Page 70 of Alpha Games

“I have something better to focus on now.” He winked.

The butterflies in my belly swooped again. “Stop that.”

“Stop what?”

“Distracting me,” I pouted. “I want to know why you came to the show and why it’s so easy to walk away now.”

“It’s easy because I changed my priorities.” Ranger sighed as he leaned back in his chair. “But I was here for something that happened a long time ago. Tulia Pack spread their influence further than their territory for a lot of years unchecked and there were… casualties. I wanted revenge.”

It was a story as old as time. Wolves held onto grudges like squirrels collected nuts. I didn’t fault him for the nature of the beast. But, “Does this have anything to do with your uncle Lester?”

“Lester?” Ranger chuckled. “I guess you would assume we had a connection. We haven’t been in touch since he was incarcerated if that’s what you’re thinking. He was estranged from my family even before he went to prison, but we had similar motivations. His actions were rash and stupid though. I’m not like him.”

I let go of the breath I was holding, trying to pick through what Ranger was telling me without pressing him further. If this had something to do with pack territory disputes then it was well above my paygrade. But maybe I should be trying to learn more about it if I was ever going to be a real Luna.

Which made my heart start to race all over again.

Ranger put his forearms on the table, drawing my focus as he reached for my hand. The touch instantly grounded me. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.” I was eager to change the subject to something less serious.

“Do you even want to be mated?” The rawness in his tone tugged at my heart.

“I do,” I rushed out, too quickly. His eyes narrowed. “Or, I didn’t. Before. Not after what happened to my dad. I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to be mated.”

“What happened?” His dangerous scowl returned and I realized I’d have to choose my words carefully in the future if I didn’t want to leave a path of dead bodies in my wake.

I tried to smile it off. “A typical match gone wrong story. My dad was barely in his first heat when a young female who was visiting family in the prison got caught up in the mating season run. She wanted more. He challenged for Alpha and lost. She ran away, abandoning their pup. That wasn’t love even if their wolves chose each other. I swore to myself and my beast I’d never settle for anything like that.”

“But now?”

I rubbed my chest bone absentmindedly with the hand not holding onto his and smiled as he touched his heart too.

“Now I think I know what my papa was always rambling about.”

“I think so too.” Ranger’s voice had taken on a growling rumble as he focused on my lips. “Andplease don’t thank me for getting him out of there. It’s better this way. Now there’s nothing stopping us from leaving in the morning. Once we get you set up at my estate on McCaw lands, I’ll leave if you need me to. First, I’ll–”

“Wait, what?” I interrupted. “Why would you leave me there alone?”

He smiled. “For this mating season, I’ll have to lead my pack on the run. But if you want to take your time, we can wait until next year or the following year to run together. However long you need.”

Oh my Goddess.

Someone has to give this guy a blow job.

Finally! Let’s get some action.

I stood from the table, making the wine glasses rattle a bit in my haste, and walked over to where he was sitting. Ranger leaned back on his chair with a question on his face and his legs spread casually. I wasn’t a sexy vixen or good at the whole seduction thing, but I figured this would be straight to the point and obvious enough.

I knelt between his thighs and reached for his buckle.

“Whoa. Slow down, beautiful.” His massive hand closed over both of mine and I almost cried out in frustration. This was the second time he denied me what I wanted and it wasn’t fair. If it weren’t for the hunger in his eyes, I might have been embarrassed that I’d read the room wrong.

He wanted me too and I couldn’t understand why he was denying himself. It was dumb.

“Why?” I didn’t realize I’d actually pouted until he brushed his thumb over my bottom lip.

A playful spark lit up his face. “What am I going to do with you?”