We walked around a few minutes more when we stopped by the future alpha, Ryder, and his mate. “Alpha Joseph, I was wondering if I could speak with you a moment,” Ryder said.Surprise flashed over Father’s face for a moment. “Of course, what would you like to discuss.“I wanted to ask your opinion on the proposed stance on rogue prevention offered by the Alpha of Death Valley. It seems quite controversial and seems like a lot of the others are against it,” Ryder said, holding out his arm for them to speak.Father glanced back at me. I could tell he wanted to talk to the future alpha, but was afraid of what scene I might make. I told him I’d return to the room when Brook spoke with a bright smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep your daughter company, Alpha Joseph.&r

All my worrying about Father catching us outside the room with Dean was pointless. Father didn’t come to see me until almost nine in the evening. “So how did everything go?” I asked when he sat in the window seat.“The usual humdrum. That girl, Alice, she’s not giving up on her silly ideas concerning the rogues,” he replied as he narrowed his eyes at me.My throat tightened as he continued to stare. “What?”“I should ask you that,” he said in a gruff bark. “What did I do to deserve such betrayal from my family and those I most trust?”Uh-oh. “W-what do you mean?”Father scoffed, and the glare turned downright glacial. “I’m no fool,

I couldn’t believe Father attacked Dean and, what’s more, lost. How did Dean beat him? I shook my head, forcing myself to focus. That didn’t matter. What did matter was what we were going to do next. “Okay, so Father is detained and Dean isn’t hurt. Where does this leave us?” I asked, pacing back and forth.“I’m not sure how long the alpha plans to detain your father, but when he releases him we are to leave and never return.”My throat tightened at the words. Emotions I didn’t understand flooded through me. Closing my eyes, I took a moment to shove them down. I didn’t have time to understand what I was feeling. The pack needed me. I lifted my chin and squared my shoulders. I had to be strong right now. Opening my eyes, I blew out a breath before focusing back on Wesley. “Alright, this is w

My heart pounded in my ears like some primitive and primal drum as we kissed. I’d like to blame everything on Dean, but I couldn’t. My traitorous body leaned into him as Dean’s hand slid around the back of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine, and the other around my waist to hold me against him. The urge to reach out and hold him was so strong I had to fist my good hand, and my arms were trapped between us.The kiss broke with Dean, pecking at my lips a few times before pulling back. I had to blink a few times to refocus on his face as I swallowed. Dean grinned, sliding his hand that held my neck. He brushed his thumb along my cheek. “Totally worth the wait.”My face burned, and I took a quick step back. “You’re lucky I’m right-handed, or I would’ve knocked you off that stool,” I said, but the thre

Dean’s confession about his father’s games only made my anger with my father’s defeated attitude grow. How could he be so ready to give up when all that happened was he lost to Dean while throwing a fit? At this moment, I was believing Dean would be better for the pack than Father, seeing as he was taking me to let Father out, or so he claimed. Not that I doubted him. Dean so far hadn’t given me any reason to doubt his intentions, but with the games his father was playing, I didn’t want to get my hopes up.My stomach roiled with nerves as the question of ‘what next’ pressed against my mind. If all went according to plan, Father would be free, and we’d leave. But what would happen to Dean? I chewed on my lip as we walked. I had to be honest, Dean made the whole mate thing seem not so bad. We’d have to get to know each other more, but it didn’t seem