Page 66 of Rogue Games

DEAN

“It’s like watching a car crash.”

Callum meets me on the main track back to the packhouse and falls into step at my side. He glances back toward the cabin, where Jamie’s angry cursing and banging can still be heard.

“I’m going to ask one more time, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

Surprised at how much I enjoy the thought of Jamie securely confined to my cabin, I smile. “Absolutely.”

She might be mad, but she’s safe.

“It doesn’t look like it from here.” Callum’s brows draw down into a deep furrow, and he stares at the house, reluctant to leave.

“Come on.”

If she was free to run around, getting herself into trouble, vulnerable if Samuel decides to come back and finish what he started, I wouldn’t be able to leave her side.

“She might set it on fire,” Callum warns, completely serious.

I hesitate and look back at the cabin.

She actually might.

The banging has stopped, but her silence now seems ominous not promising.

“She won’t give up until she figures out a way to escape.” Callum is saying it like it’s a bad thing, where my wolf and I think it’s admirable. And it’s exactly why I need to deal with my to-do list as fast as I can.

Joel knew the jig was up the moment Callum arrived back, without me, and immediately admitted to his part in bullying Jamie out on the course. He might have thought Callum would go easier on him than I would, but he underestimated my beta. A night locked in the cells has probably remedied that.

But Joel denies having anything to do with Samuel cutting the bridge. He claims he panicked and ran when his friend took things too far and was too afraid to confess when he got back.

I’d be sympathetic, if he hadn’t left Jamie clinging to the canyon wall, fighting for her life. A real man would have helped her and dealt with the consequences after.

Samuel remains at large. I have no doubt he was the presence I felt at the bridge. He was probably hoping for a chance to get rid of Jamie before she could talk and wasn’t banking on me showing up.

But he won’t be free for long. Jax, the best tracker in our pack, is on the case. With a hunt to keep him entertained and away from my cabin, he won’t stumble across Jamie. Sending him off kills two birds with one wolf.

“Have you worked out what they’re really here for?” Callum asks. “Wyatt wants to win and has a good chance. But Jamie?”

He doesn’t need to explain. I understand why he’s confused. From the outside, it doesn’t make sense.

There are some she-wolves with animals large enough to compete with any man, but Jamie’s not one of them. She’s clever and brave, but in a fight with a big male, she’s likely to be overpowered quickly. Nothing I’ve seen or heard suggests she has any expert martial arts skills that would negate the difference in strength.

Bluntly, if she made it through to the fighting competitions, chances are high she’d get her ass kicked.

Even more confusing is that Jamie has very little interest in the prize. Every other wannabe alpha has asked me and Blake questions about the size of the pack, how they feel about being handed over to an unknown alpha, whether they could bring their own beta with them, stuff like that.

“Her motivation isn’t winning. But I’m not sure what it is yet.” he muses, waiting to see if I know more than I’m saying. Which I do. But just like I can’t tell Jamie about Maggie until I’ve spoken to her, I can’t tell Callum, either, even if he’s like a brother to me.

“I think she entered to stay with Wyatt. She didn’t want to be alone.”

Callum nods but continues to watch me closely. I hate this. I feel like I’m deceiving everyone when I pride myself on being honest.

“Maybe she was hoping to find a mate?” Callum ponders out loud as we walk, hands shoved in his pockets. “She’s gorgeous. I’m sure lots of guys here would be happy to bring her home.”

My wolf’s hackles go up, not liking that suggestion one bit.

“You think? Even though she’s a rogue?” I ask, trying to tease out his thoughts without giving myself away.

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