Page 57 of Alpha Games
“We both know how the media is.” Edith returned my smile as if we were sharing an inside joke and she was truly unaware of the danger surrounding her. “But I’m well versed in damage control.”
“I’ll bet you are.” I tossed back the rest of my scotch. There was no need to get a read on her intentions. She was simple enough. It was no secret she was vying for a chosen mate match with any ofthe bigger territory Alphas, but I would never stoop so low.
“I’m exhausted.” Fallon let out a dramatic yawn. “And don’t you guys have to be ready for the hunt in like… six hours?”
Chad folded his arms across his chest as he leaned against the doorway. “It’s going to be a rough one. You’re still coming though, right? It wouldn’t be any fun to win if you aren’t there.”
After all of this, he was no more than a child posturing and playing at Alpha. I almost felt sorry for him.Almost.
I don’t.
I leaned back against the couch, schooling my expression so all he saw was what he’d wanted to see. A potential ally to secure his future position when I was anything but. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
*
Aspen still hadn’t woken as I slipped out of the bed a few hours later to make the phone calls ensuring the Nuva Pack situation was in order before I headed downstairs for the hunt.
I kissed her cheek, leaving one of the sunflowers that survived last night on the pillow next to her, and made a silent promise that I’d take care of everything else. I’d fix this.
Make it better somehow.
I refused to fail again.
“She doesn’t leave this room,” I told Ivan who stood guard outside the hall with bloodshot eyes.
“Did you hear that?” I called to Fallon.
My sister saluted me with her freshly brewed cup of coffee. “Operation kidnap the Luna is in play. For the record, I totally knew this would end up happening so I get to say ‘I told you so.’”
23
Aspen
My mouth tasted like candy apple coated death and smelled about just as gross. I gagged on my inhale, rolling to the side and burying my face in a pillow that smelled like…
Oh no.
I cracked one eye open, coming face to face with the petals of a smushed sunflower, and slowly blinked as I tried to come to terms with my situation.
Go back to sleep,my wolf grumbled.
Of course she would be a lazy bitch, laying here basking in the woodsy scent of the unfamiliar room. It was everywhere. The pine and sawdust seeped into the blankets, drifted from the open closet doors, and seemed to be coming from the curtains.
I forced myself up onto one elbow. The walls spun and then righted themselves. I ignored my wolf as she groaned.
This is definitely not my hotel room.
The bed I was laying on was twice the size of mine. Did they make something bigger than a king? There were chairs. As in plural. Two of them sitting by a small oak desk. And that was a freaking jacuzzi tub on the platform near the glass windows overlooking the mountains and forest below.
If it wasn’t for the view, I wouldn’t know we were in the same resort that I’d been in for the past few weeks.
What happened last night?
I pulled the sheet to my thankfully still clothed chest, pausing for a moment to admire how soft it was. They got silk sheets in the jacuzzi room apparently.
Focus.I shook my head, instantly regretting the motion, and tried to calm my heart as it started to race.
The last thing I remembered was that awful apple martini and then Ranger showing up with sunflowers. I looked to the remains of one, seeing the yellow petals curling against the black sheets.