Undercover Alpha: BBW Paranormal Werewolf Romance Read online

  I’ll drink to that, Jason thought to himself. He scanned the room again. Frieda was still at the food, and Ophelia had found a nice-looking young man, far closer to her age, to chat up. Good.

  Where was Lucy?

  He caught Ian’s eye and mouthed, Lucy.

  Ian scanned the room too, then shook his head.

  Jason let his wolf off the leash and sought out her scent. There she was. Had she just gone to the bathroom? No, she was headed down the stairs….

  He ran for the door.

  ***

  “It’s right down this hallway,” Sophia said. “You won’t even believe it.”

  Lucy hoped that Jason and his partner didn’t notice she was gone, but the opportunity to sneak out and see the new Family Room—and get away from all the attention of the party—was irresistible.

  She noticed the plaque next to the door before Sophia switched the light on: The Chloe Blais Memorial Family Room. Sophia’s last name was Blais. Oh, Sophia, Lucy thought, and her heart sank. Some people worked at Second Chances because they knew it was a good cause, but some of them volunteered because of their own experiences. Usually the story had a happy ending.

  Sophia said, “Isn’t it beautiful?” She’d turned on the light. The room was fantastic. The new paint was warm and welcoming, and the ugly florescent bulbs had been replaced with beautiful ceiling lights that looked like flowers. There were green chairs and couches that looked like someone could just sink into them. It was like a morning in the garden.

  “It is,” Lucy said. “It’s so happy!”

  “That’s what I said,” Sophia said. “It had to be happy.” It was funny seeing Sophia dressed up; Lucy was used to seeing her in jeans and flowered sweatshirts. Now she was in a purple dress and had a little sparkly fascinator in her gray hair. “We’ve heard a lot of good things about it. The families really like it.”

  “I’m so glad,” she said.

  “I knew you’d love it.” Sophia squeezed her arm. “Oh, it’s so nice to see you again. We never see you when school’s in!”

  “It’s hard to find the time,” she said. “And this summer’s been really crazy.”

  “Amy said you came into some kind of inheritance?”

  “Our great-uncle died. We didn’t even really know him, but I guess we were the only family he had left. We’re hoping we can help out here a little more now. I…I think I want to keep working, but I think O’s going to quit so she can focus on school full-time.” Who knew what Frieda would do?

  Maybe she’d start her own farm. Maybe not with any sheep, though. Frieda seemed to be done with sheep.

  “Well, I guess I’m glad for you,” she said. “I’m glad you’re taking your time to figure it out.”

  “Thanks,” Lucy said. There was a noise; someone coming down the stairs? It sounded like they were running. Sophia’s hand tightened on Lucy’s arm. They looked at each other. Upstairs would mean someone at the event, but you always wondered…would it be an angry husband? Someone with a gun? Sophia switched the light off. They both stood as still as they could in the dark, hoping it was a coincidence, hoping it was a friend.

  “Lucy?” Jason’s voice called down the hallway. “Are you all right? It’s Jason Murphy, we met earlier?”

  At least he didn’t call himself my bodyguard, she thought to herself. “What are you doing here?” she said, not bothering to hide the irritation in her voice.

  “I…saw a light on,” he said carefully. “Wanted to make sure everything was all right.”

  “Sophia just wanted to show me the family room,” she said. “It’s fine.” She wasn’t a child. This was ridiculous.

  Sophia, oblivious to her annoyance, turned the light on. “This is the new room we’ve put in for family visits,” she said. “The Opera House said we could use it—we wanted to keep it away from the shelter, and it’s nice and quiet when there aren’t any performances coming. It’s close to the courthouse, but there isn’t the same high level of security. Come in, take a look.”

  “Um, sure,” he said. He walked toward the door.

  “So how do you know Lucy?”

  “Um, I’m working with the family, about the…um, the inheritance.”

  That was probably as good as she’d get from him. It’d be easier to be mad at him if he wasn’t so thoughtful. And handsome. The body under that suit looked like it was amazing.

