A Wolf's Desire (A BBW Paranormal Romance): The Holiday Ball by Marie Mason

 
    A WOLF’S DESIRE
     
    Kade Townsend glanced at his watch and wondered what time everyone would begin to hurry home. The crowd had thinned considerably as hungry wolves carried off their newly found mates. Matings seemed to be happening all around him. The event reminded him more of a Valentine’s Day dance than a Christmas Ball, what with all the love shimmering in the air.
    And the sex. The smell was forcing his wolf into a frenzy. He needed to stick his dick into a warm, inviting pussy and soon.
    He’d prefer that to be his mate, but that was not for him.
    No, this alpha had no mate, of that he was certain. He didn’t deserve to have someone in his life to care for, to love. To protect.
    He closed his eyes trying to block out the images that rose in his mind at the devastation his pack had suffered earlier that year. And it was all because of him. Because he’d placed his trust in the wrong wolf. An enforcer gone rogue.
    He debated ordering another bourbon—hell asking for the damn bottle—and finding himself some dark corner to relax in until more of the partygoers left. Or take Hayden up on his offer of the bedroom upstairs. But he was here to keep an eye on the males of his pack. There was no way in hell he’d let the young wolves run wild and free. Even the seasoned wolves could get into trouble with all the blue pixie dust floating in the air. He smiled remembering his encounter with a curvy pixie earlier.
    The pixie had fuck-me-now written all over her plump ass and for a brief moment, his wolf had stirred. But as he’d gotten closer he’s realized she wasn’t his.
    She was, in fact, the mate of Gunner Barringer. A member of the family hosting this event—and a wolf to whom he owed a deep debt of gratitude.
    He allowed himself a small smile. It hadn’t taken much to bring the lone wolf out of hiding to claim his mate. A dance, a touch. No wolf allowed another male to stay near his mate for very long.
    His grin faded remembering the part his pack had played forcing Gunner into those shadows. Gunner had been the council enforcer who had taken out the rogue wolf in Kade’s pack. Kade and his enforcers had failed in taking out the rabid man and Gunner had stepped in.
    Kade would never be able to repay the man. Barringer had suffered a horrible wound that had left him scarred in both body and soul.
    A commotion near the back of the room drew his attention. Gunner and his mate had returned. And it looked as if the plump pixie had worked her magic already on the wolf. If he wasn’t mistaken the man was sporting a hard-on and a wide grin. As he watched the couple exchange heated words, he let out a full-blown smile. The Barringer brothers would not find the women they’d taken to heart easy to control. Both had that hint of fire inside that made loving them so much sweeter. And if he wasn’t mistaken about Hayden’s mate, she literally had fire burning inside. She was a witch that could call forth fire. A handy partner to have around.
    And Gunner’s pixie was, of all damn things, a peace pixie. Just the thing for wolf who was swimming in testosterone and aggression.
    Deciding a bottle of bourbon and a quiet corner were definitely the way to go, he walked over to the bar, avoiding the coy looks being thrown his way and even the occasional grope and feel. He couldn’t blame the women attending the event. These yearly balls were little more than a dressed up cattle auction with the women being the cattle. It was great to see the women giving as good as they got.
    When he saw another pixie follow Gunner and his mate, he decided to follow behind her. The woman looked like she was up to no good and he owed the Barringer pack.
     
    Daphne managed not to groan as she lifted yet another tray of dirty champagne flutes and bone china to carry out of the grand ballroom. Don’t get her wrong, she was grateful for the last minute add to the biggest catering job in the county, but she was working on three hours of