Page 54 of The Renegade Mate

“I bet Mason that you’d go behind Ryan’s back and try to hand yourself in.”

“Did you now?” I asked, not amused. “Aren’t you both supposed to be out helping Ryan?”

“We are. Evelyn asked us to pick up some food from the house. We can’t trust the local stores not to snitch on us.”

We’d decided everyone had to move in teams of two, especially with Brock’s enforcers on the lookout for us.

I stepped to the side and gestured them past. “Don’t let me keep you, then.”

Mason grinned at me. “Not a chance. You need to turn around and get your booty back in the house.”

Oh, really?

I showed him my teeth. “I’m your Alpha, Mason. You do what the fuck I say. Move. Before I kick your ass.”

Mason narrowed his eyes at me, and I could see him thinking. “Mai—”

“No, Mason. Either I’m your Alpha—in which case, you’re going to get the fuck out of my way—or I’m not your Alpha, Ryan is not your Alpha, and you better go and throw yourself on the benevolence of Brock and Hayley. Which I don’t reckon they have much of. Your choice.”

I could see the conflict in his eyes. Jase’s face had gone pale. I knew this was unfair to them, but I had to do this, and there was no way they were going to stop me.

“Mai—” he tried again.

“Save it. You’re either with me or not. Which is it?”

Mason sighed. “We’re with you, Mai. Always. But this is a bad idea.”

I nodded. “Your opinion has been noted. Now move the fuck out of the way.”

He didn’t move. Instead, he pulled me into a hug. “I’ll drive you; just stay alive, Mai. No matter what you have to do, just stay alive until the Meet.”

Mason parked the car over a block from the Alpha compound. I couldn’t risk him dropping me off any closer and him getting taken as well. Jase nodded to me from the back seat, then opened the car door and slipped out into the cool morning air.

“Stay alert,” Mason ordered.

“Look after Ryan for me,” I said and got out before he could reply. Not looking back, I started walking.

This was the most dangerous part. People would recognize me; werewolves would scent me. This was the perfect opportunity if any of Brock and Hayley’s followers wanted to gain favor with the new Alphas by attacking me, either to bring me in or to throw my dead body at their feet. My mind kept painting grotesque images of what might happen before I made it to the compound and the reception waiting for me.

The street ahead was soon filled with a restless energy. I could almost trace the whispers spreading like ripples in front of me. People emerged from the shadows, their curious eyes watching my progress. I could see the recognition flicker in their eyes, could hear my name on their lips, a ghostly chorus of judgment and speculation.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a flash of movement, a swift shadow among the crowds. Jase. Then Mason. They moved like ghosts, unseen by the others but always there. A werewolf, in human form, ran at me from the left. Mason slammed into him, bearing him to the ground and stomping on his legs. A woman, knife whirling, darted in. Jase broke her wrist, then dislocated her shoulder, before melting back into the crowd. Maybe I was wrong. Jase was made for this. He already was a bad-ass enforcer. I just hoped we survived the next few days so I could tell him.

I saw the gates of the compound ahead and knew their protection would extend no further. This was my fight now.

The compound loomed before me, an intimidating fortress wrapped in shadows and silence. It had always been a place to fear when Oliver was Alpha, and I hadn’t had time to banish those feelings when Jem was there. The gates, tall and forbidding, marked the line between me and the dangers that lurked within. Standing before them, I felt small, insignificant against the power that they represented.

As soon as I reached them, the gates swung open, and there was Brock, wearing a smug grin. I so wanted to kick that smile right off his face.

“Brock,” I said, putting as much scorn into it as possible.

He laughed, a cruel sound that made my skin crawl. “I didn’t think you’d be stupid enough to actually show up,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest as he studied me with an appraising eye.

I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. “Well, I’m here. Where’s Sofia?” I demanded.

His smile widened, but there was no warmth in it, only a chilling sense of amusement. He leaned in, close enough that I could smell the stench of his breakfast cereal on his breath. “You didn’t really think I was going to give her up, did you?”

He had lied. That was a big surprise.

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