  “Well, this is one of the things the donations have been working toward,” Sophia said, unflappable as always. “Every dollar really does count.”

  “It’s really beautiful,” he said. “Soothing, warm….”

  “That’s exactly what we intend,” she said. “A place where you can talk with a lawyer, or a counselor, and have some privacy. It’s important to have somewhere that’s not at a home or apartment, where people can feel safe and talk comfortably. The Toy Loft donated the wooden toys, they’ll hold up and we don’t have to worry about germs.”

  “That’s really smart,” he said. He actually seemed impressed with the room. “And you’re right, it’s good to have it somewhere neutral.”

  “People will figure it out eventually,” she said, a little sadly. “They always do, but…it’ll still be a good place. And people don’t come in and out without grabbing someone else’s attention.”

  He nodded. “It’s good thinking. Very nice to meet you, I didn’t catch your name?”

  “Sophia,” she said, extending her hand. “Sophia Blais. I work on the crisis line when I’m not gladhanding at these soirees. I’ve known Lucy a long time.”

  “Her dad said she’d volunteered for a long time,” he said, making eye contact as he shook hands. Maybe he wasn’t all bad. But Lucy still couldn’t believe he’d just run off after her, like she was a lost kitten and he was some kind of caretaker. She was a grown woman. She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself.

  “Well,” Sophia said. “Let’s head back up. At some point they’re going to be passing around the canapes, and I want one of those scallops wrapped in bacon.”

  “Sure,” Jason said. “After you ladies.”

  They rode up the elevator, Jason making small talk with Sophia, who was clearly charmed by this tall, blue-eyed stranger. Lucy was left to sulk in the corner. She couldn’t make too many objections without revealing that Dad thought they were in danger, and she didn’t want Sophia to worry. At least it was only up two floors.

  “Well, it was very nice to meet you, Mr. Anderson,” Sophia said, pressing his hand again. “I have to go check with Selene on the program.” She walked back into the ballroom, quickly, Lucy thought.

  Was she leaving the two of them alone?

  Oh, God, did she think they were on a date?

  “I can’t believe you followed me down there,” she hissed at him.

  “My job is to protect you,” he said, keeping his own voice low. There was an intensity to her that was going straight between her legs. “You disappeared. Anything could have happened?”

  “How did you even find me?”

  “I saw the light,” he said, “like I told you.”

  “Look,” she said. “I don’t want to be followed around, all right?”

  “I wouldn’t have had to follow you if you hadn’t disappeared.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t you—”

  She stepped back. “I don’t anything. Dad hired you. Not me. And I’m—we’re—fine. We just went along with this to make him feel better. Just…eat some snacks. Have a bacon-wrapped scallop.”

  “Look,” he said, looking back and forth between the party and the exit, “I understand you must feel weirded out by all this. But you have to let me do my job. That’s what I’m paid to do. Our reputations ride on this, every time we’re out, and Ian’s just started doing work in the East Coast. If you don’t want to be nice to me, that’s fine. But please—Ian’s not just my partner, he’s my best friend. I have to do right by him.”

  It was a good speech, Lucy had to give him that. “Fine,” sh
e said. “I’ll play nice.”

  “I would appreciate it,” he said. “Very much.”

  “I still don’t think we need any protection,” she muttered.

  “I’ve heard that loud and clear,” he said.

  “I’m sure you could take care of Ophelia,” she said. “In fact, I’m sure she’d be delighted.”

  To her surprise, he snorted. “I’m sure she would. She offered to get me a plate earlier.”

  That girl was shameless. “Seriously?”

  “Seriously.”

  All Lucy could do was shake her head. She could smell his cologne now. It was a nice smell. Spicy. It made her think of sitting by the fire, drinking coffee.

  “She’s…kind of young for me, I think.”

  “She’s only three years younger than I am.”

  “Physically, maybe,” he said. “Your father said you teach?”

  “Yeah,” she said. “I’ll start my third year in the fall.”

