Chapter 2: Possibly a Suitor
Lara paused, feeling a presence.
A shiver crawling up her spine as the sound of footsteps carried on before a figure materialized from the shadows. The open corridor carrying the smell of gunpowder to her nose. Lara recoiled—eyes darting everywhere—hair standing on end. The office had emptied a while ago, and she could see no hiding spots available. Why had she insisted on getting the van, again?
Right, she thought. Darcy had her hands full with Jane.
Goosebumps decorated her torso as Lara cautiously sniffed the air. Slowly inching forward before a bone rattling rumble reverberated down the corridor. Lara instantly froze, on guard for any signs of aggression, and received a chuff for her efforts. The sound calming the desire to whine though failing to put her at ease.
Generally a positive indication.
The blaring lights obstructed her view as the figure shifted. Dark eyes following every move, never seeming to run out of patience. The tension mounting as Lara internally struggled, and outwardly fidgeted. Her heart beating rapidly at the abnormal turn of events. Lara scrutinized what she could see of the man. A healthy distance between them.
He stood tall, broad, and dominating. All despite his best attempt to appear nonthreatening. Lara mentally snorted as she mused. Not likely with his size.
She didn't recognize his uniform, but then again, Lara never pried into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s affairs. Unlike her wayward counterparts who failed to keep a low profile. Lara angled her head to the side without exposing her throat. Daunted by the tactical gear he wore which accentuated the man's bulk. Then peered at the camera next to the entrance.
Apprehension stirred as she gravitated closer knowing the others wouldn't think to worry just yet. The man obviously ranked high within the hierarchy of S.H.I.E.L.D. Lara did not doubt that the organization had a fighting force cut above the rest. However, she had been under the impression that they were inherently the good guys.
Why would a respectable member of S.H.I.E.L.D. shy away from the spotlight? Lara furrowed her brows at the contradiction. Uncomfortable with the implication of a dark side within the man's chosen pack. Movement jerked Lara out of her thoughts as she inadvertently met his gaze. Muscles tightening at the mischievous grin he displayed.
The man straightened to his full height which caused him to tower over Lara. She held her breath as he angled his head down. Eyes helplessly drawn to his expanding chest while a rumble coursed through his frame. Lara blushed, feeling the pur tug at her insides, and edged closer. Entrapped by the straining muscles. He…He was—was he preening?
Oh.
She'd heard of this.
From what she understood, Alphas were very much like the boys in her world who weren't afraid to approach a girl within a particular group. They had an innate sense of confidence that others didn't. Lara froze at the realization, stomach dropping like a dead weight.
Oh.
An Alpha.
The lack of definitive scent had thrown her for a loop. Though this spoke of bad etiquette. Lara rocked back on her heels in an awkward manner. One did not simply choose to corner their love interest in an empty parking lot—too much like a horror movie. The pur cranked up a notch as she sniffed, nostrils flaring while a muted scent caressed her senses.
Lara took a bigger whiff with her nose in the air which coincidentally showcased her interest. Then hummed in appreciation at the earthy tone, and the hint of spice that tantalized her taste buds. Her forgotten audience grinned as he flashed his pearly whites. Lara glared in response at his playfulness. Snorting as he nuzzled his nose in her direction, the gesture seeming so out of character.
She rolled her eyes, and chuckled, shaking her head as he quirked a brow. Lara gravitated closer, fairly confident in the man's intentions. Despite the inherent hesitation to get within his reach. She visibly lowered her shoulders, and circled him. Oddly cognizant of his thickening scent as the Alpha preened under all her attention. The intensity in his gaze simply breathtaking.
Her eyes sharpened as the humor steadily gave way to a different atmosphere. One where she couldn't retreat due to the instinctual pull being too strong. Lara waited for the Alpha to take the lead knowing he controlled the presentation. Then twitched as the man readily exposed the vulnerable juncture of his neck. Lara scrutinized the unblemished skin with an innate awareness to detail.
The little shit had an open collar which permitted her to nuzzle the man's neck. A rush of excitement struck her from head-to-toe. Lara breathed in the general direction of the exposed area. Her common sense nowhere to be found while the Alpha chuffed, eager to please. She internally preened at the result. The effectiveness pushed Lara to venture closer, and further. She stretched in order to reach the man's neck, and gain direct access to his scent gland.
A groan deafened her ears as the Alpha purred, body racked with shivers. Restless to reciprocate the sentiment, though inclined to move at her pace. Lara hummed in acknowledgement, and melted as his scent washed over her. She peeked an eye open—unsure when she'd closed them—and paused. He had a refined quality to his scent which declared him to be older despite the youthful appearance.
And to top it all off, he had unblemished skin. Lara swayed back to her feet, nose at level with his chest, and mulled it over. An Alpha of high status often had more than one intimate partner. None of which tended to be serious due to their ambitious nature. However, she couldn't detect any traces of a recent transgression. Lara blinked as the Alpha tucked her in beneath his jaw. Ever so close to the delicate receptors around the neck.
Why are you unmarked?
He had experience, and given his appearance, didn't lack for partners. For a split second, Lara contemplated the Alpha's use for a ruse. Then quickly discarded the thought. Manipulation seemed beneath him in these matters, in all honesty. Too straightforward, and as mentioned, unnecessary. Lara rested her head on the man's chest, self preservation instincts on the balance. They demanded she leave.
A hollow smile stretched her lips as they quivered. Lara mentally locked her wants, and desires into a box, and sighed. A bloom of sadness in her chest as she stepped back into the light where the Alpha couldn't follow. He made to follow only to stop at the threshold of light, and dark. His deep brown eyes full of softness that didn't last as she shook her head. The man whined at the distance between them.
The Alpha raised a hand within the confines of the dark, and toed the line. Almost as if about to break through it. Lara jumped to defend him. She snarled at him, and essentially herself. Dammit.
Her heart twinged painfully, yet the urge to flee didn't leave. Lara panted with the power of her outburst. The Alpha had unblemished skin, and a pure scent. One that not only could she tolerate, she craved. Lara could ask no more than that in a partner, but the fact remained. He desired commitment which elevated the risk factor, and she couldn't provide that. Therefore, there would be no them.
The Alpha paused.
"I can't," she whispered, shakily. "I just can't."
A gentle croon followed her as she left without a backward glance. The sense of loss accompanied closely by a wave of tears. Lara hung her head as the shame leaked in. Her throat scratched to hell, and back. I hate this.
They could've worked.
Dammit.
She unlocked the van, and put the key into the ignition. Fingers clenched tightly on the wheel as Lara blinked rapidly, nose beyond snotty. While her thoughts swirled in the shallows of her headspace. Lara looked straight ahead, and didn't falter even when a tiny voice spoke obscenities in her ear.
Dammit.
Dammit.
Dammit.
.
.
.
.
.
Lara wiped away a tear.
A/N: I couldn't get the last bit of it on paper the way I wanted it. I figured something was better than nothing.