A Rogue For Four Alphas

Chapter Twenty Five

As the old man turns, Alpha Erik puts his arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. "We're looking for a bigger place," he says, "and unfortunately this won't work.

"Oh, okay. I understand," the man says. He looks disappointed, but then he gives me a knowing wink

. "Looking to start a family, I assume."

I attempt to pull away from Alpha Erik and start to open my mouth to object, but he ushers me to the door and speaks over me, asking the man how long he's lived here.

He keeps him engaged in conversation for a few minutes before saying goodbye and leading me back to the truck, his arm firm on my shoulder the whole way. "What the hell was that?" I ask, ignoring the door he's holding open for me

"What do you mean?" Having finally released me, Alpha Erik goes around to his side and gets in the truck. He stares across the open seat at me as I remain outside. "It wasn't your business to speak up about the apartment!"

"Jasmine," he says, having the nerve to look at me like I'm being unreasonable. "There was no way you were going to live in that place. There was mold on the walls, for god's sake."

I didn't notice that, but based on the smell, of course, I don't doubt it. "What, you've never heard of insect spray and I'm a rogue, can basically live in the bushes!?"

"There isn't enough insect spray in the state to clean that place and as an Alpha I should sense better. Get in the truck."

I search desperately for some sort of plan that doesn't require me to get back in the vehicle with him, but I can't think of anything reasonable. I'm stuck

"That was none of your business," I say, spitting out the words as I heft myself up onto the seat and slam the door closed behind me. That was also my last hope for an apartment at the moment. I agree with Alpha Erik that the place was no prize, but it wasn't up to him to turn it down on my behalf.

I didn't want to be rude to the old guy. I thought it would be better to give him an excuse and let him down easy."

Maybe it's nice that he was trying to be polite to the guy, but that's not the point. I turn away from him and stare out the window, thinking there has to be some other option for housing that I'm not thinking of. Maybe I can get a second job and stay at a motel until I find a place.

"Besides," Alpha Erik says, interrupting my thoughts, "there was no way I was going to let you live there."

My head jerks back to him. "You wouldn't let me?!" If he wasn't driving so fast, I swear to god I'd open the door and throw myself out onto the side of the road because my skin is on fire, and I can't stand to be sitting next to him. He keeps his eyes straight ahead, ignoring me, and that only fans the flames higher. I'm seething. "You are not the boss of me."

The truck rolls up to a red light and he looks over at me, cocking a brow. His eyes dip to my chest before slowly returning to my face. A faint grin lifts one corner of his mouth. His deep voice is thick and smooth like caramel. "I think you'd be surprised how much you'd like me bossing you around."

I'm quiet the rest of the ride, still angry, but also trying hard not to envision the type of domination Alpha Erik hinted at. I don't think I'd like it, but a little part of me would like to know for sure.

The idea of what he's suggesting lines up perfectly with the way he kissed me last night. There was definitely a take-charge quality to his actions, and I can't deny that I liked the kiss. I liked it way too much. Instead of driving straight back to the house, Alpha Erik detours onto one of Whitman's main roads and pulls into an auto supply store. "What year is your car?" he asks.

I answer without thinking, and then ask, "Why?"

Without responding, he exits the truck, leaving it running with me sitting inside. He returns in less than five minutes with a battery that he puts into the back before returning to his seat. "What are you doing?" I ask.

"Your car needs a reliable battery," he says matter-of-factly as he backs out of the parking spot.

"I thought you said it just needed a jump."

"It's best to replace it, so it doesn't happen again."

Maybe you're right, but this was also not your decision to make," I say. "How much was it?"

Pretending not to hear me, Alpha Erik turns up the volume on the radio. I pull out my phone, get a cost estimate on the battery, and add it to the money I owe the men, though I might just let Alpha Erik eat the cost, since I never asked him to buy it in the first place.

Back at the house, I make moves to get the battery out of the truck. I have no idea how to install it, but I'm sure the internet will be full of helpful instructions. Before I can open his truck bed, he nudges me out of the way.

"I've got this." When I don't move, he gives me a long look, his eyes letting me know that there's no point in arguing.