Page 1 of Begrudgingly Yours
PROLOGUE
Playing: Meddle About by Chase Atlantic
May
There’s a moment in every alpha’s life when he has to start asking himself the serious questions.
How do I envision my future? How big of a pack do I want?
Do I shoot my shot with the pretty blue-haired omega or do I let my best friend have her?
This is what I’m currently debating. Neither of us have been able to keep our eyes off of her all night, and it feels inevitable that one of us will take her home.
And byhome, I mean the bedroom that we share at Alpha Xi fraternity. I guess whoever she doesn’t pick will have to fuck off until the magical night is over but I’m not sure I’m capable of that kind of restraint.
“We’re being cowards,” Dax hisses, taking another sip of his god-awful cocktail. Seriously, there’s way too many dark liquors in that cup.
“Of course we are. I don’t want you to be chosen over me. Justlookat what you’re drinking.”
His head whips towards me. “Excuse me? At least I’m not drinking amiller lite.”
I look at the can of beer in my hand and realize I am, in fact, drinking a miller lite. I thought it was something else, but then again, Rory was in my line of sight when I ventured off to the kitchen. I think that’s a valid reason for not paying close enough attention.
Rory. Her name short-circuits my brain in the most pleasing way. I can’t believe I’ve never seen her before. If I had ran into someone like her on campus, I would have definitely remembered. Her hair is a stunning dark blue that I’ve been tracking like a beacon. It’s tied up, with messy strands fanning her face, and it exposes all the different piercings she has lining her ears.
“That’s beside the point,” I lecture, even though I’m the one who started it. “The bottom line is… you’ve been flirting with her, I’ve been flirting with her, and neither one of us knows who she likes more.”
“Yes we do, you’re just in denial.”
I swallow the instinct to take another jab at him and instead turn to watch the woman in question across the room.
She’s talking to her best friend, who just happens to be the one responsible for tonight. Stacia wanted to do something special for her prime alpha, who also happens to be our captain.
The fact that this omega has existed this entire time right under my nose feels tragic. Like every moment not knowing her has been a waste.
It doesn’t take her long to spot us. She raises an eyebrow and tilts her head before flashing the most charismatic smile. Dax elbows me a little bit too hard.
“Did you see that? She smiled at me.”
I rub the spot where he hit me and scoff. “Atyou?”
“Didn’t you see? You were looking just as intently as I was.”
Yes, I was. That’s how I know she was smilingat me.
Dax may have more charm between the two of us, but my interactions with her tonight have been effortless. Every glance, every flirty word in passing, has lit a fire inside me that I refuse to let go out. She’s witty, gorgeous, sultry… everything I want in an omega. Whether it’s exploring this chemistry between us or simply getting to know each other better, I want to spend as much time with her as she’ll allow.
Not to mention, her sweet scent does things to me that I didn’t know was possible. When she leaned across me earlier to get her drink from the counter, deliberately teasing me, there was a rush of cranberry that hit me in the chest like a fucking puck. I’ve never responded to someone that viscerally, never felt this electrically charged before. I want to plug this feeling into a switch and use every bit of power it fuels within me.
Just as I think that, Rory makes her way toward us. Her eyes flick between us and suddenly, I’m nervous. Maybe I’m wrong and Dax is the one she’s been scoping out all night.
Before I can properly think through that scenario, she’s there in front of us, her face adorning the cutest and sassiest expression. I can’t be bothered to hide my amusement.
“Well,” she starts. “We’ve been dancing around this all night. I thought maybe you’d come ask me yourself, but it looks like I have to step up.”
We both hold our breaths. Is she looking at me? Oh god, I think she’s looking at him.
“Do you two want to get out of here?”
