Red Hot
Ch. Three: Cat & Mouse

{ TRACE }

The fact that I was able to just stand there without reacting to her...my Valerie, her scent had encapsulated me and my wolf was beyond the point of clawing to come out, and if it wasn't bad enough she had to give me a challenging look in the sexiest way possible as she thanked me before taking it a step further by walked away.

She'd essentially begun a hunt.

She'd shown my wolf exactly what he wants and made it a point to move away from him knowing good and damn well I'd follow her.

'She wants us.'

'She isn't ready.' I tried to counter.

'She's more than ready.' My wolf sounded excitedly.

I knew my wolf was right.

And as much as I was willing to go slow and give her time and space to figure everything out like her sister suggested...I was quickly learning that MY mate did not need time or space, nor did she seem to want it. She is determined...and it seems like when she wants something she knew exactly how to go about getting it.

But I could also tell my mate is a flirt, meaning she's one to talk a big game, she likes to tease and from what I've seen I sure as hell like the way she teases and goads me...I can tell she likes to do and say things to get a ride out of me...but I could tell there's also a romanticized version of her too.

No she's not all sexy aggressor...no, just in the way she'd asked me if she was my mate.

In that singular moment I got the briefest of glimpses on who she truly is, the version she keeps shielded from the outside world. But it was there, it was the was a longing, a deep hope in her words...like she wanted the magic of mates to be real and in that moment a sweetness broke through her seductive barrier.

Yes my mate may want us to be together more physically and much quicker than I'd originally been led to believe, but I could also tell I'd have to be gentle with her.

She had to see that this isn't like anything she's ever experienced before. And once she agrees to be with me it's essentially for life. The minute she fully accepts my wolf and I, I would give her my all.

Unfortunately I didn't know how long I'd be able to simply keep her at arms length so to speak.

I sighed as I watched her go, her red gown hugging every curve on her body, sauntering away from me but I couldn't let her get too far.

As much as I loved watching her walk away, my wolf didn't want her out of our sights for even one minute.

"Where's the fire Red?" I asked as I reached her side and boldly placed my hand on her lower back.

She looked up at me now, a knowingly coquettish smirk on her lovely face.

"No fire...but took you long enough to join me."

"I was a little distracted...as much as I'd rather you didn't leave my side...I can't say I didn't enjoy watching you walk away."

She licked her lips and damn did I want nothing more but to kiss her right now.

"So you did like what you saw..." She smiled, "I'll keep that in mind."

I stepped in closer to her, I let my hand pull her closer to me, we were inches apart now.

Her breath hitched as her large doe eyes asked me to kiss her.

And if I moved my head forward ever so slightly I could just kiss her...and damn did I want to. But something told me my mate would enjoy it more if she were teased in return.

An old school game of cat and mouse...but in our case, psychological foreplay if you will.

Yes I could just kiss her, and I know it'd be great...but everything is always better when you have to work for it.

This was it.

She'd initiated the chase when she literally had me follow her but I'd take it further.

I wanted her to not just want me, but to crave me as much as she just made me desire her.

So instead of kissing her beautiful red lips I simply smiled.

"Oh Red..." I replied. "I savored ever minute of it." Then I stepped back, adjusted my jacket and nodded, "we should go, the party's started." I said as I held my arm out to her now.

She looked at me, her lovely doe eyes had taken on a much more alluring turn...a fire ignited within them now.

She didn't say anything as she placed her hand in the crook of my arm.

Nor when we'd made our way to the party.

Had it been any other girl I would've wondered ...Perhaps I'd gone too far, hurt her feelings, made her feel unwanted...but I was beginning to understand Valerie, and if we were of like mind, true partners of shared wit and strategy...she'd be planning out her next move.

And something told me Ms Carson liked to be ahead of the game...but she'd quickly find out that I myself like to stay three steps ahead at any given moment.

"And here we are..." she sounded as she looked at me, "here, all for you Trace."

'All for you Trace.'

Not only did these four words immediately resonate within my head like she was telling me she herself was here all for me and only me...but hearing my name fall from her lips...I should've just pulled her away from the party, up to my bedroom and let her show me how much she really was here for me.

But I didn't.

No...that'd be too easy.

'Idiot'

"Alpha Johnson."

I turned to find the council approaching me.

'Present her' my wolf sounded excitedly, 'Present our future Luna to the council.'

I nodded my acknowledgment of the council, "council members..."

Here it was.

