Page 39 of Rogue Games

Blake’s right. We’ve purposely left the rules loose because an alpha needs to be tough. They need to be able to anticipate what an adversary might do. They need to be a good judge of character, and they need to be able to defend themselves when push comes to shove. If I shield them from everyone who doesn’t play fair, they’ll never make it in the real world.

Plus, it will allow us to spot and eliminate those who don’t have the integrity that we want.

But that means Jamie’s out there, unprotected. A lone female with nobody in her corner is an easy target for unscrupulous wolves who’d do anything to win this competition.

My wolf’s reluctance to leave is concerning. It was bad enough that he dragged me to Jamie’s room this morning. An odd mixture of shame at my lack of self-control and regret that I didn’t do more has lodged itself in my chest.

Feet rooted to the spot; my wolf is adamant we make sure Jamie’s safe. He saw the nasty looks and heard the snide comments being made behind her back by some of the men here today. It’s a long course with nobody looking out for her except for Wyatt.

She’s a rogue, I remind him. She’s able to take care of herself. I’m running the competition. I can’t get involved.

And yet, a sense of unease settles itself in my gut.

DEAN: Callum, can you stay with Blake while I go and…?

I trail off, not sure how to finish that sentence. What am I going to do?

CALLUM: Go find her. When the first runners are almost back, or if there’s any trouble, I’ll let you know.

The fact my beta knows that my thoughts are consumed with her isn’t a good thing, because Callum, while a wonderful beta, is not exactly the most emotionally intelligent shifter you’ll meet.

Sighing loudly, I reach out to Maggie via mind-link, but there’s no response. Maggie has always refused to let me tell anyone that she’s here. I promised I’d keep up the ruse, even if someone came looking for her. They think I’m dead, she’s told me, over and over. But clearly not if Jamie’s asking questions and snooping around.

I respect her desire not to contact her old pack, if that’s what she wants, but her own children? They deserve to know she’s still alive. Even if she doesn’t want to re-establish a relationship. But Maggie protected us from my father, and she has my loyalty. I won’t tell anyone anything without her permission.

I curse, hating the thought of lying to Jamie, but it’s best if she hears the truth from the horse's mouth. Which is why I need to find Maggie and fast.

DEAN: Jax, tell Maggie I need to talk to her and to stop fucking blocking me.

Jax is a whole other headache to consider. Jamie was snooping around the basement entrance. How do I explain that she’s living under the same roof as the brother she knows nothing about, but he locks himself away after dark because his wolf is practically rabid?

“You look troubled,” Blake observes. He’s not asking me to spill my deepest darkest worries, but he’s giving me the opportunity to bend his ear if I want it.

“I’ve got a lot on my mind.” And that’s the truth. My mother’s anniversary. The pressure of showing all the other packs that we’re not a bunch of withdrawn hillbillies. Balancing the need for the wider pack to return to normal social interaction, with the horrible trauma some of my wolves still carry with them.

Keeping secrets and respecting privacy.

Jamie, Jamie and more Jamie.

“Anything I can help with?” Blake’s offer is genuine. He’s proven that he cares about all the packs that fall within his region. That’s why he’s forcing me to host this event. Ripping the Band-aid off despite my reluctance, he’s bringing us back into the wider community by throwing us in at the deep end.

“No. As the days go on, the pack's nerves will settle. It will just take some people a while to get used to it.”

A lot of my wolves came out to watch the start of the games, but the real interest will be in the latter stages, when those strong enough to make it through will compete in advanced challenges like combat and tracking.

“That’s not what I was talking about.” Blake turns and stares at me. “I won’t pretend to know every detail of what happened here before you took charge, but don’t forget, I got my pack by force, too. There’s not a day that goes by that it doesn’t weigh on me, but it gets easier. Finding my mate helped.”

Blake’s fated mate appeared in his life just in the nick of time. There were concerns that without a mate at his side, moon madness was starting to take hold. Fear that the same could happen to me weighs heavily on my mind considering the man my father was.

“You waited for her,” I state simply. “And obviously you’re happy you did.”

He could have taken a chosen mate, but he refused to bow to pressure. Instead, he held out for his fated mate, the one the moon goddess has chosen to be your perfect partner in every way. It’s every wolf’s dream, but the reality is that they’re scarce.

Even if I do, will she want anything to do with a Reynolds?

“Rumours of my imminent demise were greatly exaggerated. Moon madness was still a way off, but regardless, I could feel her out there. There’s nothing wrong with taking a chosen mate if you’re in love, but I wasn’t mating someone I had no feelings for just for convenience.”

Jamie's face flits into my mind. Feisty and strong. She’s not mine, but damn if she wouldn’t be exactly the type of mate I’d want. Like me, she hasn’t had an easy life. I see her eagerness and strength, even if everyone else just sees a rogue.

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