Page 59 of Alpha Reid

“You’re not. Can you imagine how fucking boring it would be if you were both like that?”

We both laugh softly. He’s got a point; Reid and I are so different, but maybe that’s what makes this thing between us so exciting. Together, we’re many things- chaotic, confusing, messy, turbulent - butneverboring.

Behind me, I hear the front door of the packhouse swing open, and again I can’t help the knee-jerk reaction of my chest tightening. I whip my head over my shoulder to see who it is, surprised to see Astrid, Quinn, and the twins piling in.

“Hey Serena!” Quinn calls, a bright smile on her face. Her eyes drift to Chase as she steps inside, examining him curiously. “And Chase. What are you doing here?”

“I was just about to take off actually,” he supplies, shoving his hands back in his jeans pockets. He pushes off of the banister, leaning in a little as he passes by me. “Catch ya later, Serena.”

“Yeah, see ya,” I say, giving a little wave as Chase heads for the door.

He tips his head to the girls as he shoulders past them. “Ladies.”

As soon as Chase pulls the front door closed behind him, Quinn snaps her attention back to me. “Why was Chase here?” she asks.

“He just stopped by to check in, see how I was doing,” I say, walking to meet the girls halfway as they start toward me.

Quinn’s interest is clearly piqued. “Are you two friends?” she questions.

Before I can answer, Brooke pipes up. “Why would you wanna hang out with Chase, anyways?” she asks, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

I shrug. “He’s the only person who doesn’t expect anything from me.”

It’s the truth- everyone else I’ve met here expects me to fit into this box of who they think I should be as Reid’s mate, to play a particular role and act a certain way. Chase is the only one who hasn’t made me feel like an imposter. I think Astrid understands my sentiment- she offers a supportive smile, while Fallon, Brooke, and Quinn appear a little skeptical.

“I like Chase, he gets me,” I continue, feeling a little awkward in light of the girls’ reactions. I slide my gaze between Quinn and the twins as the three of them exchange glances. “Why, what’s wrong with Chase? I thought he was like, part of the group now?”

“He’s kind of a jerk,” Brooke mumbles, eyes drifting down to the floor.

“Total douche,” Fallon echoes.

I shrug again. “He’s always been nice to me.”

“About that…” Quinn murmurs, nudging Fallon with her elbow.

She takes a little step forward, stroking her long blonde ponytail over her shoulder. “Sorry about yesterday,” Fallon grumbles. “I was a bitch. I didn’t know your whole situation, I was just…”

“Don’t sweat it,” I interrupt, waving her off to avoid confrontation. “In all fairness, youwereright.”

“How are you doing?” Quinn asks, eyes wide with sympathy as she reaches out to touch my arm.

Astrid steps up right beside her, both girls knowing no boundaries when it comes to personal space. “How’d the talk with Reid go?”

“It was…” I wince, trying to search for the right words to describe it without getting into details about the big blowup and anger bang that happened before we actually talked. “It was a little rough at first, but then it actually went really well. I mean, the man’s a saint, right?”

I startle as I hear the door to the packhouse swing open again, and I look past the girls to see Reid stepping through this time. His presence immediately affects me, my body relaxing, the tenseness in my shoulders dissipating. The profound shift makes me realize just how jumpy I’ve been since he’s been gone. Our gazes collide from across the packhouse and I instantly feel calmer, safe in his presence.

I vaguely see someone else come in behind him, but I can’t look away- I’m held hostage by Reid’s stare. His lips tug up at the corner into that fucking smile that gets me every time. “Hey, Red.”

“Hi,” I breathe, pinned to the spot I’m standing in by his roguish gaze.

“Ladies, I hope you don’t mind, but my mate and I have some things to discuss…” Reid says smoothly, breaking eye contact with me to glance around at the girls.

“Fine,” Quinn sighs, sharing a conspiratorial look with the others before turning back to me. “We just wanted to make sure you were alright. We’ll talk soon, okay?”

“Sure,” I nod, though I’m slightly suspicious about the glances that everyone else seems to be exchanging suddenly.Am I missing something?

I look past Reid to see Theo and Gray standing near the door, no doubt here to collect their women. I mumble goodbyes to the other girls and once everybody leaves, I look to Reid expectantly, waiting for him to fill me in on the meeting and whatever the hell it is that everyone’s being so cagey about.

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