Page 65 of Step Alpha

I clear my throat. “I won’t sabotage it. I don’t want to be banished.” That much is true.

“Well, you can come to me if you are. I’m sure you know that.”

My chest tightens, and I nod. “Yeah. Thank you, Garrett.”

Garrett looks at Rayne. “You, too. We have all kinds here.” I remember that the Tucson pack isn’t all comprised of wolves. There are bears and foxes and even some misfits. Defectives, but not like Rayne. Some creatures made in a lab, I heard.

She pales. “Oh. Um…thanks.”

I wrap my hand around her nape. “Rayne’s a late bloomer, that’s all. She has a silver-eyed wolf that’s about to come out.”

Rayne flicks an indecipherable glance at me.

“Regardless,” Garrett says firmly. “You’re both welcome in my pack.”

“Thank you, Alpha,” Rayne says softly.

“I’m not your alpha. But the door is open.” Garrett gets up from the bar stool, indicating the meeting is over. “Are you two driving back tonight?”

“Yep. Rayne has school in the morning.”

“I’ll be in touch, Wilde,” Amber says as we do another round of handshakes.

“Thank you so much. I really appreciate your help.”

“I’m happy to help.”

We walk out to the Jeep, and instead of unlocking the passenger side door for Rayne, I pin her against it facing me and brush her hair out of her eyes. “Did that offend you?”

She flushes. “No. I mean–” She shakes her head. “No. I…wonder what his pack is like. They seem cool.”

“Right?”

Rayne’s stomach rumbles.

I ease away from her. “Let’s get you some more meat. That wolf needs to be fed.” As I lift her into the Jeep, she averts her face. I don’t know what’s eating her, but I’m going to figure this out.

Now.

ChapterSixteen

Rayne

I shower when we get home. My stomach is in knots although I can’t quite dissect what has me anxious. It’s something about Wilde and my wolf.

Does he only like me now that he knows I have a wolf? And is his affection conditional on bringing out the wolf?

Because I think it’s completely possible I will never shift. Just because my eyes changed color doesn’t mean I will ever actually transform. And, honestly, considering how weak my shifter genes are, I’m terrified of shifting. What if I only partially shift? Or shift and can’t turn back? In both instances, they’d have to put me down with a silver bullet.

Maybe I’m being a wimp, but I almost feel like it’s better not to try. I’ve lived this long as a Defective. I might as well continue. It’s not like I’ll have any fewer friends.

But, see, Wilde needs me to be presentable as his stepsister.

Or his mate.

That comes as a tiny whisper in my ear. A thought I dare not even think.

Wilde definitely doesn’t want to mate me. That’s crazy.

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