"Saved by the Alpha,” Finn teased with a sly wink as he strode past me, heading after Josh. My wolf growled low in my chest-such an arrogant jerk.


    Now, I was stuck trailing behind him, inhaling the sharp mix of his minty-pine cologne blended with the raw scent of sweat and earth, evidence of the brutal training he''d just endured. And honestly, the muscle definition on his back was as captivating as the front. Damn it! Not again. I seriously needed to stop staring at this infuriating idiot.


    "Hey, you okay back there, ma''am?” Finn called over his shoulder.


    “What?” I quickened my pace to catch up beside him.


    "You''ve been muttering to yourself nonstop. Don''t like being dragged into the


    Alpha''s office?" Was that a chuckle I heard in his voice?


    "No! I talk to the Alpha all the time," I snapped, trying to sound casual.


    "Then why the grumpy face? Something''s clearly bothering you."


    "You''re not the person I''m going to vent to," I replied firmly.


    "Why not? I''m a great listener," he said, patting his chest proudly. My eyes couldn''t help but follow the motion.


    I blinked and shook my head. "Actually, you''ve proven the opposite. You don''t listen at all. We''re not friends, so no, I''m not talking to you."


    "That seems to be the theme around here," he muttered, picking up his pace to get ahead of me.


    What the hell was that supposed to mean? Was he mad at me now just because I didn''t want to sit and have girl talk with him?


    I moved faster to catch up, but before I could, he slipped into Ryker''s office.


    Ryker nced up from hisputer screen. "Perfect timing. Rory just reached out —there''s a pack of wolves causing trouble in his territory. They''ve been sneaking in like renegades, wrecking things, then vanishing. Yesterday, some pups and caretakers got caught in the chaos. Rory''s warriors can''t tell if these are pack members or rogues. No one''s been captured to question yet. Their scent doesn''t match rogues, but it doesn''t match any known pack nearby either.”


    “What''s the n?” I asked immediately, eager to get involved.


    "We need intel. You''ll gather information and ry it to Rory and his warriors. Rory has to lead the response, but he can''t do it blindly. His team is inexperienced with this kind of threat and needs guidance from us."


    "So, we''re doing reconnaissance for them?"


    "Yes and no. Your mission is to survey the area, identify any patterns, and then help Rory''s group take down this rogue faction."


    "When do I leave?" I asked, wanting to get away from the tension simmering beside


    me.


    "You both leave as soon as you''re packed," Ryker said.


    "Wait, what?"


    "Expect to be out there for about a week, maybe longer. Rory has a cabin on the edge of his territory you can use.”


    "Both of us?" I repeated, confused.


    Finn''s group had passed through that area on their way here. It''s possible they cleared the path for this new pack. Ryker shot Finn a sharp look. "He knows the terrain and how to move unseen."


    “I can handle it alone, Alpha,” I interrupted, sensing Ryker''s irritation. But we''d been friends long enough that he wouldn''t punish me for speaking up.


    "It''ll be faster if you work together. Besides, it sounds like you two have some issues to sort out. Dismissed."


    What the hell?!