Page 37 of Cruel Alpha Bully

“Got to keep cover, remember?” He grins at me.

“Yes, of course,” I agree, not minding an excuse to hold onto him.

We quickly walk into the main street of town, stopping in at cafés and shops, dropping subtle hints that we are looking for the alpha. Humans won’t get the reference, but the pack members will.

Walking in exposed, alone, with no weapons—as well as being discreet—should signal to the other alpha that we mean no harm.

Then, we enter the next part of town, which is obviously rundown and not as well maintained as the tourist areas. I start to get a bad feeling as we approach a bar that has a bunch of tough-looking guys sitting out front on a wooden porch.

“Bae, I don’t think we should—”

The harsh sound of gunning motorcycle engines cuts through the air, drowning out my words. The machines come out of nowhere, pouring out of side streets and surrounding us. They whip around in a circle that gets tighter and tighter until Bae and I are standing close together in the center with barely any room to move.

They finally stop, but only one of them turns to face us. A few of them cut their engines so we can hear each other speak.

“What are you doing on our turf, alpha?” the leader yells at us.

Bae stands in front of me with his arms wide and palms up. “We mean no harm. We just want to speak with your alpha.”

“And murder him?” the burly guy growls.

Bae shakes his head. “Our territories are overlapping. I want a peaceful discussion about our options.”

The guy grins, revealing a stumpy row of brown-stained teeth. “Options,” he echoes. “Did you hear that y’all? He wants to discuss his options.”

Laughter rips around the circle, and some of them pull off their helmets so they can laugh even harder.

“You aren’t the alpha,” Bae snaps. “I can smell it on you. You’re probably not even his second-in-command. I doubt you speak for him.”

Jesus, Bae, why?!

A burly guy gets off his bike and strides straight up to Bae until their faces are almost touching.

“True, I’m not alpha, but I rule the town, see? They told me you were sniffing around, marking territory, and they called me in straight away.”

He pauses, his eyes glowing as his wolf rises inside him. “You want the alpha, you go through me first.”

“No problem,” Bae snaps, starting to roll up his sleeves. Immediately, other bikers start to dismount all around us.

“Uh, Bae—” I begin.

“Don’t sweat it, I can take this guy.”

“But… all of them?”

Bae looks up and notices how many of them are getting ready to fight. Seeing his muscles harden up and the rise of his wolf scares me half to death.

Back down! They’ll tear you to pieces!

“Wait!” I shriek, leaping in front of Bae to talk to the burly guy. “We truly don’t want to fight. I promise, we mean you and your alpha no harm. We just want to talk.”

The guy looks me up and down, leering. I’m praying Bae can’t see it.

“If you’re trying to make a bargain, what will you offer us to sweeten the deal? Tasty little piece like you.”

“That’s it!” Bae roars, trying to shove me aside. “I’m taking this guy apart.”

“No!” My voice comes out so strongly, it rings around the circle, and I throw my hand up to make Bae stop. “I am den mother, second only to the alpha and of true blood. No matter the pack or where they reside, the den mother is sacred.”

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