Page 30 of Mated
“Hey, Tan-Man.”
I smile and draw her in for a hug. She’s still tiny, petite. But wiry. “Hey, D. How ya doin?”
She pulls away with a frown. “Good. Nice of you to call before coming to town.”
My eyes roll. “Yeah. Wasn’t exactly planned.”
“Know the feeling.” She appraises me. “You plan on sticking around for the run?”
I shrug. “Thought about it.”
“Not sure that would be a good idea, Tan-Man. Callus is gunning for you.”
“Oh ye of little faith,” I tease.
But she doesn’t smile. “I’m serious, Tanner. Shit has changed. I know you just got to town, so maybe no one has warned you. But Callus isn’t taking alphas into the pack unless they’re women. You’re gonna get ran back out of town. For one reason or another.”
I stare at her.
“Didn’t you notice?” she asks. “Charlie, Rae, The Twins … All of them are gone now.”
Now that she mentions it …
“Why is he running them off?” I ask, voice hardening.
“He’s Alpha, T. He wants the pick of the crop every run.” I’m not surprised Callus is fucking every alpha female in the area. But hearing it put so bluntly …
“And you?”
Her tan face heats and she looks away. “I do what I got to do, Tanner. You should know that better than anyone else.”
My jaw tightens, but she’s right. It’s why I left years ago.
I grip her shoulder and squeeze. “Thanks for the heads up, D.”
She laughs abruptly and pulls me down by the back of the neck. “Oh I didn’t do it for you. I got my eye on your plus one for the run,” she whispers into my ear.
I chuckle. “You got it, Daisy.”
She kisses me on the cheek, steps back and waves to Nisha and Caine. “Laters.” Her lean legs bunch and she jumps out of the basin.
Nisha gasps. “Holy shit.”
“Delightfully blasphemous, pet,” Caine says as he tries to follow Daisy up.
I slam my arm across his chest to keep him in place. “Half of that money is mine.”
He widens his eyes in faux innocence. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I growl. “Caine …”
Nisha laughs behind me and I turn in time to watch her voluptuous ass bounce as she climbs up the slope at an easy run. Caine dips around me, hot on her heels.
She passes him a wad of cash and pockets the rest.
My teeth bare. “You’re both so dead.” I race up the hill after them, not sure which one I’m chasing, the extra cash or the woman carrying it.
Chapter 13
