28

Ranger

I wasn't quite sure when Aspen's heat broke. There was no grand finale to the event. It would've happened sometime between an orgasm and the sleep that followed. Despite how intense this season had been, I'd never napped more in my life.

My mate bore my mark proudly with her hair thrown up in a messy bun and her fangs extended as we marched down the mountain to the beat of helicopter blades whirring. Jones and Foster and Beau and the rest of my pack joined us, forming a barrier of security around their fired-up Luna.

I'd felt the bond as Alpha to my sister break sometime in the days prior, but I still had a family connection with her. "We're going to raise hell. You coming?"

"Not this time." My sister laughed, sounding lighthearted. "I'm so freaking done with this show."

It didn't feel like a loss with her leaving. Not a goodbye like I always imagined it would. More so a ‘see you later.' "Tell John he still owes me a talk."

"Will do." My sister's howls followed me as we continued on our warpath. The helicopters were already lifting off by the time we reached the valley.

Filming locations were being set up with a backdrop of the picturesque pond. They'd already cleared the Tulia's nests away. I should've had sympathy for the women, but I couldn't find it in me. They'd probably be on the next season anyway. At least Cindy wouldn't be punished for acting as a wolf. Too bad it wouldn't be considered an official Alpha challenge and she could inherit the Tulia Pack for her troubles. Then again, if she had the right team, she might be able to do some damage.

"Mr. McCaw." A production crew member went wide-eyed as we approached the tents being erected for the makeup crews and show staff. "If you'll please come this way."

She hit a button on her cellphone. No doubt paging security who came stepping out of the tents.

I put on my trained smile, wrapping my arm over Aspen's shoulder, more so to hold her back than to add merit to my cause. "Tell Molly I'm here for the interview."

"You're really going to do it?" She blinked as the security crew headed our way.

It seemed my team had already been in touch. I figured this would happen, but I hadn't thought it'd be such a shock. I wasn't that much of a monster, was I? It's not like I'd murder everyone in cold blood with all these witnesses.

Aspen growled beside me. "I don't see why we have to do this."

"Trust me beautiful." I gave her shoulder a squeeze, winking at the production assistant who rushed to page Molly with the news. "We've already won. But I trust my team and my pack. They want us to play by the rules a little longer."

"Please come with me, Mr. McCaw." The production assistant ushered us through the security guards, shooing them and sending them on their way.

"What a season it's been," Jay Renfro spoke to the cameras filming as they moved to catch his best angles. He wore khaki shorts and a palm leaf print bandana, dressed like a safari lap dog.

"Broken bones, broken promises, and some broken hearts. But, as always, Mating Season proves that true love exists."

I tuned out the rest of his rehearsed speech as I walked beside my pissed off mate to the main production tent, knowing reality TV was about to get real and I had front row seats to the show.

*

"Miss Nuva." Molly clapped her hands together as Aspen pushed open the tent flap.

"It's Mrs. McCaw to you." I caught my mate by the arm before she lunged.

"Camera team four come to the production tent." Molly never broke her confident smile as she spoke into the headset.

Aspen calmed herself with a deep breath, mimicking Molly's grin. "Now why would you need the cameras in here?"

"You know how these things go." Molly shrugged. "He said. She said. Show business is so dramatic. It's best to have these kinds of conversations recorded so everything is out in the open."

Molly sent an evil glance my way. I must have done something to get on her bad side.

Oops.

"I didn't give you permission to look at my mate." Aspen rested her fists on the plastic folding table that served as Molly's desk. "Eyes on me."

"Or you'll what?" Molly grinned as the camera crew came in and started filming.

"I'll see you in court." Aspen stood up straight, re-tying the flannel shirt around her hips as she turned to the cameras. "If you want interviews, you've got five minutes to get the crew set up."

*

"I hate this," Aspen pouted. "It'd be more satisfying to break her nose."

"I know." I held her close, breathing in her scent to calm my beast. "But our world is changing. Violence only gets us so far. It's better to beat them at their own game and in their own fighting rings. To show we really are the superior species."

"Yeah, okay." She rolled her eyes. But I heard her thoughts. That's rich boy bullshit.

"I can assure you I've lived on both sides of the fence and while I'm always down to break a nose, it's not always satisfying if you can't win."

She nudged her hip into mine. "I trust you. Now go tell the world what you think of me."

I ran my hand over my face, suddenly nervous as the camera team hurried to set up a makeshift interview tent. In all the time I'd been on this show, they'd never been able to corner me into this. But I'd do it for Aspen.

Anything for her.

*

"Mr. McCaw." Jay Renfro grinned like a Cheshire cat. He might as well be feline since I couldn't smell his wolf. "The Alpha of the season."

I sat in the chair across from the show host and tried not to imagine snapping his neck. "Is that what they're calling me?"

"Come on now," Jay elbowed the air like we were old friends, "you must've known in coming to the show that all the viewers would fan girl over you. The youngest Alpha in recent history. Voted ‘shifter of the year' in Shifter Times . You were season seven's most eligible bachelor according to the polls this winter. The producers were chomping at the bits when you accepted the invitation."

"Is that so?" I relaxed back in my seat.

Jay looked to the camera, touching the device in his ear and nodded before saying again, "You were season seven's most eligible bachelor according to the polls this winter, but it looks like you're not a bachelor anymore."

Guess he wasn't supposed to add that part about the producers or hint at what they'd do to keep me on this show. It didn't matter. We already had them by the balls. And I planned to make it hurt.

"You're right. I'm no longer a bachelor." I folded my arms over my chest and waited for his next comment.

"Cut." Molly's voice came from one of the production crew's headsets. She wasn't outside with the film crew, but she still had her claws dug in. "Mr. McCaw, we're going to need more than that to fulfill your end of the bargain."

The cameraman broke into a sweat, adding, "Please."

I smirked as all their faces blanched. But it wasn't the crew's fault and I wouldn't take it out on them. I focused on the camera instead. "No, Jay. I'm no longer a bachelor. And I'm grateful for mating season for providing the venue where I met my fated mate."

Jay's eyes bulged from their sockets as his grin stretched painfully across his cheeks. "You heard it here first, folks. Mr. McCaw found his fated mate on our very own Mating Season where matches are made and true love is…."

I stood and walked out of the interview tent. They'd gotten all they needed from me.

Now it was time to ruin them.

*

Kill the traitor .

My beast was growling as he caught the scent of cat in the trees where Aspen stood guarded by the mated males of my pack.

She put her hand on my shoulder as I approached and my beast was instantly soothed. That magic would take some getting used to.

"What are you doing here?" I kept my voice neutral, but enough hate leaked through to let the cheetah stylist know that his days were numbered.

"I thought we were cool." Jesse's slitted pupils darted to Aspen.

I growled. "Don't look at my mate."

"He's fine." Aspen rolled her eyes, stepping between the two of us. "I told you he gave me trap wire and food."

"That doesn't mean he's safe." I rested my hand possessively on her hip, glancing at Jones.

Be prepared. Jones took a step forward, ready to remove Aspen from the situation if I needed to handle it quickly.

Aspen pushed me off and the little brat stuck out her pink tongue before skipping away. "He's under my protection now. And besides, you'll want to hear what he has to say."