Page 61 of Alpha Gray

“Hardly,” Fallon laughs.

It feels so natural having her in my kitchen for breakfast with my beta and his family. It’s like she fits right in. I find my mind wandering to whether she could be a part of my life, a permanent fixture. My wolf definitely wants her to be. The more I watch her chatting and laughing with Deke and Holly, the more I want her to be, too.

Before long, Deke has a towering stack of blueberry pancakes on a plate and he’s urging us to come and eat as he carries them to the table. I guide Fallon over to the table with a hand on her back and once she’s seated, I settle into the chair beside her, using my fork to pull a few pancakes onto each of our plates.

While we eat, Mason peppers Fallon with questions and I can’t help but notice how good she is with him. I find myself picturing us sitting in this kitchen with pups of our own one day, but quickly push that thought out of my head. We still barely know each other and there’s that whole fated mates problem that could ruin everything.Fuck, I’ve gotta get it together.

“Is the training camp pretty intense?” Holly asks, stuffing a forkful of pancakes into her mouth.

Fallon nods. “Definitely. I think I’ve got what it takes, though.” She turns to look at me, grinning.

I swallow a mouthful of pancakes, washing them down with some orange juice. “Fallon’s one of our most promising recruits,” I say. “But there are some others that are right up there with her, and we’re only halfway through.”

Fallon furrows her brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Just… never get comfortable,” I shrug. “You’ve gotta stay consistent, work harder every day.”

I don’t say it to be mean, I say it to push her, support her. I know how badly she wants to make the squad- I want to help her achieve that goal, even if it means being a little tough on her at times.

Holly rolls her eyes. “C’mon, Gray, lighten up.”

Aside from the other alphas, and now Fallon, Holly’s the only one who calls me by my first name. I’ve tried to get Deke to follow suit, but he insists on using my title; says it’s out of respect for me in his position as beta. I suppose Mason uses my first name, too, when he calls me ‘Uncle Gray’, which sounds cute as hell in his little kid voice.

I glance over at Holly and she’s giving me her ‘stern mom’ look.

“What?” I ask, shoving another forkful of pancakes into my mouth.

Holly just rolls her eyes again and chuckles. “Don’t listen to him, Fallon. I’m sure you’re doing great.”

“Thanks!” Fallon chirps, whipping her head around to look at me with a smug grin.

“Do you want some more?” Deke asks, picking up the plate of pancakes and holding it out toward Fallon. We’ve all eaten a bunch, but there are still a few left.

She shakes her head. “No, thank you. They were so good, but I’m stuffed,” she says, patting her belly.

“We’ve probably gotta get back to the complex,” I sigh, pushing out my chair. The legs screech across the stone floor.

Holly stands, too, and begins collecting the empty plates around the table.

“Do you have to leave?” Mason asks, his eyes wide and his bottom lip shoved out in a pout. Then I realize that he’s not asking me, but Fallon.

“Yeah, sorry kiddo,” Fallon says, rising to her feet.

Holly dumps the dishes in the sink, walking back over to the table. “Fallon, why don’t you come with me and we’ll find you some clothes that actually fit,” she suggests.

“Yes, please!” Fallon laughs. Holly gestures for her to follow and the two of them head out of the kitchen together.

As soon as they’re out of earshot, Deke turns to me and cocks an eyebrow. “So…Fallon, huh?” He waggles his eyebrows teasingly.

I shake my head, rolling my eyes. “It’s just a casual thing,” I say.

I’m starting to hate that word.

“Okay,” Deke replies, holding up his hands. He stands and begins clearing the rest of the table. “I like her. She’s feisty.”

I blow out a breath. “Yeah.”

I like her, too- that’s the problem.

---