Page 20 of Sweet Heat

Another day, another Alpha to break.

My eyes are laser-focused on the hand situated at the small of Posie’s back as she disappears into a tiny white brick building. The stress ball I brought pops under my powerful grip, spewing the little green balls inside it all over the interior of my car. Not sure why I thought it might help, now I’m just going to need to get my car cleaned.

Fortunately, she comes back out seconds later, following an older male beta toward a black car. My phone buzzes with an incoming text, and I glance down for a second, not taking a chance atlosing Posie.

Coach

Where the hell are you?

Posie’s as pale as a ghost, and I hate it. She’s one of the most vibrant people I know, always quick with a smile big enough to brighten even the darkest days. Fun, sweet, and perfect, just like her scent—a little cotton candy puff of goodness. My girl and the beta talk for a moment in the front seat, and then he takes the wheel, driving slowly out onto the open road. Fucker better know what he’s doing. He has the most precious damn cargo.

Following them slowly, I make sure to stay a few cars back. I wish I could get closer, but if she sees me, it’s going to cause all kinds of questions. A lot can be written off as coincidence, but there’s no reason for me to be on these roads right now.

The phone rings, but I let it go to voicemail. Nothing is as important as this, but when my coach calls through two more times, I hit the button on my steering wheel to answer.

“What?” I snap, not in the mood for this. Posie’s car makes a right ahead, turning onto a residential street, and I clench my jaw.

Why isn’t he taking her to an empty parking lot?

“That’s not the way to greet your coach.” A surly voice comes through my speakers, and it takes everything in me to stay on the line.Only one push would end the call.

“Sorry, Coach. How can I help you?” I ask, knowing full-well that I blew off practice today. Posie’s car glides to a stop, and I follow suit, parking further down the street to observe her without being seen.

“You can tell me the truth about why you weren’t here today. The text about taking your tarantula to the vet wasn’t even decent bullshit.” The car remains parked and my jaw clenches, wondering what’s going on there.

“After all the fighting and jumping into the stands, I expected better of you. Yeah, you’re one of Willie’s golden boys, but the team is my domain. My house,” Coach yells, falling into a tirade about benching or suspending me.Whatever.His threats pale in the face of my reality, though. My concern for the omega who’s just feet away.

If that beta lays a hand on my Puff…

Her vehicle begins to roll forward slowly, the wheels turning, and my gut clenches. She’s doing it. She’s really doing it. I’m still miffed she wouldn’t let me teach her, but that doesn’t take away my pride in her perseverance.

“Miller, are you there?” Coach keeps up his squawking, but I don’t have a good reason for skipping practice. Perhaps I should have tried harder to come up with something believable… but who the hell cares?

“Sorry, Coach. Something personal came up.” That’s all I can give him. The league is great about things like heat leave and whatnot, but Posie and I aren’t even courting…yet.No one knows about my feelings for her or how they’ve morphed over the past two years from protective concern to a full-blown infatuation.

Suddenly, Posie’s car lunges forward, jumps onto the curb, then comes bouncing down before the brake lights glow red with a hard stop. Before I have a chance to think, I’m out of my SUV, my legs pumping as I push myself faster to get to her.

The driver’s side door flings open, and a gasping cry cracks through the air.

My Alpha drives me forward, and I’m glad for all the training I’ve had. Flying toward the car, my legs eat up the distance with ease. Just like the first time I scented her, the only thing in the world that matters is getting to my Puff.

Damn the consequences.

Something wet trickles down my face, the scent of smoke heavy in the air as my eyes pop open. Raising my hand, I touch my forehead, startled when it comes away sticky.

What the hell?

The cabin of the limo is black. All the lights are out, and I can’t tell which way is up.

“Mom? Dad?” I croak, sliding onto my hands and knees. Broken glass slices my palms, and more shards dig into my knees, shredding my suit pants. “Owen?”

The space gets warmer, causing sweat to join the blood dampening my pants as I search for the door, or my parents, or really anything. Where is everyone? What’s going on?

Suddenly, a delicate cough to my left catches my ear, and I surge forward. My hands grasp tiny arms, and I know instantly that it’s Owen’s little sister, Posie. She moans painfully, and in the next instant, a strange perfume floods the space, overpowering theharsh smell of burning rubber. It hits me in the face, scrambling my brain.

The sweetest puff of cotton candy. My favorite treat, my guilty pleasure. The ultimate cheat I can’t avoid, even when I’m training hard. It bowls me over, and my Alpha takes control. Bending, I run my nose over her neck, brushing her cheek against mine, scent marking her.

MUST PROTECT.

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