Page 36 of Alpha Gray

I’m relieved that she’s headed back to safety, but my anxiety returns the moment I refocus on the task at hand. We have an intruder. We can’t gauge the threat until we find him.

Wehaveto find him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Fallon

News of the border breach spreads like wildfire through the squad complex the next morning. They never found the guy, but they’ve concluded that he was a rogue based upon his scent and the determination that he was traveling alone for the miles that they tracked him. That should be some consolation, but I’ve still got a sick feeling about the whole thing since I was the one that had the misfortune to stumble upon him.

I can’t stew about it for long, though, because since my patrol was cut short last night, I’m expected to attend morning session. As soon as I get out on the field, I see that the giant whiteboard is back. Rankings time.

Only Gray and Theo are on the field today, standing in front of the whiteboard with their arms folded across their chests like bouncers at a club. Big, muscly, superhotbouncers…

Not even Gray’s sexy physique can hold my attention, though- not when that whiteboard behind him is basically going to spell out my future. I’ve been working my ass off for the past week to try to climb up in the rankings, and I pray it has paid off.

“Good morning, recruits!” Gray calls as we circle up. “As you know, ten of your fellow trainees were sent home last week. Your place here is never guaranteed. If you want to make the cut, you have to work hard every week to earn your spot.”

The way that Gray commands a crowd is mesmerizing. All of the recruits are hyper-focused on his words, nodding and mumbling in affirmation. His deep, velvety voice gives rise to little flutters in the pit of my belly.

Theo sidesteps, throwing a thumb over his shoulder to point at the whiteboard. “Based on our skills assessments last week and the departure of some of your fellow recruits, we’ve shuffled things around and reassigned your partners for this week.”

Connor’s standing in front of me and I crane my neck to see around him. There are 38 of us left, so 19 pairs. I spot my name about halfway down the list, next to Judd’s. I’m practically giddy when I see it- Judd is a hell of a fighter. He was ranked in the top ten last week, so being paired with him certainly bodes well for my ranking. I hold my breath as Theo grabs the top of the whiteboard, flipping it over on its hinge.

I swear my heart stops beating. Right there, next to the number 14, is my name. Mine! I somehow went from 36thto 14thin the span of a week. Not only that, but I’m the second highest ranked female- I’ve passed up both Hannah and Vienna.

“Dang, Fallon!” Vienna comments, nudging my side. I turn to her and she offers me a fist-bump. “Nice work!”

“Thanks,” I breathe, grinning. It’s cool that she’s being so supportive, especially when her name is so far down the list, at 34th.

“I’d sure like to know what kind of criteria they’re using,” Hannah grumbles. She’s standing on the other side of Vienna and her face is pinched into a sour scowl.

“Ah, come on,” Vienna says, rolling her eyes. “Don’t be salty that Fallon beat you this week.” She’s clearly teasing, but Hannah’s scowl deepens.

Not even Hannah’s pissy mood can bring me down, though- I’m on cloud nine. I look back over to the whiteboard, admiring how my name looks next to the number fourteen. My eyes flicker over to Gray, and he’s looking my way with a gorgeous grin spread across his face. I hold his gaze for a moment, return his smile. My cheeks flush and I look away.

I turn back to Hannah and Vienna, and Hannah’s just glaring at me. Her eyes go to Gray, then back to me, as if she’s picked up on our exchange.

“I can teach you a few moves, if you wanna catch up?” I offer Hannah, waggling my eyebrows. I’m just kidding around, but she’snotamused.

“Fuck off,” Hannah mumbles, folding her arms across her chest and kicking the ground.

Vienna and I exchange wide-eyed glances, both clearly feeling like Hannah’s overreacting, but we don’t poke the bear anymore.

Gray steps forward and my attention returns to him in laser-focus. He’s so damn sexy, with his perfectly tanned skin and his broad shoulders. He’s got a five o’clock shadow of stubble on his jawline, which only adds to his rugged appeal.

“Listen up!” he barks, and everyone’s attention snaps back to him.

Gray

The dull chatter of the recruits quiets, and once I know I’ve got their attention again, I continue.

“Now I’m gonna tell you the same thing I did last week,” I say. “Don’t get caught up in the rankings, because they’re always fluid. If you’re near the top, you can’t just sit around, you have to fight to stay there.” I notice that a few of the higher ranked recruits are exchanging glances, grinning to one another. They take my words as a challenge and they aren’t afraid to meet it. “If you’re near the bottom, work harder. You should be putting everything you have into your training every week. Prove to us why you deserve to be here.”

The trainees nod, mumbling ‘yes sir’.

“Good,” I reply, clapping my hands and rubbing my palms together. “We’re going to start off the week with some defensive exercises again, and there are a couple specific maneuvers that I want you to work on this morning.”

I steal a glance at Theo to see if he wants to pick it up from here, but he just nods for me to go on. I do. “Alright, I need a volunteer.”

---