Page 67 of Ruled By The Alpha

A hint of his scent found me through the light rain and my nose twitched. My womb performed a slow, appreciative clench. This alpha was the definition of prime.

When his lips tugged up the faintest amount, I realized he’d caught me staring.

"The fuck do you want, asshole?" Cooper snarled, placing himself slightly in front of me.

"Nice welcome." Rowan replied. "Do you greet all old friends this way? Little wonder you have so few."

His deep, crisp British accent caught me unaware.

He sounded civilized. He looked one hundred percent primal.

"The days when I welcomed you as a friend are long gone."

"I'm not here to rehash old arguments," Rowan said, his face expressionless. "I'm here to give a warning."

"What kind of fucking…"

I put my hand on Cooper's arm, and he instantly stopped.

Rowan tracked the movement. He growled, lips curling. My belly performed another slow dip at his open display of aggression, and my interest piqued seeing his cultured facade crack so swiftly and comprehensively when I touched another male.

As I took my hand away, his eyes lifted to meet mine.

My heart thudded. I felt like prey in a hunter's sights and suffered an irrational urge to turn and run, just to see if he wouldchase. Damn, when was the last time an alpha impacted me like this? I shifted my stance, steadied my breathing, and found a relaxed pose, which was hard when my body had been lit up from the inside out with nothing but a growl and a look.

"I could almost forgive you for cutting out on me," Rowan said, his voice a low purr while keeping his eyes on me. "Felt like you and Aiden had been avoiding me. Now I see why."

Something about those words rang all kinds of warning bells. Did he know Aiden too? I would get to the bottom of their former relationship when we were back at the base.

"Take your fucking eyes off her," Cooper snarled.

"It's been a long day and night," I said, because while I had some control over Cooper, nothing would stop two hundred pounds of pissed-off alpha if Rowan presented himself as a threat. "So say your piece."

"Grimm's Law has men staking out your logging crew over at Eaton Wood. I suggest they find a new place, or change up their locations."

Grimm's Law was an outlaw biker gang before society took a downturn. They’d lived like preppers and had an underground bunker with food and ammo that set them up when the slide began, to the detriment of everyone else. Life was harsh for everyone in the post-apocalyptic world. But the few people we had among us who’d escaped Grimm’s law painted a terrifying picture of women kept docile on drugs and abuse of every kind.

"They know not to go to the same place twice," Cooper said, but that prickling instinct told me our crew had been taking the easy route and going where they knew.

Rowan shrugged and turned back toward his vehicle, his team following his lead and loading up.

I frowned after him, caught immobile when he stopped with fingers on the door handle to turn back.

"Taylor makes no secret of his interest in acquiring good communities. I heard that's not your wish. If you change your mind, tell any of my people, and I'll make it happen."

Sermon delivered, he climbed into his SUV without a backward glance and drove out.

"Sneaky bastard just wanted to fucking pitch," Cooper muttered, bristling with anger. "Don't believe a fucking word he says."

Only I did. "Call a meeting with the logging team and their escort in the morning. I'll ask them for myself."

South of us was Grimm's Law, but south of them on the other side of the river was Taylor, a self-appointed king. Rowan, one of Taylor's trusted lieutenants, had claimed land and was expanding to our north, doubtless intending to merge with their stronghold.

They sandwiched us between them, along with Grimm's Law and a dozen hillbilly prepper communities.

As I climbed back into the SUV and Cooper threw it into gear, I had a terrible feeling Rowan wasn't only making a pitch.

Chapter 1

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