Page 86 of Step Alpha

“Why didn’t you call me back?”

“Honestly?” I tunnel my fingers through my hair. “I don’t know. Self-sabotage, I guess.”

“Self-sabotage.” He gives a humorless laugh. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”

“Yeah. Nothing to say, really.”

“Fifteen of them failed the drug test I administered when we got back.”

“Another test?”

“Yeah. I guess you fellas thought you were safe since we’d just tested.”

I don’t bother answering.

“Heard your drug test the police gave you came back clean, though.”

I’m surprised. Not that my drug test was clean, but that he had access to that information. “How did you find that out?”

“I’ve been working to get the damn charges against you dropped, son! What in the hell did you think I was calling you about?”

“Oh.”

I’m humbled. And shocked.

A stab of guilt pierces my chest. Coach Granview having my back comes as a shock.

I mean, my own dad didn’t believe in me.

If you’re so blind you can’t see the hero your son is…

Rayne’s impassioned defense of me comes rushing back, and I’m humbled a second time by the memory.

“There’s no evidence that the drugs belonged to you, other than the fact that they were in your room, where a large party was being held, as can be attested to by the hotel staff, who called the police and sent them to your room. I’m trying to find out if your prints were on the bag, but I suspect they weren’t. Am I right, son?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Yes, I’m right or yes they were on the bag?”

“Yes, you’re right.”

“Well, Wilde, we should be able to get the charges dropped. I want you back on the team by next week’s game if we can swing it. So if I call this phone number, are you going to pick up?”

My wolf doesn’t like it.

For some reason, he can’t fucking stand the idea of going back to Duke.

I get it. He never got to run there. I had to hide what I was.

But it’s Rayne’s creosote and juniper scent crawling into my nostrils that makes me clench my fist so hard around the phone I crack the screen.

My wolf doesn’t want to leave Rayne.

She has to be my mate.

There’s no other answer.

Still, I can’t say no. Not when I face being kicked out of the pack if I do. Not when Coach Granview and the team are counting on me.

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