Page 81 of Alpha Chase

“Seriously, Vee?” Chase spits, his scowl deepening as he stares down at the key fob in his hand. His gaze returns to me, his eyes stormy. “How the fuck are you gonna get around without a car? Stop being a brat.”

“Mebeing a brat?” I ask incredulously. “People just don’t go around buying other people cars, Chase! I’ll save up, like a normal person.”

“Why?” he demands. “Why is it so important to you to do everything on your own?” He growls loudly, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Fuck, Vienna, why do you have to be so damn stubborn about everything?”

I gape at him, my words lodged somewhere in my throat. This is the same guy who accused me of being a gold digger not long ago, and while he apologized and I’ve forgiven him, I haven’t forgotten. I fold my arms tightly over my chest, steeling my resolve.

His nostrils flare, his eyes flooding with golden shimmers as he quickly loses patience. “Fine, then just take it till you save up,” he grumbles, grabbing my hand and dropping the keys into my palm. “Consider it a loan.”

“Chase, no…” I rush out, but he’s already backing away, holding up his hands and shaking his head.

“I’m not taking it back, so if you wanna be a stubborn bitch and refuse to drive it, that’s on you.”

“Ugh!” I stomp my foot on the pavement like a petulant child, leveling him with a glare. “I hate you!”

“Back at ya, baby,” Chase calls over his shoulder, throwing open the door to his pickup truck and climbing inside. He starts the engine, tires squealing as he peels out of his parking spot and speeds toward the road, leaving me shaking with frustration as I return to the lodge to finish out my shift.

Five and a half hours. That’s how long I’ve had to obsess over that showdown in the parking lot before my shift at the lodge ended. Five and a half hours to rehash every word, recall every frustrating detail. Five and a half hours for aggravation to bleed into remorse, and for me to realize that my own damn pride is going to be my downfall.

By the time my shift ends, I know I have to do the mature thing- suck it up and go apologize. After all, Chase’s gesture, while wildly extravagant, was ultimately well-intentioned. It’s not his fault that he’s wealthy and I’m not, and as a result something trivial to him is a huge fucking deal to me. It’s not his fault that I’m wary of handouts, because in my experience, they’ve always come with strings.

That’s how it started with Clint. A few months back, my car had a flat tire, and I called home and he came out and changed it for me. He drove me to the local garage and paid to get it replaced, and I was grateful. I never dreamed he’d come to collect payment that night. He’d always made creepy comments that made me feel uncomfortable, but he never acted on them until that night. When I woke up, he was already in my bed with his hand under my shirt. That was the first time I fought him off, but not the last time he tried. Locked doors don’t always keep the monsters out.

With every attempt, he became increasingly violent. The last one was the worst- the night of Serena’s birthday party at the Stillwater Tap. He snuck up on me while I was tucking my mom in on the couch, the element of surprise giving him the drop on me. I’m trained to fight, but that training did fuck all while I was pinned to the floor beneath two hundred pounds of shifter strength. A well-placed knee to the groin allowed me to narrowly escape, but it was a close call. Too close, which is why I haven’t been back.

I clutch the keys to the Jeep tightly in my hand as I make my way around the lodge toward the parking lot, the little rose gold ‘V’ keychain digging into the skin of my palm. One little joyride in the Jeep can’t hurt, right? After all, I have to get it back to Chase’s somehow. Something tells me after that scene today in the parking lot, he’s not going to be waiting outside to pick me up tonight.

The lights flash as I hit the unlock button on the key fob, and as soon as I open the door, I’m hit with that glorious new car smell. I have to climb up into it, but the Jeep has running boards for me to step on to get in. Of course Chase would’ve thought of that. Beneath the tough, arrogant exterior, he really is a thoughtful bastard.

Fuck, this car is amazing. A wave of excitement crashes through me as I start the engine and see the dashboard light up, my heart pounding in my chest. This thing is like a fucking spaceship compared to my rusty little Honda- it’s got all the options and upgrades you could dream of. Power windows and locks, kickass stereo, panoramic sunroof. Heated leather seats. I click the button to turn them on, and by the time I put the car into gear, I can already feel my ass getting toasty.

It drives like a dream. The engine purrs, the ride is smooth. The brakes are a little touchy, but that’s because they’re new. Definitely better than no brakes at all, which I unfortunately know from experience. I hit the power button on the stereo, the crisp, punchy beat of a G-Eazy song flooding my ears. It’s the one with Halsey that they recorded back when they were together, about a crazy couple and their twisted love affair. As I listen to the lyrics, I can’t deny how much they remind me of myself and a certain Alpha. Why do songs hit differently when you’re-aw, fuck.

I enjoy the ride to the packhouse way more than I should, soaking up all the new car feels before I hand it back over. When I turn on Chase’s street, however, I’m not expecting it to be packed with parked cars lining either side. The last time I saw this many cars, Chase was having a…

Damnit.

I press the button to turn off the stereo, only to hear the low thump of a bass beat echoing from the large packhouse as I pull up, confirming what I already suspected. He’s having a party. Guess the Vienna Vega apology tour will have to wait, because now I’m heated all over again. Is one little fight all it takes for him to slide back into old habits? If so, the two of us are hopeless together.

Pulling the Jeep into the driveway, I cut the ignition and hop out, stomping up the front walk and through the front door. The scent of booze and smoke hangs heavy in the air, the loud hip-hop music pulsing in my ears. I survey the crowd as I push my way through it, making my way to the living room and stopping short a few feet in front of the large U-shaped sectional.

As usual, Chase is posted up in the center, reclined back with his long legs spread and his hoodie slung up over his head. I cock out a hip, folding my arms over my chest as his eyes drift up to meet mine.

“Hey, Tink,” Chase drawls, a lazy grin sliding into place. “You made it.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Vienna

I’mhavingseriousdéjàvu looking at Chase right now, relaxed back in the center of the leather sofa with a bottle of whiskey dangling from his fingers. The only departure from the past version of him is his expression- gone is that sullen, broody boy, replaced by the one sitting in front of me with a cocky smile and a glimmer of‘try me’in his eyes.

Too bad I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge.

“Forget to mention you were having a party tonight?” I ask, my arms still folded tightly across my chest as I level him with a tight-lipped stare.

He shrugs a shoulder, dimples sinking into his cheeks with his smirk. Throwing up a hand, he gestures nonchalantly to his cronies seated around him. “The boys wanted to have one.”

“Uh huh.” I roll my eyes, tossing my long wavy hair back behind my shoulders. “You’re just full of surprises today.”

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