Page 122 of Alpha Theo

I arch a brow. “Why would I be distracted?”

Is it that obvious?

“Please,” Reid laughs, approaching us. “We saw you following your girl around like a puppy dog on Saturday night.”

I chuckle, rolling my eyes. Of course they’re gonna keep ribbing me about Brooke. Not that I mind- she’s the one thing going right in my life at the moment. “You guys are just jealous.”

“Damn right they are,” Gray says, coming up beside me and clapping me on the shoulder. “Though you deserve to take some shit after all you gave me when I got with Fallon.”

I hold up my hands in surrender. “Okay, in my defense, I had no idea what the mate bond felt like back then…”

“Like that’s an excuse for being a dick,” Brock mumbles, rolling his eyes.

“Maybe not, but I’m a reformed man,” I say nonchalantly, raking a hand through my hair.

The guys chuckle, shaking their heads.

Jax elbows me. “Dude, have you told your dad about the mate bond yet?”

I cringe at the mention of my father. “Nah.” I look down, kicking at the dirt. “I thought about it when I was there yesterday, but then he started being an asshole and I didn’t want to make his fucking day.”

“Wasn’t his whole thing that he wanted you to settle down, be responsible?” Reid asks, raising a brow. “I don’t know what girl could scream settled and responsible more than Brooke Eastwick.”

“She isn’t as tame as she seems,” I smirk. “Girl’s got a wild side.”

“Oh yeah?” Jax asks, his interest piqued.

“She must, to be mated to a deviant like you,” Reid teases.

I reach out to give him a shove, shaking my head and chuckling. “Whatever, man.”

“So I don’t get it,” Jax says, scratching his head. “Why aren’t you telling your dad that Brooke’s your mate?”

I fold my arms, blowing out a breath. “I will, eventually.”

The truth is, I was hoping my dad might change his mind about me based on what I’ve been doing lately, how I’ve stepped up, not who I’m mated to. The harder I try, though, the more it becomes evident that nothing I do will ever be good enough for him.

“Then you might beat Jax to becoming alpha after all,” Gray laughs.

Jax delivers a jab to Gray’s bicep, then turns to me again, grinning. “You think that’s what’ll sway your dad? Having her as a mate?”

“Oh yeah,” I chuckle. “Let’s be real, my old man thinks the sun shines outta her ass. Once I tell him she’s my mate, it’s only a matter of time before my he makes me alpha.”

The grin suddenly fades from Jax’s face.

“What?” I ask, furrowing my brow. Then I realize he’s not looking at me, he’s looking past me. I hear the door to the squad complex snick closed.

I spin around, my eyes immediately meeting Brooke’s.

Shit.

I should’ve sensed her, scented her- and now she’s standing a few yards away, her eyes wide, her jaw slack.

“Brooke…” I start to say, but she whips around, a blur of blonde hair. She pulls open the door, charging back inside.

“Fuck,” I mumble, scrubbing a hand over my face.

Gray frowns. “Don’t just stand here, go get her,” he barks.

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