Page 85 of Alpha Gray

I can’t think of better reasons to celebrate. This week at camp was really tough, especially after being put on a team with Hannah. Thankfully, after Gray caught her messing with me at war games on Wednesday, she kept her distance… but her fate was sealed. In a week where it’s all about teamwork, it’s not exactly a bright idea to go after your own teammate.

When I saw that Hannah’s name was on the cut list and that mine and my friends’ were absent, it took every ounce of my self-control not to whoop and cheer and celebrate right there, at her expense. Instead, I decided to be the bigger person; my friends and I quietly congratulated one another and made plans to go to the bar in Goldenleaf, as has become our custom for Saturday nights.

The bartender starts sliding drinks Boyd’s way and I help him pass them out to our friends- Shay, Connor, Davis and Casey, and Brooke.

“Cheers, guys!” he says, holding up his glass. “Home stretch, we fucking made it!”

We all laugh, clinking our glasses together.

I still can’t believe it- one more week, and I’ll know whether or not I’ve made the squad. Nothing can bring me down tonight.

I raise my glass to my lips, downing my entire drink in a few gulps.

“Whoa, easy killer.” Davis chuckles as he watches me from where he’s seated on a barstool with Casey on his lap, reclining against his chest.

I lick my lips, slamming my empty glass down onto the bar. “What? We’re celebrating!” I let out another laugh, pounding my fist on the bar top. “Another!”

“Are you celebrating that we didn’t get cut, or that a certain someone did?” Shay asks as she sidles up to me, winking.

I shrug as my lips spread into a mischievous smirk. “Maybe both.”

Shay and I giggle. She knows how much Hannah has been getting under my skin lately- we’re both happy to see that bitch go.

Boyd taps me on the shoulder, shoving a fresh drink in my direction. I have no idea how he ordered another one so fast, but I take it eagerly, sipping it through the little swizzle straw. I’m definitely in the mood to let loose tonight, but I should probably pace myself.

“You don’t think she’ll show tonight, do you?” Shay asks, raising a brow.

I shrug again, rolling my eyes. “I don’t even care. She can’t touch me anymore.”

I truly feel untouchable with the way things are going lately. Maybe I really can have it all- a spot on the squad, a tight group of friends who have my back, the sexiest alpha as my secret lover…

“Thank you!” Brooke chirps, coming up beside me and plucking my drink out of my hand.

“Hey…” I object, reaching to take it back. She relinquishes it only after she’s had a couple of big sips.

“So with your nemesis out of the way, you’ve got a clear shot to the finish line, hm?” Brooke asks, waggling her eyebrows.

I toss her a wink. “Totally.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Fallon,” Davis warns, and I whip around to look at him. “We’ve still got another week left.”

Casey nods in agreement from her perch on Davis’ lap. “The last week is the hardest.”

We all look around at one another, the somber reality of our situation settling in. We may be in the home stretch, but we’ve still gotta make it to the other side.

“Well we can still do night practices,” Boyd suggests. “I think those are really giving us an edge.”

I blow out a breath. “Can we just celebrate tonight and worry about that tomorrow?” I ask, my tone laced with annoyance.

I came out tonight to have fun, not worry about training camp. That’s all I do all week- I think I’ve more than earned a night off.

“Of course!” Shay laughs, clinking her glass with mine. “Bottoms up, girl, we’re gonna hit that dance floor.”

My face spreads into a grin and I tip my glass to her, bringing it to my lips and tilting it back. As always, it’s heavy on the vodka and burns a little on the way down.

Boyd reaches over and takes our empty glasses from us, depositing them on the bar. As soon as my glass is out of my hand, Shay reaches for it, grabbing Brooke’s hand with her other one.

“Let’s do this!” She tugs my hand to pull me away from the bar, stepping backwards as she glances over her shoulder. I follow Shay’s gaze to the dance floor and can immediately see why she’s so eager to get out there- Judd. Ever since they danced here together a couple of weeks ago, Shay’s been harboring a huge crush.

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