Prologue
(Mid 2010)
I can feel Alpha behind me. He's been standing there for ten minutes not saying a word, just watching me. Can't I be left alone for a few moments? He steps forward, I can feel his breath tickling the hair at the nape of my neck. My knees go a little weak, I grip the cool metal railing a little tighter to keep myself from collapsing.
"Can I talk to James, please?" My voice breaks on the last word. If he's going to kill me I might as well ask.
"'May I' would be the correct way to ask." I can hear the smirk in his voice. He's teasing me. I snort, he sounds like Jonathan now. Or maybe Jon's compulsion to correct everyone's grammar leaking through in to Alpha. He steps up beside me, looking at the ocean. I glanced up at him quickly, taking in his appearance. He's still wearing the suit. Don't get me wrong it's a nice suit, but a floral shirt underneath? I wonder if he did it just to piss off Rob.
"Fine. May I speak to James, O wise one?" I say with a roll of my eyes. Nothing like death looming over a person to make them bold. His arms wrap around my waist, making me jump in alarm. I know it's him, Alpha would never touch me like this, but three years of fearing the body has made me cautious. I look up at him and James smiles back at me. I lean into him, a content smile spreading across my face.
"Hi." He drawls, thumbs rubbing small circles into the curve of my hip bones. James places feather light kisses along my collarbone and up my neck, interlaced with little nips that make me shiver with delight. I can feel his smile on my pale skin.
"Hi." I reply nuzzling my cheek into his muscled chest, breathing in his spicy cologne. "You know this is the first time we've spoken face to face in four years." I turn, trailing my hands up his muscled chest to lace them behind his neck. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you too. I'm sorry." James murmurs. I look up at him confused.
"Sorry for what? I'm the one who should be sorry, everything that's happened in the last few months is my fault. If anything I should be thanking you."
"Why would you thank us?"
"You got me fired, I'm finally free of that awful place and it's all thanks to you." I grinned up him, placing an abrupt kiss on his shocked lips.
"We thought you'd be angry."
"Well I am a little peeved that all it would've taken was for me to show Adele the letters in order for her to fire me, but thankful none the less." He kissed me again, long and sweet.
"You're amazing."
"Thanks. You're great too." I smile, looking down trying and failing to keep a blush from blossoming on my cheeks. A dark thought crosses my mind, making my good mood vanish. I look directly into his eyes. God, his eyes are beautiful, they look sad though, burdened with the knowledge of 50 men. "Is he going to kill me?"
A bemused smile tugs at the corner of his lips. "I don't think so, I think he-" James broke off mid-sentence, going completely still for a moment before pushing me away harshly. I stumbled and grabbed the railing to keep from falling to the ground. I look at Alpha, he's staring out at the horizon, his back straight as an arrow, all traces of emotion erased from his tanned face.
"So you're not going to kill me?" I asked.
"No." His voice is rough like sandpaper. I shiver and it's not because of the cold.
"Then why are you here?" I turn to face him. "I mean you did get me fired, not that I'm not grateful I'm just kinda curious what you're expecting to get in return."
"We want you to come with us."