His Human Mate

Chapter 3

"What would you like to eat?" He whispered to her. Charles could make many different dishes. He just hoped she wasn't difficult. Alice hummed in response. "I'm really up for anything. Amy isn't picky and neither am I. I'll help?"

"Sure." He led her through the warm living room and then entered the kitchen. Once again, it was a warm feeling and the cabinets were deep in color.

"I bet your wife loves this home. Who built it?" Yeah, she was digging for information and she had hoped it didn't sound nosy, but she needed to know whether her man was with another.

Charles arched his eyebrows slightly and smirked while grabbing ingredients for spaghetti. His little mate was worried some other woman had snatched him up. He almost laughed. He would never let a woman who wasn't his mate into the home he built specifically for his mate and their future offspring. Alice was the first one to see the alpha's home. He never let anyone in, including his beta and gamma.

"I built it and I'm not mat- married yet." Charles' lips turned slightly at his slight slip-up. He'd have to be careful. Charles would need time to butter her up to him so that the transitions would run smoothly between them.

"Oh. Well I think this house is absolutely stunning and it really shows your carpentry skills. The dark stain makes the interior of the house so warm. I love it." Brother wolf purred at the compliments. His wolf had scouted around the forested area for the best wood and had picked the dark stain. Brother wolf liked the dark- it reminded him of a den. Charles smiled towards Alice and began prepping the veggies for the spaghetti sauce.

"Could you help me by setting the table, Alice?"

"Yeah, where do you keep your bowls and stuff?" He pointed to the cabinets behind her head and she took out the necessary utensils and put them on the hand-crafted table. Alice set herself against the counter once again and looked at Charles. His back was turned to her and he was stirring the ingredients together. His back muscles rippled and his hair fell perfectly against the nape of his neck. She looked at his neck and heat spread through her. Charles was a giant. His shoulders were wide and his muscles bulged under the thin t-shirt he wore. Alice was burning and prayed he didn't turn aroun-

"Hey, do you want to wake little Amy up Alice?"

"Yeah, give me a couple minutes. She can be cranky."

As soon as Alice had left the room Charles readjusted himself. Her arousal had flooded the room. His wolf was roaring in excitement. She clearly liked what she saw. God, she was beautiful. He had been trying to contain himself and his control was starting to slip. An Alpha wolf did not wait this long to complete the bond. Charles took a steady breath in and gripped the counter.

Alice walked out of the kitchen quickly and let out a gust of air out of her lungs. God, what was wrong with her? He was an adult male who had no interest in a little teenager. He was just being helpful and now he probably thinks she's some weirdo who stares at men. Alice opened the door and found little Amy snoring away with the blankets tangled around the toddlers legs.

"Hey munchkin. Wakey wakey." Amy opened one eye and looked around.

"Alice? Alice, I want Charlie." Alice paused.

"Do you mean Charles honey? Charles is making you dinner. Why don't we go say hi to him? Does that sound good?" Alice waited for the complaining and looked up to the ceiling. The sheets shuffled around and Amy poked at Alice's stomach.

"Let's go see Charlie."

"Amy his name is Charles- not Charlie goober." She picked Amy up and brought her to the kitchen. Charles was gripping the counter tightly and his muscles were bunched. Either he was angry or he was preparing to kill her. Alice stepped back and Charles whipped his head around to look at her.

"Oh, hey. I didn't hear you come in. Hi Amy."

"Hi Charlie!"

"Amy what did I say? His name is Charles. Sorry, she can't seem to get your name right."

Charles chuckled. "I don't mind Charlie at all. If that is what she wants to call me, she can. Let's eat!" Dinner was delicious and filled with Amy asking the same questions again and again. Charles answered each question with enthusiasm and Alice smiled at this. When dinner was finished Charles and Alice washed and dried the dishes then put Amy back to bed after her bath.

"I suppose we should really talk about what happened, Alice. Take your time. We have all night."

Alice sighed heavily and sat her tired body down into the chair she sat at during dinner. Charles sat across her and held his hands in front of him. Alice's brows pushed together and she asked, "Don't you need papers or something for the report?"

Shit. Shit think quick. "Well I can grab my laptop. The police regulations are set up a bit differently in this town." What he really meant was, Alice dear, I'd happily kill anyone who harmed you and an entire population of people would gladly risk their lives to keep you safe. That wouldn't go well.

"That's odd but you know best. Could I have a piece of paper? I'd like to draw out what happened."

"Of course." Charles rushed to his office and grabbed some paper and colored pencils.

"Will this be enough?"

"Plenty."

Hours had passed. Charles was watching her draw out a little house with wolves surrounding the area. She detailed them all wonderfully and he could tell that the wolves were all from a pack. His mate had been targeted. He didn't understand why, but Charles made a promise to himself that he would figure it out. He couldn't have his mate's safety compromised. A pencil clacked on the table and he looked up. Alice was finished and her face was scrunched a bit with her lips pursed.

"Could we stop for the night? I'm awfully tired. I thought I could draw this all out but my hand is cramping."

"Of course."

"Thank you for dinner and letting Amy rest. Is there a hotel nearby where we can stay?" Charles paused, jumped and words tumbled out of his mouth, "You can stay here. The hotel doesn't take anyone past 9:00 p.m. You can sleep on my bed. I'll sleep on the couch."

"I can just sleep with Amy. You don't have to give up your bed for me."

"It's really no problem. I don't sleep often. I really don't need it." Charles felt a buzzing in his pocket and grabbed the irritating phone and saw who was calling.

"Alice, I have to grab this. My room is just down the hall opposite of Amy. Take a shower. Relax. You're totally safe here. I promise. Charles' eyes held a seriousness to them and she felt his promise.

"Alright. Thank you so much. I can never repay you." If only she knew. Charles was an indulgent man. He was definitely getting the better end of the deal. He got to have his mate in his bed waiting for him. Charles was warm with the thought of her in his bed sleeping, trusting him to keep her and her little sibling safe through the night. God. His pants tightened a bit. Her scent was already permeating through his home. Once she was asleep he'd scent her. It would calm him and his wolf down. The phone was still ringing and he groaned and answered his beta.

"What is it?"

"Alpha we did some digging around and finally found where she and that little girl were living. Alpha, it's trashed. Everything is ripped apart. And," the beta hesitated, "Alice's underwear were used in a not so great manner. Like, they are all soaked in cum."

Charles saw red. The Wolf in him roared and he shifted immediately. Brother wolf was dripping saliva and his claws were lengthened. "Where are you?! Can you scent the wolf that did it? My little mate is in the bathroom and I can't leave her. Not when I know some sick wolf is trying to lay his claim on what's mine. Brother wolf was barely keeping it together. He continued to claw on the bathroom door and tried to twist the knob. His ears perked when he heard her walk towards the door. His mate was going to let him in.