Page 55 of Alpha Hunt
“You think that’s possible?” He cocks his head.
“I think anything’s possible. Don’t you?”
“We run a pretty tight ship here, Casey.”
“Funny…you sound just like Titer.” I stick my jaw out. It’s a low blow, but I need to get through to him.
Jagger’s eyes narrow. “Greyson Titer has dementia, Casey. He was a phenomenal Alpha up until that time. He may have dropped the ball toward the end, but his legacy was solid.”
“I’m not denying that.” I gnaw on my lip, feeling contrite. “I’m just saying that we shouldn’t let our guard down. Especially when we could have been harboring a traitor all this time.” I run a hand over my hair. “Jesus…we took him right into our most vulnerable region. The family units…” I put a hand to my throat.
Fuck. Is that why he wanted to be my mate? The get access? The thought makes my stomach churn. And I don’t know if it’s because of the potential threat to the pack or because of what it means to my heart. I let him get too close.
“For what it’s worth, I think you’re wrong.” Jagger isn’t backing down.
“But—”
“I’m serious, Casey. I’ve spent time with this man. My gut tells me he’s above board. Gage shares my sentiment. Hell, everyone shares my sentiment. Aside from you.”
“But aren’t you listening to a word I just told you? He can read our fucking minds, Law!” I wave my hands in the air.
“And why would that make him any less trustworthy?” Jagger isn’t budging.
“Are you even hearing yourself? He hid it from us!”
“I don’t blame him, considering the way you’ve reacted.” Jagger turns his chair back to face me. “Has it occurred to you that he must have been carrying this his whole life? No wonder he’s never put down roots. Just look at the sort of reception he’d get.”
“How could you blame me?” I shake my head. “Do you realize that’s how he tracked me on the hunt? He was reading my mind, goddammit!”
Jagger chuckles. He fucking chuckles! “Good for him,” he says.
“Are you nuts? He cheated!”
“You call that cheating?” Jagger is looking at me without a hint of remorse.
“Wouldn’t you?”
“If you’d gone out looking for someone, would you have used your superior sense of smell? Your hearing?”
I frown. “Well, sure, but that’s not what we’re talking about.”
“I think it is,” Jagger says. “As a shifter, you have senses that some might call supernatural. But they’re really just your special abilities. So, Alpen has an additional special ability. Frankly, I’m envious. I’d pay good money to get into a couple of heads around here. Except for Redburn’s. I’m pretty sure there’s nothing in there.” He chuckles.
I rub my face with my hands. “I can’t understand how you can be so calm about this.”
“And I can’t understand why you wouldn’t trust your own mate. The wolf you bonded with, Casey. That’s sacred.”
His words hit me like a physical blow. Because that’s exactly what it felt like. A sacred thread was woven last night. We may not have sealed the bond with out mate bites, but it’s there. I still feel it.
And I wish it was gone.
“I made a mistake.” My voice has grown raw. “I always make mistakes. Anytime I let anyone close, it happens.” Memories flash through my mind – the people I once trusted, the ones who turned on me and took everything I loved. I thought they were good, but I was wrong. So wrong.
Jagger leans forward onto his desk. Understanding dawns in his eyes. “I don’t believe that for a moment.”
“I can’t trust my instincts anymore, Jagger,” I whisper, my throat tightening with emotion. “I can’t risk being wrong again.”
“Casey, you have to learn to trust sometime.” His eyes are gentle. It’s not something I’m accustomed to seeing from our Alpha…from my friend. “Not everyone is out to hurt you. Or those you love.”