Page 15 of Howl About That

But she won't make this easy.

That much had become crystal clear during their brief encounters. Poppy Mintz was fierce, independent, and stubborn enough to make a mountain seem flexible. She'd rather fight losing battles alone than accept help that might make her appear weak. The very qualities that made her a formidable Alpha also made her nearly impossible to assist.

Keiro glanced at his watch—eight o'clock exactly. Time to stop overthinking and start acting. He'd spent the entire two-hour drive from Manhattan telling himself to keep things simple tonight. Explain the business aspects and brainstorm revenue-generating ideas for the land.

Professional. Straightforward. Manageable.

He climbed out of the Bentley, his expensive shoes barely making a sound as he stepped onto the stone driveway. The evening air carried the scent of wildflowers and something distinctly feline that made his pulse quicken. As he climbedthe stone steps and approached the massive oak door with its brass fixtures and family crest, his wolf surged forward with anticipation.

Keep your wolf under control. Focus on business. Simple.

The doorbell's deep chime echoed through what sounded like a vast interior. Then footsteps approached—light, confident, unmistakably hers. But when the door swung open, every rational thought fled his mind.

Poppy stood framed in the doorway wearing a light blue dress that should have been illegal. The fabric hugged every curve of her athletic frame while the neckline offered just enough glimpse of cleavage to make his mouth go dry. Her dark hair fell in loose waves over her shoulders, and those bright blue eyes that had haunted his thoughts all day were now focused entirely on him.

His wolf slammed against his control, demanding he pull her into his arms, claim those lips that looked impossibly soft, forget dinner entirely and spend the evening learning every inch of her skin. His eyes darkened as molten gold bled through the brown, his carefully constructed composure cracking under the weight of pure want.

Get yourself together. She's not some conquest—she's your equal.

But equal or not, the way she was looking at him suggested she was fighting the same battle. Her pupils dilated as she took in his appearance—the charcoal slacks that emphasized his powerful thighs, and the crisp white shirt with the top buttons undone to show just enough skin to appear casual. Her breathing quickened, and she leaned forward slightly before catching herself.

"Come in." Her voice carried that same breathless quality from their phone call.

He forced himself to step forward and put respectable distance between them, surveying the space with genuine appreciation. The interior of her estate spoke of power and legacy—high ceilings with crown molding, polished marble floors, and oil paintings of previous Mintz Alphas watching from gilded frames. Not ostentatious, but unmistakably the home of a family that had wielded influence for generations.

"Did you find my place okay?" she asked, leading him deeper into the house.

"Yes, though I got the distinct impression that the people I passed on your pride lands weren't entirely sure what a wolf was doing here."

A faint blush colored her cheeks. "About that… I didn't exactly mention our business partnership to anyone except my Beta, Neve. I was hoping to get more details tonight before I told the elders about the situation."

Smart. No point in stirring up trouble before we know if this will actually work.

"That's understandable. No worries." He kept his voice carefully neutral, though part of him wondered what kind of reaction their partnership would provoke. "Let's just try to enjoy dinner and figure out the next steps."

She guided him through a series of elegant rooms to a formal dining room dominated by a mahogany table that could easily seat thirty. Two place settings waited near the head—hers at the position of honor, his adjacent. The food was already plated and steaming, wine chilling in a silver bucket.

"This looks incredible. Did you make it yourself?"

Pink flooded her cheeks again. "I may have had it catered. I'm not exactly the best cook."

The admission was so endearingly honest that Keiro found himself smiling—not his usual controlled expression, butsomething softer, more genuine. "That's perfectly fine. Lucky for you, I'm actually a pretty good cook."

Smooth, Izell. Already implying future meals together.

The words had slipped out before he could stop them, carrying implications he hadn't intended to voice. Her eyes widened slightly, and he cleared his throat.

"I mean, if we ever get the chance to share another meal."

Stop making this worse.

But instead of looking annoyed by his presumption, she smiled—a real smile that transformed her entire face from beautiful to absolutely radiant. The expression hit him unexpectedly hard, making him want to do whatever it took to see it again.

He moved to pull out her chair, ignoring whatever Alpha protocols might say about her capability to seat herself. Some instincts ran deeper than politics, and everything in him demanded he show her the courtesy she deserved. She settled into the chair with fluid grace, and he caught another wave of her scent—wildflowers and rain and something uniquely her that made his wolf rumble with satisfaction.

"Thank you," she said softly.

After taking his own seat, Keiro reached for the wine bottle, filling both their glasses with steady hands despite the chaos swirling in him. Then he raised his glass, meeting her eyes across the intimate space between them.