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“I’m fine. I live just over there.” I point vaguely toward our rental a few blocks away. “My daughter decided to take a joy ride, but Officer Cliff saved the day.”
“Saved the day, huh?” He eyes the two of us, then squats in front of my daughter. “What happened?” he asks her softly.
“Knights ride dragons. They need exercise. Glenda had antsy pants. But good guy doesn’t think so.” Em says the last line like a judge in court, ready to deliver a verdict.
The stranger’s brows dip, his face solemn. “Is that your dragon?” He points at Em’s bike.
“Glenda.” She nods seriously.
“And you were taking care of her? Making sure she gets to fly?”
Em leans in with her small, pointed finger and draws a mark on his chest. “Cross your heart, I take care of Glenda,” she vows, getting the execution wrong but the meaning right in that adorably naïve way children have.
The alpha’s lips tug into a grin before he coughs. “That’s very responsible. Dragons do need lots of exercise to stay healthy, but did you know they need just as much sleep? And, this was a surprise to me too, but they arenotnocturnal.”
“What’s that?” Em asks, a yawn slipping out.
Everything in me wants to grab my baby and rush home, slip away while Officer Slick calls it in. I force myself to remain still as the alpha chats with Em. She asks him a host of questions about dragons, rolling with the fact that this man is some kind of expert.
With each passing moment, my ability to stay upright fades. Officer Slick is still leaning into his car, yapping on his radio. With the adrenaline fading from my system, the tiredness seeps in, making my upper body feel as though it’s made of two-ton boulders.
“Mom? Em!” Ben’s frantic voice calls from up ahead and my body snaps back to attention.
He races toward us, but the deputy is quicker, reaching out a hand to keep my boy from passing. “Hold up, son.”
“That’s my mom and sister!” Ben’s voice cracks and tears stream down his face. “Please.”
“Come here, bud.” The stranger waves my son over, calling out to the deputy to let him pass.
It works, then Ben’s running. Em reaches for me, and I slot her on my hip, pulling Ben in for a hug. I try my best to soothe him, but he only lets me have a moment before he turns away. He swings his arms out behind him, using his body to shield us.
“Back up,” Ben squeaks at the stranger, trying his best to be brave and ignoring the tears falling down his cheeks.
My heart breaks at the sight. His father left him with the burden of playing the alpha of the house. That’s not his role. But try telling Ben that.
“Duly noted.” The stranger backs away. “I’m Reid, I live right over there. And I can appreciate a man who looks after his own. You keep them safe while I chat with Deputy Cliff and make sure we get you home soon, okay?”
Ben nods but doesn’t try speaking. I kiss the top of his head, eyeing the stranger wearily as he conferences with Slick-Cliff. The alpha is hot, but that might as well be a red flag. We’re on his lawn in the middle of the night, and even if he was nice to my kids, it doesn’t mean he’s on our side.
Officer Slick nods at whatever the dispatcher is saying, then turns to speak to the alpha. They exchange fast words, both sounding heated.
The officer turns to me, crosses his arms, and glowers. “You’re free to go. Don’t let me catch her out here again.”
The stranger jogs back to us, his smooth voice ringing out. “Let me take you home.”
Gods, if that statement doesn’t hit me funny, making my chest flutter. He doesn’t mean it. Not in the “keep me forever, protect my family” kind of way. Not even in the “hot, take-me-home-for-some-fun” sort of way either. But for some reason, my sleep-deprived self takes it as an invitation, latching on to the hope that I could have a home like his to go to.
I stare for a moment at the beautiful square, two-story craftsman. It’s got planters full of blooming flowers and cushiony furniture that looks as if it’s staged for a magazine. Even at night, it’s cheery. It’s a home that looks tended to and well-loved.
But I’m a beta who has already learned the lesson about where I end up on the priority list. My stomach drops as reality sinks in.He’s vouching to take your ass back home so the law doesn’t have to. Not take you to his home.
I reposition Emmaline on my hip and grab hold of Ben’s hand. “We can manage on our own.”
Chapter 2
Reid
Straight-backed and head held high, the beta slips around the corner. Her son turns on me, dragging his sister’s bike and glaring. I give him a wave. Not for the first time, I wonder where the hell her mate is. Spouse? I always forget about beta customs. Whatever the fuck they’re called, they’re doing a shitty job of taking care of their pack.
