Page 54 of Psycho Alphas: Part Two

“Well, you’re out of luck.” He sneered at me. “Never learned.”

“I could help!” Thistle’s squeak was enough to drag me from my fury. She managed to duck between us, grabbing onto Ace’s waist and looking up at me. “I’ll help him with dinner!”

“There.” Ace gave me a sour smile. “You already have a little pet willing to?—”

I lost it, the world going red. Thistle’s arm was in my hand and my fist was colliding with Ace’s face—sort of, since the muzzle got in the way.

He sprawled across the marble. I barely processed Thistle, who was fighting me again.

“Oh—Rogue!” She staggered in front of me, cheeks bright pink, hands up. She let out a nervous laugh. “Wait… Uh—!” She was looking between us both, taking a step back, then turning to kneel down and help him up (or did her best given her tiny frame). When he’d made it to his feet, she was wrapped around him like a barnacle once more.

I was so tense I could hardly take a breath.

Why was she defending him?

Ace adjusted the muzzle, but his gaze slid down to her instead of me. As he took her in, the fury in his eyes shifted to something… softer?

Maybe.

If so, it was only for a flash before his expression iced up again.

“You know…” Ace managed to extract himself from her hug. “I picked a room in this godforsaken place. Thought I could show you, but I don’t think your newbodyguardswould approve.”

Thistle’s eyes widened and her fists balled up. “We wanna see it.”

He stepped back. “Another time.”

She didn’t say anything as he exited the room, but she watched him leave, disappointment seeping from her in the bond, her frosted moonflower scent wilting.

Fuck.

She shot me and Knox a glance. “Still a real piece of work…” There was another pout on her face as she lifted Bunny up to talk to him directly. “Don’t worry. We’ll visit later.”

I couldn’t help but meet Knox’s gaze.

He looked as stumped as I felt. The bruising on Ace’s face told me his inclination for punishing the Alpha was identical to mine, but Thistle’s protection was a complication that hadn’t occurred to me.

“I can still make dinner?” Thistle’s expression brightened already as she hopped back to my side as if none of that had happened, tugging on my shirt eagerly.

“I’ll… order takeout,” Knox said, probably anticipating Poptarts as much as I did when shethreatenedoffered such things.

I nodded, eyes lingering on where Ace had left. “Good. I’m moving upstairs,” I said.

“No, you’refuckingnot,” Knox snarled.

“Try and stop me,” I scoffed. “I’ll have the room across from the nest.” If Ace had tried to take that one, I’d throw him out on his ass.

It wasn’t that I didn’tlikemy space in the basement—it had grown on me. But I needed to be close to her. In case Bella returned, and also because I didn’t trust Ace not to prowl around and cause issues.

“Fuck yes!” Thistle punched the air. “Can I help?”

Knox, who looked ready to blow his top, turned on her. “No,” he growled. “My office. We’re going to discuss rules. And Ace.”

She frowned, but I nudged her.

“That’s alright, Kitten.” I mussed her hair, which was halfway out of its buns now. “I’ll come find you when I’m done.”

Fuck Knox—but hewasgood at rules and she clearly needed a lot of those. And I needed to blow off some steam so I didn’t hunt down Ace and beat him to a pulp.