Billionaire Alpha's 99 Deadly Games novel Chapter 37

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Chapter 37

“Did you draw those wolves out in the lobby?”

“A wolf? You want a wolf to cover the scars left to you by a wolf?”

I grinned and nodded. “Not just any wolf though.” I unfolded the paper in my pocket with the picture I had drawn of the big brown wolf and handed it to him. “I want this wolf.”

Amusement flashed across his face. “This wolf? You’re sure this is the wolf you want covering your body?”

“Absolutely. It has to be this wolf.”

“Tell me why.”

“My entire life I’ve been terrified of wolves, even before the attack.” He seemed surprised to hear my admission. “This wolf, I’ve seen him in the woods behind my house. He’s there almost every night, and there’s just something about him. I don’t know how to explain it, but I’m not afraid of him. He’s big and should be terrifying, yet I’m not scared. I feel comfort knowing he’s out there, kind of like he’s protecting me. So yes, it has to be this wolf.”

Cole looked extremely amused by my story.

“Okay, one more thing, did you draw this yourself?”

“Yes. I know you’ll do a far better job.”

“Uh–uh girl, this is amazing work. You ever want a part time job coming up with tattoo ideas, you just let me know. People pay a lot of money for designs this good. Maybe we could even cut the cost back some in exchange for a couple drawings. I really like this. Of course, the wolf would look a whole lot better being black.” His grin was almost irresistible.

“Nope, it has to be brown, just like in the drawing.”

“Okay, suit yourself.”

It took five sessions to complete. Cole and I were well acquainted friends by the end of it. I gave him ten drawings in exchange and he refused to take any money from me. On the final fill in, he nicked one of the skin grafts, which started to bleed. He was quick to call in an antibiotic in case of infection

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Billionaire Alpha’s 99 Deadly Games

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and gave me stricter care orders. I was disappointed when he had to cover it. It was beautiful so much better than I had imagined, and all the ugliness had disappeared

KYLE

I was continuing to stew over the fact that Kelsey was still ignoring me.We had worked side by side for two years, and every time she turned me down I felt the sting of rejection. Yet somehow, I knew the bond between us was strengthening. In the history of shifters, I had never heard of any mated pair taking this long to complete the bond. When she showed up in my woods in wolf form, I honestly thought, this is it. She’s finally come for me. We ran and played and had the best right of my life.

Then later that same morning in the office, it was like she had no idea it had been me. How could she not know it was me? Rejection had never felt so bad as that morning.

Since then, I was quickly falling into a funk. Even my mother had commented on it at family dinner

the night before. I knew I had to pull out of it lest it consume me.

A small knock on my door and I steeled myself for the scent that haunted me day and night. The

scent I loathed and craved simultaneously.

When the door opened, I was assaulted by her smell combined with a coppery scent that shouldn’t have entered with Kelsey. All the strength in the world couldn’t have stopped me.

“Blood.” I said, “Baby, you’re hurt. Where? What’s wrong?”

She looked at me in confusion.

“What are you talking about, Kyle? I’m fine.”

In that moment, she said the one thing I had longed to hear, the only thing that could have jolted me from the compulsion to do anything in my power to protect my mate. She said my name. She called me Kyle, and it had rolled off her tongue with ease. My wolf howled in appreciation, and I was vaguely aware that I had slipped up and called her “baby,” yet she didn’t seem to mind or notice.