Enraging the Alpha

Ch. 8: Double Standard

JEWEL

Brooke was a witch. It was the only way to explain how she got here. I sat on the ground in the center of camp, scraping the remaining flesh off the grizzly's hide. It was hard not to glare at her. She was propped up like a princess. How had Huck even found that many pillows? They were stacked behind her back, under her ass, beneath her hurt ankle. Poor thing.

If Huck plied any more grizzly meat into her, she was going to explode. His eyes never left her greasy mouth as she chewed and chewed and chewed. The girl was bottomless. Did she have any idea how much work and risk went into getting that? And Huck had a lot of nerve. He'd been too busy staring at that gun for ages, and now he was staring at her, as if there weren't a million things that constantly needed to be done.

I gritted my teeth, struggled to my feet, and limped over, tossing the skin into her lap. "If you want to finish this for me, I can go do other things."

Huck shot me an annoyed look. "Have one of the other wolves—"

"The other wolves are already doing other things." I kept my voice sweet, but I knew what was coming. Maybe this was childish. I was instigating, but was I wrong? He was the alpha, not me. He was the one who started this, all so he could have her back. Well, here she was. Now what?

"She's injured," he said.

"No kidding?" He couldn't be serious. I looked down at my leg, ensuring it was still there. Goddess knew he couldn't fucking see it. "That's why I gave her a sit-down job."

He opened his mouth to respond, but Brooke cut him off. "I'm fine. I can do it."

We both looked at her, and she was focused on me, expression open and eager as she reached for the knife.

I extended it to her.

Huck took it before she could. "Here," he said, scooting closer to her. "I'll teach you."

I rolled my eyes. If I didn't get away from them, I was going to barf. I turned and headed in the direction of the smoker. They'd built it last night a mile away from camp, and I couldn't think of a better job.

Sunlight filtered through the trees, and birds chirped above my head as I disappeared into the forest. It should have been peaceful, but it wasn't. Not when the danger was so close. How could Huck be so dumb? She was a Trojan horse. Her story was too convenient. A car wreck? Really? Not only had she survived it, she'd somehow made it out, traveled down the mountain at night, and not even one sentinel had caught up to her? I didn't trust it, and I sure as hell didn't trust her.

"You shouldn't be walking," Bear said.

I jolted and clutched my chest. "For fuck's sake."

He stepped into my path, crossed his arms, and lifted a brow. "Those gashes on your thigh aren't going to heal properly if you keep putting weight on that leg."

"It's a good thing I have a cane then." I tried to pass him.

He matched my movement. "I'm serious."

"So am I."

"Jewel."

The sound of my name in his deep, rumbling voice caused my stomach to clench, and there was something incredibly sexy about the way he was looking at me. Stern. Protective. Damn you, daddy issues. "For someone who doesn't want a mate, you sure are in my damn business."

He studied my face, his expression completely unreadable. He didn't deny what I'd said—didn't confirm it either.

"I rejected you. Remember?"