Page 13 of Alpha Brock
I push my own chair back so we’re in more of a triangle formation and I have a better view of Brooke and Quinn on either side of me. “Everything’s good!” I chirp. Then I lower my voice a little bit, leaning in. “Though I have to ask, what’s up with Brock?”
Brooke tilts her head questioningly. “What do you mean?”
“It’s just… everyone else has been so friendly, but he’s been kinda stand-offish.” I bring my hands together in my lap, lacing my fingers. “Like, is it just me? Or…”
Quinn laughs, shaking her head. “It’s not just you. Trust me.”
I let out a little sigh in relief. For a minute there I wasn’t sure if I’d done something to offend the guy.
“He’s always been prickly,” Quinn continues. “Well, at least as long as I’ve known him, which is only like a month. So take that with a grain of salt.”
“I haven’t known him for much longer, but Theo’s said before that’s just how Brock is,” Brooke adds. “Kinda grumpy, straight to the point.”
Quinn jumps back in. “I actually asked Jax about it just the other night because Brock didn’t seem very happy when we shared the news we were fated mates. Well, he acted like he was, but he was totally faking it.” She waves a hand. “Anyways, Jax said that Brock was hurt by some girl in the past and he’s never been the same. He’s just a cynical prick now.”
“Quinn!” Brooke turns to her, wide-eyed.
Quinn cracks a smile. “Okay, he didn’t use thoseexactwords, but that was the basic gist of it.”
Brooke rolls her eyes, sighing and turning back to me. “You could ask Fallon about him, she might know more. She used to run patrol with Brock when she was a recruit.”
I nod slowly. “Yeah, maybe I’ll pick her brain a little. Thanks.”
Brooke pauses, searching my face. “Is he making you really uncomfortable? Because if he is, I could talk to Theo about getting you a room here to stay in…”
“No, no,” I say quickly, shaking my head. “It’s totally fine, I promise. And the other guys that live at the packhouse are lovely.” I look from Brooke to Quinn, but neither seems convinced. So I go on. “I’m just trying to figure out how to get him to let me in a little bit, that’s all. Get to know him. Since we’ll be spending so much time together.”
That seems to work because both girls nod in understanding.
“Maybe you should just sneak into his room one night,” Quinn suggests after a beat, waggling her eyebrows.
Brooke’s eyes fly wide. “Q!”
“What?” she laughs. “The guy clearly needs to get laid.”
“I mean… he’s definitely easy on the eyes.” I shrug innocently, winking at Quinn.
All three of us laugh. I like hanging out with Quinn and Brooke- I don’t get nearly enough girl talk like this back at home since I’m typically with Sam and Cole. I’ve always had close friendships with guys, but deep down, I’m a girl’s girl. It’s fun to gossip with the girls, to laugh and joke with them.
Though that last comment wasn’t entirely a joke. I can’t deny that I’m attracted to Brock, which boggles my mind a little bit since he’s so surly. There’s just something about him, something behind those eyes that makes me want to reach deeper to see what I find. He may be trying to keep me at arm’s length, but I have no doubt that I can get a little closer if I put in the effort. I’m pretty damn charming, after all- and it’s now my mission to melt Brock’s icy exterior.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Brock
I wake up panting, my body covered in a thin sheen of sweat that has the sheets sticking to my skin. The dream I was having felt so real- the shadow pack showed up without warning, ready for war. They outnumbered us four to one, and while we kept going down, they just kept coming. I was fighting off three wolves at once when I woke with a start, blinking into the darkness, realizing it was just a dream. I take a few deep breaths, throwing the sheet off of my body and staring up at the ceiling while my eyes to adjust to the dark.
I bolt up in bed when I hear something downstairs, looking quickly to my alarm clock for the time. It’s the middle of the night- nobody should be awake right now.Is my mind playing tricks on me, or did I hear something?My wolf is on high alert and when I hear another sound, I’m out of bed in an instant, moving toward the door of my bedroom silently.
Creeping through the hallway and down the stairs, I listen intently to what sounds like rustling as I draw closer. I’m already on edge after that nightmare about the shadow pack and my mind is jumping straight to the worst case scenario- a break-in at the packhouse. When I hit the bottom of the stairs, my head snaps toward the sound and I see a soft light coming from the kitchen.
I silently stalk closer, quickly realizing that the source of the light is the ajar refrigerator door. The kitchen island obstructs my view, but over the top of it, inside the fridge, I can vaguely make out a tangle of curly hair.Astrid.
As if this girl wasn’t causing enough of an upheaval in my life during the waking hours, she’s now robbing me of sleep, too.
I blow out a breath, relaxing slightly upon the realization that it’s her and not someone breaking in.What the hell is she doing, though?I make my way closer, rounding the edge of the island.
It’s a mistake. I freeze in my tracks when Astrid comes fully into view- she’s bent at the waist, rummaging around in the refrigerator. Wearing nothing but a threadbare t-shirt and a lacy pair of panties that only cover half of her round little ass. The light coming from inside the fridge illuminates her slim silhouette, and she wiggles her hips as she digs around for something in the back.