Page 2 of Step Alpha

Casey releases me as if my skin burns her. “Back off, Runt.”

I let out a dry chuckle. “I’m the one with her back smashed against the wall, here, Casey.” I dare to meet her eye for a moment, and I see the pain behind her gaze.

Apparently, getting real with Casey worked because she abruptly turns on her heel and stalks away, her long, thick ponytail swinging behind her.

I sag against the bricks in relief.

Looks like I get to live another day. Getting beat up at school would be just another point against me at home.

A reminder that when Logan Woodward, a member of Wolf Ridge pack royalty, married my mom three weeks ago, he took on the biggest loser in the pack as his new stepdaughter.

Something for which I’m quite certain his son, Wilde, former team captain of WRH, will never, ever forgive him.

Something for which I’m sure my new stepbrother will make me pay dearly.

* * *

Wilde

Our hotel room’s popping, party vibe on full blast.

The smell of humans is thick in here. I’m used to the stench, but I still hate it. It’s in the locker rooms, the hallways at school. In the frat house where I live with my so-called buddies from the team. It’s a dull, sickly scent.

Or maybe it’s just that my senses have dulled from living amongst humans.

All I know is, most days, I’m crawling out of my skin pretending to be one of them. At the moment, there are far too many packed in one place.

Duke just crushed Clemson, so my teammates are celebrating their asses off. Cheerleaders from both teams circulate in skimpy clothing. It’s funny to me that the Clemson girls would come. I guess they have no loyalty to their own kind. Humans are weird like that.

I’m not surprised they were invited. A lot of my teammates have a thing about conquering the other team’s women. Some primal shit, I guess. Honestly, I was going to try to cheer myself up with a tall, leggy fake blonde, but something has my wolf on edge.

Some prickling. Some awareness that I need to keep my wits about me. Pay attention. Which is why I’m the only sober one here. Not that it’s really possible for a wolf shifter to get wasted. We metabolize way too fast. Everyone’s doing lines because we just got drug-tested yesterday, which means we’re safe to sample for a few more weeks.

Our quarterback and my roommate, Ryan, went out to buy more beer, which we definitely don’t need, considering how much Big C we have. Ryan is a senior, and I’m a sophomore, but we’re the star players, so I rank high enough socially on the team to be his roommate. Either that or I’m the only guy he trusts not to steal the very large amount of snow he bought before the game to sell when we get back.

We already got thrown out of the pool area and the bar. That’s how things ended up here, in our room. The manager asked us to keep it down about twenty minutes ago, but we didn’t pay much attention.

I walk to the window and look out, rubbing the back of my neck. My wolf must have drawn me there because I see two cop cars below.

Fuck. This must be why I had no urge to join the party.

“Everybody out. Cops are here.Now, people.” I use some alpha command into my voice, even though they’re humans. Sometimes they’ll respond to it, depending on how sensitive they are to energy.

Most of these people are too fucked up to notice.

I put my fingers to my lips and whistle then hit the lights on and off. “I said, everybody out. The cops are on the premises. Party’s over.”

There are groans, but my teammates put a little hustle into it, knowing if we get busted Coach Granview will kick our asses. The cheerleaders grab their discarded clothing. The guys claim their women for the night.

The cops arrive as the last people walk out the door.

And…there’s white powdery probable cause all over the dresser.

I would’ve been better off letting the party be broken up by the cops because now there’s a whole lot of coke and just one guy.

Me.

I literally just set myself up to be the lone guy taking the fall for Ryan and the rest of the dickheads on my team.

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