Page 92 of Psycho Alphas: Part Two

Ace’s expression remained neutral, but his roses and redwood scent hummed with the faintest indication of excitement. “It’s going to be a spectacle.”

It was hard, for a moment, not to glance at Thistle. She was dancing Bunny between her legs each time any of us spoke, little stuffie happily mocking a room full of Alphas.

“Ace Maverick, rejoining the game, but this time in the trafficking ring,” Ace went on. I frowned, returning my attention to him. “With his Omega, new pack mate…” He cocked his head, a faint smile tracing his lips as his gaze flicked from Rogue, back to me. “And our new muzzledpet.”

My blood turned to ice as every eye in the room landed on me.

Even Bunny froze mid dance.

Me?

My growl rumbled to life this time, mind spiralling out of control as I glared at Ace.

Not. A. Chance. In. Hell.

“Ah…” The word seemed to slip from Rogue involuntarily, and I turned my glare on him, only to find him palming his neck, eyebrows raised.

“What?”

He tilted his head with a small shrug. “It’s… Well, they think you’re a threat.”

“So fucking what?” I knew that.

It was the whole goddamn problem.

But the pieces were floating around in my head, and I knew they would slot together if I let them.

“So…” I could swear Rogue was fighting back a smile. “Ace turns up with me, you look leashed, we can play it off…” He shrugged.

My pulse sped up as I processed what he was saying—as I realised it made an obscene amount of sense.

“Oh…” Thistle, to my horror, perked up, too, and I could practically see her working through the same truth I was. If the Ring was worried about what I’d done—about me ratting on them, the Maverick name, plus Rogue’s history with me…

Fuck.

Ace chuckled. “Would look even better if he was yours, Manzo. Muzzle, chain, and all. Let them see you got him back?—”

“No.”My voice was tight. I wouldn’t fucking do it. “We’re betting too much on them buying it,” I growled through gritted teeth.

“They’ll buy it.” Ace spread his arms, voice as sure as I’d ever heard it. “I’m AcefuckingMaverick.”

My mind flashed to the fear in Roman’s eyes as he’d seen Ace saunter into the room with that stupid sceptre.

Ihatedhim.

I hated more that I had no fucking argument.Andthe choked cough Rogue let out as he failed to stifle a laugh.

Thistle picked up herself and Bunny and slid onto my lap. Still glaring at Ace, I dropped my hand to her waist by pure instinct, but I couldn’t look at her.

“If we want a fighting chance, I need to make an entrance,” Ace went on. “Showing up back from the dead, with Knox Wilde in a muzzle—well that does the jobperfectly.”

I bit back another growl, and for a moment, I considered what sweet sounds Ace might make if I pinned him down and gouged one of his eyes out real fucking slow with a blunt object.

A squeak and shot of pain in my neck ripped me from the daydream. I realised, finally looking down at a disgruntled Thistle, that my grip on her waist had become too tight. She’d bitten me.

“Sorry, Doll,” I muttered, trying to ground myself. She made it easy, hands cupping my cheeks, pout on her lips bratty.

“Daddy.” She was glaring at me with those beautiful violet eyes. “I wanna see.”