Page 32 of Alpha Games

Ranger cocked his head to the side. “What?”

“What do you mean, ‘what?’” I cried. “What if they filmed us? What if they show this on TV? What if my papa sees?”

I started walking away from the buses.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“To jump off a cliff.”

Ranger laughed as he held to my arm, pulling me back to his chest. “You’d survive the fall, but it would hurt. And I don’t think my beast would like a mark on your pretty little body that we didn’t put there ourselves.”

There was something in that statement I should have unpacked, but my mind was all twisted in a lust-filled fog as I breathed in his scent again.

“Come on. Let’s get you back to the resort.” His wolf rattled in his chest making a sort of growling-purr noise that made my knees weak.

“But…” I shook my head to clear it, looking around and lowering my voice to a whisper, “Everyone will know what we did.”

Ranger ran his hand up and down my spine as his wolf continued to rumble in his chest. I expectedhim to laugh, to tease me, but he just held me instead until the worry started to melt away and my muscles relaxed.

I released a pent-up sigh.

Ranger tilted my chin so he was looking into my eyes. “Isn’t that what you wanted? To stake your claim?”

Did I?

Yes.

I didn’t know. But I knew I needed a minute to process everything that just happened. Ranger tugged on my hand and I let him lead me to the waiting buses. I held my head up high despite this totally being my first walk of shame.

14

Ranger

Aspen’s hand slipped out of mine as we neared the buses and cameras. I walked a few steps behind her with my beast prowling dangerously close to the surface, daring anyone to comment on the scent of arousal that coated us both. I was proud to wear her mark and know my scent was on her, but shame tainted her delicious smell.

My wolf and I didn’t like it. At least there wasn’t the bitter ice of regret. But the acid burn of embarrassment was a common occurrence when people first gave into their baser instincts. It wasn’t as if she’d done anything wrong or that we’d engaged in a scene considered taboo, so I assumed her shame had something to do with giving into her desire for me.

That was not a good feeling.

I took the seat beside her as the bus roared to life, looking around to make sure all the others averted their gazes.

“What are you doing?” Aspen whispered.

“Was this seat taken?” I arched a brow, waiting for her to tell me to get lost.

Nope.He paced.I don’t like this one bit.

Aspen sighed as she leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes. “You did really well today.”

My chest swelled a little with pride as my wolf preened at the unexpected compliment. “With thechallenge or with my hand? I can assure you, that was only a taste of what–”

“Stop,” she begged. Her cheeks flushed a pretty shade of pink. I was torn between wanting to draw this teasing out and not wanting to push her too hard after what was blooming between us.

“This doesn’t count as our date.” She peeked open one eye to look at me.

My heart swelled to fill my chest. “Of course not. I have some promises to keep.”

Yes,my wolf sighed as I rested my arm on the back of the seat.