an

the bonfire and the lingering perfume of the gi

in

bench, gripping the beer bottle

up beside one of the guys, her

been payin

anywhere but in

good,

e noise, and I blinked, re

ders, trying to shake it

er the firelight. "I don't know. You've been

She leaned in, twirling a strand of hair

grinning. "He ba

ppled aroun

k. "You're both

ve left i

own, pretended like the fire in my che

head and said, "Didn't

ghter d

ut I felt the sh

te

who I was su

by 'run into,' you mean she ran away with her

ly satisfied. "Sti

in warning but I

my untouched beer into the fire. The flam

sn't so ea

rd just enough for his voice

ike you want to punch a

w tig

ked at me like

much I wanted her, e

wn, I knew-I did

admit that. Not to a

d him a sharp grin an

g for a response, I

d any longer, I mi

wasn't

ure Alpha of th

office, his hands shoved int

oors. It wasn't unusual for late-night meetings-something was always happen

that put m

s presence alone enough to make even the strongest warriors bow their heads. He was cold, ruthless in

y person I had ever tru

cing gaze met mi

hutting the d

sk, fingers steepled togethe

tightened

d." His voice was unreadable, but his knuckles were white wh

cted a rogue attack-stragglers testing the

a blade. "This is the price of being Alpha, R

ing his father's gaz

or a long momen

oo

in my father's eyes-so

ied me more tha