Page 67 of Rogue Games

He shrugs. “Why not? She’s hot. It’s not like she’s feral. And when the serious contenders arrive for the next round, those guys aren’t the kind to shy away from a challenge.” With a wink, he adds. “You might have some competition.”

I scrub a hand down over my face, feeling sick at the thought of her with someone else.

“Maybe she just wants to support her brother and have his back,” I suggest, but there’s a hollow ring to my words. Even I know better than that.

“That woman is not here to provide moral support,” Callum scoffs. “And Wyatt is well able to take care of himself.”

And once I make an example of Samuel, nobody else will dare touch her, or anyone else, while they’re on my land.

“She was snooping, Dean. Asking lots of questions. She’s looking for something.”

Callum scratches the back of his head. “Maggie wants to check her over. Maybe she can get more out of her.”

I stop in my tracks and groan. Very, very, rarely, does Maggie volunteer to meet with anyone.

“What did you tell Maggie? Did you tell her about the dance? Fuck.”

Callum smirks and edges away. “I might have mentioned that this girl has you tied up in knots. And you told me you’d kill me if I touched her.”

For fuck’s sake. What a tattletale.

I need to warn Maggie before she goes to the house. “Tell Maggie yes, but later. When I’m back.”

Up ahead, Lynn stands at the foot of the steps, clipboard in hand, pen stabbed through her messy bun. She purses her lips when she sees me, and I already know I’m not going to like what she’s going to say.

“You’re in trouble now.” Callum chuckles to himself when he sees Lynn’s expression. For once, it’s me and not him in the firing line, and he looks damn smug about it.

“Don’t start,” I warn. “It’s just until we find Samuel, and I know he’s not going to attack her again.” I hold up a hand, deflecting the objections I know Lynn is getting ready to throw at me.

She narrows her eyes and swats at my hand.

“So as soon as we find Samuel, she’s free to go then?” she asks. “I can just let her out.”

“NO,” I snap. “I mean, yes.” Damn it. “Not without checking with me.”

“Wow,” is all Callum says as he veers off, avoiding Lynn’s angry glare, and darting in through the open doors ahead of me. He makes a turn for the kitchen while I squeeze past Lynn, pretending I can’t tell how displeased she is, and heads straight for the nursery.

“You can’t keep her prisoner, Dean. She’s the victim!” Lynn whisper-shouts at me as I stride into the colourful room and soak up the big gummy smiles that greet me. It’s the best part about being alpha. All the kids love me. When I find the one that I’m looking for, I pick him up and give him a big squeeze.

“Dean, you didn’t come for dinner.”

Fucking adorable. Dinner with Freddy is a non-negotiable entry in my diary each week. This is the first time I’ve ever missed it. Lynn ruffles his hair affectionately and gives him a peck on the cheek.

“I’m sorry, buddy. But someone really needed my help.”

Bopping his nose, I set him down and give an apologetic wave to Molly, the nursery schoolteacher who must be part witch, because she’s somehow managed to get them all seated in a circle for story time.

“I heard. Is your girlfriend okay?”

I give him a brittle smile. The teacher shifts awkwardly as I squat down to speak with him. But she doesn’t move away, instead making herself very busy nearby, ears trained in our direction.

“She’s not my girlfriend, Freddy. Just a friend that happens to be a girl.”

More half-truths. The words are bitter on my tongue, and when Freddy senses my evasiveness, he frowns. A corkscrew tight blonde curl falls to the middle of his forehead as he looks up at me with big blue eyes, swimming with confusion.

“So, you haven’t kissed her?”

Shit. I can’t lie, or everyone will scent my deceit. “Playtime’s over buddy. For me. I’ve got boring alpha stuff to do.”

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