The choice was mine...do I present her to the council or wait?

Yes Valerie and I are mates and from even the few minutes we've gotten to spend alone they'd been more than promising.

But...once you've presented your mate to the council it sort of seals you to that individual under the law of the council...from then on out, no matter what, you can not take another as your chosen partner unless your presented individual dies.

'There is no one else for us.'

And I knew my wolf's words were true.

As great as things seem to have taken off for Valerie and I she could always refuse me, turn me down...reject me, and even still I already knew there wouldn't be anyone I'd want to take her place even if I couldn't have her.

So it was decided.

"...forgive me, nerves." I lied. "Council...allow me to introduce you all to my Mate, Ms Valerie Carson."

Valerie smiled and mimicked my slight head bow, "gentlmen."

"Ah Carson...like Alpha Ocklan's Luna?"

Valerie and I both nodded but it was she that spoke up, "my baby sister to be exact...seems rather handsome and strong men gravitate towards us, yourselves included."

Oh she was a minx.

The council men loved it as they chuckled...the fucking council members, chuckling.

"Oh you are a gem Ms Valerie." One of them said, "if you will excuse us though my dear, we have to ask for your mate momentarily."

"We'll give you a moment." Another sounded as they made their way onward.

'Kiss her before she goes.'

I ignored my wolf and smirked, "forgive me Ms Carson, seems I may have to leave your side momentarily while I'm presented...don't go making me jealous now...you may not care for the repercussions."

At this she smirked. "I've never been good with orders."

'Because she is a born leader.'

I nodded, "humor me Red."

"I can't make any promises, plus...I just may like the punishments for being bad Mr Johnson." She smirked as she walked away from me once again.

Damn she was good.

This was definitely her game and I was just a player in it...she knew all the moves. She was the one in control. But damn if I didn't want to play this out with her.

I somehow made my way to the stage and closely watched as she elegantly moved toward her sisters group.

The sisters embraced before she also greeted Braxton in the same fashion.

Had it been any other man here in this room I would have shifted right then and there and challenged him for touching her.

But I know Braxton Ocklan has a mate of his own, his Luna who bares his Mark and just so happens to be Valerie's sister...making Braxton essentially her brother in law.

But it did bring to light a territorial side I didn't know I had.

Valerie was quickly becoming my everything and I've never been m to so easily share my things.

'Our mate isn't an object to claim.'

I knew my wolf was right...no Valerie isn't something I could simply call mine and own. Nor is that something I'd want for my mate. No...she is our mate, she is our equal.

"I guess it's time." Ryder said as he now joined me, his own gaze was elsewhere in the crowd of onlookers. Seeing as Zoe was here it wasn't too hard to imagine where his attention was tonight.

I smirked, "the sooner we get this over with the sooner we can get back to our guests." I said knowingly.

"Is it that obvious?" He asked with a smirk.

I chuckled and clapped his back, "little bro...you aren't the only one more than a little sidetracked tonight, but let's do this and get back to the girls."

"Speaking of, how'd things go with Val?"

I smiled, "well as I told you I wouldn't flat out tell her I was her mate."

He shook his head amused, "so you loopholed around it?"

This time I shook my head, "I didn't need to, she flat out asked me is I was her mate...and of course I was going to lie to her."

"Of course not...how'd that go?" He wondered.

I shot him a look, "she took that information and is basically stoking my wolf to come out...I told her we'd take things slow so she can get use to all of this, and I said I basically wouldn't touch her for now. I mean the last thing I want to do is rush her into anything and scare her away."

Then he laughed. Ryder ducking laughed a deep hearty laugh.

I growled, "what's so damn funny asshole?"

"You." He answered.

It took him a moment to collect himself but once he did he filled me in further.

"You TOLD Val what she was and wasn't going to do with her mate...yeah, good luck with that...more so you assume she so easily scared off, she'll take that as a challenge."

"And you know her so well." I growled again.

"I wouldn't say we're close friends but as her study partner I've seen her when she's challenged and seen first hand how determined and headstrong she is...and if you've said YOU won't touch her...she's going to call to your wolf to get what she wants...trust me when I say...you're fucked bro."

But before I could reply the council members joined us on the stage. They gave their speeches and I didn't hear a word of it as I watched Valerie talking to someone...a guy.

Of course she would.

I watched as she threw her head back and laughed freely...and of course her mask was off now.

But of course I couldn't do a damn thing about it as the presentation officially began.