Page 78 of Alpha Gray

I skim the whiteboard for my name. I’m listed in the left column, and Boyd and Shay are both on my team. Boyd’s arm is still slung around my shoulders and he gives me a little squeeze, like he’s just noticed we’re teammates, too.

I keep scanning the list, seeing Judd and Carter’s names in our column as well. Looks like our team will be solid. I start to get really excited, until my eyes land on the last name.Hannah.

Fuckinggreat.

“Being on the squad isn’t just about being a strong fighter,” Brock continues. “It’s about working as part of a cohesive unit, always having each other’s backs.”

I snort.Suuuure, Hannah will have my back.To stab a knife in it.

Brock darts me an annoyed glance at my interruption, then goes on. “This is perhaps the most important week of training,” he says. “You can be the best fighter on the field, but you won’t make the squad unless you prove you can be a team player.”

I give a compulsory nod, though a knot starts to form in the pit of my stomach. I’ve really got to prove myself this week, and of all the exercises to throw at us, they’re focusing on teamwork. And I’m teamed up withHannah. What couldpossiblygo wrong?

Jax steps forward beside Brock, running a hand through his beachy blonde hair. “We’re talking team drills, war games, group matchups. Work hard, but have fun with it. Learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses, use those in your strategies this week.”

“Alright, they get it,” Theo sighs, pushing in front of Brock and Jax. I swear the guy has ADD or something, he’s always so eager to just get to it. “Find your teammates, let’s get started!” He claps his hands together a few times and the recruits start to scramble.

I stay close to Boyd as we find our other teammates. There are twelve of us and the other team has thirteen. I maintain my distance from Hannah in our little grouping, keeping true to my word to stay out of her way.

“Let’s start with a good old-fashioned rumble,” Theo calls out, grinning and rubbing his palms together as Jax drags over two crates of mesh scrimmage tanks. He drops the crate with gold tanks in front of my team and we scurry to put them on over our clothes while the other team dons the black tanks.

“Gold, you take defense. Black, offense.” Theo points to a white line spray-painted across the practice field. “Gold, think of this as your border to your pack. The black team’s invading, and you have to keep them from crossing it. They’ll get a point for every player that crosses.”

We all nod enthusiastically. This drill sounds really fun- and has a practical application. As my team takes our position along the white line, I picture the treeline on the edge of the six-pack territory where I ran patrols with Brock, Vienna and Casey. I imagine the space ahead as the clearing, the black team on the other side of the arena as the opposite treeline. I bend my knees slightly, ready to pounce, grinding the ball of one of my feet into the dirt as I wait for the signal to begin.

When Brock yells “Go!”, I spring forward, sprinting with my team in the direction of our opponents. They’re running toward us, too, and when we collide, chaos ensues.

Maxwell’s the first opponent that I run into, and I duck low at the last second so his body goes rolling over mine, crashing into the dirt. Just as I spring back up, I’m met with Connor, and I grab one of his shoulders, bringing up a knee to jab him in the abdomen. As he doubles over, I spin around and there’s Shay. I almost go for her, instinctively, but she’s on my team- she shouts for me to move. I jump out of the way just as Bex is leaping toward me and Shay takes her down with a one-two punch.

I look around for a second, catching my breath, taking in the total madness playing out on the practice field. It’s like a rugby scrum- there are bodies colliding into each other everywhere, hitting the dirt, springing back up. I see Davis take down Judd, trying to break away from the group, make a run for our line.

Not on my watch. I dart in his direction, leaping over Boyd and Maxwell wrestling on the ground, tackling Davis.

We’re doing a great job of defending, but two of their players have already gotten away and crossed our line. As I struggle with Davis in the dirt, one of his teammates grabs me, scooping under my armpits to pull me off. I struggle against their hold, kicking my feet out, but Davis manages to scoot back, scramble to his feet, and take off to cross over the line.

As the black team’s numbers diminish, they’re easier for us to hold back. Boyd and I work together to keep Maxwell at bay, while I can see out of the corner of my eye that Shay and Judd are teaming up against someone else. By the time Jax whistles for the drill to end, we’re all panting and sweaty, sporting dirt-caked cuts and scrapes from our efforts.

I hold out an arm to help Maxwell to his feet, breathing heavily and wiping at my brow with my other arm.

“Come on, circle up!” Jax calls, waving us over to where he’s standing with Theo and Brock on the side of the field.

I start to walk in their direction, glancing sideways to count how many of the black team’s players made it across our line. It looks like only five of them succeeded- that’s pretty good, right?

Suddenly someone shoves me- hard- and I stumble sideways, almost tripping onto the ground. I manage to recover my footing before I hit the dirt, straightening and wheeling around.

“Watch where you’re going,” Hannah spits, her mean little eyes narrowed under her furrowed brow. Another girl named Mara snickers beside her.

I feel my face heat, anger rising as my wolf rears up, ready to tear through. I’m done playing nice with this bitch. Instead of taking a beat to think it over, I start stomping in her direction, ready to tear her a new one.

I only make it three steps when something stops me- someone stops me.

Boyd grabs my arm, spinning me around. “You alright?” he asks, looking down at me with wide eyes. His expression conveys a silent warning and his interception distracts me, gives me a moment to actually focus and consider.

I swallow hard, nodding, shoving my wolf back down. She whines in resentment.

“Yeah,” I mutter.

Boyd still has a hold on my arm and he urges me forward, toward the rest of the recruits circling up in front of the alphas.