  “You like kids?”

  “Teenagers,” she said. “They’re old enough to know what they want. Even when it’s a bad idea, at least they know, you know? Little kids…they’re just all over the place.” She waved her hands around. “I mean, they’re fine, but I’ll stick to high school.”

  “I worked a job with four kids once,” he said. “All of them under ten. Never again. I like kids but—not that many I don’t know at once.”

  “What were you doing?” She couldn’t imagine how hard it would be to manage security for four little kids.

  “Not dissimilar from the work these people do, actually,” he said, looking a little self-conscious. “The guy was a cop. Got…kind of awkward, but we got her out of the state, everyone safe.”

  Why did she feel like he was hiding something?

  “That’s good,” she said.

  “Look,” he said. “I know we didn’t exactly meet in perfect circumstances, but you seem…you seem like someone I’d like to get to know better. Maybe when this is over and your dad’s feeling better, we could grab a drink or something?”

  What, me? “You’re asking me out?”

  “Your father said you didn’t have anyone special—”

  “No,” she said. “It’s just…a lot of things have happened. The inheritance, this whole thing with the animals—I mean, I don’t think it’s anything serious, but it does feel kind of weird. I don’t know if dating anybody right now is such a good idea.”

  “I get that,” he said. “And I don’t want to make you feel—”

  “It’s flattering,” she said. “But like I said, there’s a lot going on right now.”

  “Yeah,” he said. He seemed…genuinely disappointed. Had he really meant it? Lucy had figured he’d just thought she would be the mostly likely to bite, and he might get some free meals out of it. But maybe he really did think she was all right. He didn’t seem too impressed with Ophelia. She hadn’t exactly shown her best face tonight, at least around him.

  He grinned at her, almost shyly. “We’d better check ‘em out.”

  ***

  Well, one thing was beyond all doubt. He knew who the Queen was, and it was Lucy. In the elevator she’d filled his senses, familiar and strange at once, carrying the scent of a Queen along with a bouquet of flavors that were definitively her own. Alpha males were always drawn to Queens, it was no real surprise—it was how his father had found his mother, after all. It kept the clans strong. But there was no way he could explain that to Lucy, and she was probably still angry with him for seeking her out earlier. He’d gotten off on the wrong foot with her. If he was lucky, maybe she’d understand later that he was just doing his job. She certainly knew her father wanted all three women kept safe.

  The rest of the night was uneventful, which gave his wolf far too much time to mentally roam the party, keeping track of Lucy from a distance, wondering how he could even start the conversation he needed to have with her, much less the conversation he wanted. You’re beautiful. I want to get to know you better. How do you feel about dating a white guy from the West Coast, and is it better or worse if he’s a werewolf?

  Ian sought him out about an hour before the event ended. “You haven’t eaten anything,” he said.

  “Not hungry,” he said.

  “Full moon’s next week,” he said. “You gotta fill up on the red meat.”

  Jason just rolled his eyes. “I’m fine.” He’d had a bacon-wrapped scallop and a little beef Wellington, which was more than enough. He’d get a steak tomorrow at breakfast or something. What he was hungry for right now had nothing to do with the buffet.

  “I’m going to get you something anyway,” Ian said. “You look like you had a nose full of Queen, and I’m not dealing with you freaking out.”

  “I won’t freak out,” he said.

  “Yeah, you won’t, because I’m going to get you something to eat. Come on.” The crowd was starting to thin out, which meant everyone was easier to track, so Jason let Ian steer him over to the buffet table. “There’s still salmon left, it’s really good.”

  “Fine,” he said, and grabbed a plate.

  “It’s Lucy, isn’t it?” Ian asked, when they were both munching away on salmon and crackers. Ian was right, it was really good.

  “Yeah,” he said. Her trail had given it away, and being isolated with her on the elevator just underlined it.

  Ian nodded. His face looked thoughtful. “Art teacher.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Didn’t picture you with an art teacher.”

