The Alpha's Temporary Mate (Fated Match) (6 page)

Chapter Six

C
hloe couldn’t help sneaking sidelong glances at her date. He looked downright dapper in his all-black suit—sophisticated, elegant, just like the businessman he was by day. But every now and then he’d look her way, and the wolf would be staring out of his dark eyes.

Like when she’d come down the stairs.

Her fingers curled tighter on her clutch. She’d been surprised her dress hadn’t ignited from the searing heat of his gaze. Crossing the distance to the foyer to him, she’d been prepared for an argument. Instead she’d been faced with absolute approval. Something deep within her coiled more tightly at the knowledge that she—plain old Chloe—had had the power to stun a man as powerful, and as experienced, as Kieran.

Maybe this plan might just work.

“Ready?” Kieran’s voice broke through her thoughts as the car pulled to a stop before a brightly lit gallery.

She drew a deep breath and nodded. “We can do this.” He’d been very clear about her role tonight. She knew exactly what part to play.

Fingers entwined with hers, drawing her attention back to the man at her side.

“We can do this,” he agreed, pressing his lips to her knuckles without ever dropping his gaze.

Chloe stepped out into the cool night air and rubbed her knuckles on her skirt to banish the heat of his mouth. Kieran appeared at her side seconds later to offer his arm.

Together they walked into the gallery already teaming with life.

Sound hit her like a wave when the doors opened. Pounding music filled the air, her first clue that this wasn’t any staid, predictable art show.

Though colorful paintings lined the pure white walls, the lighting of the gallery would have fit more easily into a rave than a studio. Chloe’s ears were on overload, and she glanced at her date, a creature with senses far more finely tuned than hers.

“What is going on?” she asked.

“That would be Patrick Draven,” Kieran said. “He has never been a fan of the expected.”

“But doesn’t this all seem rather garish?”

“Precisely. If I hazard a guess, I’d say he’s trying to keep human critics away. Make them think the viewing is all flash and show without substance.”

“Why?” she asked as they moved farther into the packed gallery. “Isn’t more interest better for the artists he represents?”

“Not when he wants to give the supernatural community first crack.”

With his hand around her waist, Kieran guided her to one of the champagne towers set up along the walls and passed her a glass.

“Is anyone from your pack here?” she asked, using the flute to cover her lips.

“Several,” he replied, a sharp glance raking the other attendees. “I give it two minutes before they descend on us.”

She swallowed, the bubbles burning her throat. “Okay,” she wheezed. “Then tell me more about Draven.”

Not releasing his grip on her, Kieran guided her around the impressive art lining the walls. “Draven is one of a kind. No one really knows where his talents come from, be they magical in origin or merely learned, but either way, he is able to predict artistic genius.”

Surprised, she looked more closely at the work lining the walls.

“These artists are unknown,” Kieran continued. “Once word gets out of a Draven show, our kind flocks to the gallery in order to snap up the next big masters while the prices are still affordable. For the human artists, they’ll do anything to win a space on Draven’s docket because once they do, they know their first shows will sell out with inexplicably high prices.”

“He can’t be right every time,” Chloe murmured.

Kieran shrugged. “Word is he was the one who recommended Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel.”

“That can’t be true,” she said.

“Human history has a way of leaving out the supernatural influences that descend on them from time to time. Either way, Draven’s personal collection of antiquities would bring many a historian to tears.”

“Have you ever seen it?”

He smiled down at her. “Once.”

“He won a tour on a hand of cards, if I remember correctly.”

Chloe spun at the new voice. Standing behind her was a striking man with ink-black hair shot through with the odd silver thread. Though like many of the attendees he was taking care to appear human, there was a wildness about his presence that her magic immediately picked up.

Wolf.
The knowledge whispered through her. The man smiled, the curve of his lips softening the harsh planes of his face, but his sharp green eyes assessed her in a way that was far from friendly.

“Niall,” Kieran greeted, holding out his hand. “So you truly gave up that dinner of yours.”

The other man shrugged. “Told you I would. Besides, wouldn’t do to miss snapping up a painting by the next Van Gogh. I’ve made that mistake too many times in the past.” His eyes had not left her despite his words to Kieran. “I didn’t realize you’d be bringing a date tonight.”

