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23
BROOKE
“Alright, so what are we doing?” I ask, approaching Theo at the complex gate. “Surprises are great and all, but I can’t really dress for the occasion if you don’t tell me what we’re doing.”
It’s silly to even say that since I spent an hour getting ready for this casual hangout with Theo. I put in my contact lenses, curled my hair, and agonized over what to wear for a good twenty minutes. I ultimately settled on a tight pair of black skinny jeans and a white cropped t-shirt. It’s Fallon’s shirt- she must’ve left it in my room at some point and it wound up in my laundry. It’s not something I would typically wear, but when I’m around Theo I feel a little confident, a little sexy. Like I’ve said so many times, nobody looks at me like Theo does.
The outfit has its desired effect. Theo’s rakes his gaze over my body, his eyes lingerin
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Alpha Theo 24
BROOKE “Are you okay?!” Fallon asks, pulling open the door of the packhouse. I’m standing on the front stoop, looking like hell, feeling worse. After Theo stranded me on the side of the road, I had to walk all the way to Goldenleaf- several miles. I stuck to the road, half expecting him to come back for me once he calmed down. He never did. My feet ache in my sneakers- the backs of my heels are rubbed raw from my walk of shame. My hair’s all windblown and tangled and I’m sure my mascara is running from the tears of frustration I shed after Theo drove off. Judging by the look of concern in Fallon’s eyes, I must look like a mess. My sister steps outside, throws her arms around me, and I immediately burst into tears. Fallon rubs my back and rocks me from side to side, trying to soothe me as I sob into her hair. “Come on,” she coos, pulling back and sliding an arm around my shoulders. “Let’s go inside
Alpha Theo 25
THEOMy head is pounding when I squint my eyes open, rolling over in my bed. Judging from the light spilling in through the crack in the curtains, it’s late in the morning- maybe even early afternoon. I throw the sheets off and heave my body upright, twisting to set my feet on the floor. My hand flies to my temple, the pain of my headache searing with every movement.I push off of the bed, rise to stand. Take a step and fall backwards onto my bed again, startled by the sharp sting of pain radiating from the bottom of my foot.What the fuck?I lean forward, peering down at the floor beside my bed. The lamp that was on my nightstand is lying on its side, surrounded by thin shards of glass from the shattered bulb.I pick up my foot, raising it to my lap and turning it sideways. A piece of glass is sticking out of the bottom, dark red blood pooling around it. I pick it out, stare at my foot as my s
Alpha Theo 26
BROOKE It feels good to be home. It’s my safe place, my comfort zone. Even though the complex is technically ‘home’ now, it’s not the same as being back here where I grew up. I’ve always loved Summervale. I haven’t left the house since my dad brought me here on Saturday morning. I think my parents can tell that something’s wrong, but thankfully they’ve given me space and haven’t pried. I’ve been trying to stay busy, cooking with Mom and watching baseball on TV with Dad. Anything to get my mind off of Theo. At night, when I’m alone with my thoughts, I’m tortured by my memories. I keep replaying them over and over in my mind- how it felt to lay beside him and listen to music when we were in Denver, to let go and take that ski-lift ride up the mountain, that kiss… I keep trying push out the good memories, to focus on the bad and turn my pain into anger. I have to make myself hate him, because that’s the only way i
Alpha Theo 27
THEO “You look rough,” Gray mutters, pulling open the door of the packhouse. “I feel worse,” I groan. I scrub a hand over my face, looking past him. “Is she here?” Gray nods solemnly. I don’t even know why I asked. I already know she’s here- I can sense her, feel the pull of the mate bond. I reach up, tugging at my hair, shuffling my feet. “Can I come in?” “I don’t know, man,” Gray grumbles, holding his position in the doorway. “Please?” My voice is hoarse, gravelly. Desperate. Gray heaves a sigh, stepping aside to allow me entry. I stride inside, turning to watch Gray close the door behind me. He spins around, his eyes dark, sullen. “Look, Theo… you really fucked up.” “You think I don’t know that?” I snap. I walk over to the nearest couch, sinking down onto it and lowering my head into my hands. Saying that I fucked up is an understatement
Alpha Theo 28
BROOKE “How can I go back there?” I mumble, staring blankly at the floor. “I don’t think I can do it…” “Stop,” Fallon barks, tossing a pair of leggings at me. I look up right as they’re about to hit me in the face, snatching them out of the air. “You’re way stronger than you give yourself credit for. You’ve got this.” Fallon’s pump-ups usually work, but not even she can drown out my nagging doubts this morning. I appreciate that she’s trying to be supportive, but she has no idea what I’m going through- her experience with the mate bond was frickin’ perfect, a total dream! I’m still reeling from my own. I shimmy the sleep shorts that Fallon let me borrow down my hips, kicking them away. “I don’t want anyone to know, not until I figure out what I’m gonna do,” I grumble, shaking out the leggings and pulling them on. I hold my hands in front of me and Fallon tosses me a t-shirt. I shed the one I sle
Alpha Theo 29
THEO “Wanna trade partners?” Fallon asks, panting as she approaches Gray and me. It’s another hot one out on the practice field for morning training, and we’re about to call it and break for lunch when she walks up. “Sure,” I shrug, looking toward Davis. Fallon has been partnered with him most of the morning and she’s been giving him a run for his money- the guy looks whooped. I start to walk toward him when Fallon speaks again. “Nope, Gray gets Davis,” she says, folding her arms and arching her brow. “You’re mine.” Fuck. This girl just wants an opportunity to kick my ass for what I did to her sister. Not that I blame her, but surely Gray won’t agree… I look to him, and he just smiles, shaking his head. “Good luck,” he teases, clapping me on the shoulder and striding away to join Davis. I watch after him for a moment, then turn back to Fallon. She’s already circling me, getting in position to spar, a de
Alpha Theo 30
BROOKE Maybe I’m a fool, but it’s damn near impossible to stay mad at Theo when he flashes that gorgeous smile and turns on the charm. I swore those things would never work on me, but then again, I also swore that there was no way I’d catch feelings for someone like him- and a few kisses later I’m all gooey and swoony. I’m not sure if it’s the mate bond or his display of raw vulnerability that has my walls tumbling down again, but either way, it feels good to be with him, for him to hold my hand, to laugh and joke and for him to call me ‘kid’. There’s a warm familiarity to it all, like we’re falling back into step with one another. He has me forgetting about the pressure of the mate bond, of the ticking clock to seal it- instead, when I’m with him, I’m at ease, like we can just relax and keep getting to know each other. And then there’s those kisses. Holy crap! I’ve never felt my body come alive like that. My
Alpha Theo 31
THEO “Alright, so if you click this button here… then your view changes to all of the feeds at once. See?” Brooke spins around in her chair, peering up at me. Fuck, she smells incredible. It’s taking every bit of willpower I have to not lean down, kiss those pouty lips of hers. Instead, I stand rigidly, positioned behind her desk chair in the hub, blinking at her monitor. “Uhh… sorry, which button?” I ask, scrubbing a hand over my face. It’s hard to focus when she’s sitting in front of me looking like that, smelling like that. Brooke sighs, her brow furrowing in frustration. She spins back around, placing her hand on her mouse, demonstrating. “This one.” My eyes follow the cursor on the screen as she moves it. We’ve got the new border cameras wired, and Brooke has been spending the afternoon getting the feeds connected and the system up and running. I don’t know anything about this tec
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