“The circuit director?” Jake sits up straighter. “What did he do?”
A growl rumbles out of him. And it’s a hell of a lot more intense than I ever thought the kid had in him.
“If he’s touched her—” Jake starts, his voice going dangerous.
“We don’t know that,” Charlie interrupts, but the implication hangs heavy in the air. “It’s good we can keep an eye on him. Regardless of whether or not she wants us, I have no problem telling that asshat where to shove it. I don’t have to play nice.”
My Alpha is snarling now, wanting to protect her from anyone who thinks they can hurt her.
“She’s ours to protect, whether she knows it yet or not.”
“Agreed,” Charlie says.
“Agreed,” Jake echoes.
I look at my pack, my brothers, and feel the bond between us strengthen. This is right. This is what we’re meant to do. Not just for us, but for her.
“Alright then,” I say, unable to keep the grin off my face despite the serious turn the conversation has taken. “Let’s make a plan to win an Omega. And we prove we’re worth taking a chance on,” I finish.
We spend the next hour planning. How to approach her. What to say. How to navigate the minefield of APBRA regulations and small-town gossip, and the fact that her brother is Charlie’s best friend.
It’s complicated. It’s messy. It’s probably going to blow up in our faces.
But my Alpha settles, content for the first time in years.
Home, he purrs.She’ll make this home.
And damn if I don’t agree with him.
“Well, until we can do anything about any of that,” I say, pulling myself back to the present. I throw them each a biscuit and grab the butter. “I have to be at the arena like… now.”
“Me too,” Jake says around a mouthful of biscuit.
“So are we all in?” I need to ask, just to make sure. This is too important to assume.
“I would have brought it up if you hadn’t,” Charlie says with a grin.
Jake just nods, but I can feel the determination through the bond. The shame and sadness are still there, but they’re overshadowed now by purpose. By hope.
“Alright then.” I stand, grabbing my hat from the counter. “Let’s go win ourselves an Omega.”
I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. Today, I’m going to ride for a championship.
But more importantly, I’m going to start fighting for her.
And I don’t plan on losing.
NINE
willa
“James,get your ass back to work.”
I feel the bark in his voice instantly, though I know it was unintentional. And if I’m honest, probably deserved.
I’ve been all over the place today. Forgetting things, going to the barns when I’m meant to be at the arena.
This is allhisfault.