“Chloe Donovan,” she said before Kieran could. “And I’m not here only for the evening.”

“Nice to meet you,” he nearly purred, claiming her proffered hand in one far larger. “Chloe, you say?”

She hesitated, knowing what she should do. The plan had been simple. All she had to do was pretend they’d been found out by mistake. Chloe was to twirl her hair, act like she didn’t have a brain in her head, and smile like any of the other women to have temporarily grace Kieran’s arm. That was the plan Kieran had drilled into her head. That was the woman he wanted her to be.

But looking at the keen eyes of the man before her, she realized that plan would never work. He’d see right through her, and Kieran’s jig would be up.

Two options. Smile coltishly and feign anger that Kieran had been hiding her away. Or, brass it out and be herself without pretense.

Here’s hoping Kieran wouldn’t be too angry at her change of plans.

After all, the man did have the power to grow wicked fangs and claws.

“Don’t worry,” she said, shaking his hand. “None of your pack has heard of me. Doesn’t mean I don’t know a great deal about you.”

Niall’s brows arched even as Kieran tensed behind her.

“And why would that be, Ms. Donovan?”

“Because I’m in love with your alpha,” she lied. “Have been for months.”

Shock flashed across the man’s face as his eyes lifted to Kieran. “I feel like I’ve missed a few steps here,” Niall said.

“Enough, Chloe,” Kieran growled. “We’re leaving.”

“So you can hide me away again?” she demanded, rounding on him. “I’m tired of being your guilty secret. It’s time you told your pack about us. If you’re so ashamed of having a witch on your arm then we’ve got bigger problems than your family finally knowing the truth.”

Understanding flickered in his dark gaze but, unfortunately for her, it was coupled with an emotion that looked a great deal like rage. “You know I’m not ashamed of you,” he said, sliding into his role.

“Then you won’t have a problem introducing me to your friends. Why else did you think I insisted on coming with you tonight?” She glanced at Niall and shrugged. “I’m not a huge art fan.”

“Well, I for one am grateful you showed up,” Niall said, taking her hand and threading it through the curve of his arm. “Come, let me show you some of the sights, and we will see if we can inspire an interest in these paintings.”

“Niall,” Kieran warned with a rumble.

“I’ll take excellent care of your lady. Never fear.”

With one last look at the thunderous alpha she was leaving behind, Chloe allowed Niall to whisk her away.

On her own, she prayed she’d made the right decision. Without her partner by her side, she stood a great risk of revealing the limited knowledge she actually had of him. Pasting a smile on her lips, she followed Niall across the gallery to a wall of paintings.

“You’ve truly never heard my name before?” she murmured as they stopped before a watercolor.

“No,” Niall replied.

She nodded, lifting her chin as if the truth hurt. “He warned me we had to keep things quiet. I guess I always hoped I meant enough to him that he’d tell his friends.”

“How did the two of you cross paths?”

A sardonic smile twisted her lips. “You mean, what’s he doing with a girl like me?”

The large wolf offered her a guilty smile. “His tastes have never been subtle.”

“True,” she said. “But everyone grows up eventually.”

A rough chuckle escaped her escort. “So after hundreds of years you think he’s finally ready to settle down?”

Hundreds of years?
She lost her step before ensuring none of her shock showed on her face. Kieran was a strong were, and age and power tended to go hand in hand, after all. It shouldn’t be a shock that he was far older than her.

Except they were already on such uneven footing. Every time she turned a corner she discovered something else that moved him further and further from her reach.

“I’d like to believe that, yes,” she replied.

“You said you’ve been dating for months?”

“Yes, for a while now. Why?”

“Kieran never stays with a woman that long. Not since…well, you know.”

Chloe inclined her head, pretending she understood what he was talking about.

“But if you’ve managed to heal him, then few of our pack will object to you.”

“Even though I’m a witch?”

Niall shrugged. “At this point, I think our people would accept a gorgon if we thought it would bring Kieran back to life. The pack needs stability.”

She snorted. “Even before we met, I’d heard about his exploits. I don’t think enjoying life is Kieran’s weakness.”

