Chapter 10: Dean

10

DEAN

S ettling back into my seat and pushing away my untouched meal, I try to appear relaxed. Taking a fast but tough run, and a few minutes to myself, have quelled the unrest inside me. Kind of. My muscles ache but more from the effort of restraining my wolf, of stopping him running back to her, than the distance we covered.

I’m not sure why these two rogues have my wolf so riled up, but I need to get him under control before Jamie and Wyatt arrive at the party. I ignore the looks I’m getting from my sister and scan the large crowd, trying to predict who’s going to complain the most when our new arrivals are unveiled.

Will it be the other contestants, annoyed that someone without good standing in a pack is getting the chance to compete? Particularly, someone as impressive as Wyatt who actually has a chance at winning.

Will it be one of the other alphas who doesn’t like the idea of having a former rogue as a colleague? Or will it be someone within my own pack who’s barely able to cope with the influx of respectable, vetted guests from other packs, let alone two unknown rogues.

Not that it matters what people say. My decision is final. Whatever the consequences, I’m not changing my mind.

Letting them in was the right thing to do.

I hope it’s not my own pack that objects, but welcoming Wyatt and Jamie into our inner sanctum might be a step too far for some of my older wolves. They’re only starting to trust me after decades under my tyrannical father.

MAYA: What’s going on?

My sister can sense my unease and will have seen me slipping outside. Losing her smell after a vicious attack from my father meant her other senses have become even stronger to compensate. She hears everything, and right now, my slightly elevated heart rate is giving me away. Like a dog with a bone, I know she won’t give up easily.

DEAN: You’ll see.

Maya narrows her eyes but stays quiet for now, following my lead. We’ve been through hell together. She’s one of the very few people who knows exactly how bad things were inside this house. We don’t keep secrets from each other, and yet, I can’t bring myself to tell her what’s going on inside my head.

My reaction to Jamie is visceral. Even now, desire for her courses through my veins, but I don’t want a mate, I remind myself, especially one that would bring so many complications. I can just imagine the scandal if I mated a rogue. The other alphas already think I’m practically feral.

And yet… anticipation bubbles up inside me as the door to the ballroom opens. I sit straighter in my chair, craning my neck to see who it is, hoping that it’s her. My eagle-eyed sister swivels in her seat, from me to the door, noting my disappointment when Lynn walks back in the room, solo.

“Hoping for someone else?” Callum teases, sliding into the chair next to me. His eyes dance with amusement, and my sister perks up, sensing there’s something going on here.

“Oh really? Who?” Twisting once more, one hand resting on the back of her chair, she watches the door like a hawk.

“No,” I snap, raising my glass of whiskey to my lips, having to concentrate hard to keep my hand from shaking. “I’m not looking for anyone . And I mean that in every sense of the word.”

Nobody listens to me. Instead, they sit forward eagerly like I’m gearing up to tell them some convoluted story.

“Is she her ?” my beta asks, eyes wide. I swear he’s a bigger romantic than any of them. “Did your wolf recognise her?” His eyes dance with excitement, and Maya gasps, clutching his arm on a squeal.

“No. NO.” I hold up a hand to stop her before she gets carried away. “I’m not interested in finding a she-wolf,” I assure them all, waiting for a beat to see if they sense any deceit in my words, because they don’t feel like the truth.

Maya groans and hits Callum hard in the shoulder. “That's for getting my hopes up.”

They’d all love it if I found my mate, someone to smooth out my rough edges and share my workload. But that’s not what I imagine. I see a mate as the beginning of the end. The start of my descent into madness, just like my father, and an end to any peace and quiet.

“Are you sure ?” Callum’s tone is hopeful. “You should have seen them eye-fucking, Maya. You could have cut the sexual tension with a knife.” He wants the best for me, but it could never be.

The sting of disappointment is hard to ignore. No wolf has ever caught his attention like this. He’s still enchanted with her.

“Don’t worry, you haven’t lost all your money to Lynn just yet.”

That was supposed to be a joke, but my words come out sounding more bitter than I intended, but I can’t help it. Nothing about this feels very funny. Instead, it has me feeling off-kilter, and I really don’t like it. My wolf replays the moment Jamie emerged from the shadows, her exquisite features highlighted by the pale moonlight, giving her an ethereal glow, and my chest grows tight, palms turning sweaty.

I get it , I snarl at him, she’s gorgeous . But she’s a rogue. And she’s annoying as hell.

“Then why did you lose your shit at the idea of her entering the competition?” Callum asks bluntly, refusing to give it up. He eases his big frame back into his seat and scans the crowd, probably on the lookout for his perfect match. I hesitate and he swivels back to face me even more curious about my odd behaviour now. Well, he can join the club. I have no idea what’s going on, either.

“I didn’t lose my shit,” I grouse, but Callum just laughs, not buying my weak rebuttal. He was there after all.

Maya chimes in, determined to help Callum push me over the edge. “Is it because she might win?”

My gut twists. I hate the idea of her winning a pack of her own more than I’m proud of, not because she’s a woman but because then she’ll definitely leave.

