Page 55 of Luna Trials

“I was thinking we could make some games for them.” My voice came out too breathy. I shoved a piece of sausage into my mouth.

The corner of Ranger’s lips quirked up as his wolf flashed in his eyes. Why couldn’t he stare at something else? My skin flushed with heat.

“What kind of games?” he asked.

It sounded like he was mocking me. My wolf growled, helping me to ground myself as I swallowed down the meat. He could tease all he wanted. This was a good idea. “If we can get some felt, we can make tic-tac-toe boards.”

“Tic-tac-toe?” Chad leaned closer. He really did have beautiful blue eyes and that cocky smile showing he knew it. But something about his proximity had my wolf recoiling and growling louder.

“It’s a child’s game.” Ranger’s voice held a note of warning.

“Uh, huh.” I nodded, biting into my bacon. It was getting too hot in here.

“Gross.” Edith crinkled her nose. “Like DIY? No thanks.”

“Afraid to break a nail?” Fallon sipped her coffee mug. I lowered my face to hide my smile.

“Anyway,” Edith sighed, “we don’t have time for arts and crafts. We’ll just give our donations and be done with it.”

“What?” The food sat heavy in my stomach and I reached for the glass of water to wash it down. Donation… as in… money. “How much are you donating?”

“You don’t have to match it.” Edith waved my question away as if it were taboo. Maybe it was. I didn’t know the rules. “Give what you’re able to. That’s the whole point of donating, right?”

“Right.” I was suddenly very aware of the clothes I’d been given, the exact amount of money in my bank account, and the check from the show that hadn’t yet posted the last time I was able to look at my credit union online.

“It’s fine. We’re not giving that much,” Fallon said softly as she took another sip of her coffee. Ithink she meant to ease my embarrassment, but it only made it burn hotter.

“Donation it is.” I nodded, shoving another sausage link in my mouth.

“We have an allotment for yearly donations,” Chad was explaining as if I actually cared. His thick thigh brushed against mine as he spread his legs and his hand landed on the back of my chair.

I moved to push the chair back.

An angry rumble came from across the table as Ranger started growling.

My vision tunneled.

My wolf purred.

Abort mission.I had to get out of here.

“I’m glad that’s taken care of. I’ll see you both tomorrow.” I grabbed my tray and shot to my feet, cringing at my own awkwardness. Who let me march in here like I actually knew what I was doing?

Screw false confidence. I needed a nap.

“I’ll walk you out,” Ranger’s deep voice danced along my skin, making me shiver.

“No thanks,” I said, averting my eyes. I never lowered them in submission, but I knew how to keep an Alpha calm by looking the other way.

“I insist.” His chair scraped against the floor.

“That’s okay…” My voice trailed off as I turned, coming face to face with a solid wall of muscle and breathing in a cloud of his delicious scent.

How did anyone think with all these Alpha pheromones floating around?

19

Ranger

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