“Then you need to look harder.”

She glanced up sharply. There was no humor in Niall’s eyes. This was dangerous territory. The situation needed to be diffused before she revealed how little she actually knew of Kieran’s life.

“You obviously care for him.” She leaned closer and whispered conspiratorially, “Since you’ve known him longer than I, how do you figure I should atone for letting the cat out of the bag tonight?”

He snorted. “How do you usually diffuse his anger?”

Chloe blinked, unsure of what to say.

Luckily, Niall took her startled silence as embarrassment and released a rough laugh. “Yes, that’s what I thought. Kieran’s always been, shall we say, a passionate man. You might be in for a long night, darling, but he’ll forgive you long before the dawn.”

Chloe swallowed her horror as Niall pulled her toward another painting. If Kieran’s anger was usually soothed by sex, what the hell was she supposed to do about it? Glancing at her wolf out of the corner of her eye, she realized he still watched her with a stormy expression. Somehow she doubted coolly argued logic would sway him once he got her alone in the car.

“Of course if that doesn’t work,” Niall continued, “Kieran’s always had a soft spot for peanut butter cups.”

“Really?” she exclaimed.

Her surprise was met with a questioning frown. “Surely you know about his sweet tooth?”

“Of course,” she hastily amended. “I think one of the reasons he’s kept me around so long is the to-die-for brownies I make.”

Niall’s frown smoothed into a smile. “That would keep him happy all right.” They paused when they reached an older couple studying one of the smaller sculptures.

“Since you are so determined to emerge from the shadows, Chloe, I figured you should meet a few others tonight. Darrel and Julie are also members of the pack.”

“Nice to meet you,” she said, holding out her hand. “I’m Chloe, Kieran’s girlfriend.”

As the couple raked her head to toe, their astonishment obvious, Chloe decided meeting Kieran’s family like this would be a humiliating experience if she were a real lover. She might not be Kieran’s usual type, but the polite thing to do would be to hide the jaw dropping shock that seemed to overcome his pack members every time they met her.

“Nice to meet you, Chloe,” Julie said, no doubt realizing the silence had dragged too long. “Are you the reason our alpha looks ready to bite the poor human artists in half?”

“Unfortunately,” she agreed. “I’m sure to get an earful on our way home.”

“You are living with Kieran then?” Darrel asked.

She nodded. “For a while now. I wasn’t sure at first about moving in so quickly but Kieran convinced me. Sometimes when things are right you just have to jump, you know?”

Julie was smiling but Darrel appeared less than convinced. “You’ll be coming to the pack retreat at the end of the month, I take it?”

Chloe opened her mouth, unsure whether she should agree or feign ignorance, when warm hands settled on her shoulders.

“She’ll be there,” Kieran answered for her.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Chloe added, reaching up to lay a hand over his.

“I didn’t think I’d ever see the day when you’d willingly bring a partner to our event,” Darrel said.

“I didn’t think I’d ever find someone like Chloe,” Kieran replied. He dropped a kiss against her cheek and Chloe didn’t have to feign the shiver that ran through her.

“You’re a lucky man,” Niall said, releasing his grip on her as Kieran slid his arms around her waist and pulled her back up against his chest.

“Where did you find your witch?” Darrel asked.

“You’ve been telling me for years I need to find my mate,” Kieran replied. “I listened and went to Fated Match.”

“The dating agency?” Julie said. “My, my. I’ve heard of it, though I never had need of their services myself.” She smiled up at her partner.

“Well, when Kieran came in I couldn’t bear to match him up with any of our eligible singles,” Chloe said, taking up the fake story. “Not when I wanted him for myself.”

“And the rest, as they say, is history,” Kieran said.

“Are you still working?” Darrel asked.

“Do you not approve?” Chloe replied coolly.

“I’m just wondering how you will manage to find the time to come to our retreat.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” she said. “I’ve already booked that time off. As soon as Kieran invited me, I ensured everything would work out.”

“How fortunate.”

Despite the polite words, Chloe was sure Darrel meant them about as much as she meant her proclamations of love. The older wolf did not like her. Why? Because of her surprise appearance?