Page 88 of The Wild Wolf's Rejected Mate

“Can I get the tenderloin, Alpha?”

Justus chuckles. “Get your own, Calvus.”

“Aw, come on,” Calvus whines good-naturedly. “Play me for it.”

“You think I’d trade my mate’s company for yours? For what? What’s he wagering?” Justus asks the others.

“He’s laid down a chit,” another male answers.

“For what?” Justus asks.

“The next squirrel he catches.”

“You want to bet me a squirrel youdon’thavefor a tenderloin that Ido?” Justus snorts.

“It’ll be the best squirrel you’ve ever had. I guarantee it,” Calvus says, laughing.

“You’ve got a lot of confidence for a male with the smallest pile at the table.”

“Hey, Alpha,” Calvus protests. “Don’t talk about the size of my pile in front of our new female.”

Justus’s wolf straight-up growls, vibrating his voice as he says, “Myfemale.”

Trouble. Show your neck. Show neck!

I stop myself from bowing, but all four males at the table dip their heads. They’re still smirking, though.

“Yes, Alpha,” Calvus says, his grin the biggest of them all. “As you say.”

Justus clears his throat. “All right then. We’ll let you get on with your game. Calvus, I’ll make sure to tell Tarquin to give you the shank.”

“Oh, come on, Alpha,” Calvus whines. The males are still laughing as we walk away.

Despite the growl, Justus doesn’t smell angry at all. I take a deep breath through my mouth. I can pick out scents better that way. Maybe his earthy smell is covering the anger.

If you can’t smell his anger, you won’t have any warning.

“What’s wrong, Annie? Do you scent something?” Justus asks.

I glance over. He stops in place, frowning, scanning the area for a threat.

“No, I—I just—” I shake my head, flustered. I’m not used to people noticing my little freakouts. My roommates are used to it, and everyone else at Quarry Pack are too busy impressing each other to pay attention to me.

I wish he’d just let it go, but he’s waiting, not moving, so I blurt out, “You were angry, but you don’tsmellangry.”

His brow wrinkles. “I’m not angry.”

“Your wolf growled. You made them show neck.”

He glances up at the sky, blows out a breath, and then looks me in the eye, grabbing my other hand so he’s holding both. “I’m not angry, and neither is my wolf. We were just—” He pauses like he’s searching for words. “That was just my wolf pissing on a tree.”

Oh. I’m the tree.

Gross.

My cheeks heat. Justus’s gaze shifts awkwardly to the side, and he clears his throat.

“It would take more than Calvus’ big mouth to piss me off,” he kind of mumbles.

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