Page 88 of Bite Me Alpha Cole

But my wolf nips me at the thought, reminding me that Nadia knows the risks.

And that she came here by choice, like all the other nurses whom I’m not considering escorting out by hand.

And that she’ll cut my head off – or worse – if I try to bustle her out of here to keep her safe.

I growl as I step out of the car, slamming the door behind me.

“Cole,” Rose calls, her voice worried and disappointed. But I ignore her, striding immediately toward the command tent. She tries again.

“Upload the pictures, Rose!” I bite out, not looking back at her. “That’s an order!”

If she replies, I don’t hear it as I smack the flap of General Amir’s tent aside and step in.

He looks up at me in surprise, and I check my step suddenly, realizing that I’m an Alpha on the edge of rage storming into his office. Which is probably not something he’s used to.

“I’m sorry,” I snap, meaning it but probably sounding like I don’t.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, his voice steady, putting his pen down.

I take a deep breath and start to lay out everything, but he puts a hand up about thirty seconds in. “Let’s call your father,” General Amir murmurs, turning to his computer. “He’ll want to hear this.”

I nod, agreeing to it, trying to be as patient as I can as the call goes through.

It takes about two hours to get everything sorted. After I’m done explaining the situation and making my case for increased troops, we spend a great deal of time debating our options and laying out protocols for what to do when the new troops come. At the end of it all I am…

Fucking beat.

My head hangs as I walk back to my tent, rubbing a hand over the back of my aching neck, wishing desperately for ashower –a real one, not this nonsense dribble they call a shower in this damn camp. I slowly exhale, considering the things I’d give in exchange for a hot, steamy shower right now, with all of the nice, smelly soaps and oils that my mom gets that I pretend to ignore and secretly enjoy.

Jude, for one. I’d certainly sell my damn brother to the circus for that kind of luxury.

I’d probably throw Iris in as a bonus, too, at this point – even if she is my favorite family member.

I smirk as I push into my tent, thinking that mom would probably be pissed if she knew Iris is my favorite –

But my face falls, my feet coming to a stuttering stop as I see the blonde on my bed.

Topless.

“What?” I sputter out on my final huff of breath, completely unable to inhale after the word leaves my mouth.

“Hey, baby,” Rose coos, sliding a hand up over her flat stomach to cup her breast, moving her legs languidly as she turns to me.

I inhale sharply as I spin, slapping a hand over my eyes, and then let all my breath out in a roar. “Get the fuck OUT!”

“Cole!”

“Out! Getout!”

“Baby!” Her word isn’t sweet and sultry anymore – an angry snap.

“Rose, I swear to god!” I spin again, dropping my hand, feeling foolish for raising it in the first place. I’ve seen her more naked before than she is now, after all – and, plus! I don’t even care! It’s not like her being topless is any sort of temptation I have to resist at this point.

She sits up on the bed, frowning at me, a blush on her cheeks. “Cole, you’re being ridiculous!”

“Did you seriously think that this was going to work?” I sputter out, leaning toward her, keeping my eyesassiduouslyon hers lest she feel any sort of encouragement. “Rose, I have told you time and again that I amnotinterested!”

“If you just comesitwith me Cole, I’ll show you –“

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