Page 40 of Alpha Gray

“What?” Brooke pulls back, staring at me in disbelief. She takes my arm, walks me over to her bed, and we both sink down onto the edge.

Then I tell her everything. What Hannah said, how I reacted, and how my wolf took matters into her own hands. I tell her what Gray said, and how Boyd and Davis offered to help, though nothing they could do or say would make any difference.

Brooke just listens, tries to soothe me. She wipes the dried blood from my knuckles and chin, cleaning me up a little. Once I’ve calmed down and it feels like I don’t have any tears left inside of me to cry, Brooke goes straight into problem solving mode.

“I think you need to go talk to Alpha Gray,” she suggests. “Admit you messed up and beg him for another chance.”

I shake my head firmly. “You didn’t see how mad he was. There’s no way he’ll give me another chance. I blew it.” As I say the words, the gnawing in the pit of my stomach returns. I not only blew things with the squad, I blew it with him, too.

“You have to try. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? He can’t kick you out twice.”

I swallow hard. My throat feels like sandpaper. “Okay,” I whisper. “I’ll try.”

Brooke leans forward, wrapping me in a tight hug. It feels so good to be near her. No matter what happens, being close to my twin always makes it better. The burden is lighter when I have her to share it with.

“His room’s at the end of the hall, last one on the left,” she mumbles into my hair.

I don’t want to let go of my sister, but I finally do, finding my footing and standing up. I head toward the door, but before I open it to leave, I turn back to Brooke.

“Thank you,” I say, wiping at my cheeks again. I probably look like a mess. “I love you.”

Brooke offers me a sympathetic smile. “No matter what.”

It’s how we’ve always responded to each other’s ‘I love you’ since we were kids- a qualifier that we came up with to reassure each other that no matter what happened, no matter how we fought or how angry we might get with each other, we’ll always still love each other. Just hearing the familiar response raises my spirits a little. It gives me the confidence to face Gray.

“No matter what.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Gray

I’ve been pacing in my room at the squad barracks since I left the dining hall. My wolf is still furious, on edge, ready to tear to the surface. I should go run.

Jax took Hannah to the infirmary, but her arm was already starting to heal. She’ll be fine soon enough and won’t even have a scar to show for it. Me, on the other hand… I’m not sure if my wolf will ever forgive me for sending Fallon away.

I haven’t forgotten the way that Hannah was glaring at Fallon on the practice field this morning. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was the one who instigated the fight. Still, that doesn’t excuse Fallon’s behavior. I can’t let her get away with something like that just because my wolf wants her. What kind of leader would I be if I let my personal relationships get in the way of pack safety?

I decide to go for a run. Thoughts of Fallon must be seeping into my subconscious, because I swear I can smell her as I go to my door and pull it open to leave.

Fallon’s on the other side, raising a fist like she was about to knock. She sucks in a little breath when she sees me, her eyes wide.

I’m just as surprised to see her, but I try to shove back my emotions, keep my expression blank.

“What are you doing here?” I growl.

Fallon chews on her lower lip, wringing her hands in front of her. Her eyes are swollen from crying and I can smell the salt of the tears that have dried on her cheeks. It sends a dagger of pain straight through my chest as my wolf surges forward with the need to soothe her, to protect her. In his mind, she’s already ours, even without a mark.

“I…” Fallon starts, her voice shaky. “Can we talk?”

I should say no. I should walk away, head out for a run like I planned. I should go get my head on straight before speaking to her. But as she stands there in my doorway, looking so fucking defeated, I justcan’t.

I step aside.

Fallon walks into my dorm room, looking around as I pull the door closed behind her. I fold my arms, watching her for a moment as she glances around my room curiously, then spins back to face me.

“Talk,” I say bluntly.

She sucks in another little breath, clasping her hands in front of her again. She wrings them so tightly that her knuckles go white.

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