“Alpha, he’s scaring me.” Claire’s tone had gone from over-the-top fake to genuinely fearful.
“He’s harmless,” Brian said as he shook her off.
“He doesn’t seem harmless.”
“I have to agree with Cringey on this one,” Keith said.
She hid behind Brian.
“Claire, honey, come on out from back there and sit down,” Keith said. “I’m going to do you a favor and show you the right way to seduce a man. I’ve had no trouble getting him into bed and I didn’t have to drug him to do it. We can start with a strip tease.”
“Drug me?” Brian said. “What do you mean?”
“I’ll try not to be offended that you’re showing no interest in the strip tease offer, and that’s a question better directed at our new friend Cringey Claire.” Keith tipped his head toward her. “Claire, why were you trying to drug Alpha Berger?”
Brian looked over his shoulder at the woman still clinging to him. “Did you drug me?”
“No, Alpha, I promise!”
“Want some tea?” Keith walked toward her and held the glass out.
“I didn’t mean any harm, Alpha. I just wanted you to like me.”
“She means the naked and sweaty type oflike,” Keith said as he took another step. “You know, the type oflikewe get up to when we’re alone.” He flicked his gaze to her and grinned menacingly. “Isn’t that right, Claire?”
“Alpha Berger, save me!”
“What did you do?” Brian shouted as he flipped around to face her.
Claire blinked once, twice, and then she turned tail and ran to the door.
“Hey!” Brian yelled.
“Let her go.”
“You said she drugged me.”
“Well, she tried to anyway,” Keith said.
“Then I need to stop her.” Brian started walking away but Keith stepped in his path.
“If we keep her here, they’ll know something’s up.”
“Who?”
“The Ruperts.”
“The Ruperts? Her ancestors are from Purple Sky but she grew up in a pack up North. Today’s her first time in this area. What does she have to do with Rupert Jackson?” Brian asked.
“I don’t know.” Keith shrugged. “That’s why we have to let her leave.” He held the tea up to his nose and sniffed. “That way they’ll make their next move and we can figure it out.”
“Stop that!” Brian put his palm over the top of the glass, blocking him.
“I’m not going to drink it. I just wanted to check if I could identify the scent.”
“If it’s poisonous, you shouldn’t inhale it.”
“It’s not that type of poison,” Keith assured him.
