Page 34 of Alpha Theo

I feel like I need a reality check, too, and a night out is just the ticket. I stayed in Brooke’s room last night until two in the morning and we didn’t even get naked. Instead, I had her put more clothesonwhen I got there, and then we just talked and listened to music. I hope she doesn’t tell anyone about it because it’ll make me sound like a total pussy.

Though it was kinda nice. I mean, I would’ve rather been fucking her till 2 a.m., but just hanging out with her was actually cool. I never thought I’d enjoy a late-night hangout with a girl where we kept our clothes on, but Brooke’s not like other girls. She’s… different.

I let myself into the Goldenleaf packhouse without knocking, twirling the keys to the Jeep around a finger and loudly calling out for Gray. He jogs down the stairs moments later, holding a finger to his lips to hush me.

“Holly’s trying to get Mason to bed,” he explains quietly, stabbing his fingers through his hair. It’s damp, like he recently got out of the shower.

Holly is his beta’s mate and Mason is their young son. They live at the packhouse, too.

I nod in understanding, tossing the keys to him. He snatches them out of the air and slides them in his pocket.

“How was Denver?”

“Good,” I mumble, trying to keep my voice down. “Come out for a beer, I’ll tell you all about it.”

“Yeah, sure,” Gray replies, approaching and clapping me on the shoulder. “I was about to head over to the bar anyways.”

We leave the packhouse, start down the front walkway. The bar isn’t far from his place- only a few blocks’ walk.

“So what’d you think of Cole?” Gray asks as we hit the end of the driveway and step onto the street.

“That guy’s all business, man,” I chuckle. “Kinda reminds me of Brock.”

“Yeah,” Gray agrees. “I’m sure he has to be, though, to run a pack that size.”

“Guess so.Dude!” I slap Gray’s chest with the back of my hand. “You didn’t tell me that he has a hot sister!”

“What?” he laughs. “I didn’t even know he had a sister. Never met her.”

Gray peers over at me, narrowing his eyes. “Wait a minute, you didn’t…”

I let out a laugh, shaking my head. “Nah, I didn’t hook up with her. Not this time, at least.” I wink.

I leave out the part about how I didn’t even try because I was too busynothooking up with his own mate’s sister. It’s so uncharacteristic that he probably wouldn’t believe me, anyways.

Gray chuckles. “That’s probably for the best. Don’t want them pulling out of our alliance because you screwed over the alpha’s sister.”

“Please,” I scoff. “I wouldn’t screw her over. Just screw her.”

I waggle my eyebrows and Gray gives me a playful shove.

I miss this. Gray and I used to be thick as thieves, but most of his free time lately has been occupied by his mate. We’ve always had this connection, this understanding between us given what we’ve both been through. I lost my mom at a young age, he lost both of his parents. That kind of loss changes you. Gray just ‘gets’ me in ways that other people don’t.

Even though it’s still pretty early when we get to the bar, it’s already busy; music thumping, drinks flowing. We head straight for our usual high-top table in the back corner where Jax and Reid are posted up having a beer.

“Hey guys,” Jax greets as we approach and slide into our usual seats. “Wasn’t sure if you’d make it tonight.”

Reid sets his beer bottle down. “How was Denver?”

“Good,” I say, looking over my shoulder for the waitress before turning back to Jax and Reid. “They have a hell of a setup there. Did you know they have video feeds of their borders? It’s pretty slick. We should look into doing something like that.”

“No shit?” Jax asks, running a hand through his hair. It’s on the longer side, dirty blonde and wavy like a California surfer. He’s reminiscent of a young Matthew McConaughey, but Jax’s body is way more jacked from spending hours in the gym each day. “Dude, if it’ll get me out of running patrol then we should totally do it.”

I chuckle, throwing up my hands. “That’s what I’m sayin’!”

“Hi, Alpha!” Kelly chirps brightly to Gray, approaching our table with a tray of beers. She sets one in front of each of us, then tucks the tray under an arm and sets a hand on his shoulder. “How’s it going?”

Kelly’s part of Gray’s pack and has always had a thing for him. That didn’t stop her from hooking up with me a few months back, though. She probably pretended I was him the entire time.

---