The beta hesitates again. His hands clench, then unclench. “Can I—uh—can I see your bidding slip?” He nods toward the paper still in my hand, but doesn’t quite meet my eyes. I study him. He’s trying to play it cool, but his pulse is pounding in his throat, and the scent of nervous sweat hangs faintly in the air. I could break this boy in half if I wanted to.
But I don’t. Not yet.
Curious what this is about, I hand over my bidding slip.
“Okay,” he says with obvious relief, clutching the slip like it’s a key to his salvation. “It’s about Autry. I have a proposition for you.”
Sweating Bullets
Charlie
“What do you mean by proposition?”Rhett’s dark eyes narrow, scanning every inch of my face like he’s trying to find my weakness. My first instinct is to back up, but I force myself to hold my ground.
This alpha is the embodiment of everything that scares me about his kind. He’s tall, muscular, with a stare like a loaded gun.Why does he look so angry?I also can’t help but wonder how old he is. He’s completely gray with faint laugh lines, as well as a few deep wrinkles between his brows—or maybe they look deep because he’s frowning. I don’t know. I don’t really understand why Autry would want someone so much older than her.
“Have you tried to claim Autry yet?” I glance past him at the claiming booth.
Rhett’s posture stiffens as he glances over his shoulder to where Angelica is snarling at another alpha like she’s ready to tear his throat out. Even from here, the tension makes my stomach twist.
“Yeah,” he says finally, his voice edged with warning. “I can’t claim her. But you already know that, don’t you?” His jaw clenches like he’s expecting bullshit. I grip the bidding slip in my hands so hard it crumples.
Keep it together. Just breathe.
“What if I told you that you could?” I tip my chin up, trying to project more confidence than I actually feel.
Rhett doesn’t react. Doesn’t blink. Just stares.
Behind him, the alpha at the claiming booth begins to growl and curse as several members of security surround him. It’s weird, but I’d feel better if Rhett was acting a little more like that guy. His restrained anger has me on edge like nothing else. It isn’t wild or loud. It’s quiet and cold and waiting. It feels worse.
Is he going to snap? Am I about to be punched? Is it possible for an alpha to rip someone’s head off with their bare hands?
“Hey, kid,” Rhett snaps, dragging me from my thoughts. “You okay?”
I nod too quickly. “Yeah. I’m fine.” He obviously doesn’t buy it, but I push on. “I want to help you claim Autry.”
“I don’t have a proper pack,” he says flatly, his eyes flicking back toward the auction like our conversation is already over. “These assholes won’t let me claim her.” His dark eyes fall back onto my face. “And that’s assuming some other pack hasn’t already claimed her.” He frowns as he says the painful fact.
“They haven’t,” I say firmly. “They won’t.”
He turns his full attention back to me, skeptical. “Yeah? What makes you so sure? She’s smart. Gorgeous. Alphas are probably lining up to take her home.”
“And they’ll all be denied.” I look him dead in the eyes,even though it makes my skin crawl with nerves. “I made sure of it.”
His expression darkens with suspicion. “Why? Why the hell would you help me?” His voice dips into a rumble. “What do you get out of this?”
I open my mouth to say the words—I love her—but they won’t come out. My throat locks up, my palms go clammy, and heat floods my face.
Rhett squints, then his eyes go wide. “Two betas,” he mutters. “Shit.”
I blink. “What?”
“You think you love her.” His tone is sharp and condescending, like he’s mocking a child. “Don’t you?”
I flinch, but don’t look away. “Autry and I?—”
“I already have a beta,” he snaps, turning his body like he’s done with me. “I don’t need another.”
“But you need an omega,” I say, louder this time, forcing the words into the space between us before he can leave.
