The Outcast's Rise

an

the bonfire and the lingering perfume of the gi

in

bench, gripping the beer bottle

up beside one of the guys, her

been payin

anywhere but in

good,

e noise, and I blinked, re

ders, trying to shake it

er the firelight. "I don't know. You've been

She leaned in, twirling a strand of hair

grinning. "He ba

ppled aroun

k. "You're both

ve left i

own, pretended like the fire in my che

head and said, "Didn't

ghter d

ut I felt the sh

te

who I was su

by 'run into,' you mean she ran away with her

ly satisfied. "Sti

in warning but I

my untouched beer into the fire. The flam

sn't so ea

rd just enough for his voice

ike you want to punch a

w tig

ked at me like

much I wanted her, e

wn, I knew-I did

admit that. Not to a

d him a sharp grin an

g for a response, I

d any longer, I mi

wasn't

ure Alpha of th

office, his hands shoved int

oors. It wasn't unusual for late-night meetings-something was always happen

that put m

s presence alone enough to make even the strongest warriors bow their heads. He was cold, ruthless in

y person I had ever tru

cing gaze met mi

hutting the d

sk, fingers steepled togethe

tightened

d." His voice was unreadable, but his knuckles were white wh

cted a rogue attack-stragglers testing the

a blade. "This is the price of being Alpha, R

ing his father's gaz

or a long momen

oo

in my father's eyes-so

ied me more tha