Page 52 of Alpha Games
The glow from the tiki torches cast the back area of the pool in shadows and I looked around, searching for any sign of Ranger or Fallon.
Dang it.
“We were wondering where you’d been hiding,” Chad said as the camera crew got adjusted. He turned down the volume on the Bluetooth speaker so the sounds of jazz whispered away.
It took a second to realize he was talking to me. “Here I am.”
“And without Ranger.” Chad gave a warm smile that would set most people at ease.
I don’t like this.My wolf started pacing.
“I’m actually looking for Ranger.” I glanced over my shoulder to prove my point. “Have you seen him or Fallon around?”
“Not tonight, but I have a feeling they’ll turn up soon.” Chad patted the cushion on the settee beside him. “Come sit and enjoy yourself before he ruins the fun.”
My wolf was snarling, going protective she-beast at Chad’s teasing. We didn’t like when so calledfriends talked crap behind one another’s backs. Being on the outside of the pack, I’d seen it happen to everyone. It didn’t make it right though.
“No thanks. I’ll see you around.”
“Wait,” Edith pouted, pulling me back. “Fallon always gets you all to herself. Stay and hang out with us for a bit.”
“And if you’re going to mate Ranger, you’ll be spending more time with us anyway,” Lilith said, looking up from her phone. Edith’s lips pressed into a thin line as she nodded.
No. Let’s go.
I struggled against my beast, wondering if I should stay. Lilith was young, but she was right. I’d need to learn to stand on my own in various crowds if I ever hoped to be a Luna.
I still wasn’t sure if I wanted it.
But I wouldn’t be scared away.
I looked for a seat, setting my drink down on the plastic end table, and dragged one of the folding loungers over despite the males rising to help me out.
“I’ve got it.” I propped up the back of the seat, positioning it on the outskirts of their circle so I could make a quick escape. Once I got that situated, I reached for my drink.
Goddess, this is bitter.
“So you’re from Holton Prison,” Meghan said, being polite after the awkward silence my chair pullover caused. The camera crew edged around the group to shoot at different angles.
I gulped down another big drink of the martini, trying to cool the heat flaming my face. “I’m from Nuva Pack. Holton Penitentiary is on our territory and we guard the prison.”
“How does that work? Do you hire out contractors?” Brett rested his arm on the back of the outdoor sofa. His peachy scent mixed with the smell of the cigar drifted to me on the night breeze, making me nauseous as the sticky apple sweetness coated my tongue. “I thought Nuva Pack wasn’t all that big.”
Somehow the drink was making my mouth drier. I swallowed more, thinking of how to word things for the cameras in case they decided to air this bit. My room was so much safer. I didn’t have to act in there.
“It’s kind of a family business,” I said. “The whole pack pitches in to help.”
“You make it sound like a charity project for displaced campers.” Cindy rolled her eyes.
“Not every shifter is a hardened criminal,” I hurried to explain. “Some of them got the short end of the stick or they’re just trying to do their time in peace.”
We need to leave.My wolf started growling a low warning sound as the shifters around me burst into laughter. I could feel how red my cheeks were, wondering what I’d said that was so funny. I reached for my martini glass to give my hands something to do and found it empty already.
“No, I get it.” Chad leaned forward, pushing out some dominant Alpha vibes that made everyonequiet down. “The shifter community deals with a lot of prejudice. It’s not fair to assume everyone in Holton is deserving of the punishment they received.”
The cameras zoomed in.
Chad smiled at me.