Alpha Gray: six-pack series book one Page 5

  I nod my head in approval. “Definitely that one.”

  Vienna grins from ear to ear, trotting by me to head into the locker room to change.

  When we heard that we’d have the day off tomorrow, all of the recruits were ecstatic. We’ve been training hard all week, so we’ve definitely earned a reprieve. Vienna invited Boyd, Davis, and I to come out with her and her friend Hannah. Apparently Hannah is from Goldenleaf, the town near the squad complex, and said that the squad usually goes out to a bar there on Saturday nights to let loose.

  I guess good news travels fast, because Brooke showed up in the recruit barracks soon after, asking if I was going out. I’m so excited to get to spend some time with her. Even though it has only been a week, it feels like we haven’t seen each other in ages.

  Vienna skips out of the locker room in the red dress and does a little twirl. She looks amazing- it’s a strapless bodycon dress that hugs her curves. I definitely need to step my game up.

  “You look great!” I exclaim, flashing her a smile. I glance down at the dirty t-shirt and shorts that I’m still wearing and sigh. “Ugh. I don’t have anything to wear.”

  “You can wear something of mine!” Vienna offers, heading back to her closet and rifling through the garments again.

  “I’m like a foot taller than you,” I mutter, following her.

  She pulls out a black dress and shoves it in my direction. “Here. This one’s a little long on me.”

  I side-eye the dress, thinking to myself that there’s no way it’s going to cover my ass. I glance back to Vienna skeptically, but she looks determined. I heave another sigh and take the dress from her, heading to the locker room to try it on.

  When I emerge a few minutes later, Boyd whistles in approval. “Hot damn!” he calls out, tossing me a wink.

  I blush and tug at the hem of the dress. It’s a little off-the-shoulder number that’s both a bit too tight and a bit too short. If I bend over, there’s a 100% chance I’ll moon everyone.

  “I don’t know…” I start to say, but Vienna waves a hand dismissively.

  “Stop. It’s perfect. You look hot.” She waggles her eyebrows, tossing her wavy dark hair over her shoulder.

  I chuckle, heading back into the locker room to put on a little bit of makeup. Vienna offers to curl my hair, but I toss it up into a loose bun instead. Vienna’s friend Hannah and Brooke join us in the bathroom to get ready and after a while, we’re all put together and prepared to head out.

  Vienna somehow talked Brooke into a skimpy outfit, too, and she looks incredible in a black sequined mini-skirt and silk spaghetti-strap top. Her hair is pulled up in a ponytail and she even agreed to swap her nerd glasses for contact lenses, which she hardly ever does. Boyd and Davis have been waiting ever-so-patiently for us girls to get all glammed up, and we wave them over and all head out.

  It’s dark, but the path to the bar is easy to follow. Hannah knows the way. On the way there, I learn more about Vienna’s friend Hannah- she’s part of the Goldenleaf pack, which is led by Alpha Gray. She’s been to the bar in Goldenleaf that we’re headed to before- apparently they’ll serve alcohol to anyone over 18, which is why it’s so popular. In our own little shifter towns, we can bend the rules when it comes to things like that. Us wolves metabolize liquor a lot faster than the average human, so underage alcohol abuse is less of a concern because it isn’t as dangerous. It’d take a lot for a wolf to get alcohol poisoning.

  I don’t ask Hannah about her alpha, though I want to. It’s obvious that Gray has been avoiding me since our run-in in the locker room. It’s driving me a little crazy- I mean, I didn’t even like the guy, then he gets all sexy with me in the showers and I decide I actually want to get to know him better, and then I get the cold shoulder? What gives?

  To be honest, part of the reason I wanted to come out tonight was on the off chance that I might run into him in his town. He can’t avoid me forever.

  I can hear the dull hum of music before we reach the bar, ever-increasing as we close the distance. It’s right on the edge of the forest, what I imagine must be the edge of town, though it sits off by itself. Neon signs illuminate the windows and cast a hazy light outside.

  Boyd speed-walks so he’s the first to the door, pulling it open and leaning against it. “Ladies first,” he says, grinning and gesturing inside.

