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My Adam’s apple bobs with a hard swallow, familiar guilt gnawing at my insides.
I don’t fucking like it. I shouldn’t feel bad for her, not after the way she just left without a fight.
It’s with that bitter memory that I take all the guilt, all the regret, and shove it so far down I practically choke on it, choosing instead to focus on my anger. That’s an emotion I understand well. It’s ruled me for the last eight years.
“Why are you here?” I growl, narrowing my eyes on her.
Any trace of a smile disappears from her face at my tone. “The hunters,” she replies simply. “It wasn’t safe for me to stay in Denver, so I…”
“No, I mean why are youhere, Sloane?” I snarl, cutting her off. “This meeting was for the squad, and last I checked, you’re not a part of it.”
I catch an elbow to the ribs from my sister, whipping my head sideways to shoot her a glare.
“She’ll be helping Lo with the IT unit,” Avery provides, pinning me with a hard look of her own.
We stare each other down, and while I could push back, I know it’s not worth it. Sloane is back, and as the daughter of an alpha she has a place here, whether I like it or not.
I don’t.
I clench my teeth, raking a hand through my hair as I shake my head. “Fine,” I grumble. “Whatever.”
I turn away from my sister only to see Roxy Childers pushing her way through the other squad leaders, her eyes fixed on me. As if I need one more annoyance today to add to the growing pile of shit that’s been dropped in my lap. I barely have time to curse under my breath before Roxy is squeezing past Avery and practically throwing herself at me.
“Hey babe,” Roxy coos, dangling off my neck, blue eyes sparkling. She swings her gaze to Sloane warily, sizing her up. “Aren’t you gonna introduce me?”
I should’ve known that’s why she came over here. Roxy is territorial as hell, which is why she’s hanging all over me, practically pissing on my leg to stake her claim.
I shrug her arms off, not wanting to deal with this shit right now, but the way both girls stare at me expectantly doesn’t leave me with much of a choice.
“This is Roxy,” I mumble, shifting away from her and throwing a thumb in her direction.
“Madd’s girl,” she tacks on.
Sloane doesn’t seem bothered in the least by Roxy’s actions or declaration. Ever the kind, cool-headed one, she offers Roxy a genuine smile, twin dimples sinking into her cheeks on either side. “Sloane.”
Roxy’s eyes widen in recognition. “Alpha Brock’s daughter?”
“That’s me,” she replies proudly, and I resist the urge to slam a fist into the nearest wall. The Sloane I knew hated when people called her that. She always said she was her own person, not just the daughter of an alpha. Especially an overbearing prick like Brock Masters.
“Are you just visiting?” Roxy asks, twirling a strand of her light brown hair around a finger and edging toward me. Now that she knows who Sloane is, she’s clearly feeling threatened. Everyone knows our history.
“Not this time,” Sloane sighs. “With the whole hunter situation, my dad wants me close.”
“And god forbid you go against something that daddy dearest commands,” I mutter bitterly.
Her eyes snap to me, the moss green of her irises blazing in defiance. “Actually he told me to come straight to the packhouse when I got back, but I came here instead. “
“Wow, what an act of rebellion,” I snort. “What’s next, staying up past your bedtime?”
Sloane levels me with a glare and I give it right back to her, the two of us suddenly locked in a staring contest that I refuse to back down from.
“So, no love lost between you two, huh?” Roxy chuckles uncomfortably, her gaze shifting between us.
Sloane rolls her eyes, folding her arms over her chest and lifting her chin. “Go ahead and say you hate me, Madd. We both know you’re a liar.”
My blood boils in my veins, every negative emotion connected to this girl screaming to the surface. How fucking dare she come back here after eight years and act like she still knows who I am?
“You don’t know shit about me,” I hiss, stepping closer to Sloane and pointing a finger in her face. “Not anymore.”
