Page 42 of Alpha Reid

“What?!” I blurt, cracking up into laughter while Brooke gasps and leans over to whack Quinn on the arm with the back of her hand.

The three of us are lounging atop the large king-sized bed in Brooke and Theo’s room in the squad barracks. Reid dropped me off here at the complex about twenty minutes ago, and we parted ways with a kiss that I swear I can still feel on my lips, like they’re bruised from our hot and heavy goodbye. The more things progress between us, the stronger the bond becomes and the more right it feels. Every touch, every kiss, makes this so much harder.

I don’t want to do this.

“So I guess this isn’t the kind of sleepover where we have pillow fights in our underwear and braid each other’s hair?” I chuckle, tucking my legs underneath myself and arching a brow in Quinn’s direction.

“Nah, fuck that, give us the dirt,” she laughs. Then she pauses, bringing a finger to her chin in mock consideration. “Well actually, I could be down for sexy pillow fights…”

Brooke gives Quinn a playful shove, rolling her eyes. “Okay, I amnotgoing to play into Theo’s sleepover fantasies.”

“Ew, of course he was pervy about it,” Quinn groans, making a face.

“Until I reminded him that one of the girls in attendance was his sister,” Brooke winks, and all three of us giggle.

“Hey, speaking of sisters, where’s yours?” I ask Brooke, realizing how much time has passed since I arrived without any sign of Fallon. Not that I’m complaining- I see the way that girl looks at me. Like she knows I’m hiding something.

“She isn’t gonna make it tonight,” Brooke sighs. “I guess something came up with her pack that both her and Gray need to deal with together.” She waves her hand dismissively. “I don’t know the specifics, but she just called to cancel like an hour ago and I didn’t want to call off the whole night on her account.”

“Definitely not,” Quinn agrees. “I’ve been needing some quality girl time.” She turns to me, offering a warm smile and setting a hand on my leg. “And I’m excited to get to know you better, Serena! I’m so glad you’re part of our little circle.”

“Me too,” Brooke agrees with a smile.

It’s a lot less intimidating to be around these girls when they aren’t in full force- although the two of them are obviously close, I feel like less of an outsider when it’s just Brooke and Quinn. They’re both so kind and welcoming, like they really want me to be a part of their world. When I’m around them it’s easy to get lost in the notion that I could be. I wish I could be.

I don’t want to do this.

“So back to the dirt,” Quinn smirks, sliding her gaze from Brooke back to me. “Are you two doing it yet? What’s he like?”

Brooke smacks her arm again and I roll my eyes with a chuckle. “I don’t kiss and tell,” I say coyly.

“Ooh, that good?” Quinn waggles her eyebrows.

My cheeks heat thinking back to what transpired between Reid and I on the side of the road this afternoon. I can’t believe I begged him to fuck me… or that he actually held back and didn’t. I know he wanted to, but the guy exercises control like it’s an Olympic sport. It’s frustrating. And kinda hot.

She elbows Brooke beside her, pointing to me. “See, what’d I tell you? She’s blushing like crazy!”

“Oh whatever,” I laugh, picking up a pillow and tossing it in her direction. She bats it out of the way, giggling.

Quinn pushes up on the bed, sliding off the edge and padding over to the duffel that she brought along with her. “I’m going to get you to spill your secrets before the night’s over, Serena,” she calls over her shoulder.

Although I know her comment is meant to be playful, a feeling of dread settles in my gut.

She stoops down to grab something out of her bag, then spins back around. “This’ll help,” she smirks, thrusting a bottle of champagne toward us.

“Oh my gosh,” Brooke laughs, slinking off the other side of the bed and stepping over to a mini fridge nearby. She bends to pull it open, retrieving a second bottle of champagne from inside and holding it up. “Great minds think alike, I guess.”

Though it may not be the best idea to catch a buzz around these girls and let something slip, my anxiety has my heart pinging around in my chest right now and a glass of champagne is just what the doctor ordered. I watch eagerly as Quinn pops open one of the bottles and Brooke pours the bubbly beverage into three paper cups, handing one to me before the two of them settle onto the bed again.

“So how are you liking training with the squad?” Brooke asks, turning the attention back on me.

I take a sip of my champagne, the bubbles tickling my throat as they slide down. “I love it,” I reply genuinely. “I’m kind of a workout junkie, so it’s right up my alley.”

“I’ve been impressed with how much you can do,” Quinn remarks, sipping from her own cup. “You must’ve had a lot of training before you came here.”

I shrug a shoulder, stroking the top of the blue comforter with my free hand. “I guess so. My pack isn’t nearly as organized as what you guys have going on here with the squad and everything, but warrior training starts for everyone as soon we hit high school. And then it’s optional to continue afterwards.” It suddenly occurs to me that I’m talking about my pack in the present tense, as if it still exists. My gaze flutters down and I trace a seam on the comforter with my index finger, swallowing hard. “Or it was, I guess. Sometimes I forget that it’s not…”

“Hey,” Brooke says gently, setting a hand on my shoulder and giving it a squeeze. “It’s alright, you don’t have to explain. We know.”

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