"Thank you. I’ll be in your debt."
"We’ll talk about that later. I have a certain plan where you might be useful to me."
"Nothing involving cages?"
"No. Journalism."
I blink. Wow, I didn’t see it coming.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously. But we’ll talk about that later. I’ll let you know about the boat."
"Okay. I’ll wait."
I hang up.
With my brows furrowed, I walk back toward Bashir’s place and peek inside again. They are clearly done now, though lying in bed, wrapped tightly around each other. Good. I can interrupt this.
I step away from the window and knock softly.
I wait a full minute before Bashir opens the door, wearing only sweatpants.
He raises an eyebrow. His damp, muscular chest is bare, covered with a pattern of tattoos. From what I know, he trained in Muay Thai as a teenager, but later had to stop because of a knee injury. Still, compared to the other alphas in the sector, he’s the most capable of being Salt’s protector. People here respect him.
The air around him is thick with the fresh scent of sex and alpha pheromones.
"I’m leaving the island," I say right away. "I came because you once offered me help."
He seems not to hear me the first time, blinks, then shakes it off, and his face takes on a focused expression.
"You’re leaving the island?"
"Yep."
"That’s a surprise," he says, staring at me cautiously. Next to his elbow, Fred appears, wearing nothing but a long T-shirt, gazing at me with his big eyes.
"Yes, well, things got complicated between me and Salt. But under the Beta Activation Program, alphas with no convictions can take off the island for personal stuff for up to a month without risking their contract. I need to take care of a few things, but I can’t leave Salt unprotected. You remember how, during the dance party, a few alphas started circling him. I don’t want to risk someone taking advantage of my absence to make a move. I’m asking you, alpha to alpha, to watch over him. To be his protector."
Bashir grows serious, straightens slightly, and nods slowly. "All right. I’ll do what I can."
The request to act as a protector is an ancient one; it does not mean handing over your partner to the sexual authority of another alpha. It is a role sometimes assumed by an alpha who becomes the protector of widowed relatives, orphaned children, or the elderly, the sick, or those in need of help. It is a serious responsibility, and every alpha understands its importance.
I wait for a moment, expecting him to ask about my reasons, but he clearly is not that kind of man. He’s a simple, no-nonsense guy.
"Thank you. His safety is the priority. Fortunately, Sidorov, Miller, and Drax were escorted off the island by police this morning. Mr. Gomez will be arriving soon to take over the duties. I think things will be calmer here now."
Bashir exchanges a look with Fred, who breaks into a wide smile. "That’s excellent news. Mr. Gomez was very helpful during our transfer process to the island when we ran into a few issues along the way."
Bashir nods and adds, "You can count on me. I’ll keep Salt safe."
"The only issue is that he might not take it well, but please don’t let that discourage you. He’s very proud. Still, I’m more concerned about his safety than his pride."
"I’ll keep that in mind."
I’m about to step back, when Fred suddenly speaks up.
"But you’ll come back, right?"
