Page 20 of Gold Rush
My heart lurches as I refocus, realizing that he’s still talking.
“It’s a pack decision, and you went behind our backs and did it anyway, Seth. You invited a stranger into our home, anomega, and you expect me to… what? Pack up and suddenly want an extra person around? Someone who is biologically predisposed to be a burden, demand attention, and expect to be catered to? Fuck that.” His snarl sends a shiver up my spine. “You better not bite her, Bennett. She’s not sticking around, and Arin will make sure of that. She’s not welcome, and I don’t want her here.”
The words hit me like a slap across the face.
My eyes sting, and I fumble back, turning on instinct to go get my bag. I’ll take my chances at the center. I’m not staying in a place that has someone so vehemently against me — eventhough we don’t evenknoweach other. I deservebetterthan this.
But my toe catches on the stair runner, because of course it does. Pain pangs up my foot as I grab onto the railing, my knee slamming down onto the stairs as the kitchen goes dead silent.
“June.”
Seth’s voice is upset, just behind me. I blink rapidly, trying to reorient myself, refusing to look at him until I hear other footsteps.
“Come eat breakfast.” Bennett’s request isn’t a bark — but it is firm, making me hesitate as I finally glance over my shoulder to see Seth standing wide eyed, Bennett behind him. Something unspoken passes between the three of us. I wasn’t supposed to hear any of the conversation, but it doesn’t change anything for the pair.
I don’t feel the knee-jerk reaction to comply like last night, but I’mtired, and I want to relent. I want to walk over to them both and let them take care of everything, ofme. I don’t want to fight, I don’t think I have it in me.
Seth edges closer. “Please?”
I waver, and in that split second,heappears.
In the light of day, the other alpha is even larger than I remember. His bulk spans across the archway to the kitchen, in a pair of plain sweats, and a dark t-shirt stretching across his chest. It exposes the tangle of tattoos I saw glimpses of last night, snaking up his arms, covering his pale skin, and winding up under his clothes. His arms cross over his chest, making the muscles flex as his jaw tightens, his blue eyes narrowing on me. His hair is blond, a stark difference to both Seth and Bennett, with stubble along his jaw.
He’s got more than a few inches on Bennett, and between that and the bulk of him, he overtakes the space. I don’tknowif he’s the prime alpha of this pack, but I could believe it if he was.Some alphas are just stronger, and natural pecking order means that in packs, there’s always an alpha above all the others, the decision maker — the prime.
The alpha’s face pinches, and I shrink back, feeling myself cave in at his dark glare.
“Theo.” Seth turns sharply, his shoulders squaring. “Don’t be a jackass, apologize to —”
“No.” His voice holds no question, his eyes flickering over me. “Why should I apologize to the stranger who hooked you and got a free night with a rich pack?”
I stare at him, acid in my throat.
Bennett’s growl is low. “Theo, what thefuck?”
“You bothleftand came back with a stranger who could be here foranyreason —”
“What the hell is your problem?” I snap the words, and the big alpha — Theo — turns his attention from Bennett to me, his eyes cutting me to the quick.
“I know you’re not stupid, you clearly know I was trapped in the designation center until I happened to run into Seth again. Stripped of myrights, stranded in another country, told I couldn’tleave—” My voice breaks, emotions bubbling up as I struggle to fight back tears. This isn’t thetime. I can’t be overly emotional, I’m supposed to be able to express myself — not prove his point.
Theo takes a step forward and I jerk away, raw fear shooting through my veins. I don’t knowwhyhe’s getting closer, but everything in me says to stay away. My perfume sours in the air, filling the space with utter terror as my first thought jumps to him hurting me. He stops short, and for a moment, I swear I see him pale, like the fear jars him as much as it does me.
“Enough.” Bennett barks the word, striding forward and breaking the tension. Then he’s in front of me, blocking my sight line of Theo. He wraps a hand around mine, loosening my gripfrom the railing and pulling me down a step, his voice softer. “Did you hurt yourself when you fell?”
“No.” I hate how small my voice sounds.
“Oh, comeon.”
“Leave.” Bennett’s head whips around, snarling at Theo. In the second he looks back at me, he softens again, guiding me off the stairs, his eyes flickering down to my leggings and my feet.
Theo recovers quick, quipping, “I would, but your new charity project is blocking the stairs.”
“Fuck off.” Seth shocks us all as he snarls the words. It doesn’t have the weight of an alpha behind it, but it does quiet Theo — finally. Seth isn’t cautious as he shoves Bennett’s hand off of me, wrapping his entire arm around my shoulders and turning his head, dipping it down and whispering, “There’s breakfast, let’s get you a plate. Come on, June.”
As he pulls me into the kitchen, my eyes catch on Theo, the alpha glaring at us, atme, at Seth’s arm on my shoulders — until Bennett snaps at him to move. I don’t see where they go, but I can feel both of the alphas watching until Seth and I disappear into the kitchen.
He makes me a plate, and I eat, gearing myself up to ask about the laundry room, trying to figure out if I can look up the heat service the alpha at the center recommended.I shouldn’t have dropped the card— I can’t stay here, and it was a bad idea to agree, even for one night.
