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My mouth belongs to my Omega.

Yet what will happen when I wake up?

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Cole House, Oak Hollow

Rhett

Smoke stings my eyes, and my face is flushed with heat. My shirt sticks to my back.

I tried everything this morning to postpone this annual crew cookout, but that son of a bitch, Devlin, insisted that I still hold it.

Devlin’s position as Board President of our volunteer fire association gives him a power that is a pain in my ass.

Devlin has worked himself onto as many boards and committees as he can for the power those positions give him, rather than the good he can do for the community.

He told Walker that this event counted as a duty for the Chief, and my volunteer work didn’t count as essential.

Caring for Paige isn’t voluntary any more to me.

At least I’ll be able to confront that asshole about his calls to Paige and whatever the hell he’s been doing to her because I am damn sure he’s been bullying her.

I don’t know exactly what’s going on, or what’s up with the letters that she hides stuffed in drawers, which Angel found last night when he was cleaning, or the calls, but at least I can put a stop to Devlin’s harassment.

I warned Devlin that Paige is under the Cole pack’s protection.

I take a calming breath.

Lucky for him that he hasn’t arrived yet, or still on a high from my rut, I would likely beat his ass.

My lips pull back into a snarl, as I stand over the glowing coals of the stone firepit at the far end of my garden at Cole House, where I am hosting.

If I am going to take on the most powerful Alpha in Oak Hollow apart from me, then I am doing it on my own territory.

I hold long, iron tongs, as the last yellow flames settle into an orange glow.

Behind me, the crew are lounging around the lawn underneath the shade of the pecan trees with beers in their hands.

I relax at the sound of their banter and laughter.

Judd has found an old wooden swing, which once belonged to my sister, Charlie, and is testing if it’ll take his weight, as still too reckless, he stands on it.

My shoulders stiffen.

I haven’t touched Charlie’s swing in…

It creaks dangerously.

“Get off that, fool.” I glance over my shoulder at the young lieutenant with flame-red hair, who is messing around like he’s a big kid, rather than one of the bravest men I know.

“Sorry, Chief.” Judd laughs, but he obeys.

I narrow my eyes, focusing on the firepit.

The sun is golden, starting to set. It gilds the brick wall, which is covered with honeysuckle, the lawn with bluebonnets, and the rose garden beyond.

I wipe my arm across my face against the wood smoke.