Page 4 of Alpha Hunt

“You really think putting the Leadmills mutt in charge is a good idea?” she scoffs, not even trying to hide her disdain.

A flare of annoyance sparks in my chest, but I tamp it down. Casey has her reasons for mistrusting me – I can’t begrudge her wariness.

Jagger levels a cool look at her. “If you have a better suggestion for running recon on this lead, I’m all ears, Stone.”

She opens her mouth, then snaps it shut, stumped. A faint smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth before I school my expression.

“Or,” Jagger continues, “if you’re that concerned about Edirn heading up a team, you can go along for oversight.”

My lips part, ready to protest at being essentially babysat by the prickly she-wolf. But I swallow the words, knowing it’s not my place to argue against the Alpha’s decision. Not if I want to prove my loyalty lies with Steel Lakes now.

Casey’s eyes narrow to slits. “What? You want me going on a mission with him?” This seems even more offensive than the idea of me leading a team.

The insult rolls off me as I return her stare, keeping my face impassive. Getting riled up won’t help convince her of my trustworthiness. I’ll just have to keep proving myself through my actions.

Jagger sweeps his gaze over me as if gauging my reaction; I don’t give one. Stoicism is a skill I learned early in life.

“Why should this be an issue, Stone? Alpen hasn’t stepped out of line once since—”

“Yet!” she interrupts, raising a ripple of discontent from the others. Casey and Jagger may have been close teammates before, but the fact remains that he is now our Alpha. Her impudence shouldn’t go unpunished.

“Not yet. And not ever,” I interject, unable to stay silent any longer.

“Says you!” she snorts. “And I don’t trust you as far as I can spit.”

“Sheesh, are you ever going to get over that?” Tarkin is at the far end of the table, rolling his eyes in exasperation.

“No,” she says, her jaw setting. “You know how I feel about traitors.” The ice of her eyes should be enough to freeze my blood. It doesn’t. For some reason, there is also fire in her…it warms me. And it’s not just the way her full chest is heaving beneath her snug tank top, or the elegant curve of her neck, or the sensual pout of her mouth.

I’ve never seen anything as beautiful.

“He’s not a traitor, Stone. He already proved himself more than once.” Gage has stepped in now. He dips his head slightly in acknowledgment as he looks at me. He was the first to accept me into the pack, and I feel a kinship with him.

“I’ll believe that when I see it.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “So far, all I’ve seen is a lot of big talk. Name one wolf he’s gotten out of trouble so far.”

“Savannah,” Gage says without hesitation. He’s made it clear that he’ll never forget that I was the one who helped them out of that hellhole when they went in to rescue her. And I almost lost my life because of it.

“Oneotherwolf,” she scoffs. “We all heard him say he could help us find the others. When is he going to make good on his promise?” She’s gone back to talking about me, around me, and over me. As if addressing me directly might taint her somehow.

“It’s a tricky business, Stone.” Jagger fixes her with a hard look. “Those bastards wove an intricate web, and we’re trying to unravel it. But what he’s uncovered is more than we could ever have figured out ourselves.”

“Well, I’ll believe it when I see it,” she mutters. “And I’m not going anywhere with him,” she adds under her breath. “I’ll be watching my back at every turn.”

“What did you say?” Jagger barks.

“I said I’m not going anywhere with him.” Her jaw is out, eyes blazing.

“For fuck’s sake, Stone! I gave you a direct order.” Jagger is losing his patience. Whatever goodwill their friendship may have earned her is beginning to run short.

“And I’m disagreeing with it!” she snaps back. “And—” Her words are cut short. Jagger is on his feet with a snarl, hands splayed on the surface of the table as he leans over in her direction, teeth bared. She shrinks back. I would, too, if I was facing the beast that has emerged from him. The wolf is so close to the surface that his claws have extended, his fangs protruding.

“You willobey.” The words come out as a slavering growl.

Casey’s face goes pale. She dips her head, not meeting his eye. “Yes, Alpha,” she whispers. “As you wish.”

I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so meek and cowed.

I don’t like it.