Page 91 of Drown My Sorrow

He trips over a piece of rubbish and lands on his back, and I take the opportunity to get him while he’s down. It’s a calculated fall and a trust that the people around me will pick me up.

I grab Beau by his collar and growl at him. “How dare you!”

“Oh, I dare.”

Damn it, why is he so hot?

“Mm, my bag of-”

I press a finger to his lips and narrow my eyes. “Think before you speak,” I hiss.

He laughs, but, before I can attack him further, I’m pulled up by an arm around my waist.

Keagan’s blood orange fills my nose, stealing my frustration and leaving me with nothing but a sense of peace.

I glance up and realise we’ve crossed the line of reporters and fans. We’re in an area with just us, and people are giving us space. I immediately look at the sand.

“Don’t look down. Don’t show them fear. Keep your chin up,” Gael murmurs, and then he realises he’s said it, and he tightens his jaw and looks at the ocean.

He walks off without a goodbye, but I swivel my head to watch him go. What he said was almost nice, and it…well, it helped.

Of all the alpha’s, Gael and Ezy are the hardest to read, but Gael more than Ezy. Kelly is easier because there were so many articles about him.

But Gael is a mystery. I don’t understand him. Nice one minute but then conspiring with Kelly to hurt Pack Daane.

Ezy walks past me but glances back. Our eyes meet, and I’m struck again by how sexy he is. And I hate that I think that way about him. It’s like a betrayal of me and the Daane and everything. I should not be drooling over him. He’s bad!

Kelly is the last to leave, murmuring an unwanted goodbye. I refuse to even look his way.

All around us, the crowd murmurs. Beau and Keagan race around and wrestle on the sand, flinging it at reporters who try to get shots of me. They are wild and untamed.

Shale stays beside me, murmuring and teasing me about everything under the sun. We get to a point where I’m ready to scream, but he just smiles and leans down and touches his lip to mine.

“I’m trying to think of a spot to put that bond.”

That kills any anger I had. “Where were you thinking?” Do I sound breathless?

“I’m not sure… there are so many tantalizing places to put one.”

Keagan returns with another drink and glances around. “They are getting braver.”

“Mm, time is running out.”

“Almost show time.”

“Almost what?” I ask them.

Shale just smiles and pats my hand. “Don’t worry, Aspyn.”

“How can I not worry? You are talking about shows. What does that mean?”

“Do you trust me?”

I hesitate but reluctantly nod. “Yes.”

“Then trust me. I won’t do anything that might harm you.”

Beau picks me up and spins me away, and I get cold when I spot the Raines walking up the beach towards us.

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