  “I didn’t say—”

  Ian snorted. “Like you need to say anything. Like I can’t smell it on you. And it’s all over your face, too.”

  It was?

  Ian laughed. “Calm down, I don’t think she can see it. But she doesn’t know you like I do.” He speared another chunk of salmon with a toothpick. “We have a plan for coming clean?”

  He shook his head. “No idea. I still can’t figure out what they know, if anything. I think we need to crack the case of the animals first. Give us a chance to introduce the idea of werewolves slowly.”

  Ian nodded. “First wolves, then werewolves, then, ‘hey, baby, want a clan alliance?’ Smooth.”

  “Very funny,” he said. But that had, basically, been the plan. “You got a better idea?”

  “I do not,” Ian said. “You think Frieda’s single?”

  “I have been told that Frieda’s a lesbian,” he said. “I asked the father about any exes, romantic partners. Had to look like I was covering all the bases.”

  “She’s gorgeous,” Ian said. “I know Lucy’s more your style, but damn, Frieda’s like a warrior princess.”

  “They’re a very attractive family,” Jason said. But Lucy was the prize. The prettiest face, the softest curves, and that dark velvety skin. He just wanted to touch her.

  Well, he wanted to do a lot more than that, but touching her would be a damn good start. His wolf suggested it would have been easier in the days when marriages between alphas and queens were arranged, but he reminded it that back in those days he would’ve been married to a fellow West Coast wolf, whether he liked it or not. It was only in the past hundred years that geography had started loosening and people were allowed to marry outside their territories. Werewolves could be just as dumb as full humans. He’d certainly learned that over the years. Hell, he’d learned that his first day helping Ian.

  Frieda was by the door. She had her bag. She looked like she was ready to sneak out the door. “Think she’s done,” Ian said. “You introduce me? I’ll give her a ride, you can take Lucy and her sister later.”

  “You don’t need to do me any favors,” Jason said. And besides, a ride with Ophelia and Lucy is just a conversation with Lucy.

  “Yeah, I know,” he said. “Introduce me anyway, I want to get back to the house. Close enough to the full moon that we should be patrolling early and often. You wanna run Remus?”

  “Yeah, we probably should.”

  Ophelia was headed his
way, purse in hand. Ah, shit. Lucy was still over in the corner, talking with that gray-haired woman—Sophia, that was her name. With the purple flowers in her hair. “Maybe you could give both the girls a ride,” he said.

  Ian chuckled. “Cut the younger one off at the pass?”

  “She’s pretty,” he said. “But she’s too young for me, even if—”

  “Maybe she’ll like me too,” he said. “Divide and distract.”

  “Yeah, good luck with that. Hope you like one-sided conversations.”

  “So I think we’re about ready to go,” Ophelia said, with a smile she probably thought was shy. “I thought we could—”

  “Yeah,” Jason said. “This is my partner, Ian. He’s going to take you home. Frieda, too, I think, she looks like she’s winding down. I can take Lucy home when she’s finished.”

  Ian put his hand out, as charming and outgoing as he always was. “Really nice to meet you.”

  “Oh,” Ophelia said. Was she trying to hide her disappointment or not bothering? She wasn’t doing much of a job either way. “Nice…nice to meet you too.”

  “We’re going to get to the bottom of this,” Ian said. “Get your dad his peace of mind, make sure all of you are safe.”

  “Thank you,” she said, her eyes darting between them. Ian was blond and broad-shouldered. He was plenty good-looking. Girls who weren’t in the werewolf line usually picked him first; even some of the girls who were had an eye for him. But Ophelia didn’t seem to be changing her mind. Great. “But we can wait, if the car—”

  “Nah, I have plenty of room,” he said. “No worries. You don’t mind introducing me to your sister, right?”

  “Um, no—”

  “Great.” Ian clapped Jason on the shoulder. “We’ll meet you back at the house.”

  “Sounds good,” he said. I owe you one, he thought.

  Ten minutes later, Lucy and Sophie were still talking like old friends. A man in a suit came over to him. “Everything all right?”