The playfulness caught , lighting a spark that made my chest feel suddenly too tight. This wasn’t the guarded, suspicious woman of our earlier few encounters... but soone with humor - and a willingness to engage in it.
"I see. And what would the tabloid headline be?"
I raised my eyebrow and couldn’t stop the smile, even if I had a reason to want to. She tapped her chin in mock deep consideration with a tilt of her head.
"How about ’Empire Falls: Alpha CEO Reduced to Bag Carrier’?"
"Devastating. My board would have removed by morning."
Warmth expands from that tight spot in my chest, watching as she finally checks on the photo she took. Studying it with critical eyes... her brows that pinch together when she concentrates is cute.
"Not bad. You’re photogenic even when ambushed."
She concluded out loud with more praise than for the food, before turning the screen toward . Acting like I couldn’t make it out at all, I took the opportunity to move closer.
"May I see?"
For a mont, we stood almost shoulder to shoulder again, like when we were in line. Nearness to her sends the sa waves of awareness through .
That I could reach over and hold onto her at any mont. That, other than complaining, there might not be much she could do.
I quickly focused on the image to keep myself grounded and away from feeling disgusted with myself. On the screen was , the flash brightened everything and captured my surprised eyes.
It was strange seeing myself this way. Not posed, not prepared, just existing in a mont that Citra herself had chosen to capture.
My mat-... she pulled the phone back slightly, into her chest, before giving a side glance that had hurriedly sliding my eyes back up.
"Should I send it to you like you asked? Or would sothing like this damage your reputation?"
"I’d risk it."
My voice lowered without conscious intent, so I cleared my throat. Standing next to her like this... is not smart, even if I don’t want to move away.
"Send it, please. It would make a nice change from the corporate headshots I’m made to take."
Watching her thumbs move across the screen, feeling the vibration in my pocket when the ssage arrived. Such a small exchange - really nothing at all - but I was unable to look away from her face as she looked back at .
"Feels like you overpaid a bit for the al..."
What am I even saying? What does that even-
"...I’m sure you’ll find a way to make it up to ... at so point."
The words carried a hint of open flirtation, with red ears and a slightly exposed neck, that I hadn’t expected. Adrenaline spiked in the way that I knew ant my eyes changed, as I held back my wolf.
"I look forward to the opportunity."
A rough voice gave her that answer as the mont stretched between us. It was only when she smiled and shrugged that I realized I was being tested.
But since she is saying nothing, I assu I passed? I wanted to offer to walk her to wherever she was going to choose to stay.
To ensure she arrived safely... and only that. But I knew such an offer would be rejected - possibly loudly, because holding back just before doesnot erase how I’d already ssed up by marking the other place.
As she steps aside and shoulders all her many bags, the will required to not move was almost physically painful. Every fiber of my form wants to reach out for her, to offer more lastingprotection.
But I’d promised myself I would respect her boundaries, even when every Alpha instinct scread against it. I start to count to ten but only get to two.
"Goodnight, Kyrie."
"Goodnight, Citra."
I hesitated to push my luck, but my mouth opened before she turned completely away.
"Feel free to ambush with a cara anyti. And send the photos."
She rolled her eyes but didn’t suppress a small smile. I watched her walk off, staring at the set of her shoulders, the subtle sway of those dark twin tails.
And the backpack and totes that are in the way of fully appreciating her hips until she turned a corner and disappeared from sight. Only then did I pull out my phone to look at the photo she’d sent .
After a decade of having my picture taken for magazines, corporate reports, and formal pack docuntation with the council... this casual snapshot felt more valuable than any of them.
I moved it to a private folder, away from the business photos and official docunts that filled the download section of my device.
The chirp of my earpiece interrupted my churning thoughts and I tapped the button on the side instead of speaking the voice command.
"Alpha?"
Luca’s voice is quickly on the line. Tentative, as if he knew he was interrupting sothing important.
I still haven’t had a talk with him about all of this. I’m not being a very good leader, insisting that my strange actions are private without any more detail.
"Yes?"
At least I was able to resu my normal authoritative tone. I slipped too much warmth around Claire once or twice already.
"The council is asking about the situation with the Duskpaw pack again. And we’ve gotten a random complaint about a rogue from one of the Pineheart temporarily in the city."
I frowned, glancing in the direction Citra had gone. Seems like the rogues are busy targeting won today. Were the events connected?
"I see. I’ll be back at the tower shortly. Claire should already be working on sothing... that would have landed in her lap a while ago. Collect files on Pineheart territory disputes for the last three years to start with."
"Yes, Alpha."
I ended the call and took one last look around the food truck park. Pawnshop as our first eting, a too short walk as the next, but this...?
"...Feels like our first date."
For a brief ti, I’d practically just been Kyrie... sharing a al with a fascinating woman. Now, I needed to get back to being the Alpha again - to protect what was important.
Including a very stubborn princess who didn’t want my protections quite yet. But should I just wait so patiently until I’m asked?
"If I were so patient, I never would have taken on the company when I did."
I started walking back toward Lunarizon Tower, the base for my pack and the center of my ’empire’. Gradually my next moves started to fall into so kind of outline of a plan.
At the top, was that soone had targeted Citra tonight and had dared to claim they acted on my orders. That couldn’t go unanswered.
My heart held onto the image of Citra’s smiles and teases. As well as the way she’d called by my na when she left.
Without feeling like she was hiding a respectful ’Alpha’ sowhere underneath of it... at all.
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