Page 48 of Dark Auctioned Mate

No, no, no. She wouldn’t. They agreed to wait two days. But it was happening right in front of him—Alanis was heading straight to Venn.

Rael’s wolf howled with possessive rage. Ours. She’s ours. Take her away from him. Kill him. KILL HIM.

His fingers tightened on the binoculars so hard that the plastic squeaked. He stared as Alanis ordered a drink at the bar. Venn openly stared at her. No, leered at her, and Alanis turned to him, fucking smiling. What the fuck was she doing?

The jealousy coursing through Rael made him feel like his body was going to explode. He felt like bursting into the inn, pulling her out, and making it plain to everyone there—especially Venn—that she belonged to him and he had no right to stare at her or fantasize about her.

Instead, he took in deep breaths. If he did that, he would put her in danger and blow whatever she was doing.

But watching her tease Venn, leaning forward, giving him a view of her breasts, watching his hand on her thighs—Rael took out his cell phone and dialed August.

“Bring me a change of clothes,” he ordered. “Something costly. A suit, if possible, and a forged ID that says I’m not from here.”

“Why? What’s happening?”

“Alanis is with Venn. In the bar at the inn. They are flirting with each other.”

There was a moment of silence on August’s end. “She’s what?”

“Just bring the clothes. Now. I am going in after her.”

“Rael, look, I don’t know what is going on exactly, but Alanis already has an in with Venn. If you go in, it might compromise—”

“I am not leaving her alone with him!” Rael snapped. “Bring the clothes.”

August sighed. “Give me fifteen minutes.”

***

Rael entered the inn, wearing the spare suit that August had given him. It was a little tight on the shoulders, but otherwise good. He also had a forged ID in his pocket, which named him Richard Stone—consultant in Chicago.

He immediately spotted Alanis. She remained seated at Venn’s table. His hand was still on her thigh, and he had a smug look on his face.

A muscle ticked in his jaw. He had to think rationally rather than emotionally. He needed to come up with a legitimate excuse to intervene. Something which would allow him to overhear and interrupt the conversation without alarming Venn. An idea formed in his head. It was most likely dangerous, but possibly effective.

Rael went directly to their table with a cold, authoritative face.

“Hey!” He yelled. “We need to talk. Now.”

Alanis turned to face him, her eyes widening in shock. “I am in the middle of something,” she said, in a breathy and flirtatious tone. “Can it wait?”

Venn looked at Rael with slightly furrowed brows.

Rael gave him a sleazy smile. “Excuse me for interrupting your evening, but this one tends to walk off the face of the earth when unattended.”

Venn tightened his grip on Alanis’s thigh. “The woman appears to be able to make her own choices.”

“The lady,” Rael gritted, putting just a touch of contempt in his words, “is mine. And she knows not to leave without telling me.”

He watched Alanis’s eyes blaze with anger. Good. It would make Venn believe that they were in a real fight and lead him to believe it to be real.

“I do not belong to anybody,” she said sharply.

“That is not what our contract says.” Rael took out his phone, faking something to scroll through. “You would have me read it aloud? The section concerning how you are paid to spend your time, your company, your... services?”

He saw the expression on Venn’s face change. Perfect. He sold it.

“Oh, all right,” Venn said, smiling again. “I am sorry. I was not aware the lady was working tonight.”