  Vienna and Hannah giggle while Brooke and I roll our eyes. We actually know Boyd and how hard he tries to be a smooth operator. Vienna and Hannah may be charmed now, but they’ll learn soon enough.

  We all file inside and head right for the bar, eager to grab our first drink of the night. I order a vodka cranberry and as soon as the bartender slides it to me, I take a long sip through the little swizzle straw. It’s a tad heavy on the vodka.

  I pay and turn around and lean back against the bar, scanning the interior of the space. It’s crowded tonight, and some people have already turned the center of the room into a makeshift dance floor. There are quite a few tables dotting the perimeter, and I glance around to see if there are any familiar faces.

  Ah, who am I kidding? I’m looking for Gray. I recognize several of the other recruits around the place, but I don’t see him. Damn.

  Brooke nudges me, and I turn my attention to her.

  “Will you watch my drink for a sec?” she asks, sliding it toward me along the bar top. “I’m gonna hit the ladies’.”

  “Sure,” I say, raising my voice so she can hear me over the music as I turn sideways and rest my arm on the bar beside her drink. I take another sip of my own and watch her head off in the direction of the restroom.

  “You’ll dance with me, won’t you Fallon?” I hear Vienna say, and I turn back to see that she’s planted herself beside me in Brooke’s spot.

  I shrug. “Sure.” I take another long sip, finishing my drink. I tip my empty glass at Vienna. “Just let me get a little bit more liquid courage,” I smirk.

  Vienna clinks her glass with my empty one and brings it to her lips, chugging the rest of her rum and coke. Her eyes are watery when she finishes it off and slams her glass down on the bar triumphantly. “Woo!” she cheers, turning to me and grinning. “I’m with you, girl. Let’s get another.”

  I laugh, turning my body back toward the bar and leaning forward to get the bartender’s attention. We make eye contact and I hold up two fingers, gesturing to Vienna and myself. He understands the signal and starts making us each another drink.

  I start to reach into the top of my dress to fish out the cash I brought from my bra, but Boyd appears on the other side of me and touches my arm, shaking his head.

  “Drinks are on me tonight,” he says, winking.

  I really shouldn’t let him pay, but free drinks are free drinks. Plus, Boyd’s dad’s some sort of investment banker, so his family is loaded.

  “Thanks, Boyd.” I smile as the bartender brings Vienna and I fresh drinks and Boyd slips the guy a twenty.

  “Okay,” Vienna says, and I turn back to look at her. She’s holding up her new drink. “After this one, we’re dancing.”

  I grin, picking up my drink and clinking my glass with hers. “Deal.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Gray

  I agreed to come for one beer, and somehow that turned into five. Or is it six? I’ve got a nice little buzz, so I’m not sure on the count. I don’t know why I ever agree to coming out for one when I know it’ll lead to staying out all night, but I’m relaxed for the first time all week. I guess Theo knew I needed this.

  I’m heading out of the bathroom when I see her walking toward me, looking like a goddamn smokeshow.

  Fallon.

  She’s all dressed up in a little skin-tight skirt and tank top, and the sight of her makes my blood rush right to my dick.

  Her eyes are trained on the ground, so she doesn’t even see me stop and stick my arm out, pressing my palm to the wall to block her path.

  I know I said I’d avoid her, but I’m a little buzzed and she looks so dam
n good, I can’t help myself. She looks up at the last minute, surprise playing on her face as she skids to a stop right before clotheslining herself on my outstretched arm.

  I lean my head down next to her ear. “You shouldn’t be here.” My words come out in a low growl.

  “Wh… what?” She looks up at me, wide-eyed, and I immediately know that something isn’t right.

  I suddenly realize that she doesn’t smell the same, doesn’t look quite the same.

  Fuuuuuuuck.

  As the realization hits me like a ton of bricks, I drop my arm and take a step back. She just stares at me, confused and blinking.

  Fallon’s a twin. An identical twin. This isn’t Fallon, it’s gotta be her sister.

  “Uh, sorry,” I sputter, reaching up to rub the back of my neck.

  Shit.

