Page 68 of Savage Games

There he is.The nasty piece of work that Brad really is rears its ugly head, but Dean has no time for it.

"Actually, when it comes to mental health concerns, we’re all..."Dean begins, but Brad cuts him off.Dean’s eyes flash, and if I weren’t so heavily involved, the way his lip twitches would be entertaining.

Brad isn’t from this region.Maybe he doesn’t realise what a short fuse his host has.

"This blatantly violates territory law," Brad snaps, his carefully constructed facade cracking further."You can't just take wolves from another alpha's pack whenever you feel like it.There are protocols, procedures.I should have been informed that she made a request..."

Brad's face grows redder, and his eyes bulge, his temper getting the better of him, just like his brother's used to.

"Which I followed," Dean interjects smoothly, staring over Brad's head toward Jax."I sent my brother to inform you immediately upon her arrival at the border.I've offered temporary sanctuary, not permanent residence.And frankly, Brad, her distress was severe enough to warrant immediate intervention.She’s okay, by the way, in case you were wondering."

Brad's laugh is sharp and without humor."Distress?Is that what she told you?That girl has been unstable since her mate's death.Long before, truth be told.She's been creating drama.Rowan never knew what she was going to do next..."

That fucking liar.My blood fizzes with anger as I listen to him try to destroy my sister's reputation.

Jax scoffs.“She’s not crazy.My wolf and I know what crazy looks like and she’s not it.”

Brad glares at him, squaring up, ready to put Jax in his place for speaking out against an alpha.

"Enough."

The single word, spoken not by Dean, but by Blake Steel, cuts through Brad's tirade like a blade.

Even from this distance, I feel the urge to dip my chin.The head alpha moves with quiet authority, his presence immediately shifting the dynamic on the porch.The powerful aura he normally keeps under tight control swirls through the air, and I squirm in discomfort under the weight of it.

Jax dips his head and backs away, swiftly retreating from the conversation he doesn’t need to be a part of, his wolf growing agitated when faced with such dominance.

Brad falls silent, his anger giving way to a more calculated expression as he inclines his head respectfully."Alpha Steel.I wasn't aware you were involved in this...situation."

Blake's perfectly neutral expression gives nothing away, but there's a glint in his eyes that shows his wolf is not impressed.

"I make it my business to be involved where the welfare of any wolf is concerned," Blake says mildly, but there's steel beneath the softness."Particularly, one who's recently experienced significant trauma.Fated mates are rare and special.To lose one so young is devastating, and many wolves won't survive it.I'd expect you to be more concerned."

"I make it my business to be involved when the welfare of any wolf under my protection is threatened," Blake says, his mild tone belied by the hardness in his eyes.

He steps forward, power radiating from him in waves that make even Brad take a step back.

My pulse jumps at his words.How much does Blake know?What has Maddie told them?He certainly doesn’t seem to buy Brad’s attempts to portray her as unstable.

Brad's smile doesn't reach his eyes."Then you understand my concern.Maddie needs support, routine, an entire pack around her.Her home."

"What she needs," Blake says, "is to feel safe.Maybe to believe her alpha is there to help her.And for whatever reason, she doesn't feel that way in your pack right now.But she does with her sister."

A tense silence falls.I watch Brad carefully recalibrate, his mind visibly working behind those cold eyes.When he speaks again, his voice has softened, false concern replacing anger, but I'm not convinced.I've seen this act before.

"I understand how this might look," he says, his tone regretful."But there's context you're missing.Maddie has been...even more troubled than usual since Rowan's death.Erratic.Paranoid.It’s worrying."

Dean's expression doesn't change, but something in his posture shifts."In what way?"

Brad sighs, the perfect performance of a concerned alpha burdened with a difficult pack member.

"She's had episodes.Violent outbursts.Delusions."He runs a hand through his still-damp hair, a calculated gesture of distress."She attacked me once.And my brother, before he died.When we suggested her wolf might need to see a healer, she wouldn't hear of it.And to be honest, I think Naomi's denial of the situation enables her destructive behaviour.But she is her sister, so I can understand Naomi only wanting to see the best in her."

He sighs.“I fear she might hurt herself.Or someone else.”

My blood runs cold.The lie is so blatant, so opposite to the truth, that for a second, I can't breathe.

Maddie, violent?She who flinches at raised voices, who once apologised to a chair she bumped into?It would be laughable if it weren't so dangerous.

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