Page 3 of Brutal Alpha Beast
“I’m going to head out,” I tell her. “To get some air, will you be okay here on your own?”
Ever since that night, Ellis and I were paired up, and we’ve been meeting after school in secret. We have a special spot, one in the woodland area, that’s hidden behind a small shed. It’s so far off the path, right in the corner, and covered by trees that no one even thinks to go there.
We’re supposed to meet there today to celebrate, but it’s a secret. Our pack is very hierarchical, and if anyone found out we were meeting, it would get back to Ellis’ dad, who wouldn’t exactly be overjoyed.
I’m fine with secrets; my life is filled with them.
Although I haven’t told Monroe, given our twin bond, I have a feeling she might know.
“That’s fine,” she says. “I’m going to hang inside today, I don’t feel like facing the pack.”
“We’ll celebrate later,” I tell her. “Just you, me, and some cake.”
She nods, and I wrap my arms around her, giving her a tight squeeze.
As I rush to Ellis and mine’s hidden spot, I feel a familiar mixture of excitement and nerves. I don’t know why I still get like this when I see him.
Yes, I’ve had a crush on him for a while, but we’re friends now. Just friends, nothing more. It’s casual, so I have no reason to feel as jittery and excited as I do. But I can’t help it. Meetingup with Ellis is what has gotten me through some very, very hard times.
As I approach, my heart flutters when I see his face. Since we’ve made friends, Ellis has only gotten taller, stronger, and more handsome. The streaming sunlight complements his mesmerizing burgundy eyes—they look like fire.
Ellis is sitting on a blanket filled with food and drinks.
“Well, my my my,” I joke. “I hope I’m not intruding.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Took you long enough.”
“Oh, you know, just had to get away from all my friends.”
He quickly comes to stand and takes me into a hug. I inhale his warm, woody scent. I stop myself from sighing, from melting between his muscular arms.
“Happy Birthday, idiot,” he says.
We sit side by side, my elbow touching his forearm as we gaze out at the forest.
“Cheers,” he says, as we clink our cans together.
“What excuse did you come up with to get away?” I ask him.
He removes the can from his lips. “I told them I had a hot date.”
I mock gasp. “You did not! And they believed you?”
“You think they wouldn’t?” he challenges.
“I don’t know,” I shrug. “I mean, you’d have to pretend that you managed to find someone out of the pack, someone none of them know.”
He chuckles. “You sound doubtful. How do you know I haven’t done that before?”
A sad, dark wave passes through my body. I sip again, and this time the beer tastes bitter. “I don’t know, I don’t care what you do.”
He pauses and smiles. “You’re jealous.”
I roll my eyes. “No, I’m not.”
Ellis turns and prods my stomach with his fingers. I feel it immediately between my legs. A burning sensation that makes me moist.
“Danielle,” he says, this time with an even lighter tone, “youarejealous.”
