Winning Over the Alpha

Chapter 8

~Tessa~

Tessa paced the length of her bedroom in a silk robe. She couldn't believe how fast the day went and she barely slept because of her nerves. Her day of planning the annual Leadership Conference only took a few hours and then her Grandmother became suspicious when she tried to help plan the ball.

Eventually, Tessa was tricked into admitting her plans for the evening and was sent off to her room to get ready. She cringed hearing her Grandmother carry on about how she couldn't wait to see her future "Grandpups" running around.

Now, she had an hour to get to the gazebo and she wasn't even close to being ready. "I feel like a pathetic teenager," Tessa growled, holding a couple of dresses up to her body in the mirror. She couldn't decide if she wanted to dress to impress or make it seem like she put in as little effort as possible.

Her wolf laughed at her dilemma and then continued to daydream about their mate. It seemed she knew exactly what she wanted out of this night. "Don't be easy," Tessa scolded. Her wolf seemed to forget they were trying to avoid being submissive. It seemed she was ready to roll over for him and that made Tessa even more anxious. She closed her eyes and prayed to the Moon Goddess to calm her nerves.

All these years she's never had any interest in dating. Elijah was the only male to ever touch her, but there were no romantic feelings behind their actions. Suddenly, she found herself becoming filled with jealousy. "I know we haven't wanted a relationship, but that doesn't mean Dainin avoided other women," she growled, biting her nail as she glared into the mirror.

Her mind began to imagine her mate's dating history and assumed Dainin had plenty of experience based on his looks alone. She despised the feelings these thoughts brought onto her. It was not only jealousy but vulnerability, a feeling she swore she'd never fall victim to again.

"He better not compare us to other she-wolves from the past," she muttered.

"Trust him," her wolf encouraged, but that was easier said and a lot harder for Tessa to do. As much as she hated to admit it, Dainin had an unspoken power over her and the event from that morning proved it.

                                                                                          ***

When Tessa opened the door to her office she was overcome with the smell of citrus. She peered inside and was surprised to find Dainin's long body stretched out on her couch. "He's a little too comfortable," Tessa grumbled to herself, trying to remain as still as possible.

"Is he trying to tempt us? Because I will gladly give him what he's asking for," her wolf challenged, practically drooling just at the sight and smell of him. Tessa pushed down the urge to growl out in satisfaction as her eyes began traveling up his body. "I think I'm addicted, and I haven't even had a taste yet," her wolf purred.

Tessa's gaze continued higher and she found his shirt had risen, exposing his lower abs and the chiseled line at his hips which disappeared beneath the waistline of his pants. She shuddered, licking her bottom lip as she imagined her tongue traveling south over his tanned skin.

A deep growl pulled Tessa from her daydream and she found Dainin's eyes swirling with lust. "I am trying to be a gentleman here, but your scent and arousal are pushing my wolf to his limits," he growled out in a warm husky tone.

She took in a shaky breath as her stomach clenched with butterflies. She tried to clear her thoughts but images of Dainin pushing her body against the office door to claim want was his filled her mind. His strong leg straddled between her own and her hands pinned overhead as he ravished her mouth.