Alpha Warriors of The Cause - Tamara Rose Blodgett Page 0,29

is a favor issued by fate.”

Jacky's eyebrows rise. “Kind of like the lottery?” He's sullenly interested.

Beth feels better that another crisis seems to have been averted.

Slade's eyebrows come together, and Beth allows a small smile. “Jacky means the chances of such a female would be small,” she explains.

“Infinitesimal,” Slade confirms.

Jacky snaps a thumb at Gunnar and Maddie. “So what does that mean?”

“It means that she is his, technically,” Slade recites blandly.

It's too much for Beth, and she sits on the nearest chair, hard. If the seat hadn't been there, she would have landed on her ass.

Maddie lies in Gunnar’s arms like a small child, and he strokes the hair back from her face.

“Eff this noise.” Jacky strides toward the pair with clear intent etched on his features.

Gunnar's head whips to the young Three and he hisses. Fangs lengthen, venom sparkling at the tips.

“Not scared, vamp dude—bring it.” Jacky grabs a bronze sculpture off a low table in front of the couch and hoists it to his shoulder. “Let Maddie go or I'm going to pretend I need a home run with your head as the baseball.”

Gunnar stands with Maddie in his arms.

“Drop that or die.” His words are slightly muffled through the fangs, but Beth hears the warning.

Jacky smirks. “Putz.” Then he's closing the distance, the heaviest part of the statue poised to brain Beth's father.

She does the only thing she can.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Jeb

Unreal.

Beth's foot whips out in front of Jacky, and down he goes, sending the statue flying.

Jeb jumps to his feet and grabs the hurtling sculpture.

Slade moves forward, presumably to punish the boy.

“Don't, Bloodling. Leave him. He's doing what he thinks is right.” Jeb's tone clearly says that Slade's done nothing right.

He scowls then glances at Beth, pale and exhausted in the chair. He steps down.

Jacky picks himself up and gives Beth a dirty look. “Thanks a lot—that sucked.”

“Sorry,” Beth says. “I thought things were going south in a hurry.”

Jacky jerks his thumb at Gunnar. “So your pop gets to fang Maddie and do whatever he wants?” Jackie folds his arms.

Beth leans forward, putting her forearms on her thighs. “No,” she says softly, hands dangling between her legs.

Jacky turns in a slow circle, taking them all in. “Am I the only one here getting the big picture?”

Gunnar's fangs have retracted and Maddie seems to have come around. “Big picture?” Gunnar asks and Jacky nods.

“Madeline is—she's been through a lot and she doesn't need to be some blood concubine or something because you're hungry and shit.”

“I was dying, Three.”

“It's Jacky you fanged fucktard.”

“Jacky,” Maddie chastises softly then she taps Gunnar's shoulder. “Would you, can you let me down?”

Gunnar nods but adds, “Stay close to me.”

Maddie smiles. “I—these guys aren't going to hurt me.” Her hand goes to where Gunnar took blood.

He lets Maddie slip down the front of him, and even Jeb tenses at the huge size disparity. Maddie comes to well below his shoulder, looking positively fragile beside the nearly seven-feet-tall Bloodling.

He cradles her face, kissing her forehead, each cheek, then her mouth.

Maddie stands still, her eyes still closed seconds after his lips have left her face. “Wow,” she breathes.

“Maddie,” Jacky says sharply, and she startles, turning to him. “Don't let him vamp you. He's got some weird mojo, I'll admit…”

“It doesn't work on males,” Slade comments dryly.

Jacky pushes his longish hair out of his face. “Thank fuck.”

Kennet chuckles. “You do have a way with Three words.”

Jacky screws up his face. “Yeah. Duh—they're mine.” He rolls his eyes.

Kennet frowns and Jeb feels a grin stretch his face. He has to admit, Jacky somehow adds a perverse balance to a barely tolerable circumstance.

“Maddie, can you get away from him?” Jacky points at Gunnar.

She nods. “Sure.” She begins to walk away from him and Gunnar says, “Thank you.”

Color swamps Maddie's cheekbones and she whispers, “Welcome.”

Beth walks to Maddie. “I'm sorry, Maddie. I—I just found out Gunnar is my father.”

She shakes her head slightly. “I can tell. You guys feel alike.”

Jeb frowns. “What do you mean?”

Maddie lifts a shoulder. Her newly trimmed dark brown hair slides over her shoulders, landing in the hollow between her shoulder blades. “I can't explain it very well. I walked in here, and I could feel his need,” she swallows, casting a shy glance at Gunnar. “I had to answer.”

“Seems like a big old user to me,” Jacky mumbles, his eyes narrowing on Gunnar.

“That's great you have a dad,” she says, her eyes dropping.

Jacky appears to guess her thoughts. “Screw Chuck, Maddie. That turd is gone forever.”

She