Page 69 of Alpha Games
He released him and gave a warning growl. Trenton scurried away. Those butterflies swooped in my belly again as Ranger’s dangerous scowl softened, replaced by a smile just for me.
“Are you ready to go on our date?”
*
“Is this okay?” Ranger ran his hand through his hair, musing the messy look a bit further. I was glad I wasn’t the only one who was nervous. My emotions were everywhere, riding up and down like a roller coaster, and I’m sure the coming heat wasn’t helping things. But I was more than okay.
“It’s perfect.” I tore my gaze away from the hidden alcove in the woods with fairy lights strungthrough the trees and a bistro table set up with a vase of sunflowers on it. “How did you know what my favorite flowers were?”
I wasn’t even going to ask how he’d managed to get bouquets out of season, twice. It seemed rude to point out how much money he must have when I was benefiting from his help.
“I… Uh…” Ranger looked up at the waxing moon. “I promised your papa I wouldn’t tell you.”
He was cute enough to eat with a spoon.
“We can’t have you breaking promises to my papa,” I teased, heading over to the table. “And thank you again for getting him out of there. You don’t know how much it means to me.”
I thought back to what I’d said to Trenton in the heat of the moment and blushed. I mean, I probably did owe Ranger a blow job. But I hadn’t expected him to hear it like that.
Ranger must have sensed what I was thinking because he gave me a wry grin. “It was no problem and had I known what you were dealing with, I’d have handled it much sooner.”
Heisgreat with his hands.
Hush.I took a seat as Ranger pulled out my chair and looked up into his dark brown eyes. “Is it because you think I’m your fated mate?”
I probably should have eased into this conversation, but no one would call me smooth.
“In truth, I would have done the same for anyone in your position.” He didn’t seem to noticemy bluntness as he pushed in my chair. “But yes, I had an ulterior motive.”
Tell me more,my wolf panted as we tracked him walking around the table and rolling up his sleeves before he took a seat.
I reached for the pitcher of water, pouring myself a glass and taking a sip before I tried to speak again. “So you do think we’re fated.”
“I honestly don’t know how to tell for sure, but I can’t deny the pull.” Ranger took the pitcher and poured his own glass before leaning down to the ice bucket on the smaller side table. “How do you feel about it?”
He pulled out a bottle of wine and read the label in the dim light. It was one of the first times he wasn’t looking at me directly under that intense gaze of his. I realized he was giving me privacy to be vulnerable and open.
It helped. “I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who noticed the pull. I was feeling a little crazy there for a bit. And I think the only way to know for sure is to complete the bond. At least that’s what my papa told me.”
“He seems like a smart old wolf.” Ranger uncorked the wine bottle. “Do you like red?”
I shrugged with one shoulder as he started to pour. “I’m more of a cheap beer kind of girl, but I’ll drink it.”
His grip tightened on the slender stem of the glass. One snap of his callused fingers would break it,yet he delicately handed it to me despite the rage clouding his eyes. “And you don’t do drugs?”
“Goddess no.” I watched as he set the glass down in front of me. Reaching out, I laid my fingers on top of his fist and felt him relax. “It’s alright. I’m not hurt. I just want to get off this stupid show.”
Ranger was quiet for a moment, staring at my hand touching his. “We’ll get on the road in the morning.”
“Tomorrow.” I swallowed down a gasp, pulling my hand back to my lap as I sipped the wine. My stomach flipped again. It was all so fast. But now that my papa was off Nuva Pack lands, I had no purpose in staying here. “What about your reasons for being on the show?”
“My reasons.” He swirled the wine around in the glass before taking a sip. I’d seen people do that on TV and had no clue why. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
I laughed. “That’s hard to believe. I didn’t think an Alpha like you did anything that wasn’t deliberate.”
“An Alpha like me?” Ranger arched an eyebrow. I loved when he did that.
“You’re a little moreintensethan any Alpha I’ve ever met.” I bit my lip, looking away. “Plus, you said that you needed me off the show to focus on what you came here for.”