8 - ra


    The expression on Ben''s face spoke volumes—if looks could curse, his would have unleashed a torrent of expletives aimed squarely at my warrior. Honestly, in this moment, I couldn''t me him. I had no intention of epting a mate before I imed my rightful ce as Alpha of this pack. The thought of being sidelined by some man who believed his masculinity made him superior was infuriating. Today, the way he shadowed me, as if I couldn''t handle myself, had my patience simmering just beneath the surface. On top of that, I needed to convince the pack''s males that I was fit to lead, despite being a woman. Having a mate by my side now would onlyplicate that perception. I didn''t want to rise to Dev''s challenge, but maybe it was worth proving this Beta''s ce while adding another win to my leadership credentials.


    "So, Beta," I teased, shing him a sly smile. "Ready to take on the challenge?" His deadpan stare was amusing-he was definitely fun to provoke. Without waiting for an answer, I turned and strode toward one of the sparring rings marked out in the grass, not bothering to check if he was following. Of course, he was. His pride wouldn''t let him back down in front of the others.


    Just as I was positioning myself, a low growl cut through the air. I ducked instinctively and rolled away from Ben''s outstretched arm as he lunged at me with surprising speed. Dev was right — my warriors were skilled, truly formidable, but it had been some time since I''d faced an opponent my own age withparable training. We grappled fiercely. His hand-to-handbat was swift, but he couldn''t hold onto me long enough to gain the upper hand.


    "Quit toying with your food before you eat it, Alpha," Jax called out with augh, but it was the Beta who escted the intensity.


    Ben''s strikes came faster, his blows harder. Clearly, he had been holding back- perhaps out of courtesy because I was a woman. That only fueled my anger. I lunged for his throat, and we both crashed to the ground. He rolled on top of me, but I pushed off with my hips, flipping him over my head with one powerful leg. Quickly, I scrambled to straddle his chest, pinning his arms with my legs as my breaths rose and fell in rhythm with his. His golden-brown eyes locked onto mine.


    "Well done, both of you," my father''s voice broke through the tense silence between us. "But I''m afraid this has to end now. There''s another attack."


    "What?!" I sprang off Ben and stared at my dad, who seemed oddly unfazed. "Why didn''t you say anything earlier? Why let us waste time here?" I started moving toward the training entrance, my mind set on the packhouse. I''d leave the guests with him. We needed to focus and figure this out, but Dad''s casual attitude was frustrating.


    "ra! Wait!" he called after me.


    "No, Dad. This isn''t a drill anymore. Send Jeremiah and his team home so we can handle this without distractions."


    "Will you hold on, you stubborn child?" His voice held amusement. “Besides, you''re heading the wrong way."


    "What do you mean?" I demanded. "You said there was another attack. I want to get back to the house and coordinate our response. I''m done looking over my shoulder.”


    "ra! Stop and listen." A firm hand gripped my arm above the elbow and spun me around. I expected it to be my father, but the sudden closeness sent a shiver across my skin, making me catch my breath. His scent, so familiar and calming, wrapped around me like a warm nket. Damn this mate bond—it was impossible to ignore. Still, it allowed me to take in the scene around us more clearly. We were surrounded by pups armed with water guns, grinning like fools. My father was an idiot for not choosing his words better to stop me from straddling the Beta.


    Suddenly, the pups opened fire, drenching everyone nearby, including Jeremiah and his team. But they were game for the yful battle, darting around and trying to snatch water guns for themselves.


    Ben stayed glued to my side,ughing as he stepped into the path of every stream of water aimed at me.


    "Hey, you''re supposed to avoid getting wet, not block us from hitting ra!" one of the younger pups shouted at him.


    "Yeah, have you never yed this game before?" I teased Ben from behind.


    “What kind of Beta would I be if I let the Alpha get soaked?” he replied without missing a beat, stepping back into the line of fire. I froze. He had called me “the Alpha,” not just any Alpha, as if I already held the title. I''d never noticed the difference before. I barely had time to dwell on it before a bucket of ice-cold water was dumped over my head, pushing me forward into Ben''s back.


    "Holy f*ck! Why does it have to be that cold?!" Ben shouted, spinning around to see who was responsible.


    "It seemed fitting after that steamy grappling match you two just had," Jax chuckled. "We figured you might want to cool down a bit."


    "Too good an opportunity to pass up," Dev added with a shrug.


    We were so close that I could feel his body heat radiating from head to toe. He kept his hands to himself, but I wanted to lean into that warmth, into him. Then the thought hit me: I didn''t want this—not until the pack was mine and my mate was ready to stand beside me, not step into my Alpha role for me.


    I stepped away from him and looked at my dad, who had somehow stayed


    That one word-dinner-made a chorus of stomachs rumble.


    "We can eat in my office while we talk," I said, turning to walk again, my soaked shoes sloshing with each step.


    “Have you checked your office for recording devices today?" Ben asked quietly just behind me. His breath brushed over my ear, sending another shiver down my spine. I knew it was natural, but I wished I didn''t react to him this way. I shouldn''t respond like this. He didn''t deserve to be misled. My body''s impulses shed with what my mind knew I needed right now.


    "I n to do that while you''re all changing for dinner."


    “Let me help. This is something I''m good at.” He raised his hands in surrender. “I wasn''t lying to your pup. What kind of Beta would I be if I let the Alpha get hurt? You don''t have to talk to me or even look at me, but it would make my wolf feel better if you let us help. He might even let me back off a little." His pleading eyes contrasted with the tension in his jaw muscles.