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25. Better Now (Lexi POV)
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Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 26. Pushing (Clay POV)
The sizzle of eggs and bacon filled the small kitchen as I focused on the task at hand. Cooking had always been a therapeutic activity, a way to shut out the chaos and concentrate on something simple and tangible. I plated the food and carried it to the living room. "Here you go," I said, setting a plate in front of Lexi and another in front of Luke before settling onto the couch with my own.I took a few bites before I noticed Luke poking at his food. My eyes narrowed. He needed to eat, especially given the ordeal he was about to go through. A low growl escaped my throat before I could stop it. "Eat it," I commanded, my voice laced with an urgency that surprised even me.Lexi and Luke looked up, caught off guard by the forcefulness in my tone. I could see Lexi's eyes wide with curiosity, but I held Luke's gaze. The atmosphere was tense with numerous unasked questions, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for the harshness in my voice.Slowly, Luke picked up his fork and took
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 27. Shifted (Luke POV)
I'll admit, I had forgotten how invigorating a good workout could feel. It was like every fiber of my body was alight with renewed energy. But watching Clay move, I couldn't help but wonder: how the hell did he manage to keep up this kind of intensity without the aid of substances anymore? And then came breakfast. The moment he set that plate of food in front of me, the first wave of nausea hit. The aroma of the eggs and bacon, which would generally be appealing, twisted my insides like a wet rag. I couldn't help but think, did he do this on purpose? Was this some convoluted coercion to remind me of my weakened state? Every bite was a struggle. My body begged me to stop, but my mind screamed louder, urging me to hold it together, to not give Clay the satisfaction of seeing me crumble. Anger bubbled within me with each mouthful, stewing and festering as if fed by the food I was forcing down. Then we transitioned to video games, but it was far from the distraction I needed. Each mist
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 28. Control That Volume (Clay POV)
The tension was almost tangible as we drove down the winding road in Lexi's spacious SUV. I knew the upcoming confrontation with my father was inevitable, and the thought weighed heavily on my mind. I'd seen my dad lose control more times than I'd care to admit, but the hope that Lexi's presence might have a calming effect on him clung to me like a lifeline.Luke shifted uncomfortably in his seat, breaking my chain of thought. "Is there any way to dodge your dad today?"I chuckled, shaking my head. "You know better, Luke. Dodging my dad is like trying to dodge rain in a thunderstorm. You're gonna get wet. It's just a matter of how much."As I drove, my eyes wandered to the rearview mirror often. Lexi had insisted Luke and I sit up front, which left her sprawled in the back seat, staring out the sunroof at the sky. The serene expression on her face fascinated me, and I couldn't help but wonder how she was handling all of this—me, Luke, the pending visit to pack land, everything."What
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 29. The Treehouse (Luke POV)
I watched her hand retreat, her fingers leaving a lingering warmth in my fur. My thoughts whirled as I processed the revelation. Lexi could hear me. Not just Clay, but me. If she had only been connected with Clay, they might have kept it a secret, stashed away in a vault of unspeakable truths. But now, she also heard my thoughts, opening up a channel I hadn't considered possible. I wasn't her fated mate. I'd come to terms with that a while ago, accepting it reluctantly as an inflexible fact. But there was an indisputable energy between us, something that transcended reason. Now, in my wolf form, that something became crystal clear. A link existed, intangible yet impossible to ignore. She'd petted me and told me Clay was excited about our newfound ability to communicate during our runs. The concept baffled me. The last thing I wanted was to make Lexi the middleman in any discourse between Clay and me. Even in our prime, when we would've considered ourselves best friends, our interact
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 30. Ready To Run (Clay POV)
I felt an overwhelming sense of vulnerability as I returned to my human form. I hurriedly picked up my shorts from the car, put them on, and sat on the porch, bracing myself for what would happen. My dad was on his way, and the air was filled with the scent of his Alpha pheromones, making the atmosphere edgy, even with the breeze blowing. Footsteps resonated through the ground; I felt them before I saw him. His wolf form exuded a raw, domineering aura as he emerged from the dense woods. He shifted back to human, quicker than I ever could, an unsettling reminder of his years of experience and control over his powers. "You let him back in your life, Clay? That deranged failure of an Alpha? After everything he did?" His voice tremored with disdain, piercing through the silence. My blood boiled. I was no longer a kid who'd shy away from confrontation. "First off, Luke's not a failure. Second, even if he was, it would be my choice to have him in my life. Not yours." Dad snarled, pacing
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 31. End You Myself (Luke POV)
I was drenched in sweat, my heart still pounding from the exhilarating run. But man, I felt alive like no chemical concoction had ever made me feel. The world had sharper edges, brighter colors, and Clay was beside me.The drugs never stood a chance.We returned to the treehouse, our spirits high. Lexi looked at us, a smile forming as if she knew just how transformative that run had been for us."Do you want a ride back?" Clay asked her. "The house is a bit of a trek from here.""Do we have to cross the river again?" Lexi questioned, raising an eyebrow.Clay laughed, a hearty sound that filled the air. "Yeah, but we'll take the bridge this time. He has a thing for swimming when shifted. Me? Not so much."Lexi agreed and then climbed onto Clay's back after he shifted, and I couldn't help but notice how natural it looked, like she belonged there.This time, we moved at a gentler pace, unlike my earlier frantic sprint that had Lexi clinging onto me for dear life. Now, she seemed comforta
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 32. Just Go (Lexi POV)
The next four days felt like tiptoeing through a minefield, each step loaded with clear tension. Luke oscillated between moments of seeming clarity and agitated outbursts. His nerves were frayed guitar strings about to snap. After much debate and several intense discussions, we finally persuaded him to take a minuscule amount, once or twice a day, to stave off the worst withdrawal symptoms. His physical body needed to catch up to the resilience of his spirit.Clay and Luke had more than one standoff, usually over trivial matters, magnified by the emotional weight Luke was carrying. They still kept up with their morning workouts, but those sessions were strained, a fragile truce on the balcony. I often hung out with them during these workouts until both their eyes started the light show flashing thing. At night, the clock on the wall seemed to mock us, its hands ticking away into the early morning hours. Despite the ungodly time, our conversation flowed naturally, words spilling out
Rival Alphas: Dance of Desire 33. I Know It (Luke POV)
I sat on the edge of the couch, reeling in a cocktail of emotions that had become my daily regimen. A part of me couldn't believe Clay had just left Lexi alone with me. Sure, I was volatile, unpredictable, even dangerous. But the thing was, even Clay couldn't ignore the calming effect Lexi had on me. Physically, my symptoms were a raging fire, but mentally? Emotionally? Lexi was like cool water dousing the flames. As long as Clay wasn't purposely stoking it, that is. The sound of the door clicking shut snapped me back to reality. My stomach twisted, a riot of emptiness and nausea. I doubled over, clutching the trash can for another bout of dry heaving. There was nothing left in me to vomit, but my body hadn't received the memo. Lexi, meanwhile, leaned forward to set the metal vial—a six-dose lifeline—on the coffee table. Then she was there again, her hand on my back, tracing soothing circles as I convulsed. When the worst of it had passed, I sat back and wiped my face with a tired
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