Page 37 of Alpha Reid

I wander outside to get some fresh air while I wait for Reid to finish up his meeting and drive us back to Stillwater, heading out through the gate and around the side of the complex toward the parking lot. I post up by the side of the building, leaning against it and looking out at the forest. The quiet rustle of the breeze through the trees is calming and being out in nature always soothes both me and my inner animal. I’ve always loved being outside, but ever since I was locked away in a concrete cell for weeks on end, I can’t get enough of it. My time in captivity made me realize how much I took for granted before.

Never again.

My eyes fall closed as I take a deep breath of the crisp air, exhaling slowly.

“Hey,” a male voice calls, and I open my eyes and turn my head in the direction it came from to see that tall guy from the bar strolling toward me. “Serena, right?”

I nod.

“You remember me?” He approaches, sliding his hands into the front pocket of his hoodie.

“Sure,” I say, turning to gaze out at the trees again. “It’s Chase, isn’t it?”

“That’s me,” he says smoothly, posting up beside me and leaning a shoulder against the building. “What are you doing out here all by yourself?”

I turn to him again, folding my arms across my chest. “Just waiting for Reid.”

“Ah,” he nods. “I’m surprised you’re not off with the other girls or something, all the alpha’s girls seem to be tight.”

My eyes flutter to the ground and I chew on the inside of my cheek.

“What, did I say something wrong?”

I give a quick shake of my head, looking back up at Chase. “No, not at all. Sorry. I’m just…” I heave a sigh. “Still trying to get to know everybody, I guess.”

Chase smiles, and it surprises me how warm his brown eyes look, like his cocky façade has slipped a bit. “Hey, I get it. I know what it feels like to be an outsider here.”

I arch a brow skeptically. “You?”

“Yeah, me,” he chuckles, shaking his head. He looks down at the ground, kicking it with his sneaker. “I mean there’s six packs here, right? And the leaders of five of them are super tight. So where does that leave me?” He lifts his gaze to mine again. “They just look at me like I’m some idiot kid rather than giving me a chance.”

“Well, I’m sure I didn’t do you any favors the other night,” I mumble, rolling my eyes.

Chase scrubs a hand over his face. “Yeah, I’d already screwed up with one of their mates, so it definitely wasn’t a good look. Though you could’ve warned me.”

I crack a smile. “Yeah, sorry about that.” I start to turn back to look out at the forest, but then the first part of what he said registers. “Wait, who?”

He chuckles wryly. “Theo’s girl? I made a comment about her glasses…”

“Okay what’s up with the glasses, though?” I blurt, throwing up my hands. “I thought they were just part of her whole look, but then I swear I saw her putting in contact lenses when we were getting ready for the bar that night…”

“Right?!” Chase laughs. “It’s weird for a shifter! I’ve heard through the grapevine that it’s some rare genetic condition the twins have, but I didn’t know that at the time. I was just stating the obvious and Theo got all fucking offended.”

“Oh god,” I groan, chuckling. “I can only imagine. I mean I don’t know him well, but the guy seems like he has a short fuse.”

“Most Alpha types do,” Chase smirks, pulling his hand out of his hoodie pocket. “This helps.” He holds up a joint, tucking it between his fingers. “You interested?”

“Sure,” I shrug, watching as he pulls a lighter out of his hoodie pocket with the other hand, bringing the joint to his lips and lighting the tip. It crackles as it lights, the paper glowing orange as it burns.

Chase takes a few drags of the joint before handing it to me, and I bring it to my lips, inhaling deeply into my lungs. I try to hold it in for a few seconds, but I haven’t smoked a ton of weed in my life and I promptly launch into a coughing fit, sputtering as the smoke leaves my lungs.

“First time?” Chase teases, laughing and taking the joint back from me.

“No,” I choke between coughs, shooting him a glare. I finally catch my breath, watching him as he takes another puff. “It’s just been awhile.”

I hold my hand out and he passes the joint back to me, and this time, I manage to only cough a couple of times after I take a hit. I can already feel the effects of the drug, my fingers tingly and my head buzzing.

We pass it back and forth once more before it burns down close to the end and Chase tosses it on the ground, stomping it out with his shoe. Right as he’s grinding it into the earth, a familiar scent hits my nose, carried on the breeze.

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