Page 28 of Taken By the Alpha Priest

I shake my head, the absurdity of the situation almost making me laugh. “Alright, let’s go,” I say, standing up. “Blindfold, or…?”

“Nah,” Peaches says, holding the door open for me. “Reyes says you’re good to go. Let’s give you the grand tour.”

9

REYES

“So, you fucked up.”

I groan and slump back in my chair, staring up at the cracked ceiling of the visitor center while Grant and Will—my two most trusted alphas—decide to turn my life into tonight’s entertainment. Of course, they never hold back. They know I’ll tell them to shut up if they need to, which is probably why they’re pushing it tonight.

“Yeah, I think we’re all clear on that,” I mutter, rubbing the bridge of my nose. “I’ve known Tilda for what—twenty-four hours? And she already hates me.”

“Well, considering she showed up to kill you, I don’t think the hate is new,” Will points out, his tone maddeningly casual. “She’s a crusader. You can’t trust ‘em, plain and simple.”

“But she’s…” I hesitate, leaning forward, hoping for some kind of sanity check. “What does she smell like to you?”

Grant squints at me like I’ve grown another head. “Man, I’ll never get used to these questions. You want me to sniff her or something?”

I glare at him so hard I’m surprised he doesn’t burst into flames.

Grant winces, holding up his hands. “Okay, okay! Poor word choice. My bad.” He straightens up, trying to look serious. “But seriously, does she smell different to you?”

I groan, dragging my hand down my face. “Drop it.”

Will narrows his eyes, tilting his head like a wolf sizing up prey. “You know, that just makes me think weshouldn’tdrop it.”

“You don’t need to worry about it,” I snap. “She’s just another girl. She’s gonna help us with this farm, we’ll get her the medicine for her sister, and then we’ll send her on her way. End of story.”

“Real optimistic, thinking she won’t come back with a bunch of crusaders and burn this place to the ground,” Grant says, leaning back with a smug grin. “Country folk don’t just let shit go, man. Trust me.”

“Last I checked, you didn’t even leave Austin until you got blessed,” Will says, shooting him a side-eye. “What the hell do you know about country folk?”

Grant sits up straighter, offended. “I know they’re sketchy as hell. I’ve seenDeliverance.”

Will groans, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I can’t believe I’m stuck in a pack with you.”

Their voices fade into the background as soon as Tilda’s scent hits me—blackberries and leather, sharp and familiar, slamming into me like a freight train. I don’t know whether I’m desperate to talk to her or wishing she’d never stepped foot in this place. When I glance at the door, there she is, walking in with Peaches, Frankie trailing right behind them.

I wonder if she even realizes she’s had a shadow this whole time.

She looks better than she did yesterday—clean, chestnut hair braided down one side, fresh clothes that actually fit. Her eyes scan the room, sharp and assessing, like she’s piecing everything together. It doesn’t take her long to find me.

Our gazes meet, and I give her a slight nod.

She scowls, turns on her heel, and heads in the opposite direction with Peaches.

Grant lets out a low whistle and nudges me from across the table, grinning like the jackass he is. “Damn, Garza. You let your prisoner roam free, and she’s still giving you the cold shoulder?”

“I didn’t see the point in keeping her locked up,” I mutter. “She’s gonna start prepping the garden plot tomorrow. She’ll see everything anyway.”

Will arches an eyebrow, leaning forward. “Yeah, sure. That’s all this is about. You’re hiding something.”

Grant sniffs the air in her direction, his eyes narrowing. Then he freezes and stares at me like I just sprouted a second head. “Wait. You didn’t.”

“Didn’t what?” Will says, but then his nose twitches and realization dawns. “Oh, shit. Reyes, did you…?”

“No,” I snap, cutting him off. “God, no. I’m celibate. That hasn’t changed.”

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