A Rogue For Four Alphas

Chapter Twenty Six

IT'S NOT A GOOD NIGHT AT WORK.My partner is off, AND HER ABSENCE makes the hours drag by even though I stealthily use my werewolf skills to speed things up. There's a table out-of-towners who are rude and cheap, stiffing me when they settle their tab, even though I fulfilled all of their very detailed special requests.

There are a few cute vacationers in, but no one who's especially appealing. Maybe my head's not in the right place to think about hot men because of all of the shit going on in my life. I've lost my apartment and my roommate, and I'm living with four men who are mostly driving me crazy.

I appreciate the fact that they're trying to help me, but they don't need to be bossing me around or using me to score points in their arguments.

On top of all that, persistent texts from the stalkeee have been buzzing in for the past several hours. I ignore them but on second note, I reply the scared bastard to show up since he can't seem to have enough balls to face me. WHEN I GET BACK TO THE HOUSE, I'M GRATEFUL TO FIND THAT NONE OF THE men are around. There are faint voices coming from another room, but I'm hoping to go up to my room without having to face any of them. Unfortunately, Alpha Harry appears before I make it to the stairs. "Hey, how was work?"

I give him a tired smile.

"It was okay." There's no need to burden him with my complaints.

"Are you hungry?" he asks.

"You don't need to wait on me," I say. "I have food in the fridge."

His body language changes, telling me that I was too abrupt with him. I didn't mean to be rude.

"I appreciate it," I say, softening my voice. "I just don't want you to feel like you need to go out of your way for me."

He smiles in return. "I like having you here."

After changing my clothes, I join the men in the game room that I saw when I was trying to clean the house the other day. Somehow, I hadn't even noticed the dart board that day, but now all four of them are gathered around it. It's Damon's turn, and Ian is trash talking him, but it sounds much friendlier than it had last night. After Alpha Damon takes his shot, Ian catches sight of me, and his face breaks into a broad grin. "Hey, Jasmine, how's it going?" I give him a brief smile. "Hi."

When Alpha Damon turns and sees me, he looks wary, but gives me one of those chin lift greetings that men do. Alpha Erik has a look that makes me glad we're not playing poker, because, like usual, his face is impossible to read.

I lean against the pool table to observe the match from a distance, and Alpha Erik soon joins me, an extra beer in hand. "Peace offering?" he says, holding it out. While I'm deciding whether or not to accept it, I take a long look at him, my eyes lingering over the snug black fabric that hugs his biceps.

When I realize where my thoughts are going, I tug my gaze back to his face, where he's watching me, amused. I really need to be more subtle about checking these guys out, or, even better, I need to stop ogling them, because they're bad

news.

Alpha Erik is a bossy jerk, but I'm under his roof for the time being, so I may as well make nice with him. To be honest, I'd have never expected him to make any admission of wrongdoing, like he is with this "peace offering," so maybe I'm being too harsh.

"Thanks,” I say, taking it from him, being careful not to touch his hand in the process.

Alpha Harry comes over just as I'm taking my first cold sip. "I heard about your bad luck with apartment hunting today," he says.

"Yeah, I can't believe how hard it is to find something good."

He puts his hand on my upper arm in a friendly, reassuring gesture. "Just remember, there's no rush. You can stay here as long as it takes to find a great place."

Alpha Erik must have told him about the moldy rental. "Thanks. I really appreciate it."

Much as they drive me crazy in various ways, I am truly grateful. I don't know what I'd be doing if I couldn't stay here. Quickly going broke, I suspect.

"Do you play?" Alpha Harry asks, looking over toward the game, where Alpha Damon is up again.

I nod. "Sometimes."

"We were playing a standard game earlier," Alpha Harry says, "but as we've had more beers, we've moved on to an around-the-clock game that doesn't require math."

Alpha Erik smirks and shakes his head at his friend.

Alpha Harry explains the game to me, assuming I don't know the rules, and I don't stop him. After feeling a bit bruised by the game of truth or dare, I'm hoping to beat the men at darts. Alpha Erik and Alpha Damon need to be taken down a notch, and I'm still not pleased with Ian after he basically used me as a pawn last night.Ian lets out a cheer.

There's a dart in the bullseye, and Alpha Damon is cursing.