Sinner

Part 12 Mingling

Taking her hand, I reply with a wary smile, "Kelly, nice to meet you".

"I know. Keenan introduced you as his apprentice earlier. Thought it's best to get to know the person who's beside my beloved day in and day out," Hanna says, her teeth showing.

Get to know me? You're obviously warning me to back off from Keenan. Scoping out your competition aren't you? I think heatedly. Ward? Weird, I never heard Keenan mention anything about having any wards under his care. If it's a declaration of war, I'll play along with you.

Pasting a fake smile on my face, I enquire, "You're his ward? Keenan never told me he has a ward". Jabbing a finger in Keenan's direction, I continue, "I get that he's charming and all that. Plus you love him. What do you mean by you're planning to mate with him? Shouldn't he get a say in all this?"

Tilting my head in curiosity, I sarcastically add, "He doesn't seem to be taking notice of you at all, considering you're planning on mating him".

Flicking a derogatory glance at me, she replies, "Well, Keenan and I go a long way back. He doesn't need to tell his lowly apprentice anything about having wards under his care". Twirling a curl around her slim finger, she confidently adds, "He knows I love him. He's mine and will be my mate before long".

"My, aren't you getting ahead of yourself? I don't see him paying any iota of attention to you. Are you sure you can get him into bed and mate with him?" I chuckle, unable to contain my laughter at the thought of this she-wolf dragging Keenan into bed and having her way with him. It's more probable she'll be thrown out of his room than share his bed.

"Or do you intend to bludgeon him unconscious with your love, lug him onto your bed and force him to mate with you while he's knocked out?" I jibe as a trickle of laughter escapes my lips. "As I recall, the male needs to be awake to perform the act of mating".

Hanna's face turns beet red with indignant fury. Speechless, she stares daggers at me. If looks could kill, I'll be skewered many times over like shish kebab now.

A few minutes passed, and when she still can't utter any words of rebuttal, she huffed angrily and stalks away with her drink in hand.

Peace again at last. I sigh as I turn to locate Keenan again. It's true, what he said previously about being devoured by she-wolves' eyes. The female wolves are making eyes at him this time, trying to seduce him into their beds while the males cower before him or give him a wide berth. The females are undressing Keenan in their mind's eyes while the males look on helplessly. The alphas are on guard but respectful, trying not to offend him.

Keeping my gaze on him, I idly listen in to chatter of the gossipy females seated next to me at the bar.

"Isn't the Guardian hot? I wonder how good is he in bed?"

"He previously took out a few Berserkers in several territories single-handedly. A Berserker nearly decimated a large wolf pack in New Orleans leaving a trail of dead humans in their wake. I heard the New Orleans wolf pack was saved by him and he didn't flinch at taking down the Berserkers. If battle prowess is equivalent to sexual prowess, he'll absolutely burn up the sheets!" the female shrieks in excitement. "I want him in my bed".

Another high-pitched female voice chirps, "He must be fantastic in bed. I would love to be his mate or lover. He is still single. Despite the dozens of females offering, he never sleeps with anyone. Everyone is beginning to suspect he is celibate or waiting for his true mate".

A male baritone interrupts my wandering mind, "Can I buy you a drink?" He approaches me, an appreciative look in his eyes. I can see his eyes darting towards my décolletage ever so often.