Page 5 of Alpha Brock
I roll my eyes, giggling softly and moving my plate back toward Sam to give him access. “Fine.”
He grins triumphantly, snatching a piece of bacon from my plate and taking a bite.
“You two done?” Cole teases, helping himself to some of my bacon. “Can we get back to logistics for this evacuation?”
“I don’t know, can we?” I arch a brow in Sam’s direction.
He shrugs, swallowing the bacon he stole. “Of course, Alpha.”
I throw him another exaggerated eyeroll, picking up a piece of toast and turning to Cole again. “Go on,” I say, smiling sweetly.
Cole chuckles, leaning back in his chair. “Alright. So once we identify and split everyone up, I think we can send the first group as early as this weekend, and then stagger the others three or four days apart from one another.”
“So when do you want me to go?” I ask between bites of toast.
“When can you?” Cole fires back. “Tomorrow? The next day?”
I shrug. “Sure. Probably the day after tomorrow. Then I can get the lay of the land a few days ahead of the first group arriving.”
Sam places his hand over mine. “Do you want to take anyone else? Chris or Sasha maybe?”
He’s referring to two of Cole’s advisors that reside in the packhouse, but I give a little shake of my head. “Nah, they should be here for strategy sessions. I’ll be fine on my own for a few days until our pack members start arriving.” I flash him a smile, then turn back to my brother. “Well, I guess I should get packing, huh?”
I push my chair out from the table, rising to my feet. Before I go to walk away, though, Cole reaches out for my arm.
“Astrid.”
“Yeah?” I ask, looking down into his dark eyes.
He presses his lips into a tight line, giving me a little nod. “Thank you.”
In my brother’s eyes, I can see his apprehension hidden just under the surface. He conceals it well- if you didn’t know him, you’d think that he has it all together all the time. He’s tight-lipped, all business. He’s a pro at remaining calm under pressure. I know him better than anyone, though, and I can see it- the little sliver of hesitation beneath his cool exterior. He’s scared of what’s to come.
And I’d be a fool if I wasn’t scared, too.
CHAPTER THREE
Brock
“Is she gonna be here soon?” I ask, agitated, as I glance down at my watch.
Jax looks my way, arching a brow. “Why, you in a hurry or somethin’?”
I blow out a breath, kicking at the ground on the practice field where I’m waiting with Jax, Reid, Gray, and Fallon for the Denver Alpha’s sister to arrive. “Yeah, I’ve gotta get back to Riverton. I’ve got shit to do.”
“I’m sure it’ll still be waiting for you when you get there,” Reid chuckles, stepping up beside me and clapping me on the shoulder. “Besides, what could be more important than meeting…” he trails off, squinting, looking to Gray over his shoulder. “What’s her name again?”
“Astrid,” Brooke supplies, approaching us with Quinn in tow. Quinn immediately makes a beeline for Jax, slipping under his arm and winding her own arms around his waist.
Reid snaps his fingers. “That’s right. Astrid.”
Seeing Brooke, it suddenly dawns on me that her mate is conspicuously absent. “Where’s Theo?” I ask, glancing in the direction Brooke came from.
“He drove out to the lodge to meet Astrid and bring her back here, so her driver didn’t have to try to find it on his own,” Brooke says.
I guess that makes sense since the squad complex isn’t exactly searchable on GPS and Theo has met Astrid before. Still, I don’t know why the rest of us have to wait out here for this chick like we’re the six-pack’s fucking welcome wagon. Also…
I fold my arms across my chest, arching a brow. “Herdriver?”