Page 94 of Rogue Games

They’ve yet to realise what I now know to be true. This man is good, through to the very core of his being. So good that he wants nothing to do with me if there’s any chance that I won’t be a positive influence on his pack. Watching him as he grins at Freddy, ensuring he’s steady on his feet before releasing him, makes me ache inside.

I don’t care how long it takes. Being chosen as the fated mate of a man like this is a blessing that I’m not going to let pass me by.

Re-focusing on the task at hand, I smile at the next shifter to step forward, a rangy wolf named Harry leafing through his documents before rolling them up and shoving them into his back pocket. He leans across the table, with a mischievous grin on his face and curls a finger toward me.

I squirm, knowing Dean’s eyes are still on me. Harry gets an indulgent smile, but I don’t budge, not wanting to encourage whatever it is he’s up to. Or anything that might result in him losing that finger.

“If I can’t find my room, do you think you could help me?” His face is innocent, but the twinkle in his eye tells me this is a dangerous wolf who knows how to charm the ladies. He smooths a black curl back from his face and waits, completely unfazed by my apparent lack of interest.

“No, she can’t.” Dean appears at his side, all brooding energy and angry frowns. “Consider it your first test. If you can’t find your own bedroom, you can’t run a fucking pack.”

With a bored sigh, Harry slowly straightens and lifts one shoulder in a shrug. “It was worth a try. I’ll see you around, Jamie,” he drawls, giving me a fake tip of a hat and a smile designed to melt the panties off naive women.

Dean’s hands ball into fists.

“No, you fucking won’t,” he snarls under his breath as Harry ambles off. When the shifter is out of sight, Dean whirls around to face me, eyes narrowed.

“How does he know your name?” he demands, eyes blazing silver.

Lynn helpfully leans over and taps the name badge I’m wearing while giving her alpha a look.

Dean’s eyes lock onto my name spelled out in neat block capitals, but rather than relaxing, he seems more agitated. He grumbles about the need for everyone to know my name and shifts his weight from one foot to the other, arms folded across his broad chest as he stares down anyone who glances over.

“Don’t you have better things to do than guard the registration desk? You’re scaring everyone.” Lynn asks pointedly. “Why don’t you put all that… excess energy to use in the clearing? To make sure the sparring contests don’t get out of hand?”

Dean blinks, only taking his narrowed eyes from the offending badge on my shirt when he shakes his head, Lynn’s words finally sinking in. “What sparring contest? There is no sparring on the timetable today.”

Lynn’s grin is wicked. “Oh, you know, the impromptu one that the wolves who arrived last night thought was a good idea. You know, to get some extra training in before the next round.”

With a weary sigh, Dean sucks in a deep breath and stares at me, hesitant to leave. I try to stay calm. No blushing, no fidgeting, no racing heart. A luna is tough, poised, and doesn’t fall apart in front of the pack.

He opens his mouth to say something, before turning abruptly and storming off with Callum hot on his heels. Only when he’s crested the hills and is out of sight do I relax, his presence and his alluring scent scrambling my brain whenever he’s nearby.

“Oh, this is going to be good.” Lynn laughs. “In that mood, he’s liable to climb into the ring and take them all on himself.”

That doesn’t sound good at all. Although the idea of watching Dean fight doesn’t sound bad either.

“All that adrenaline and aggression. You better find somewhere to hide or you’ll be marked within the hour.”

43

DEAN

As I stride toward the clearing at the rear of the packhouse, the grunts and groans of fighting shifters become louder, drowned out only by the repeated dull thud of fists hitting soft flesh.

Laughter and cheers erupt at the sound of a loud crash, someone having found themselves tossed into the dense foliage surrounding the unofficial fighting ring. Beckett will be thrilled to see what they’re doing to his landscaping.

Lynn’s annoying voice fills my head.

LYNN: If you’re not claiming her for yourself, you can’t stop people flirting with her. And you can’t go around telling everyone she’s your mate.

DEAN: So, you heard about that.

I can practically hear Lynn’s eye roll.

LYNN: Everyone’s heard.

DEAN: Shit. I didn’t mean to; I just couldn’t stop myself.

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