Page 21 of Alpha Reid

Jax and Brock join them, but Reid stays glued to my side, waving the other guys ahead. “You guys got this.”

The others nod, and the looks they give Reid are a little suspect, like they were expecting him to stay back with me. That’s when it suddenly occurs to me that maybe he’s not doing it to be chivalrous… maybe he’s my goddamn babysitter.

~

As soon as we walk into the Stillwater Tap, I can see why the guys put up a fight about accompanying us here tonight. It may be ladies’ night, but the crowd is disproportionately male, and people are packed inside the place wall to wall. It’s not the worst thing entering with five alpha types, though- rather than having to fight through the crowd, it parts like the red sea to let us through.

The girls and I attract a lot of attention as we pass, but given who we’re with, nobody allows their gaze to linger for too long. The five of us got ready together this evening and we’re all dressed to kill in short skirts or dresses and sky-high heels. I’m wearing the black leather miniskirt that Quinn was so fond of, paired with a white ribbed tank top and a pair of black ankle booties. My hair’s down, crimped into waves, and Fallon went heavy on my eye makeup. The whole look is finished off with bright red lipstick, and I must look damn good because ever since I came downstairs, Reid’s gaze has been constantly bouncing between my bare legs and my red lips, the heat behind it telling me he likes what he sees.

A group quickly offers us their table, and while Reid tries to do the diplomatic thing and decline, they’re so insistent on it that we have no choice but to acquiesce. There aren’t enough seats for all of us, but the four couples we’re with don’t seem to mind, the girls sliding easily onto the guys’ laps and leaving the sixth stool open for me to take. I’ve barely slid onto it when a waitress appears at our table, laser-focused on Reid beside me.

“Alpha, what a pleasant surprise!” she chirps, reaching out to touch Reid’s arm.

As she does, I feel my wolf rise up inside my chest, the bitter taste of jealousy on my tongue. I’m completely taken aback by it- I mean I’ve known Reid for all of what, two days? Definitely not long enough to be feeling this possessive. My human rationality doesn’t extend to my wolf, though- as far as she’s concerned, the mate bond makes Reid ours, and right now, another woman is encroaching on our territory.

“Hi Sophie,” Reid greets politely, twisting around on his stool so her hand slides off of his arm. “How’s it going?”

“Crazy as usual,” she chuckles, gesturing around her. “Always is on Wednesdays. What can I bring you?”

“Beers for the guys,” Reid replies, glancing around at his friends. “And whatever these ladies want.” He turns his attention to me, his gaze dropping to my lips. “Serena?”

I’m so focused on suppressing my wolf that it takes me a moment to realize he’s spoken my name. I stare back at him, half dazed, then turn to the waitress my wolf is so fond of.

“Um, do you have grape vodka?” I ask, and I don’t miss the judgmental look she gives me before nodding. “Grape vodka and sprite, then,” I say, and I swear she rolls her eyes a little before moving past me around the other side of the table to take drink orders from the girls.

“You alright?” Reid asks quietly, leaning in toward me. I catch a whiff of his strong, masculine scent and butterflies take flight inside my tummy.

“Fine,” I reply quickly, nodding. “Why?”

Reid studies my face, narrowing his eyes. “Your wolf’s showing.”

As I look at him, I see a flash of silver in his own irises, his wolf peeking back. “So’s yours,” I say defensively.

The corner of his mouth ticks up into that sexy as fuck half-smile as he leans in closer. “What are we gonna do about these two, huh?”

Did it just get hot in here?The air between us feels too thick to breathe. Reid’s gaze drops to my lips again as I sweep my tongue between them, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Serena!” Quinn interrupts, and I whip my head in her direction, drawing a breath. Funny, as soon as I turn away from Reid, I’m no longer lightheaded and oxygen deprived.

“How’d you like your first day with the squad?” she asks from her position on Jax’s lap. “You think you’re gonna join?”

I swallow, then nod eagerly. “Yeah, I think so. I haven’t had a workout kick my ass like that in a while.”

“Just wait till tomorrow,” Fallon smirks. “We’ll be starting off with sparring. We can partner up, if you want…”

“Uh oh,” Theo mutters, his lips drawing into a grin.

“What?” I look around at the others- clearly I’m missing something.

“Nothing,” Jax chuckles, shaking his head.

For a second I feel like I’m being left out of an inside joke, but then Brock fills me in.

“It’s like a rite of passage to go up against Barbie Beast,” he murmurs, pulling Astrid backwards into his chest and tucking his chin over her shoulder to look at her. “Isn’t that right?”

Astrid sighs, shooting me an apologetic look. “I mean, let the girl work up to it!”

“Aw, c’mon, I’m sure she can hold her own.” Fallon tosses me a wink.

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