Page 19

Laney gulped.

Reagan snorted. “You wouldn’t dare touch us.”

“I’ll take your sorority to the board of reviews and explain to them how you broke into a sorority home, spiked their punch so anyone underage would get drunk and I’ll tell them how you also committed fraud in their name. I’ll also inform themyouserved alcohol to students under the age of twenty-one.”

“They would never—”

“Never what, Laney. Believe me, over you? I’m an Alpha above reproach.” He curled his lip. “I won’t have this conversation with you again. Stay the fuck away from me, Bell, and Jackson.”

Of all the shit to deal with and he’d caused it. Christoph scrubbed his face as he walked away from the group of girls.Shit.He should have stood up to his father the same way he did those three. A mate trumped everything. No matter what. If his father didn’t listen, he could challenge, but then what? He could beat his father. The cocky side of his personality assured him such, but the practical side said he needed to watch his step. If the skeletons in his closet got out to Bell, he’d lose his mate before he marked her.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this pissed off.” Nico joined him, meeting Christoph stride for stride.

He stopped in his tracks and faced Nico. “Whatever you want, it can wait.”

“I’m thinking after the conversation you had, this can’t.” He shoved his hands into his pockets, rocking back on his heels.

Rage burned in Christoph’s veins along with a healthy dose of fear. Nico could break him. He could tell Bell everything. “You heard nothing, and if you know what’s good for you”—he snatched the front of Nico’s shirt, getting into his face — “you won’t breathe a word of it.” He narrowed his eyes. “Do you understand?”

“Whoa, there.” Nico held his hands up. “I meant nothing by it. I swear.”

Christoph snarled and let him go before turning away. “Nothing good can come of this. You know the truth, yes?”

“That you’re being blackmailed? Yeah, I do. So, I’m going to help you out here before it’s too late.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. “Look, I think you need to call him. We’ve all discussed this. I was going to call Rapier myself, but you should do it. He’s Bell’s father and the Co-Alpha for the Window Rock Pack/Pride.”

He took the small piece of paper and opened it up. Sure enough, there was the man’s phone number. He also knew the man was Bell’s father. Calling him would give Bell’s father leverage over him. “I’m not seeing how this is going to help. Calling Bell’s dad might backfire on me and us.”

“Trust me. Rapier isn’t half bad. Then again, I grew up with the asshole.” Nico took a step around him and started walking backwards. “For what it’s worth, Bell would always believe you if you told her.”

Christoph glanced down at the number again. Call Bell’s father and admit a woman and his father had him over a barrel? No. Alpha’s didn’t kowtow. He’d never admit to what his father did to him. Yet, the idea of Bell having to suffer through his bullshit didn’t sit well with him. He pulled out his phone, then dialed the number.

After two rings, the call connected. “Dryer Construction.” The deep, intimidating voice of the man who answered gave Christoph pause. This man was Bell’s father. “Look, I don’t have fucking time for telemarketers or games. So, spit out what you’ve got to say or I’m hanging up.”

Shit.“Nico said I should call you. Said of everyone he knows, you’re the one who could help me. Said he grew up with you too.”

“What can we do for you?” The man acknowledged nothing.

He scrubbed his forehead. “I don’t know. Everything is so messed up. This sorority twit is blackmailing me, and my father is threatening to strip me of everything if I don’t mate a female of his choosing. I have a mate, though. She’s good and kind and sweet. She doesn’t deserve me or the baggage I carry. I don’t know what to do.”

“I see,” the man answered. “Why are you telling me this? I’m not a therapist or whatever the fuck.”

Christoph ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. He was going to have to tell her father whether or not he wanted to. “I’m calling you because the mate I told you about is your daughter, Bell.”

“The fuck did you just say?” Rapier snapped. “I don’t think I heard you properly.”

He was a dead man. “Sir, I’m her mate. Well, technically, Jackson is too. I’m... This is difficult to admit. I—”

“I heard you the first fucking time,” Rapier said. “What’s this about a second mate?”

Christoph swallowed hard. “Uh—”

“I don’t want to hear it. I’ll call you back.” Before Christoph could say another word, the man hung up, leaving him to stare at his phone.

“Mail call.” Hayden stepped into the kitchen with an armload of packages. Most of them had Raquel’s name on them.

Bell stared out at the patio of the house, lost in thought. She hadn’t seen Jackson or Christoph since the night of the party. Nor had she heard from them. She also hadn’t heard from the Dean of Students regarding her sorority invitations being dumped in the trash, either. If she were a paranoid person, which she worked on for years after the incident with Raymond, she’d say the coincidences of not hearing from the Dean of Students were too suspicious. She also couldn’t figure out why the guys were being distant. She didn’t want to think of them in such an ill-mannered way, but were they lying about being her mate?

“Did someone say mail?” Raquel and Joy, along with another pledge, had lived in the house with them. With three new members, they only needed twenty-eight more pledges.