“Do you… belong to a pack?” I asked.

“Of course. I’m the Alpha. We are three hundred and sixty strong and have been in this area for three generations. The wood, the one where you… um, how should I put this… left your calling card in several places… is mine, too.” He readjusted again, edging closer. “You?”

I could feel the hard blush rush up my neck and sting my cheeks. I couldn’t stop it. But then I saw the edges of Ryan’s mouth go up as well, in what could have been a smile. He was obviously enjoying making me squirm. “I don’t have a pack and I’m not going to join yours. I know what happens, especially to Omegas. My grandpa told me.”

“Omega? You’re an Omega? How do you know if you don’t belong to a pack?”

“I’ve been told by someone because of my… stature… and color, I was an Omega.”

“Color? Wait. Who told you all this shit?”

I took a step toward the door. If I could get out the door, I could shift on the stairs and be out the front entrance in less than a half a minute. But, of course, I ran the risk of someone seeing me. For the second time that day I wished I had my damn ring. First thing after all of this I was going to get the ring back on. For now, though, I could outrun this guy, especially since he would be moments behind me even shifting. “Someone…”

Ryan rose from the chair. “Who?”

I hesitated now that he was on his feet. I met that beautiful blue gaze and all I wanted to do was walk toward the man, not run away from him. “A guy by the name of Keith… somebody.” Figures. I couldn’t remember his last name. Turned out I didn’t have to.

“Keith Karlack? You’ve been with Keith Karlack? You’re kidding me!” Ryan took two large strides and grabbed my biceps in his iron grip again. Shit. That escape plan was blown all to hell. “What did he do to you? Did he… fuck you?” His hands went to the waist of my pants and his fingers dipped inside, a possible intent to pull them down. I wasn’t sure what he thought he would find concerning anything about Keith by doing that, but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t going to allow it.

“What the fuck?” I shouted as I batted his hands away and pushed him hard. This time he fell back due to my effort and not due to his being any kind of a gentleman listening to the word ‘no’. “Are you serious? He did not fuck me! Why would you even ask something like that? Even if he had, it would be none of your fucking business.” I kicked out as hard as I could and got Ryan right in the shin. Fuck, I was mad.

Shocked, Ryan grabbed his injured leg and hopped back another couple steps. “Ouch! What the hell are you doing?”

“You fucking jerk! Get out of my house! What right do you have breaking in here anyway? Get out!”

“Yeah, that’s right. I broke in! But you’re the one who went trying to mark up my woods! You’re the fucker who tried claiming something that wasn’t yours and you don’t even have a fucking pack?”

“And I don’t want one! Now get out!”

Ryan narrowed his blue eyes again. “Fine. I’ll get out. I honestly have to take care of something before we can do this, anyway.” He motioned between the two of us with his hand then put both hands on his hips. “Actually, I need to take care of someone.” He glared back at me. “But you and I are fated to be together. You need to understand that right now! That means you belong to me! Not Keith! You stay away from him.” He strode toward the door, those thick thighs moving that large bulge in the front of his pants from side to side. Damn, I wanted to taste that, my own arousal taking back over my body. I suddenly realized where my gaze had wandered and quickly blinked back up to Ryan’s face. He was flushed. “Don’t tease me. I will take you right here and now.” His voice was gruff and rumbly.

My heart thrilled. Yes! Take me! But that was just my wolf and my dick trying hard to take over my brain. Luckily, I was still pissed. “Like I’d let you.” I glared hard at him.

Once again, the man’s countenance relaxed. “I suppose we can do this right.” He closed his eyes for a moment and when they came back open I could tell he was back under control. “I, as Alpha, need to do this right. First Amanda, then you. Expect me to call on you tomorrow night.” And he was gone.

Amanda? Who the fuck was Amanda?

And call on me? Are you kidding me? Like what, a fucking date?

Crap.