Page 14 of Brutal Reign
I crank back a fist, but then an arm bands around my waist and yanks me off him. I kick and spit and curse as the squad leaders work to pull the two of us apart, hating that Seb got me this worked up but also unable to see past my blinding rage and indignation.
“That’s enough!” Madd bellows, infusing so much Alpha command behind his tone that my inner wolf whines. He lets go of me, sidestepping to look between me and Seb angrily. “If you two have a problem with each other, then sort it the fuck out while you’re off my field,” Madd snarls, jerking a thumb over his shoulder. “But right now, both of you can give me ten laps around the track.”
I throw my head back, scrubbing my hands down my face as I groan in dissent.
Could this day get any worse?
“Now!” Madd barks, and I cut one last glare Seb’s way before dragging my ass over to the track, muttering curses under my breath the entire way.
This is all his fault, but he’s not even fazed. He lopes off ahead of me, starting in on his laps like it’s a minor inconvenience, while for me, this is the worst form of torture.
The only thing I hate more than Seb Walker is running.
5
Ithink part of me always knew I’d wind up here.
Forgoing the squad wasn’t an easy decision, but after training camp was postponed and I spent the bulk of the summer honing my skills with a tattoo gun instead, it felt right. Every decent artist has an apprenticeship under their belt. My dad’s the best in the six-pack territory, and learning under his tutelage is an opportunity not many get. His bookings are always full at The Muse. The sentimental bastard named his shop after my mom– she’s his muse, and I’m their first born. I’ve yet to claim a muse of my own.
Art has always called to me, so I was looking forward to the apprenticeship. Still, I knew I’d abandon those plans if Seb needed me. I already had a bag packed just in case. What I didn’t expect was that I’d find myself waiting by the phone, hoping for his call. It only took one day to realize I’ve come to rely on Seb just as much as he relies on me. It was too quiet without him, and when it’s quiet, my thoughts wander to dark places.
It feels good to be needed. It gives me a purpose; a reason to get out of bed every day. Sometimes I wonder if my brain’s just wired differently than most other people’s. My own happinessseems to be dependent on that of those around me. I borrow their light when I can’t find my own.
Micah was all too eager to give up his spot when I told him I was coming to training camp. Seb’s a miserable asshole most days, but when he’s rattled, he’s ten times worse. River’s presence has him rattled. I could tell from the moment I laid eyes on him this morning that I was in for some serious damage control, so here I am, reporting for duty.
Whenever Seb gets like this, it’s my job to steer him back on track. Always has been. He does the same for me when I’m slipping too close to the edge, and the way we’ve come to depend on one another goes far beyond our future pack rank. We balance each other out; keep each other sane. Our demons dance to the same macabre tune.
“So that’s her crew?” I murmur quietly to Seb as I track River’s movements across the dining hall. I’ve been painfully aware of every step she’s taken since I got here. I’m an observer, and she’s far too compelling of a subject. One I’ve avoided up till now for that very reason.
“Yeah,” he grunts in response, lifting his gaze to follow my own. River and a purple-haired girl are taking seats at a table, joining up with a few other recruits. “The girl’s from her pack. Think they just met those other guys yesterday.”
“And Jake?” I ask, watching him approach with his plate and slide onto the bench next to River.
Seb makes a scoffing sound in his throat, pointedly averting his gaze. “He’s been pandering to her since they got here.”
“Never liked that guy,” I mutter. Something’s off about the way Jake has been trailing after River all day like a lost puppy, begging for scraps of her attention. Doubt she’s even noticed.
“Me neither,” Seb agrees, pushing the spaghetti noodles around his plate with his fork. Dinner tonight is chickenparmesan- one of Seb’s favorites- but he’s barely touched it. He needs to get out of his own head.
“Look who we found,” Eli comments conspiratorially, and I crane my neck over a shoulder to see him and Beau approaching with their dinner plates piled high, Ares Raines grinning between them.
“This seat taken?” Ares asks, not waiting for Seb to respond before dropping his plate onto the table beside his and kicking a leg over the bench.
Ares is only a couple years older than us, so we’ve been running in the same circles for a long time. All three of the Raines siblings hung around the packhouse a lot while we were growing up since their mom is tight with Seb’s dad. We haven’t seen much of Ares since he joined squad leadership, but whenever we do, it’s like no time has passed. He’s always a welcome addition to our group.
Seb’s lips spread into a grin of his own as Ares sinks down beside him. “You sure you wanna slum it with the recruits?” he taunts, leaning over to knock his shoulder into Ares’.
“Not sure if you’ve noticed, but the squad leader table is getting pretty light these days,” Ares mumbles as he tips his head toward the conspicuously vacant table across the dining hall.
“Yeah, what’s with that?” Beau asks, him and Eli rounding the table to take seats across from us on the opposite side.
Ares heaves a sigh, carding his fingers through his flame-red hair. “Everyone’s getting mated up, bro. Or taking over Alpha rank for their packs. They’ve all moved out of the complex except me and Andie, but she and Nash are always off doing their own thing. Glad you guys are finally here so I don’t have to fly solo.” He picks up his fork, stabbing it into the mound of spaghetti on his plate and winding the noodles around the tines. “At least there’s a bunch of hot new girls in your recruit class so I won’t die of boredom.”
“Who’ve you got your eye on?” Beau asks as he tucks into his own dinner. He and Ares have always been engaged in some unspoken competition for who can get the most hookups under their belt.
Ares shoves a forkful of spaghetti in his mouth, considering as he chews, then swallowing before responding. “Well River Jacobsen, obviously, but I don’t have a death wish. Her friend’s cute, though. I dig the purple hair.” He shrugs a shoulder nonchalantly, going in for another forkful of spaghetti while Seb slides me a glance.
It’s not surprising that Ares has the hots for River. He’s not exactly known for being picky when it comes to his conquests, and Riv is sexy as fuck. Guess it’s a good thing that her dad’s a psycho who issues death threats to anyone who ever looks at her sideways.