He snorted. “Why not? As long as drugs are not involved.”
She lifted her chin. “Trust me, that’s not happening on my shift.”
Confident Little Wolf. “Good to know.”
Chapter 3
Cricket shot Slade a guarded look as they stepped outside the front door. Do I trust he won’t go rogue wolf on me? On the other hand, if he did, maybe Rylee would decide he’d be better off with another omega. Anyway, beta guards patrolled Rylee’s territory so they were there in case she needed help. Then again, he might rip out their throats if he felt threatened. “I could drive us back to headquarters?”
“I’ve been cooped up long enough.” He gave her a condescending smile. “But if you can’t keep up with me—or is it too cold?”
The early-November fall weather was cold, but no snowfall. The trail paralleled the gravel road and even a human child could walk it. He acted as if she wasn’t wolf. She frowned. “I’m fine. Just don’t shift until we get there.” While human, he had better control of his wolf.
Slade’s voice thickened, “I know I can’t bring back my pack, but going blood-thirsty mad will dishonor their memory.”
A breakthrough, I hope. Cricket unlocked the gate, and he followed her out. She held her breath. Waiting for him to take off in the maddened state she’d seen this morning. Instead, he stood and waited for her to lock the gate. “Very well then, let’s go.” She took off in a dead run. Show him, I’m no weak runt.
Slade growled and quickly caught up. “I never permitted you to run ahead.”
Arrogant alpha. Cricket kept a good running pace and smirked. “Sorry, if I’m running too fast.”
He grabbed her and held her arms in a vise-like grip. “You are mine to obey.”
Fury took over her good senses. “The hell I am.” She met his eyes and tried to twist away, but his massive hands shackled her. “Let go of me.”
Slade’s fangs emerged, and his tone turned deeper, menacing, “You need to know your place.”
My place is with Team Greywolf. “Or what, you’ll maim me like you did Warner’s omega?”
He stared, using his alpha mind control.
Cricket caved and lowered her gaze. “Yes, sir.” What was she thinking teasing and then defying not only a royal alpha, but one on the edge of insanity?
Slade released her, and his voice softened. “I’m sorry. Even with your bad manners, I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did.” He shook his head. “I’ve never been rough with subordinates. I’m still out of control.”
Cricket rubbed her arms, his red imprint remained, but no real damage. Obviously, the poor prince still suffered from deep grief. “I’m sorry for my bad manners.” She sighed. “Rylee is always on my case. Says I’m more human than wolf.” Except in the sex department.
She continued on the trail with Slade, just slightly ahead of her. Alphas were wired to lead, ready to confront new danger. Didn’t he know they were in the safest area for lycans? The beta guards in wolf form trailed them, but at a distance, giving her and the prince a feeling of privacy.
Slade smiled as if at a distant memory. “We Yukon weres rarely mingled with humans, but the ones I met, I found intriguing.”
“How so?”
“I suppose because they’re so opinionated and independent of their leader.”
She laughed. “My human friend Mia compares our alphas to dictators.”
“Enforcer Dominic’s mate.” He stopped and rubbed the back of his neck. “I read the report. The woman captured by the bastards that murdered my pack.”
Her belly knotted. Shit. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
“It’s okay. She too was a victim of Anton and his pack.”
“Yeah, they murdered her father and came close to turning her into their blood mistress.” She blew out a noisy breath. “Anyway, she’s my new BFF, and Dominic is a hero in my book.”
Slade shook his head. “I never thought I’d see the day a werewolf took a human as a mate, but leave it to Dominic,” he said, his tone laced with resentment.
No doubt, he still blamed Dominic for robbing him of rightful revenge against the mob. “According to our geneticist, Mia and Dominic’s offspring will be good for our kind.”