Page 10 of Brutal Reign
“Nah, babe,” I drawl, reaching up to card my fingers through my hair as I pivot to face her. I shouldn’t be giving this blonde bitch the time of day, but shit, that was close.Too close.
Chandler’s lips spread into a bright smile as she advances in my direction, River seizing the opening to hightail it out of here. She ducks around Chandler, slipping through the door before it can swing closed.
“You heading out to smoke?” Chandler asks, crowding into my space and dancing her fingers up my chest. She tilts her head sweetly, batting her lashes. “Want some company?”
“No,” I reply flatly as I shove her away, wrinkling my nose. She reeks of cheap perfume and desperation.
Her expression falls, but I can’t find it in me to care. Instead, I just toss my hood up over my head, pivoting away from her and heading for the door on the opposite end of the locker room.
Pushing through into the hallway for the lower floor of the squad dorms, I make my way down the corridor with angry strides, grinding my molars the whole way. It isn’t until I’ve reached the main doors of the complex and shoved through them that I feel like I can even take a damn breath, stuffing a hand into the pocket of my jeans and yanking my phone out.
I’m not concerned about getting caught outside after lights-out. If any of the squad fighters see me loitering out here on the practice field, one look will send them running scared, and the majority of the squad leaders reside at their respectivepackhouses. As far as I’m concerned, they can take their idiotic rules and shove ‘em.
I pace a few steps away from the doors before leaning back to rest against the building, bringing my phone up in front of me with the intention of sending a message to Ace. But he’s two steps ahead like always, a text from him already waiting.
Ace
How was day one?
I blow out a long breath as I open up the thread to reply.
It doesn’t feel right being here without him; we always planned on joining the security squad together someday. I was disappointed when he decided to pursue tattoo artistry instead, but I didn’t raise any objections. I thought I’d be fine.
I guess I didn’t realize how much I’ve come to rely on having him by my side. I’m sure every Alpha’s like that with their Beta– our dads are always together, too.
I thumb out a response to his message and hit send.
Dumb. They cut four people out the gate, though.
His reply is instant.
Nice
My thumbs hover over my phone screen as I hesitate, wondering if I should tell him about River. Then I remember why we made the agreement about her in the first place, deciding it’d be reckless not to.
Riv’s here.
I hold my breath as I await his reply, eyes transfixed on the little grey bubbles moving on my phone screen to indicate he’s typing.
What? Why?
My thumbs fly over the letters to respond.
Claiming her spot in squad leadership, I guess. Sure you don’t wanna change your mind and sub in for Micah?
Again, his response is almost instant.
Be there tomorrow.
4
PAST
Ipush open Ace’s bedroom door to let myself in, finding him sprawled out atop his bed wearing his big noise-cancelling headphones. He’s so zoned in on whatever he’s listening to that he doesn’t even notice me at first. It isn’t until I’m pushing the door closed behind me that he lifts his head to peer in my direction, sliding the headphones down off his ears to rest around his neck.
“Hey, babygirl,” he drawls in a low, gravelly tone, propping himself up on an elbow and lifting his chin in greeting. His voice has gotten so deep and growly over the past year. The nickname he gave me when we were kids hits different in that voice, giving me the good kind of shivers.
“Whatcha doin’?” I ask as I casually cross the room to him.