Page 124 of Brutal Reign
“I hope so,” I whisper.
Ace steps in close and slings an arm over my shoulders. “I know so,” he reassures, pressing a kiss to my hair. “Don’t stress, babygirl. After tonight, he’ll be back to his usual self.”
“Girl, you’re living the dream!”Gus sighs, kicking his legs up and leaning back against the arm of the sofa that Seb just had me bent over the other day. “I definitely wouldn’t mind being sandwiched between those two.”
My cheeks heat as I consider what it was like to be in that exact position, right here in the lounge.If only Gus knew what went down where he’s currently resting his head.
“Sorry, I don’t think they play for your team,” Hayden teases from her spot next to me on the neighboring couch, sticking out her tongue at Gus.
He makes a scoffing sound in his throat as he turns his devious gaze back on me. “Haven’t they ever fooled around when the three of you are going at it?”
“Sorry to disappoint, but no,” I reply with a soft laugh. “They’re bonded tome, not to each other.”
“Well, there goes that fantasy,” he sighs dramatically, waving a hand.
I pick up a throw pillow, tossing it at him. “Ew, don’t fantasize about me!”
“Not aboutyou, babe,” he laughs as he bats it out of the air. “Just those two hot ass mates of yours.” He waggles his brows teasingly, prompting me to fling another pillow in his direction.
Joking around with my friends is a welcome distraction from the anxiety that’s been swirling in my gut all afternoon. Following my little practice session in the woods with the boys, I reported to the hunter command center for my special assignment, where Avery did everything she could to try to calm my nerves. She even called Sloane and Lo over from the IT hub, but no amount of reassurances has been able to quiet the little voice in the back of my head.
Tonight’s the night. After lights out, the boys and I will sneak back up here to the lounge and attempt to seal our mate bonds by marking. It should be exciting. Instead, I’m a nervous wreck.
“So how’s it all going to work with your packs if you’re both Alphas?” Hayden asks, knocking her shoulder into mine.
“Don’t know,” I breathe. “We still have a lot of things to work out, but it’ll be a while before Alpha Chase or my dad retire, so we’ve got time. But first, I have to secure my pack rank.”
“That’ll be a cakewalk,” Kendrick remarks, smiling at me over the top of Hayden’s head. “You’ve got the challenge in the bag, you’re the most badass chick I know.”
“Hey,” Hayden objects, swatting him on the arm. “What about me?”
“You’re a badass, too,” he smirks, resting his hand on her thigh.
It hasn’t escaped my notice that the two of them have gotten closer lately. Hayden’s such a flirt that it’s hard to tell whether it’s friendship between them or something more, but I’ll definitely be grilling her for answers the next time I get her alone.
The sound of footsteps on the stairs draws my attention to the doorway of the lounge, Chandler emerging at the top.Fucking great.My muscles tense at the mere sight of her, body coiling in anticipation for some verbal assault.
Strangely enough, it doesn’t come. Chandler just glances around the room, meeting my gaze for a fleeting second before turning back and disappearing down the stairs.
“The hell was that about?” I grumble under my breath, still staring toward the now vacant doorway.
“She’s scared shitless of you now,” Hayden snorts. “I wish you could’ve seen her face when Seb told everyone you were mates, it was freakingpriceless.”
“Jake’s, too,” Gus pipes up, smirking. “He hasn’t messed with you since then, has he?”
The realization dawns on me that Jakehaskept his distance all week. I should really be thankful that both he and Chandler have stopped their bullshit– at least temporarily– but part of me wishes that they were intimidated byme, not my mates.
“No, but there’s still the challenge coming up,” I mutter, glancing at the ceiling as the overhead lights flicker in warning.
“You know what that means,” Kendrick sighs, pushing up off the couch and easing to his feet. He turns to offer Hayden a hand while Gus rolls off the sofa opposite ours with a groan.
My heart hammers against my ribs as I rise to stand, joining my friends in heading for the stairs. It’s almost lights-out, which means it’s almost time to face the music. To see if it is, in fact, possible to seal more than one mate bond.
The four of us descend the stairs to the recruit barracks, my pulse racing and my palms going clammy. Ace is there waiting for me when I step out of the stairway, and if I thoughtIwas nervous about tonight, it’s nothing compared to the look on his face.
He grabs me by the arm, pulling me aside. “Have you seen Seb?”
I blink back at him, giving a little shake of my head. “No, why?”