  Say something, moron!

  “I… I thought you were someone else. My bad,” I choke out, breezing past a very confused looking Brooke before she can respond.

  Shit. Shit. Shit.

  I keep my head down all the way back to the table, sliding into my seat silently. The guys are lost in conversation, but all turn to me when they realize how heavily I’m breathing.

  “What’s up?” Theo asks, squinting his eyes.

  I shake my head, reaching for my half-empty beer on the table. “Nothing,” I grumble, putting it to my lips and draining the rest.

  The other guys just stare at me. I set my beer bottle back on the table, sliding it to the center to join the other empties. I calm my racing heart and erratic breathing, regaining my composure. They’re still waiting for me to respond, but there’s no way I’m going to confess to my humiliation in the hallway.

  “What?” I ask, arching a brow.

  “Whatever, man,” Theo says, rolling his eyes. He returns to his conversation with Jax.

  “Hey,” Brock nudges me, speaking in a low voice so the other guys won’t hear. “Did you see who’s here?”

  He tips his beer bottle in the direction of the bar, and I turn over my shoulder to follow his gaze across the room.

  It’s Fallon. The real Fallon, evidently, because she’s dressed differently than her twin. Her little black dress is way too short, showing off her long, shapely legs. I thought her carbon-copy sister looked good, but Fallon herself is an absolute goddess. I can’t stop myself from staring at her for a little too long as she sips her drink and tosses back her head as she laughs with her friends. My wolf was subdued from all the beers I’ve consumed, but he immediately perks up and stands at attention.

  I’m definitely staring for too long, because her gaze flickers to mine and our eyes lock. I quickly look away, turning around in my seat and putting my back to her.

  Brock gives me a knowing look and I reach for his beer, downing it. He just smirks at me as I slide the empty bottle back onto the table, give a little shake of my head.

  I know Brock won’t say anything to the other guys; he’s not the type to call people out or be up in their business.

  But he and I both know that Fallon being here tonight spells one thing: trouble.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Fallon

  He’s here. I swear I could feel it before I even saw him- the little hairs on the back of my neck stood up and my wolf started pacing. But right after we locked eyes, he turned his back to me. Avoiding me again.

  Maybe my initial assessment was spot-on, he’s just a jerk with a big ego. Maybe his little display of dominance in the shower was just his way of showing me that he could have me if he wanted me. Maybe this is just his newest form of torture, and he’s getting some sort of sick pleasure from driving me crazy.

  I down the rest of my drink.

  Brooke appears, back from the bathroom, and she grabs my arm, tugging me away from our friends. She’s digging her fingers into my arm as she pulls me. I jerk my arm back.

  “What the hell?” I demand, scowling and rubbing the offended skin with my other hand.

  Brooke leans in close to whisper. “What’s going on with you and the alpha?” she hisses.

  “Huh?” I dart a glance in Gray’s direction, then back to her.

  Brooke puts her hands on her hips, staring me down.

  I roll my eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I start to turn to head back to our friends, but she reaches out to grab my arm again, spinning me to face her.

  “I ran into him on the way to the bathroom. I think he thought I was you.” Brooke narrows her eyes.

  I know I’m caught, but I also feel a little flicker of hope in response to hearing that he tried to talk to her. Maybe he decided to stop avoiding me, after all…

  “Fallon!” Brooke snaps, pulling me out of my daze. I hadn’t realized that I’d been staring off in his direction again.

  I feel a smile creep across my lips. “Okay, yeah, but it’s nothing. I mean, I’m totally into him, and I think he’s into me, but nothing’s happened. Well not really. Did he talk to you? What did he say?” My words come out a mile a minute.

  Brooke just stares at me, dumbfounded. “What do you mean, not really?!”

  “What did he say?”

  Brooke sighs, leaning closer to me, wide-eyed. “I basically almost ran into him, and he got all up in my space and said I shouldn’t be here,” she whispers.

  “What?” I shake my head, trying to make sense of her words.

  “I don’t know, it was weird!” she says, throwing up her hands. “He realized pretty quickly that I wasn’t you, and then apologized and walked away. What the hell is going on between you two, Fallon?”

