11

Ranger

The gym was packed full of swinging dicks and grunting males all posturing under weights. It stunk like piss and sweat markings from the secreting hormones. If my wolves back home walked in here now, they’d be laughing with me.

This whole thing was a fucking joke.

Yet here I was, playing the game.

I lifted the bench press bar back onto the rack and wiped the sweat from my eyes, keeping a look out for any males that wanted to test me today. None of them were biting though. My wolf was bored.

We didn’t belong here.

Still, the opportunity was too good to pass up.

I wiped down the seat and pushed out my senses as I popped in my earbuds, moving to the treadmill. Most of the ‘Alphas in training’ were sticking to themselves. Normally, I would have done the same and waited for night to use the gym if I really wanted to get a workout in. Instead, I was watching them, getting a good look at the future of the packs.

I turned the treadmill up to a steady speed and pretended to breathe heavy as I sensed the strengths and weaknesses of the shifters running beside me.

Mattox had dug up dirt on most of these guys and emailed it to me on arrival. I wasn’t too concerned with the ones trying to peacock their feathers during the Alpha Games. There was only one reason I agreed to the invitation for the show, but I was taking advantage of this portion now until the time came when I could act.

Legally.

“You done?” a rough voice asked as I stepped off the treadmill.

My senses were stronger than most of these shifters and I could hear him over the rock music blasting in my ears.

But I didn’t want to let him know that.

In the world of wolves and territory disputes, you didn’t give your enemies anything they could use against you. And you didn’t let them know how powerful you were until it was time to strike.

I pretended to stretch, blocking the machine, and took my time before looking over my shoulder. The dude was still standing there, watching my ass.

“Can I help you?” I smirked.

He startled, glancing up as I stood to my full height. Trenton Nuva. A pretty boy with dirt still under his claws from the desert.

I was wondering when he’d show face.

“Are you done?” he asked again, motioning to the treadmill.

I pulled out my earbuds, stretching my arms over my head. “What?”

“I asked if you were done,” he spoke through clenched teeth.

“Sure, man.” I stepped to the side, smiling as I did. “Hey, aren’t you from Nuva Pack?”

He nodded. “And you’re Ranger. Alpha of McCaw. Nice to meet you.”

Well, the kid did his homework and had manners, I’d give him that.

“You brought two Lunas for the competition, right?” I asked casually, grabbing my ankle to stretch my quad.

Trenton tensed as he stepped onto the treadmill. “Yeah. They’re both good candidates, I guess. We’ll see how they do in the trials.”

I could respect him for the fuck off vibes if something about his tone didn’t rub me the wrong way. “Not good enough for your wolf to pick though.”

My beast started growling and I pushed my fist against my heart to quiet him down.

Trenton arched an eyebrow, tactfully ignoring the sound coming from my chest. He was smarter than I gave him credit for. “That’s why I’m here.”

I nodded. You didn’t hold the position that I was in and keep it without knowing how to let certain things go. And I had a feeling that if I stayed here any longer, we’d be doing more than talking. I’d have to save that for the Alpha Games. “Have a good run.”

Trenton looked back to the treadmill as if just noticing where his feet stood. “Thanks man, you too.”

I chuckled to myself when he realized what he’d said and turned around, needing to get out of this gym before the stink riled my beast further.

What’s gotten into you? I asked my wolf as I grabbed a towel from the rack and headed down the hall.

I don’t like that he knows her.

He’s her Alpha’s son. I rubbed the towel over my hair and pressed the button for the top floor in the elevator. That was one part of the wolf-shifter world I hated. I’d love to go back to the good old days where the strongest led instead of passing the Alpha title down through the family.

He won’t be for much longer.My wolf growled, pacing the confines of my human mind that kept him trapped in this form and coming up with his own damn mission in there.

My phone pinged, saving me from the mental shakedown I was about to engage in. They say power and insanity are a delicate balance. It wasn’t the first time I questioned if I was about to lose my footing.

A problem for another time.

I checked my phone.

Fallon: Where are you?

I didn’t bother to respond. The elevator door opened and I followed the fresh trail of my sister’s scent to the room.

“What’s wrong?” I asked as I opened the door to the penthouse suite.

Fallon was pacing, claws extended as she gripped her elbows. Fur sprouted along my skin as I tried to contain my beast.

“What happened?”

She turned to glare at me. “They were trying to fish for information during the interview. Someone knows why we’re here.”

“Is that all?” I smirked as I dropped the towel on the back of the chair and my wolf retreated with a sigh.

“This isn’t funny, Ranger. What if they figure it out and we get screwed?”

I thought it was hilarious. “I told you not to come. But just so you know, it doesn’t matter why I’m here. I’m well within my rights to accept the invitation to the show and do what I intend to.”

“I hate how you are so calm about everything.” Fallon rolled her eyes as she stopped pacing and took a seat on the sofa. “What if word spreads before you can act?”

“Let them talk.” I shrugged.

She glared at me, raising her chin. “Do you want them to talk about us? Because that’s what they’re doing. They asked me in the interview about our past. About Mom.”

“You knew that was bound to come up.” I pulled a water bottle from the mini-fridge and tried not to cringe at what I’m sure was the price as I chugged it down.

“I’m so sick of the rhetoric.” She growled. “Everyone already thinks of us as street rats and now it’s going to be all over national TV.”

“Are you ashamed of our roots?” I folded my arms over my chest. It was a conversation we’d danced around, but I never had the time to talk about it. Maybe this was the problem with my beast. Being here was probably the only vacation we’d taken in years and we had too much time to think.

“Not really.” She turned her face to the ceiling, drumming her black painted nails against her leg. “I’m just tired of the pomp and circumstance.”

“Once again, I’m pointing out that I didn’t ask you to come with me. You can go home at any time. Mattox is pissed that he’s doing your job anyway. He’ll forgive you for going back.”

“Mattox will be fine.” She sighed. “Besides, you know it’s the perfect excuse with me here. If I go home before mating season starts then you can leave with me and the other Alphas won’t know that was always the plan. And anyway, if I didn’t come, no one would be here to protect you.”

“Protect me?” I chuckled.

“Yes, almighty Alpha.” She rolled her head to the side. “You’re still my brother and I have to make sure you’re okay.”

“That’s sweet,” I teased, dodging the couch pillow she threw across the room.

“Shut up.” A smile spread across her face. “Speaking of sweet, I just ran into your girl.”

“My girl?” I hesitated before slipping into the bathroom, knowing I was doing a horrible job of throwing my sister off the trail.

“Yep. She looked really cute too.” Fallon studied her nails. “She was on her way to the interview.”

“Dressing up for an interview isn’t exciting news.” I closed the bathroom door behind me, purposefully not thinking of Aspen or if she was wearing those tights and the fluffy sweater again. She was a passing fancy. A distraction from what I was really doing here. It would go away if I ignored it.

“Hurry up and shower off the stink of musk,” Fallon called after me. “And then let’s go find something exciting to do since fashion bores you so much, dear brother.”