Page 82 of Brutal Reign
Strangely enough, she doesn’t seem to mind. River curls into his chest, blissed out and sated, while I give Seb a hard look that says to be on his best behavior. He grunts his discontentment, but at least he doesn’t open his big mouth again.
Small miracles.
28
The door to the squad complex bangs shut loudly behind me as I stomp out onto the practice field, pushing my glasses up the bridge of my nose with a finger and glaring through the lenses at my fellow recruits. This isnothow I wanted to start my week.
Someone lifted my fucking contact lenses from my cubby. Not just the pair in my case I took out last night, but my box of extras, too. And my money’s on a certain thirsty blonde bitch.
Locating her stupidly pretty face amongst the crowd, I stalk in her direction with mayhem on my mind, ready to risk my spot at training camp and tear her a new one so she’ll learn her lesson once and for all. It takes a lot to push me to the brink, but I’ve officially hadenoughof her mean girl bullshit.
“Told you she’s defective. How can she be Alpha to a pack if she can’t even see without help?” a male voice jeers, and I stop in my tracks, whipping around to meet Jake’s smug sneer.
“Why don’t you ask my mom how she can be Luna?” I snap, changing course and marching his way instead.Guess I shouldn’t have assumed Chandler was responsible for the prank when Jake’s enemy number one.“Or maybe you shouldask my dad, I bet he’d love to have an excuse to put you in your damn place.”
At least he has the good sense to blanch at the mention of my father; hisAlpha. Too bad it’s only momentary before his smug grin slides into place again and he’s back on his overly-cocky bullshit.
“Sure, run and tattle to daddy,” Jake mocks, rolling his eyes before narrowing them on me. “He won’t always be around to fight your battles, little girl.”
The friend he was talking shit to wisely skitters away as I push into Jake’s space threateningly, getting right up in his face. “I don’t need my daddy’s help to wipe the floor with you, I can do that all on my own,” I snarl, my inner wolf surging to the surface.
The metallic shimmers of Jake’s own wolf sparkle in his eyes as he shakes his head with a mirthless laugh, rocking back on a heel. “I’d like to see you try,” he scoffs. “Tell you what, I’ll let you concede to save yourself the embarrassment, and maybe I’ll consider making you my Luna. Call it a consolation prize.”
My wolf pushes forward with so much fury that she almost rips right through my skin. “I’ll never beyouranything,” I grit out through clenched teeth as I fight to hold her back.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Ace’s growly voice demands, and I whip my head sideways to see my mates stomping toward us, both looking ready to rumble. Beau and Eli are hot on their heels, and Hayden, Gus, and Kendrick aren’t far behind. Not to mention more of Jake’s friends are now gravitating toward him from their various positions on the field, while the rest of our fellow recruits are watching the conflict unfolding between us with morbid curiosity.Looks like we’ve attracted quite the audience.
Though my inner wolf calms at their proximity alone, I cut Seb and Ace a hard look, warning them to back off and not get involved. Of course, Seb doesn’t heed it. He puffs out his chest,glaring daggers at Jake as he tries to shove his way in between us.
“You got a problem, Decker?” Seb spits.
“Stay out of this!” I growl, shouldering him aside. The last thing I need right now is his Alpha male bullshit– this is between me and Jake, and getting another man involved undermines the very perception I’ve been fighting against every day since my dad announced I’d be taking over for him. Being a woman doesnotmake me weak or any less of an Alpha, and it’s about time all these dickheads around here realized it.
I stare Jake down, thrusting a palm toward him in demand. “Just give them back,” I huff.
He scrunches his nose as his gaze flickers down to my outstretched palm. “Give what back?”
“My fucking contacts!” I hiss.
“This prick stole your contacts?” Seb snarls.
Jake answers “no”, while I shout, “yes”, Seb’s glare swiveling between the two of us in search of the truth.
“I didn’t touch your shit,” Jake scoffs, rolling his eyes. “Why are women so damn emotional?”
I bare my teeth at him threateningly. “I’ll show youemotional.”
His smug grin widens. “C’mon then, River, I’ll let you get the first hit in for free,” Jake drawls, goading me. He waggles his brows as he adds, “You know you want to.”
“Riv,” Ace warns in a low, even tone.
“I said stay out of this!” I snap.
“Fight, fight, fight!” one of Jake’s lackeys starts chanting.
“What’s going on out here?” a deep voice barks out, and we all freeze on the spot in response to Madd’s authoritative tone. My cousin’s imposing presence sweeps onto the practice field like the grim reaper on his way to collect souls, the crowd that’s formed around Jake and me parting to let him through.When he sees I’m at the center of the drama, his brows raise almost imperceptibly before they furrow in frustration, his disapproving stare bouncing between me and Jake. “You two know the rules, no unsanctioned fighting amongst recruits.”
“She started it,” Jake sneers.