Alpha Wolf: Black Mesa Wolves #2 (Werewolf Shifter Paranormal Romance) by J.K. Harper

In return, Luke Rawlins had guaranteed his remaining wolves would
behave, which included not venturing beyond the central den premises without
escort.
    Whoever the wolf was sniffing around the southwestern edges
of Black Mesa territory, it was in for a serious surprise. Rogue or not, it
didn't step paw onto their territory without questioning. Alpha wanted Rafe and
Sara to join up with the patrol currently out there and bring it in.
    This would be a fun hunt. But first he needed his patrol
partner with him. Another grin slipped onto his face as he flicked his thumb at
his phone and called Sara while jogging downstairs to head to his house.
     
     
    Sara's ire rose to a sharp, fine point when her phone buzzed
and she saw Rafe's brief text. Meet me at my place. Strange wolf southwest
boundary
    Perfect timing.
    It took her twenty minutes to get from downtown to the den.
She didn't bother stopping at her place to grab more practical clothes for what
could be a long patrol in both human and wolf forms. A small overnight bag she
periodically checked and restocked always rode in the trunk of her car, filled
with a variety of clothing options. Good thing she thought ahead that way,
because she was still so annoyed she probably would have picked out a crazy
ensemble.
    Pure angry energy carried her straight from her car to
Rafe's front door. She was almost too focused on the sizzling irritation to
notice the neat little vegetable garden off to the side, the one he kept well
tended when he needed to zen out, as he had once told her. Or the cute porch
swing his mother had given him several years ago, which Sara sometimes saw the
young cubs swinging on when they came by to visit. Rafe was unflappable as an
alpha-to-be, but he was also unerringly gentle with kids and seemed to
genuinely enjoy their presence.
    Not that she wanted to notice these things right now. Nope.
Right now, she was still charged up from finding out about his new pack.
    With a sharp rap, she announced her arrival. Even his door
had personality to it. Hand carved, it featured a dark, heavy wood with
intricate yet subtle designs above and below frosted inset windows. The entire
little house was attractive in a serious way. Just like the man.
    Rafe swung open the door. Sara felt some of her fury weaken
as he stepped out into the light and she got a good look at him. Jeans hugged
his hips. A black t-shirt molded itself to his chest. He hadn't shaved for a
few days, so an unbelievably sexy stubble grazed over his chin and cheeks. His
eyes, the color of a deep blue mountain lake, regarded her with a healthy
amount of interest.
    She had the most insane desire to lean forward and lick him.
    He didn't tell you he was leaving, she reminded
herself as sternly as possible.
    “That's your outfit?” The low, easy rumble of his voice
caused a rippling shiver up and down her skin. He didn't seem to mind drinking
her in with his eyes. “I like it.”
    Sara took a deep breath and stood as tall as she could.
Which meant even wearing heels, her head barely reached his nose.
    “Ready to go?”
    Willing herself to stop thinking about his darned lips, she
kept her voice firm. “Nope. We've got something to discuss first.”
    He frowned. “Problem?”
    “Yes. You haven't been honest with me, and I want to know
why.”
    She kept her chin tipped up and hoped she looked unyielding.
    He only looked perplexed. It made him even more lickable.
She stomped on the desire.
    “About what?”
    Sara took a deep breath. “About your new pack. When exactly
will you be leaving? And when did you plan to tell me? Or did you?”
    Cocking her arms on her hips to give herself the will to not
cave in front of his damnably male self, even tapping her fingers for good
measure, she waited.
     
     
    Shit. Rafe's wolf sat up. Rafe tried to force away images of
Sara's long, bare legs wrapping around his waist while he groped for the best
answer. The one that wouldn't get her madder at him than she already