“Because you could always make sure she doesn’t,” Maya jokes with a wicked smile.

“What? No!” I exclaim, horrified that my sister would even dare suggest I’d get in the way of someone winning the games.

“I’m not saying you don’t think she could be an alpha. I’m saying you don’t want her to win because then she’d move away, and you couldn’t keep her here to have your babies.”

Oh, for fuck’s sake. These two are getting on my nerves. Heavily pregnant, Maya’s clearly projecting her broodiness onto everyone around her.

“No.” Obviously that’s not what bothered me, I tell myself. “You’re way off so just drop it.” It was her bratty attitude. The attitude I bet I could fuck right out of her.

Ignoring my warning growl, Callum nods along sagely as though my meddling sister has hit the nail on the head. “Yes, she’d have to take another mate.”

When I growl again, louder this time, they both laugh, hard, and at my expense. I clench my fist, trying not to show how much their taunting is affecting me. Normally it doesn’t, but tonight is different.

I need to shut this conversation down.

“BECAUSE…” The word comes out louder than I intended, and when the table beside us turns, wondering what has me so riled up, I lower my voice. “Because I don’t want anyone to get badly hurt on my watch. She’s a rogue, and she’s going to be targeted. Nobody deserves that.”

Feeble. That’s the only word that can be used to describe my pathetic attempt at a deflection.

“But only her? So, you couldn’t give a shit about Wyatt getting hurt?” Callum points out the obvious flaw in my explanation. When I glare at him murderously, he raises his hands in surrender.

I can’t explain it, or at least, not to them. I just know nothing can happen to her. The games will be dangerous because I’ve made it as tough as I possibly could. Panic bubbles up inside me at the idea of her going through that without someone to protect her. Someone like me.

For a split second, I consider appointing Jax, my younger brother, as her personal bodyguard but remembering the terrifying look she gave me when I suggested she couldn’t keep pace with the boys, I rethink that idea. She doesn’t want to be wrapped in cotton wool; she wants to win.

And there isn’t a damn thing I can do to stop her giving it a shot.

“Nobody is going to hurt Wyatt,” I scoff. “Have you seen the man?” Based solely on our quick interaction, I can tell he’s smart, confident, and seriously strong. Once he doesn’t turn out to have a wicked temper or some other undesirable personality trait, I’d bet on him making it to the last round.

Which is why this launch party is about to turn into a disaster. Or one of the reasons, anyway.

A hush falls over the room, and my attention is drawn to the entrance. The hairs stand up on the back of my neck as I see Jamie step into the open doorway. She steals my breath away and I have to force myself to stay seated. I want to stand and go straight to her.

Wyatt stands at Jamie’s shoulder, expression serious, making it clear he’s got her back, as they survey the bustling room in front of them, working out where they should go. And where they might be welcome.

The urge to call her over is strong, but that won’t help their situation. They need to figure out how to make friends amongst the other competitors, and to fight their own battles.

From the look on Jamie’s face, I can tell she’s ready for it.

Compared to the classy finery of the lunas and the seductive outfits of the unmated females dotted around the room, Jamie looks fierce and fucking magnificent. Her black leather trousers are form-fitting and sexy as hell. The borrowed black tank top she wears is a little short and exposes the same slash of tanned skin that had me mesmerised earlier.

Jamie’s pale gold eyes flash to mine like she can hear my lurid thoughts, but she doesn’t smile or give me an indication she’s suffering the same turmoil as I am. If anything, she looks even more annoyed than earlier. When she averts her gaze, coldly dismissing me, my wolf growls, not angry but proud, even more enamoured by her fiery spirit for not taking my bad behaviour lying down.

I wish I could have that passion, all that fire, directed at me, but in a good way. Not like this.

The jovial conversation around the room dies off, replaced by a ripple of hushed slurs and whispers. Jamie and Wyatt have caught the attention of everyone here.

The instinct to drag her away and keep her all to myself is strong. I can feel the lust pouring off the males here, and the desire to inflict violence upon them is all-consuming. Clenching my fists, I fight back a growl as a group of males at the next table start leering at her, poking each other under the table and making lewd comments.

Would you?

I mean, gross, she’s a rogue, but look at that body.

I’ve heard rogues are just as wild in the sack. Could be fun, for a night.

As they laugh, I mentally add the three contestants to my shit list. Maybe I’ll make them do the course twice tomorrow just for fun.

When Callum hits one of them with a hard thump in the shoulder, they fall quiet, glancing from him to me, and realising their dumbass behaviour has been noted.

Standing suddenly, I want to shout at all the males to keep their eyes and their fucking comments to themselves. There won’t be anybody left if this keeps up. Instead, I keep my feet planted firmly to the spot, gesturing to some empty seats nearby that they can take. Anything to stop Jamie wandering through the tables with all those eyes on her ass.

Jamie tips her head reluctantly in gratitude and makes her way over to the free seats. My wolf is thrilled to have her so close, but immediately, I’m not so sure this is a good idea.

