Page 24 of Rogue Wolf

Ash stood on a stepladder, painting, and Moki rolled fresh paint over the ceiling with an extended pole, the air of resentment hung heavy, giving the room a sour smell. He’d be having it out again with Moki

Ash kept slipping him glances, worry all over her face. And he…shit. He needed to get the fuck out there to find her.

As alpha he needed to be here. He had duties.

His woman was smart and resourceful, and the sun had just started to sink. The panic, he told himself, came from the recent troubles. Nothing more.

Tamaska knew better than to veer off her mission. He didn’t know how long it took to get the cleaning supplies and Sydney traffic could be an utter nightmare, sometimes tripling the time a trip took.

Especially at rush hour.

Ash turned to him and raised an eyebrow. He knew exactly what she was going to say and glared at her. He didn’t need another reminder to never let Tamaska go off alone.

“It’s nearly dark,” said Ash, stepping down from the ladder her gaze moving from where he’s put the roller to his empty bunched hand.

Kodiak met her gaze. “I’m aware.”

“Maybe we should—”

“Send a search party? We’re already stretched. I’ll go soon.”

“You can’t,” she said. “You’re Alpha.”

As Alpha he should be able to do anything he wanted. And he wanted to find her, have her safe in his arms. He wanted to tear the world apart.

He was troubled out of his mind over Tamaska and desperately trying not to show it.

And he couldn’t go anywhere. He had to prove to his pack that he was a leader worthy of respect, not go running off after a human. Especially not the one whom the others blamed for the vampire attack and Olcan’s death, one he never should have let go.

“She’s strong.” He squeezed the water from the roller and dipped it into the paint, applying it once more to the wall.

The movement of rolling paint soothed him, releasing some of his tension. If she was going to be so fucking stubborn, then why should he risk his pack for her?

Because that’s what he did. Because she was his world.

Because he had feelings for her.

“I don’t know how you’re being so chill about this,” said Ash, refilling the tray of off-white paint.

“Because I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t.”

“And here you wanted to be leader of a new era.”

“Gotta do the ceremony first, Ash,” he said, “you know that.”

“I do and I wish I didn’t. She’s human and they want her.” Then, she climbed back up the stepladder with her tray and brush in hand. “Maybe we shake shit up, Kodiak.”

“She has to learn what it means to be part of a pack,” he said. “And that means we don’t babysit. They’ll never accept her if that’s the only job.”

“And yet it is. We have to protect her. So, what are we going to do?” She started to paint again. “Because it’s getting late.”

Kodiak didn’t respond, he knew that. All of it. And it might be getting dark, but there was still daylight, so Tamaska would be all right. They still had about an hour before it would be truly dark.

She has until then.

And then he’d probably fuck over his position and try and find her.

“Hey Kodiak, it’s getting late,” said Onai, coming into the room.

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