  Brooke looks concerned, which irritates me. She’s supposed to support me, not parent me. Always the sensible twin.

  “There’s nothing going on,” I sigh. I take a beat, looking to Gray, then back to Brooke. “Yet,” I add, waggling my eyebrows.

  Brooke gives me another stern look and I elbow her playfully.

  “Aw, c’mon, sis, lighten up,” I say, laughing. Her icy look slowly starts to melt into a smile. I swear, when one of us is laughing, it’s impossible for the other to stay serious.

  “Just be careful,” Brooke warns, smirking. She’s trying to be a good sport, but she can’t hide the lingering hint of concern in her voice.

  “Don’t worry,” I say, tossing an arm around her shoulders and leading her back over to our group. “If something actually does happen, you’ll be the first to know about it.”

  “Promise?” Brooke asks, her eyes wide.

  I nod. “Promise.”

  “Come on!” Vienna beckons as Brooke and I approach our little group by the bar. “I thought we were gonna dance!” She does a little spin and nearly teeters off of her heels, but Boyd is quick to come to her rescue and steady her.

  “I’m gonna need one more drink,” I say, grabbing Brooke’s hand to pull her up to the bar with me.

  Vienna and Boyd slide out of the way to let us in. Davis is reclined against the bar chatting up Hannah, and from the way she’s giggling and touching his arm it looks like she’s enjoying it. Good for Davis.

  Brooke and I order drinks and sip them while we chat with our friends. I keep sneaking glances over at Gray. A few times, I swear I catch him looking back at me, but with the amount of people on the dance floor between us I can’t be sure. I wish he’d just come over and say something to clear the air.

  Vienna asks us to dance for the millionth time, and I finally break down and agree. Being on the dance floor puts me closer to Gray, so maybe he’ll actually come say hello. The dance floor is crowded now, and the six of us make our way through the bodies just as a new song comes on. It’s a hip-hop song- one of my favorites- and I immediately start swaying my hips to the beat. I steal another glance at Gray, and our eyes lock this time, but he looks away just as quickly.

  Damn. What do I have to do to get this guy’s attention?

  Hannah, Vienna, Brooke, and I make a little circle, all dancing with each other while Boyd and Davis sway on the periphery. I start
to move my hips more exaggeratedly, trying my best to look sexy while I dance. It doesn’t seem to get Gray’s attention, but it does get Boyd’s, and he comes up behind me, cautiously approaching and setting his hands on my hips.

  Ordinarily, I wouldn’t return Boyd’s attention, but it occurs to me that maybe it’ll make Gray a little jealous. I lean back into Boyd’s chest, swaying my hips and rubbing my shoulders against him to the beat of the music. After a minute or two, I really get into it, throwing my head back and stealing a glance in Gray’s direction.

  Bingo.

  He’s looking right at me, no question about it. His eyes are narrowed and he doesn’t look pleased.

  Could that be jealousy?

  I dart my gaze away, smirking to myself as I close my eyes and continue to move to the music. Spinning around to face Boyd, I slink my hands up his shoulders and wrap my arms around his neck, grinding my body against his as I dance.

  I should feel a little guilty, leading Boyd on like this, but any shred of guilt I have is replaced by satisfaction when I steal another glance at Gray and find that he’s still watching.

  Sweet victory.

  If he wants to avoid me, I’ll show him what he’s missing.

  After a little while, the DJ switches to a slower song, and we all head back to belly up to the bar. We’re all a little sweaty and out of breath, but I’m riding the high of my triumph over Gray.

  Boyd starts calling out drink orders to the bartender. “Whaddya want?” he asks, turning to me, but I just shake my head.

  “I’m gonna grab some air,” I say, fanning myself with a hand.

  “Okay. Well what do you want when you get back?” Boyd grins, and that guilty feeling that I had for leading him on returns.

  “Ummm… surprise me!” I say, clapping him on the shoulder and spinning around.

  I head for the door, pushing it open and drawing a long breath of the cool night air. I’m still a little sweaty, and the air feels so good on my skin.