Page 71 of Mating Season

They did.

Holy Goddess, it was a lot of money.

*

Two-point-five million dollars.

I didn’t know how these people could just throw around sums this big like it was nothing. Like it wasn’t life-changing. That amount of money could feed so many people. It could buy a new house. Outright. And a new car. And….

“You’re a millionaire now, Mrs. McCaw,” Ranger teased as he slid his reflective sunglasses over his eyes. He was wearing his black silk dress shirt and slacks, looking like a treat as he held out his elbow. “What are you going to do with the money?”

Sex toys and fluffy pillows.

Seriously?

What? The heat’s coming again in a few months. I want to be prepared.

I chewed the inside of my cheek, thinking of whatIwanted to do, as I rested my hand in the crook of Ranger’s arm. We were matching in black, but I wore a polyester knit romper under a cropped business jacket with my hair pulled back. Courtesy of Jesse. He wouldn’t let me step foot in front of the cameras without his finishing touches.

Reporters stood on the steps outside of the courthouse and flashes went off as they called out our names. Ranger’s lawyers flanked us on either side as we hurried down the steps.

I hesitated before we slid into the waiting limousines. “All of these lawyers are on your payroll?”

Ranger grinned as he pulled me close, letting the cameras get their photos in of us posed togetherafter the win. I hadn’t thought he liked the attention, but he seemed to want to be recorded with me.

“When you’ve seen what I’ve seen and done what I’ve done, it pays to be surrounded by the best.” He bent down, grazing his lips against the side of my neck where his mating mark was on display. “Why? Do you want to get into some trouble?”

“Actually…” I grabbed his hand, dragging him inside the limousine so we could play behind the tinted windows. “I was wondering how much it would cost me to get someone else out of trouble.”

*

The desert wind was angry. Dust devils whipped through the distant fields and tumbleweeds blew across the asphalt of the parking lot. It was so much drier than I remembered. I hadn’t been back in almost a year. It didn’t feel like home anymore though. I’m not sure that it ever did. But now it was like a photograph or a feeling of déjà vu, some dream I could shake off the memory of and return to my real life.

“We won’t be seeing you around anymore.” Trenton–or should I say Alpha Trenton Nuva–leaned against the side of my car as we waited in the parking lot of Holton Penitentiary for the fence gates to open.

I want to hurry and get out of here.

It was strange to be standing in this town, stranger still to be standing next to Trenton feeling nothing. We had no pack connection. I held no morefrustration or anger. No love lost. Just two ships passing each other by in this crazy journey of life.

“You wouldn’t catch me here dead.” I laughed as I checked the time on my new phone. “But for what it’s worth, I hope you and Stefanie are happy.”

Mazel tov.My wolf sighed.

Trenton twisted the gold ring on his finger. Not all shifters were into traditional human marriage vows–I hadn’t wanted them with Ranger–but Stef was always over the top. I’m sure she’d gone all out.

“I think I would’ve always chosen her.” Apparently taking control of the pack from his father had turned Trenton into a talker. “Don’t get me wrong, my wolf had a hard-on for your wolf, but I’m pretty sure I know why now.”

“And why is that?” I was still killing time, waiting for those gates to open so we could leave. Might as well hear him out.

Or we could not.

“We were young and dumb and confused, thinking that being Alpha meant ruling everyone and you were the outlier challenging that notion.” Trenton shoved his hands into his pockets. “But deep down, he knew something was wrong with the way you were treated. He’d have kept chasing your wolf until he was sure you’d be okay.”

Awe. That’s sweet.

“I’m more than okay.” I was grateful for my dark sunglasses that hid the tears in my eyes. Since when had Trenton gotten so eloquent with words?

“Are you sure about that?”Ranger’s dark voice was a sexy intrusion as always.“Because Alpha or not, if this prick is bothering you–”

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