Page 52 of Rejected By the Alpha King

“And now you need it to be a sanctuary again, away from Jax?”

He was fishing. He already knew that Jax and I weren’t happily mated, but we were supposed to be changing that perception. For the pack, at least. That means him as well. I gave him a tight smile. “It’s just a good place for me to be while we figure everything out.”

The back door opened, and I whipped my head around and went rigid. Finn didn’t move a muscle, but I could feel the wolf inside him ready himself.

This was who TK wanted running messages for him? How could he not sense the power in him? Finn could be an alpha one day.

“So how did those challenges go?” I asked dryly.

Finn just chuckled softly.

Two females walked in, and Finn relaxed a fraction. I didn’t. I only recognized one, and I still wasn’t sure how she felt about me.

“Bridget,” I greeted calmly. “And Bridget’s friend.”

Bridget looked to be in her thirties, where her friend was younger. Early twenties, maybe.

Pretty with blonde hair and big blue eyes. She was the kind of female easily overlooked.

There was something about those eyes that was familiar.

“Amaya,” Bridget supplied. “She’s one of the guards for The Fanged Smile perimeter.”

Amaya. The wolf who saw Danny try to rape me and actually ran to get help. “I owe you,” I told her. I didn’t want to owe someone I didn’t know.

“You don’t,” she replied shortly. “I didn’t do it for you.”

She just hated Danny. “Works for me. We’re not exactly open for business.”

“We know. We’re here to help.” Bridget cautiously opened the walk-in fridge, sniffed, and wrinkled her nose. “It looks like you need it.”

Finn immediately stepped between us. “You need Jax’s permission.”

Bridget raised an eyebrow. Either she didn’t know that Finn was assigned as my bodyguard, or she was testing him. “I am your superior.”

“As of this morning, I answer only to Jax. When it comes to Anna’s safety, my decisions trump yours. And Jenson’s.”

Amaya smirked. “So you’re going to be Jax’s golden boy. You have such a pretty face. I bet that won’t last long. Anna, why don’t you call your mate and see if he’s fine with us helping you before Bridget’s head explodes. Also, while you’re at it, you should ask if you’re allowed to order Pretty Boy around, too. Could be fun.”

“She’s my friend,” Finn said simply. “She doesn’t need to order me around. She can just ask.”

Amaya snorted, and I cleared my throat. “I could use some help clearing out the broken furniture in the dining room. Finn and I will work in the kitchen, and Finn can call Jax and make sure it’s fine.” I hated saying the last part. I hated that Jax was in charge of me.

Out in the front, Bridget and Amaya worked quietly. Finn made his phone call from no more than five feet from me, his eyes on me the whole time. If I wanted, I’d hear every word.

Except that I didn’t. I didn’t want to hear Jax making decisions for me.

Refuse to let me leave. Force me to sleep in his bed. I was good enough to pretend to be his lover but not good enough to be his lover.

All the wolves like to talk about how great the mating bond is. Letting their wolves, shifter magic, and fate choose your love. A bond that tethers the two of you together.

Unless you’re mated to an egotistical asshole. Then maybe that bond is just a pain in the ass.

When he hung up, I glanced over my shoulder. “If the great and almighty Jax says it’s okay, you can work in the dining hall with Bridget and Amaya.”

“Nope. They can stay, but there are exits back here, so I can’t very well guard you from out there, can I?”

I sighed. So much for a quiet day at The Fanged Smile. I just wanted a day away from Jax.

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