Page 40 of Rogue Games

Would my pack ever accept a rogue as Luna? I doubt it. I’ve seen the wary glances they’ve been giving her. They need calm, they need stability, they need someone boring and safe, as unappealing as that sounds to me.

I stay silent, afraid to voice the thoughts running through my head.

What if he tells me no, that it would be a terrible idea to pursue her?

“You’re not your father, Dean. Whether you wait for your mate or take someone else who’s caught your attention… you won’t turn out like him. You’re a grumpy asshole sometimes, but you’re a decent one.”

“I appreciate the vote of confidence.”

But Blake doesn't know for certain that I won’t turn into him.

My father became obsessed with another alpha’s mate, and he tormented her new pack, believing they had stolen her from him.

He refused to admit he was wrong, his ego too big to accept it, even when he found his fated. For years, he punished my mother, and us, for being the walking proof of how wrong he was about Marie. To the end, he tossed about wild accusations of black magic. His obsession never waned.

“Trust your instincts, Dean. Your wolf kept you alive this long and protected your pack when he needed to. He’ll keep you safe.”

I nod, but it’s not always as easy as that, and he knows it.

He gives me a knowing smile as I bid him farewell, making an excuse about checking something out on the course. I can’t stop myself from following her through the forest, picking up the pace until I finally get eyes on her.

My wolf watches with pride as she overtakes another male and beats him to the foot of a steep rock climb. She grips one of the ropes and starts up the wall without a moment’s hesitation, ignoring the name calling jackass behind her. She’s incredible.

I watch with delight as she disappears over the top, taking a second to dust off her hands and assess what comes next, before she takes off again. As the seething male scrambles awkwardly over the ledge, he mutters something unflattering and stares after her, eyes narrowed in anger.

I want to drag him into the trees and teach him some manners, but instead, I force myself to retreat. Being out here is a bad idea. And still, despite all the reasons that I should leave, I find it nearly impossible to turn and walk away.

19

JAMIE

The advantage I had on the sand portion of the run is long gone. With a relatively flat, even trail ahead of us, the men I passed earlier are catching up.

And most of them aren’t pleased to see me at the front.

“Are you trying to prove a point?” It’s one of the wolves who vocally opposed our entry last night. Today, I think he’s more pissed off that I beat him up the rock wall. “That you can bag an alpha by rolling over for him? Big deal. He’s not interested in you, Rogue, at least not for anything more than some cheap thrills. I’d fuck you too and then spit on your used up cunt, but that doesn’t mean I like you.”

That one shocks even me, and I falter, turning to look at him, scarcely believing he said those words out loud. His contempt for me is clear in the way he sneers at me with hatred in his eyes as we run side by side.

“Just run your own race, Samuel,” I say, glancing at his name and race number. I really don’t want any trouble, but as he shows his teeth and a low rumble starts in his chest, I have a feeling I’m going to get it anyway.

Samuel drops his shoulder and slams into me, knocking me hard sideways. Anticipating he’d do something as he went by, I manage to veer away in time to avoid taking the full impact, but he still knocks me off my stride, and I stumble over a gnarled root that sticks up in our path.

“What the fuck?” Wyatt’s further back but his voice booms through the trees as he sees what’s going on. I could fall back to my brother’s side, but I need to press on if I have any chance of making the cut off. Wyatt will find the obstacles we’ll come across later much easier than me, and I don’t want to hold him back.

“How do you expect to lead a pack if you need your brother to fight for you?” Samuel sneers, casting a glance back over his shoulder to make sure Wyatt isn’t bearing down on him. Coward. He wouldn’t be so brave if he was here. “It’s a disgrace. Reynolds should never have allowed any females in, let alone you. He should have tossed you back into the gutter where you belong.”

Classy.

I wish he was an anomaly, but he’s merely voicing what plenty of the other wolves are thinking. They’re just smart enough to keep it to themselves.

“Get over it.” Huffing as I dodge an attempted elbow to the ribs, I decide continuing this conversation isn’t going to get me anywhere. I need to stay far away from this wolf, and anyone who sees my inclusion in the event as some kind of affront to their status.

“You’re no luna. Don't kid yourself.” Watching as he glances back once more to pinpoint Wyatt’s location, I growl but slow to let him go ahead, cursing when he takes his foot of the gas and eases up with me. I know what he’s doing. He doesn’t see me as a real threat in the competition. He’s baiting Wyatt by bullying me.

“Samuel, if you’re so worried about Wyatt, you should be pushing on while you have the chance. Because he’s going to catch you, and he’s going to kick your ass.”

I know even before it happens that I should have kept my mouth shut. The blow that comes feels like a truck driving full speed into me.

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