Page 3 of My Ruthless Alpha

Sydney pulled a smile for me through the tears, and she nodded. “All right…get ready to go. I should get out of here before my scent lingers too long.”

Aware that time wasn’t on my side, I snapped back to the present and pulled away to grab whatever we needed. Sydney slipped out of the house, and as much as I wanted to spend more time with her before leaving, I knew it wasn’t possible.

I quickly put whatever I could into a bag and did my best to prioritize. With my focus narrowed on getting as far away as possible, I packed light, and by the time I finished, I was so strung out that I could hardly think.

Instead, I told Margo we were going on a quick trip, scooped her up, and left the house.

Luckily, the grounds were quiet as I ducked out through the trees and stayed as far away from any main paths or roads as I could.

Knowing I couldn’t risk being seen, I held Margo against me, urged her to stay quiet, and ran as fast as I could with her in my arms.

I didn’t know how long I’d be able to maintain it, but regardless of my strength, I knew I couldn’t waver. For Margo, I couldn’t let myself get caught.

I wasn’t prepared to spend my life without her in it, and I certainly wasn’t going to let Colton take me as his mate.

Chapter 2 - Beau

The house was rowdier than usual while the game played on the flatscreen, and the guys sat around drinking and downing snacks for the night.

My place was normally quiet and spotless, but that changed when our group wanted to hang out, but nobody felt like trudging over to the old bar. It was unusual for us, and while I could’ve lived without the chaos, I didn’t mind having them around.

“All right,” Levi said just after half-time, standing from the recliner he took up as his seat of choice from the moment he arrived. “I should head out.”

Ethan scoffed, throwing his arms up. “What, already? The game’s not even over yet.”

He chuckled. “There’s not much I can do about that…you know how it is.”

“Some of us have others waiting for us to get back home,” Sebastian added with an amused grin, also getting up from his spot while he stretched absentmindedly.

“And some of us will get reamed out for being home too late,” Ezra piped up, quietly admitting that Zoe didn’t let things slide with him too often. Not that it was a secret, anyway.

Ethan waved them off with a shake of his head. “Some of ussound incredibly lame…bunch of old-timers…”

The others snickered, and Jacob gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Old timers that can still beat your ass if we need to.”

“Yeah, sure,” he muttered before a smug look crossed his face. “We both know your knees would give out before that could ever happen.”

“Being the youngest of us must be nice,” Levi said, unprepared to stay quiet during the light-hearted banter. “Being so presumptuous, ignorant, and sorely misguided.”

Ethan chuckled. “Try incredibly strong, fast, and quick-witted. I’d be afraid of putting you into a nursing home after a spar between us.”

Levi laughed at that, grinning as he held a hand out to dap him up, but not without keeping his fingers locked against Ethan’s, keeping a mischievous air about him. “Whatever helps you sleep at night, kid.”

“Yeah, yeah, get out of here,” Ethan returned, letting a faint smile cross his lips. His eyes flickered over to me as he grabbed a can of something new and tossed it my way. “That just means more for us, right?”

Catching it easily, I put it down beside me. “That’s right.”

“You two enjoy bachelorhood together…we’re out of here,” Sebastian said while the others followed, and they started leaving the room.

On their way out, we said our goodbyes, and then Ethan and I returned to our places and continued watching the game.

Taking a swig of my drink, I lifted a brow and glanced at him. “This isn’t your usual cheap crap.”

Ethan snickered. “Nah, I grabbed something imported since you guys wouldn’t quit harping on me. It’sfancy,apparently. Whatever the hell that means.”

“You have to admit it has a more refined taste.”

“Refined my ass…it doesn’t beat my usual,” he retorted with a vaguely disappointed shake of his head. “Remind me not to let myself conform to criticism next time.”

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