25

Ranger

She was so full of it.

Not about the fated mates part–I’d already learned her grandparents had that coveted pairing–but for the reason why she was on this show. If she was really looking for a match, she would have shown the slightest bit of interest in any of the Alpha contestants. Which didn’t bother me because I hadn’t been forced to kill any of them yet, but that was beside the point.

She might be a romantic. My wolf was pacing and snarling in my mind, trying to make sense of the past hour. He didn’t like the way she’d looked at us and turned away.

Same, bro. Same.

I wished she was the romantic type. That would make things easier. I’d bring her all the heads of her enemies and buy her jewelry. I knew the way to a romantic’s heart.

But she wore that story she’d spun on the stage like armor, hiding behind the excuse that she hadn’t met her fated mate. None of us met our fated mates anymore. It was rare with how many wolf shifters lived spread out across the globe. I don’t think I’d ever even met a pair of fated mates so I had no one to ask how that worked.

She’s mine.

We have to convince her of that first.

The line to the voting table stepped to the side as I marched into the room. I must have been pushing off some major pissed Alpha vibes because even the biggest of the shifters refused to meet my gaze.

I was so swept up in my own head that I didn’t notice the looming presence of another shifter beside me at the table marking down his vote.

I shouldn’t have looked.

“Why are you voting for Aspen?” My tone had a deathly chill that was unnatural, even for me.

“She had solid answers to the questions,” the deep male voice responded.

I clicked the pen I was holding, debating on stabbing it through the rough skin of his hand. Apparently, someone hadn’t gotten the memo and I wasn’t above a demonstration to drive my point home.

I glanced up from the corner of my eye. The shifter looked back at me with none of the green the rest of these kids had and I instantly realized who I was dealing with.

“John O’Neil. I was wondering when I’d see you.” I smiled, quickly casting my vote to drop in the ballot box. “Why don’t you fill out another card without Aspen’s name on it and I’ll go buy you a drink?”

The way I saw it, he had one option here. I really hoped he’d take it.

John scratched his beard. The calculating gleam in his eye revealed an intelligence that didn’t fit his beastly unkempt look. “You staking a claim?”

I glanced back at the other gathered Alphas who hadn’t needed me to spell it out for them. “Possibly.”

John frowned, mulling my words over as I sized him up. He was a massive shifter with muscles from hard work, not the kind you built in the gym. I knew of his pack and standing, but I didn’t know what he was doing here. And I’d really like to sit down with him for a drink.

I hoped I didn’t have to kill him first.

“Pity you’re taking her off the board.” John sighed, ripping his voting card in half. “Let me know if you change your mind.”

We won’t.

I watched him scribble a few names and smiled, glad that we could get along. “Come on. Let me buy you that drink.”

*

I liked John. His humor was crude, but he was an honest shifter. There was no beating around the bush and he laid it all bare. He could also throw back his beer.

“Where have you been hiding this whole time?” I sipped my scotch.

“My girls were nervous so I’ve been taking care of them.” John waved the bartender over for another round. “They’re finding their footing now so I’ve been able to explore.”

“Your girls?” I asked, not following his word choice.

“My nieces.” He shook his head with a smile. “They’re only five years younger but they still seem like kids to me.”

“That’s not too much of a difference.” I returned his grin. “Though we can find you a cane if you need it.”

John’s laughter bellowed from deep in his chest. “No canes yet, but give me a couple of years. I’m starting to feel my age.”

I looked to the scotch left in my glass. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-six.” He belched.

Two years older than me and he already looked haggard. “Perks of being an Alpha. We age quicker than the rest.”

“Amen to that, brother.” John clinked his beer bottle against my glass. “So, what are you really doing here?”

I smirked. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”

“Me?” He thrust a thumb against his chest. “I’m a softy. That’s why I came. Haven’t found a mate yet in Michigan and my nieces dragged me to the show.”

“And you have no plans for the Alpha Games?” I asked as I took another sip from my glass.

“Of course I do.” The jovial tone dropped for a minute and his eyes cleared as he looked at me. “But none of them involve west coast territory. How about you? Any plans out east?”

“Not yet.” I rested my arms on the bar, relaxing from his direct answer. For far too long I’d been dealing with shifters who gave the run around.

“I’ll make you a deal then.” John downed the rest of his beer. “You stick to your side and I’ll stick to mine. We’ll stay out of each other’s way. And if you ever find yourself in the U.P., come swing by my place for some pancakes and venison.”

“I’d like that.” I set cash on the bar for both our drinks, rising to stand. “It’s good to finally meet you, John.”

“Ditto.” He motioned for one more beer. “Oh and Ranger, make sure you snag that girl or I’m considering her fair game.”

*

John’s threat didn’t bother me or my wolf for some reason. It was refreshing to connect with another Alpha who wasn’t going to bullshit me. But this was going to be a problem with the other Alphas who got it in their head that Aspen was in their league.

I walked outside, needing some fresh air before I went to bed. The nights were still chilly with frost tipping the evergreens as the Snow Moon waned overhead. Less than a month until the Worm Moon fully crested and the mating call of our species began.

The thought of Aspen near all these beasts in rut had my wolf seeing red. They’d be out of control, losing all sense of reason with the mass of women approaching their heat. Originally, this was going to work in my favor since I’d always kept a level head during the rut. With the way my beast was behaving, I wasn’t sure what he would do around Aspen and all the unmated males. To be honest, that terrified me and I wasn’t afraid of much.

The alcohol burned from my system as I walked outside, being guided by the dim light of the moon. We weren’t too far from my homelands in the woods of the pacific northwest so the familiar scents of the flora soothed the tension from my shoulders.

I had less than a month to get her out of here.

How was I going to make this work?

Fallon said Aspen wasn’t the type of female who would submit. I had to disagree. True, there was fight in her, but the softness in her eyes told me she was something else. A new breed for me. It would be a delicate balance, giving into her need for dominance and then earning her desire for submission. I couldn’t wait to get started.

Me either.

I smiled at his lovestruck sigh.

We were in too deep.

So deep, I almost forgot why we were here.

“Hey man,” Chad called out.

I schooled my expression to one of boredom, looking to where he stood by the fountain with Trenton of all people and a delicate little she-wolf who sat on the ledge with her bare feet tracing patterns in the water.

Mist and steam rose from the fountain as the two males hovered around the sweet-smelling female.

Cotton candy and powdered sugar.

My nostrils flared. Omega.

“This is Opal. Have you met her yet?” Chad asked as he waved me over.

The shy little Omega blinked up through long black lashes and gave me a tentative smile. “Hi.”