Mating the Alpha Read Online Free PDF Page B

side, and considering his pale skin and all black attire I could only assume that he ran with the goth crowd. His eyes were sky blue though, and stood out starkly against the wall of black.
    “Lame line and not interested,” I said as I turned back to the menu.
    “Ouch. Straight through the heart,” the boy replied, mocking me by putting his hands over his heart and pretending that I had stabbed him. “Just trying to make conversation. I haven’t seen you around here before.”
    I had no interest in drawing attention from any guy other than Lukas, but I understood that was the risk I ran by wearing the outfit I had crammed myself into for the evening. I should have been flattered. Then I had an aha moment. I pasted a smile across my face and stuck out my hand. “That’s because I live in Greyelf, so I don’t come this way that often. I’m Maren.”
    He gave me an answering grin as he took my hand. I noticed he squeezed it a bit too hard. “Joshua.”
    “Nice to meet you, Joshua.” I cut a glance over my shoulder. I could see Lukas’s car, and I was almost certain that the popcorn munching inside had finally ceased. If there was one thing that I did know about Lukas, it was that he didn’t care for me talking to boys that he didn’t consider ‘worthy.’ I wasn’t quite sure how he made that determination, but he seemed intent on being judge and jury for any potential dates of mine. That should have bothered me a lot more than it did, but I preferred to think that it was his way of expressing how he really felt about me. Of course, his keeping me from going on any dates didn’t seem to stop him from going on dates. I was fairly certain Joshua would not make Lukas’s approved list.
    “So what brings you to the drive-in this evening?” There was a slight formality and lilt about Joshua’s words that made him seem older than I thought he was. I didn’t think that he was from Minnesota originally.
    “It’s my birthday,” I said with a small shrug.
    “Well, Happy Birthday!” Joshua said. “Let me buy you something then.”
    “Oh no, that’s okay,” I said with a small laugh. I heard the slam of a car door and the sound of heavy footsteps on the gravel behind me. My plan had been to get Lukas’s attention. The thing that I hadn’t considered was my plan might go further than that to a place that wasn’t as pleasant. “I should probably get back to my friend.”
    “What’s the rush?” Joshua asked. He put his hand on my shoulder. “We just met. I’d like to get to know you better.”
    Joshua’s hand flew off my shoulder an instant later, and I felt the small sting on my skin from the force of the impact with which it was removed.
    “What the fuck?” Joshua cradled his hand and glared at the man who had magically appeared by my side.
    I put out my hand. “Chill, Lukas. I’m getting a soda. I said I’d be right back.”
    “I’ll get it for you then,” Lukas said. He hadn’t taken his eyes off Joshua. “You can go back to the car.”
    “I was talking to my new friend Maren. What’s your problem? Are you her boyfriend or something?” Joshua’s glance darted between the two of us.
    “Maren is a friend of mine, and I don’t like to see her getting mixed up with deadheads,” Lukas said.
    “So she’s not your girlfriend.” A slow smile spread across Joshua’s face.
    Lukas took a menacing step forward, and I was shocked to hear a growl erupt from his throat. It was the first time I had ever heard him make that kind of noise, and it reminded me that he was much more than just a normal guy.
    Joshua’s face twisted into a look of utter disgust as he looked at me. “So you’re a shifter lover. Sorry, sweetheart, that’s a deal breaker for me.” He looked calmly back at Lukas. “I hope someday you wander out in the front of my shotgun. Then we’ll see who the tough guy around here really is.” He turned on his heel and moved away.
    I had to restrain Lukas from going after him,