in the woods. The pack SUV stopped and they waited. Two huge wolves sauntered out of the tree line. Gracefully they approached there alpha, once in front of the SUV they bowed their heads in submission, before shifting. Brianna matched the audible gasp of Lizzy.

“Oh dear Lord they are naked” she shouted.

“Bri, for god’s sake I know you have not been in a pack for many years but I am sure you have seen many naked shifters before” Luke laughed.

Yes many years ago she thought
, but now she was more private when she shifted, even going on a case with Luke they changed and shifted in different areas. Her eyes could not seem to tear away from the males. It was a common fact that all male shifters were very well endowed in their anatomy, but even as she looked at them she had no feeling of arousal, just curiosity. Her mind wandered, wondering how big Marcus was, the feel of him against her last night had gave her some indication and she was sure it would more than meet her expectations. Feeling her cheeks flame, she grabbed a bottle of water, now warm from the journey and chugged it back.

Luke obviously found the whole thing amusing.

“Well she wolf, you are in pack territory now so get used to seeing many naked bodies, even mine”

“What?”

The sound of Lizzy laughing, had her spinning in her seat to glare at her, before she felt the vehicle move again.

Amber woods was truly stunning, the silver birch trees forming almost a processional entrance, pine trees clustered together with oak, ancient woodland, unseen and untouched by outsiders.
They passed several wooden cabins, solidly built. She noticed the solar panels on the roof, understanding the need for a more ecological existence, in tune with nature. The road eventually came to a traditional closure, reminding her of an old fashioned village green appearance, with four large houses surrounding it. The pack vehicle came to stop and Connor jumped out, opening the door for his Alpha.

“Fuckin hell, have we stepped into an alternate reality here, kind of like the wolf mafia?” she grumbled.

Luke was laughing hard now, as he switched off the engine.

“Oh my little Brianna, I am so going to enjoy seeing how you integrate back into the pack again”

“For the last time I am telling you both, I am not here to integrate, postulate or fornicate, I am here to do my job!” she yelled.

A rush of air whipped her hair around her face as her door was pulled open. Marcus unclipped her seatbelt, picked her out the seat and placed her gently on her feet.
My legs work fine!
she wanted to scream.

“Fornicate, now there’s a word I am getting to know better with you baby”

Letting out a frustrated growl she stormed to the back of the vehicle to empty her bags out the back. Lizzy joined her, smirking.

“Ok what?”

“Hell Bri your snappy today!”

“Lizzy
, less than 24 hours ago I was getting wasted on whiskey and beer, enjoying my freedom. Fast forward, I’m tired, hungry and frustrated, that bloody alpha has got my normal senses upside down. I need to focus Lizzie, I need to give my best to this case, the pack is relying on us and I intend to return what they have lost as soon as I can”

L
izzy put her bags down, watching the male’s deep in conversation at the pack vehicle. Her eyes roamed over Connor appreciatively. His eyes flicked to hers and rewarded her with a dazzling grin just for her. Feeling like someone caught with their hands in the cookie jar she focused her attention back to Brianna.

“
You always give 100% Brianna, you just need rest, lots of food and sex”

“Sex?”

“Yes lighten up, a good roll in the hay will iron out those muscles and calm your mind, and your hunky alpha over there can provide it, other than that, you will have to rely on your two fingered friend”

“Lizzy
! For god’s sake does your mind ever go anywhere else apart from in the gutter?”

Of course she just laughed and Brianna knew she was not going to win this one.
Picking up her bags they went to join everyone at the front. Marcus watched every single step she made, the closer she got the more aroused she got. Her damn wolf was practically drooling the little traitor. His eyes widened, before a wide grin settled on his face. Taking two of her bags off her, he spoke to the group.

“
The large two storey house over there is the pack house, where everyone tends to congregate, right now we have the females and pups staying in there for obvious reasons. Next to that is the alpha house”

Brianna looked up at the beautiful wood an
d stone built building, the porch to the front expansive and homely, the gardens well maintained and green.

“You like what you see Brianna?” Marcus smoothly asked

“It’s beautiful, how old is it?”

“One hundred and ten years old, when the pack was first formed by my father
. The houses you saw on your way in are for the mated wolves. Many of our wolves work in the town with the local business and others help around here to maintain everything”

Marcus had been practically holding his breath the entire time they drove deep into the clearing. It was really important to him to see how his mate reacted and he especially wanted her to love the alpha house, after all she would be living there with him, even if she was still
trying to fight the mating call.

“Next to that is the Betas house and this one here is the guest house”

Brianna looked up at the huge log cabin, over one level.

“Alpha!”

They all turned to the approaching male. His large frame running over to them, the impact of his body weight thudding loudly against the ground. A scar ran across his cheek, more prominent with his shaved blond hair. Brianna’s wolf bristled, standing to attention.

“
My alpha, Anna is missing”

“What? When did this happen?” Marcus shouted.

“She had gone to retrieve some more clothes from her house to bring back to the pack house but never returned, I have enforcers out tracking”