Page 95 of Alpha Gray

Whoops. Wrong leg.

“Guess Davis is out for night training, then?” Shay asks, and I’m thankful for the change in subject.

Connor shrugs, reaching down to rub his shin. “Guess so. Maybe we should all take the night off…”

I shake my head firmly. “No way, guys. We can’t start slacking now! Home stretch, remember?” I look from Shay, to Boyd, to Connor.

Boyd rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. We know, you’re a maniac.”

I grin.

“Brooke, how did you put up with living with her for all those years?” Boyd asks, pointing his fork in her direction.

Brooke just giggles, tilting her head sideways onto my shoulder. “Didn’t have a choice!”

“Oh whatever,” I chuckle, shoving her playfully. “You love me and you know it.”

She smiles, giving a little nod of her head. “No matter what.”

“Good, because when I make the squad, I’m gonna see if we can get a double room in the dorms,” I say, waggling my eyebrows.

We all laugh, and it feels so damn good.

Something I never really anticipated before arriving at training camp was how every day would only make me want it more. Every day I spend with my friends, every night with my sister, every moment with Gray… I could get used to this. It would be a pretty sweet life.

I’ve never lost sight of my goal to make the squad, but now it’s like I have a dual purpose- if I make it, I get to fight, and I get to stay, too. Stay with my friends, stay with Brooke, stay with Gray. These last three days mean everything.

I still have some lingering anxiety about the full moon, but I’ve pushed it to the back of my mind so I can focus on the next three days. For now, things are good- I’ll worry about the moon and what that could mean for Gray and me only after I make the squad.

As my friends laugh together, I lift my gaze to glance across the dining hall, toward where the alphas typically sit. Gray doesn’t dine here with us often, but he’s here tonight, and our eyes immediately lock when I spot him.

I’m probably staring a second too long, but it feels there’s some strange connection stretching between us, some invisible tether tying us together.

Gray

“Gray?”

“Huh?” I ask, tearing my eyes away from Fallon’s to look over at Jax.

He rolls his eyes, sighing. “So we’ll start with one-on-ones tomorrow?”

“Oh, yeah,” I breathe, clearing my throat. “I’m good with that.” I shift my weight on the bench, leaning my elbows forward onto the table.

“You sure you want that girl on the squad, Gray?” Theo asks, his tone laced with sarcasm. He must’ve picked up on what was distracting me. “I mean, things go bad, you have to see her every day. We can go ahead and cut her for you, if ya want…”

“Oh yeah? How ‘bout I cut you?” I ask, picking up my knife and grinning as I wave it jokingly in his direction.

“Oh damn!” Jax laughs, clapping Theo on the shoulder as we all chuckle.

“If she makes the squad, she’s gotta stay for the run, right?” Reid asks. He seems excited about the prospect.

I shrug. “Maybe. We’ve talked about it. She’s considering staying.”

Brock furrows his brow. “Well why wouldn’t she?”

His words are bitter, but I don’t blame him. Not now that I know what it feels like to fall for someone, lay it all on the line.

“Wouldn’t that just prolong the inevitable?” Brock grumbles.

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