Page 53 of Alpha Gray

While I know it’s best to keep my emotions out of the equation, I’m starting to wonder if I can… because the truth is, no matter how much I fight it, she’s already got a hold on me.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Fallon

Between sessions on Friday, I finally have a chance to fill Brooke in on everything that has been happening lately. Being the perfect angel she is, she’s shocked to hear that I nearly swiped my v-card at Gray’s register, but she doesn’t admonish me for wanting to keep things going with him, which I appreciate. While it’s exciting that Gray and I have this little secret affair going, I’m glad I have someone I can talk things through with. I don’t think he’d care if he knew I told my sister. I trust her more than anyone in the word and I know she’ll keep our secret, too.

I’m actually relieved that Gray and I had the chance to talk and clarify things. I’msoon board with keeping things casual- the last thing I need to worry about during training camp is a relationship. I’ve never been in one, and I don’t think I’d be very good at it anyways. Not to mention the reason I’ve always avoided them- the ever-present fear of getting in deep with someone only to find out that they aren’t my mate. At least now I know that Gray and I are both checking our emotions at the door, which somehow takes the pressure off.

After Saturday’s training sessions, we all wait with bated breath for the cut list to be posted. The alphas never clue us in as to how many recruits they’re sending home, but after they cut ten of us last week, we’re all a little panicked. We wait around on the field following the afternoon session and after what feels like an eternity, Reid comes out of the squad complex, a piece of paper in hand. He slaps it onto the wall, glancing in our direction.

“You all know the drill,” he calls out, and we start to head his way. “If you’re cut, you’ll be heading home tomorrow.”

That’s it. No pomp or circumstance, no explanation. Reid heads back inside as we cross the field, crowding around the posting on the wall that could spell the end of our pursuit to make the squad.

There’s already a bunch of other trainees grouped in front of the list when I approach and I stand on my tiptoes behind them, squinting to see. The list is longer than I thought it’d be- eight names this time. I scan it quickly for my name- and breathe a huge sigh of relief when I don’t see it. I’ve survived another week.

I elbow my way closer, trying to get a better look at the list to see who got cut. I skim through the names again, and when I get to the last one, my heart drops to the pit of my stomach.Vienna.

I search for her in the crowd, spotting her wavy dark hair and making my way over to my friend as fast as I can.

“Vienna…”

She spins around to face me, her eyes wide and her bottom lip shoved out in a pout. I throw my arms around her, pulling her in for a hug. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper into her hair.

Vienna winds her arms around me, squeezing me back tightly. After a moment, she releases, taking a step back. “It’s okay, I kinda knew it was coming,” she sighs. She’s taking the news so gracefully, which somehow makes it even more heartbreaking.

“Vee!” Boyd calls, approaching with his arms outstretched. “I’m sorry, girl.”

Vienna gives Boyd a little smile, stepping into his hug. He rocks her back and forth as he embraces her.

“We’re really gonna miss you,” Davis says as he and Connor walk over to join us.

Boyd releases his hug and Vienna steps into Davis’ arms next to embrace him, then to Connor’s. After she’s hugged them all, she takes a step back, linking her arm with mine.

“It’s okay, guys. We’ll all stay in touch,” Vienna says hopefully, patting my arm with her other hand.

“Definitely,” I breathe, squeezing her arm with mine. “I don’t even know what I’m gonna do without you here.”

I’m gutted that Vienna’s leaving. We’ve become such fast friends and she’s just such a joy to be around. I’ll miss her boundless enthusiasm most of all.

“Well… we still have tonight, right?” she says, looking around at all of us. “And I’m going to need a proper sendoff, so we’re definitely going out.”

None of us can say no to that- we all need to blow off some steam after the week we’ve had. Later on, we all get ready to go out to the bar in Goldenleaf again. Brooke and Shay are joining us, and Shay lets me borrow an adorable backless bodycon dress with a sweetheart neckline and eyelash lace cap sleeves. It’s light blue, so it totally brings out my eyes, and it’s a more respectable length than the one I borrowed from Vienna last time- still short, but not ‘gonna moon someone’ short. Good thing, too, because the light fabric would show my panty line, so I skip wearing them altogether.

I leave my hair down for a change, feeling a little wild tonight, a little sexy. There’s a good chance I’ll see Gray, and I want to look good for him, make him want to take me off somewhere to get a little naughty.Damn, I hope he does… every interaction with him leaves me wanting more.

I’m sure Hannah will show up at the bar tonight too, but she isn’t coming with us and I can avoid her easily enough. With how great things are going at training camp and with Gray since our throwdown in the dining hall, I need to avoid that girl at all costs. All week she’s been glaring at me and snickering behind my back. She’s fucking poison.

Before we take off for the bar, Casey comes to the squad barracks to join our little group. Since she and Davis discovered they were mates, he’s been spending a lot of nights in her room rather than in his own bunk. From the moment she arrives tonight, they’re all over each other, and the rest of us just laugh to ourselves and tease them all the way to the bar.

I can already hear the music pulsing from inside the bar when we hit the end of the path and Vienna takes my hand, pulling me ahead, eager to get inside. She starts to say something, but as soon as we pull the door open, the loud music and chatter of the crowd drowns out her voice.

Vienna points in the direction of the bar and I nod, following her. As I do, my gaze immediately drifts over to where Gray was sitting the last time I saw him here- and there he is, looking gorgeous as always, seated with his back to me at a high-top table with Brock, Jax, Reid, and Theo.

“Vodka cran?” Brooke asks, tugging on my arm. I spin around to face her, nodding.

“Thanks.” I sidle up to the bar beside my sister as she orders our drinks, looking over to see that Boyd’s already chatting up Vienna.

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