Page 87 of Alpha Gray

Hannah’s face twists into an even deeper scowl.

I throw back my head, sighing again. “You know what, Han?” I ask, throwing my hands on my hips and taking a step closer to her. “I don’t think you hate me. I think you wannabeme.”

I’m intending for my words to sting, but her reaction is the last thing I expect- Hannah slaps a hand on her chest, letting out a loud laugh. It completely stuns me- I take a step back, staring at her, trying to decipher whether she’s lost her damn mind.

“Oh, that’s rich,” she laughs, shaking her head. “You just think you’ve got it all, don’t you?” Her smile dissolves into a wicked little smirk. “You’renothing. Just another whore throwing herself at Alpha Gray.” She leans closer, dropping her voice low. “You’re not the first, and you won’t be the last. He’s just gonna use you up, and as soon as the full moon confirms that you’re not his mate, he’ll toss you aside like all the others.”

I feel like I’ve just been hit with a spray of machine gun fire. My wolf thrashes at the inside of my chest, clawing to get out, but I couldn’t let her even if I wanted to because I feel like my whole body has gone numb.

“Whatever, Hannah,” I say, but my voice sounds pinched, far away. I step toward her, shoving her aside with a shoulder and pushing past her to the door. The air inside of this room suddenly feels chokingly thick.

Hannah doesn’t say another word, and she doesn’t have to- I’m sure she could see how precisely her shots landed. Tears sting the back of my eyes as I slip into the hallway, stepping sideways and sagging back against the wall. Thankfully, Gray’s not still waiting in the hall.

Fuck.Get it together, Fallon.

I know Hannah’s trying to get a rise out of me. That’s always been her M.O.- I shouldn’t listen to a word she says. Still, I can’t ignore that nagging voice in the back of my head, that feeling in the pit of my stomach that tells me there may be an element of truth to it.

It’s like I’ve been pretending the past few weeks and Hannah’s words have anchored me back in reality. This thing between Gray and I feels so good, so right… but it can’t last. We’ve both got mates out there that fate has chosen for us. I was so fucking stupid to ignore that and let things progress with him; to allow myself to catch feelings.

I hear a toilet flush on the other side of the wall, stirring me from my thoughts. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let Hannah come out of the bathroom and see me upset like this. I push off of the wall, taking a deep breath and smoothing my hair over my shoulder, starting down the hallway.

Her word haunt me. ‘He’ll toss you aside like all the others’. I wonder how many came before me?

Shay and Brooke wave to me from the dance floor and I plaster on a fake smile, holding up a finger to indicate that I’ll be there in a minute. First, I need a drink.

I go straight to the bar, bellying up to it and leaning over the top, waving to the bartender. He spots me, and he already knows my order. In less than a minute, he’s mixed up a vodka cranberry and is carrying it over.

“Four fifty,” he says, sliding the drink to me.

“I’ve got it.” A hand slaps a twenty on the bar and I whip my head sideways to see the most gorgeous dark eyes looking down at me, the hint of a smile on the most delicious set of lips.

I can’t hide the surprise that plays on my face at how bold Gray is being tonight, which only makes his handsome smile deepen.

“Thanks,” I breathe, grabbing for the glass. I take a long sip before setting it down again, glancing at him out of the corner of my eye.

He leans over the bar beside me, positioning himself a little closer and dropping his voice low so that only I can hear him. “Wanna come back to my place tonight?”

A flicker of hope surges within me, but it’s quickly dampened by the hollowness I feel at recalling Hannah’s cruel words.

‘like all the others’

“I can’t tonight. My sister wants me to stay with her.” The lie tastes bitter as it leaves my mouth.

“Baby…” Gray slyly trails a fingertip up the curve of my waist, heat radiating out from his touch.

I shift away.

“I’ve got a life, Gray,” I snap. “I’m not just at your beck and call whenever you need me.”

My reaction catches him off guard- his eyes widen, then narrow, like he’s trying to figure me out. My cheeks heat as I immediately regret my outburst.

“What’s going on?” he asks. He doesn’t seem angry, just concerned, and that only makes this hurt more. It feels like there’s a big, raw hole in my chest and I dart my eyes away.

I give a little shake of my head. “Nothing, I just can’t tonight.”

Gray presses his lips into a tight line. “Okay,” he says with a curt nod.

I don’t let it linger, don’t let him say anything else- I just grab my drink and turn away, making a beeline for my friends on the dance floor.

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