Page 4 of The Brooding Alpha's Mate
And one by one, they all agreed.
Except for Tyrus, who looked at me with such worry in his eyes. “He can deliver for us.”
He gave a quick nod, got up, and walked out of the room without another word.
It wasn’t what I was hoping for, but it was a step closer. If I was going to be part of this world, I wanted to make it a better one. And if that meant bringing things from place to place for them, so be it.
“Hammer,” I asked. “Is me being here gonna cause problems?”
“No, of course not.” He leaned back, relaxing slightly. “Tyrus is just being a worrier. He knows what you’ve been through, and he wants you to live a happy life. And he worries this won’t be it.”
“It will be.” Of that I was sure.
“I think so too, but I get where he’s coming from. My wolf is on your side. He senses your beast, his need to be connected like this. So take him up on the offer. Deliver for us. And then, over time, maybe we can transition you over to something different?”
I gave a nod, not wanting to ruin this by saying the wrong thing.
At the time, I was pissed. I just wanted to jump in. But as the days ticked on and I began working with them, I realized that Hammer had been right. My desire had everything to do with being part of something more than myself. And whatever part that played was good enough for me.
Chapter Three
Colson
I put a plate of pancakes that were made with no love on the table in front of Dean and his lion buddies. No matter how early into the morning they stayed up committing crimes and delving in evil, they were always up for breakfast.
No rest for the wicked or their slaves.
I hadn’t slept in for years. Years. No? No, I had only been here a few months.
The days and nights meshed together into one hazy nightmare.
“After you wash up that mess, you need to get cleaned up yourself.”
Fuck. I hated to ask questions, but it was seven o’clock in the damned morning. Were they really having a poker game this early? It was a Sunday. Not that I was religious, but in my experience, even those who had addictions respected the day.
I would regret the words I was about to say. “Why?”
“You don’t fucking get to ask why about anything, you filthy slave. You do as your told and keep that pretty mouth shut unless I tell you to open it wide, you hear me?”
Eeew. “Like for poker?” I asked. Dangerous to ask two questions in one day, but here I was. It came out of my mouth without permission.
“Yes. Dressed up for the alphas. Now go before you meet them with a fat, bleeding lip.”
I scrambled to the kitchen without another word. I ignored the part where I was dressing up for alphas. I probably shouldn’t have. Dressing up for alphas sounded nefarious at the very least, but the only other time I dressed up was poker and to go to town.
If there was the slightest chance I could get away from these people to escape, I would. It would only take a second. One second would change the course of my life, and I needed a sharp turn as soon as possible.
With clean dishes in the sink, I ducked into my tiny bedroom and changed into a nice pair of jeans, nice by cheap standards, and a clean polo shirt. Not at all my style, but it was what I had. I brushed my teeth and tried to tame my hair, which was way too long for my liking.
When I emerged, they were opening the door and waving me out in seconds.
Along the ride, Dean turned around while the other lion shifter drove. I never had found out his name and he rarely made eye contact. Didn’t slap my ass either.
He got some points, but when they were all negative infinity in my book, a few points didn’t count for shit.
“Just because we’re going to town and you’ve got good clothes on, let’s not get any ideas. You’re not around to think, you hear me?”
“Yes.” I knew a nod of the head wouldn’t suffice.