As I watch her walk, head held high, confidently weaving her way through the tables, long legs looking so fucking hot in those trousers, my thoughts turn decidedly unprofessional.

If I fucked my little badass right here in front of them all, would they get the message to keep their comments, and their hands, to themselves?

I close my eyes, wondering why the thought of bending her over one of these tables, hair wrapped around my fist, and pounding into her, claiming her with a savage bite and a dramatic howl, suddenly seems like a fucking amazing idea.

Not just to my wolf, but also to the man in me who’s apparently turned feral just from being close to her again.

I only realise I’ve stabbed my knife into the table when Maya’s hand takes mine and gently unwraps my fingers from around it. A few drops of blood slide down the stainless-steel blade, and Maya subtly presses a napkin into my hand to stem the bleeding before any of the sensitive noses around us pick up the scent.

“Dean?” My sister’s tone is laced with concern, but I can’t reassure her now, not when I’m struggling to remain calm.

I beg my wolf to see reason about this crazy attraction to a walking bad idea, but he sits back on his haunches and lets me suffer. She’s not mine, but this is still the most powerful connection I’ve ever felt.

I’m just going to have to find a way to deal with it a healthier way than my father.

“Mangy rogues.” One of the contestants closest to the entrance spits out the words, and a wave of discontent ripples through the crowd as Wyatt passes. “Only good for fucking and hunting.”

My protective instincts kick into overdrive as Jamie’s features tighten, body language going stiff.

How dare they make my guests uncomfortable?

Before I know it, I’m back on my feet. My low growl steadily increases in volume and anger until the focus of the entire room is on me. Clinking a glass is probably the traditional way to begin a toast but I’m not in the mood. It seems way too cheerful.

“As you’ve all noticed, we have two additional entrants. Yes, they are from outside the current pack structure. No, I don’t care what you think. No, there is nothing in the rules to say they can’t enter. Yes, anyone who has a problem with that can leave my territory right now and forfeit their place in the games.”

I ignore the stunned look on Jamie’s face and continue staring down any shifter who looks like they have a strong opinion on the matter. The shocked silence tells me they’re still processing.

“They will prove that they deserve their place here tomorrow, just like the rest of you , or they won’t, and like anyone else, they’ll be out. It’s that simple.” Pausing for effect, I wait until that sinks in. Most of these wolves will be returning home tomorrow.

Maybe the rogues will be among them, maybe they won’t.

“I’d recommend concentrating on your own performance, rather than those around you. Winning by trying to get others kicked out isn’t really winning at all. It just makes you look weak and scared.”

There are still some shifters giving Jamie and Wyatt some deadly looks, their hatred for rogues shining through, but most have remembered what they’re here for and are at least pretending to have some manners. Just to make my lack of tolerance for any bullshit clear, I add one last reminder.

“Don’t forget the rules. This is my territory. If you piss me off, I’ll happily send you packing. And remember, someone is always watching.”

Jamie’s golden eyes burn into the side of my face, but I refuse to look in her direction to see if she’s dazzled by my no-nonsense attitude or just mildly horrified by my outburst like everyone else appears to be.

Taking my seat again, I stare out over the crowd and dare any of the wolves here to challenge me on this. There are some unhappy faces, clenched jaws and gritted teeth. They’re pretending to accept the rogues in our midst, but there will be problems. I guarantee it.

I’ll have to keep a close eye on this situation. Having them stay in the packhouse now seems like a genius move.

“She’s beautiful,” Maya whispers. “And she looks like a badass. The smart guys here are going to be fighting over her instead of the pack.”

Red mist clouds the corners of my vision, and my head feels like it’s about to explode. I want to rip the eyes out of every male that looks her up and down, and piss in the sockets. That’s how territorial my wolf is feeling.

Fuck.

Shoving back from the table, my appetite completely gone, I snatch up my drink, and down it in one. This is not me, and I refuse to let my head be turned by some woman who’s probably just here to cause trouble.

Excusing myself, I leave the ballroom without looking back and storm through the packhouse.

When I reach the large patio at the rear and burst outside, I’m grateful there’s nobody there that expects me to talk to them. I tip my head back and suck in a deep lungful of air, trying to push her tempting scent out of my lungs.

I can’t do this. I can’t lose control. This event is my one opportunity to show everyone that our pack is no longer led by a vicious tyrant and is safe to work with once more. Murdering any man who looks at a woman who isn’t mine won’t help me.

Closing my eyes once more, I reach out to my wolf. Again, he retreats and leaves me to face my problems all on my own.

Why the fuck did she have to come here, to my pack, and mess with my head like this? Everyone already thinks I’m unhinged, now I’m acting like it.

“Fuck,” I grit out, resting my hands on the cold stone and stepping back, head hanging between my arms.

Concentrating on regaining my composure, I focus on the fact that this situation is only temporary. Maybe she’ll get knocked out tomorrow and be out of my life. That thought should cheer me up, instead, the idea of her being gone so soon makes my skin itch.

Which is exactly why she needs to go.