Page 45 of Alpha Gray

“Fallon and Vienna!” Jax announces.

My heart sinks. I glance sideways at Vienna, who looks like she could be knocked over by a feather.

Crap. Anyone but Vienna! I was really looking forward to this tournament- but being pit against Vienna has definitely taken the wind out of my sails. I’m at war with wanting to give it everything I have and not wanting to take out my own friend.

I just stare blankly as Brock fills in our names on the bracket.

The rest of the matchups get assigned and we all head into the indoor arena for the first round of the tournament. Since Vienna and I are in the latter half, we won’t be squaring off until tomorrow afternoon, but I don’t know if that’s better or worse. I think it may have been better to just get it out of the way today rather than prolonging the inevitable. Either way, it just sucks.

Connor and Shay are up first. The rest of us amble up onto the bleachers on the back wall of the arena, eager to watch the first matchup and get an idea of how this is all going to go down. The alphas position themselves around the perimeter and Connor and Shay go to opposite ends of the arena, shucking their clothes and shifting.

Gray calls out for the match to begin and I actually allow myself to look over at him. I regret it as soon as I do, because his eyes fly to meet mine, drawn like a magnet. I feel a stab of pain in the pit of my stomach when our gazes connect and look away quickly.

I don’t really have any experience when it comes to guys, but I didn’t expect it to hurt this much when things ended with one. Maybe it’s because it was so abrupt, and I still have to see him every day. Losing him shouldn’t affect me as much as it does, because I didn’t lose Gray, not really.

He was never mine in the first place. You can’t lose something you never had.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Fallon

Wednesday night rolls around and I’m assigned to patrol again. I worry that things will be a little awkward with Vienna since I took her out of the tournament this afternoon, but she doesn’t hold a grudge. She’s a fucking delight, as usual, which somehow makes my victory even more hollow.

The tournament has been awesome so far. Everyone got their first match in over the past two afternoons and the victors are moving on to the next round tomorrow. Davis wound up losing his matchup against Judd, but since there was an odd number of victors advancing the alphas threw us all a curveball and chose one of the losers to move on, too. Davis got the wildcard vote from them, which he totally deserved- he put up a hell of a fight against Judd.

Boyd’s advancing, too- he gave Connor a lot of shit for losing his matchup against Shay yesterday, but now he’s shaking in his boots a little because he’s slated to go up against Shay tomorrow. I totally believe in Boyd, but Shay is a formidable opponent, especially in wolf form. I would never tell him, but I think he’sfucked.

I’ll be going up against Brennan tomorrow. He was pretty good in his matchup today against Hannah, but I’m still confident that I can beat him. Secretly, I was hoping that Hannah would win the matchup today so I could take her on tomorrow. I know it’s horrible to say, considering our history, but I kinda wanted another shot at her in a sanctioned match so I could teach that bitch a lesson.

I wish I could be as forgiving as Vienna. We head down the familiar path in the forest with Casey and Brock at dusk for patrol, and I apologize to her for what feels like the hundredth time. Vienna just shakes her head, laughing and waving me off.

“Don’t sweat it, Fallon. Honestly. I knew I didn’t have a prayer of advancing in that tournament, anyways.” She reaches out and grabs my arm, linking it with hers.

“How do you just let everything roll off your back?” I chuckle. “Teach me your ways!”

Vienna giggles, flipping her wavy dark hair over her shoulder. “Girl, I just give zero fucks.”

We both laugh, but quiet down when Brock shoots us an annoyed look over his shoulder.

Vienna lowers her voice when she speaks again. “You still pissed at Hannah?”

“Yeah.” I hate carrying around a grudge, but I honestly thought Hannah was my friend up until a few days ago. That fact made her betrayal sting so much more.

“I don’t blame you,” Vienna quips. “She told me what she said, that was so fucking cruel and out of line.”

“Right?!” I throw my eyes wide, shaking my head. “I just don’t understand why she suddenly has an issue with me. I thought we were friends.”

Vienna sighs, keeping her voice low. “She’s just jealous.”

“Then she should work harder, like I did. I don’t assign the damn rankings.”

“I don’t think that’s the only thing she’s jealous of.” Vienna looks over at me, raising her brows.

I want to tell Vienna everything about me and Gray- she has been such a good friend to me, I’m sure she’d keep my secret- but there isn’t really anything to tell, not anymore. From her expression, it seems like she already knows, so I decide to just keep it vague.

“That’s over, anyways,” I sigh.

Vienna’s eyes fly wide and she squeezes my arm with hers excitedly. “So itwasa thing? I knew it!”

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