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We get a little of everything from the food trucks, bringing the huge haul back to our set-up.Fancy grilled cheese sandwiches, lobster rolls, and fried Oreos pass between us until everyone is stuffed. After we eat, Finn and I take Em to get her face painted at Payton’s booth advertising for Primrose while Reid and Ben play a couple of rounds at the inflatable basketball set-up. It’s getting late when we meet back up at our stuff, ready to call it in for the night.
The guys fold up the chairs, but Em begs to jump one last time.
I go with her, letting her drag me along. “Five minutes, Em, then we need to head back.”
She nods, tosses off her rainboots, and dives into the tent’s open flap. Another band starts playing on the street over, and the screaming of kids running wild in the bounce house blends with the loud guitar riffs.
A giant palm curls around my waist.
“Just a few more minutes,” I say, looking over my shoulder and expecting to see Reid.
Instead, I’m hit with a whiff of gunmetal and the smarmy smile of the alpha officer who gave me shit the night Em escaped to ride her bike.I spin away from his touch, my body shivering at the unwanted contact.
“It didn’t take long for you to get cozy with the neighbors,” he says. He laces his tone with innuendo, his eyes traveling down to my cleavage.I step farther away, but Officer Cliff grabs my wrist and yanks me back to him. “Whatever situation you’ve got with Camden, our pack can offer a sweeter deal. There are four of us to keep a girl like you satisfied.”
My stomach turns with acid. I can imagine exactly the kind ofdealOfficer Slick has for me. It’s the same one my mother got. A quick fuck for the car payment or the grocery bill.
“I’m not interested in whatever it is you’re offering,” I say, breaking his hold on my wrist with a jerk of my hand and calling for Emmaline.
“Seems to me that someone like you should be grateful for an offer like that, not turning your nose up at me like I’m no good,” he growls, taking another step toward me.
“Back the fuck away from her,” Reid’s deep voice calls from behind me.
Fuck. I knew this night was too good to be true.
Chapter 23
Reid
My alpha bark thunders with my fury.There’s no way Cliff didn’t see Finn and me. And there’s no way he didn’t know we were with Cammie. He waited until she was alone to speak to her, trying to corner her. What a weak fuck, trying to push the limits of his power by crowding her alone in the dark.
Cliff lifts his eyes and smiles in recognition as if we’re old buddies in on some joke together. I’ve never been his buddy. What I overheard him say to Cammie means he’s lucky he’s still breathing. “I was just telling your Crawley girl that when you all get tired of her, my pack can take her off your hands.”
The devastation of his blow is visceral. Cammie sucks in a breath, and her eyes flutter closed for the briefest moment. My blood turns to ice in my veins, my alpha instincts roaring. This motherfucker will pay for running his mouth, and it will be the last time someone says this shit.
“That’s never gonna happen.” I tuck Cammie under my arm and whisper, “Grab the kids and go wait with Finn, sweetheart. I need to have a chat with Cliff.”
Cammie looks torn, her eyes wide with panic. “I’m sorry. Don’t?—"
“This is not your fault. We’ll talk about the rest later.” I kiss her forehead. “Take the kids and go with Finn,” I say, letting my alpha slip into my voice. I need her to listen to me now and leave with the kids. I need them safe.
She takes a shaky breath and calls again for Emmaline. Oblivious to the grown-up situation, our little knight pokes her head out of the bounce house and argues with her mother about leaving. Finn doesn’t hesitate, picking up Emmaline without a word and carting her toward home. She kicks and screams, yelling for more time, but he keeps walking. A distraught Cammie drags a glaring Ben behind them. Finn doesn’t make eye contact, and I know it’s because he won’t be able to leave without throwing punches.
My jaw aches with the force of containing my alpha. I need to lay this fucker on the ground, and I need Cammie and the kids safe. The two instincts war within, but in the end, I know they don’t need to see this.
Cliff looks at the whole scene and laughs, the sound chaffing. “You’re acting like she’s an academy omega instead of a beta from Crawley. Are you gonna court her and claim that trash?” He snorts, shaking his head.
Ben looks back at me as he walks, and I force myself to stay still while Cliff keeps racking up lick after fucking lick.
“I told you she was trouble. Everyone in town knows you can’t find a pack, but if you’re that desperate for a third, there are better?—”
My family rounds the corner, and I can’t hold it anymore. My fist connects with his nose, and the sound of that first punch is satisfying.
The alpha stumbles back, his nose dripping blood and a cruel laugh on his face. “That must be some pussy. You’re only making her more enticing, Camden.”
I see red, tackling him to the ground with a growl. He lands a few blows, but then I’m on top of him, making sure the fist to his jaw means he won’t be saying shit.
Hands pull me away before I’m ready. I struggle against them, fucking pissed that this guy is still breathing. A palm pushes against my chest.
