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Alpha Chase 30
VIENNA The harsh fluorescent lighting assaults my eyes as I work to blink them open, prying my sticky eyelashes apart. The pain registers immediately. It’s a deep ache that’s spread all over, taking root in my muscles and bones, consuming the entirety of my body in a dull throb. I’m in the infirmary at the squad complex. I vaguely remember being brought here, but all I have are scattered flashes of memory. The panic as I pressed the brake pedal to the floor and was met with no resistance. The curve that I took too fast because I couldn’t slow down. The thick trees rushing at me and the deafening crunch of metal and glass as my car made impact. I remember seeing Casey and Davis, two squad fighters that I became friendly with when I was at summer training camp. I’m not sure how much time passed between the accident and their arrival, just that I tried and failed to get the door open and required their help to get out. They must’ve just happened upon the accident, and good thing they d
Alpha Chase 31
VIENNA“What else do you need?” Chase asks, setting a Gatorade and a bottle of water on the nightstand beside his bed. “You hungry at all? The fridge was just stocked, or I could run out and grab something.”I feel like I’m in the fucking twilight zone right now; like some alien body-snatched Chase Walker and is living in his skin. Nessa wasn’t thrilled with my decision to go home with Chase, but when faced with the choice of crashing on that futon mattress on her bedroom floor or Chase’s plush, king-sized bed, my aching body implored me to choose comfort. That, and this sweet, caring version of Chase is one I could get used to. Maybe he’s just taking advantage of my vulnerability, but I don’t have it in me to fight him right now.“You know what I’d really like?” I murmur, glancing at my reflection in the mirror above his dresser. I raise a hand to my temple, scraping dried blood from my skin with my fingernails. I feel gross, I look gross, and I’ve eyed that giant porcelain soaker tu
Alpha Chase 32
CHASEThe scent of stale beer and cleaning solution hangs heavy in the air as I stride into the dimly lit bar on the edge of Goldenleaf’s territory. The squad frequents this place due to its proximity to the complex, and as soon as I walk in, I spot several squad fighters loitering around the bar, sipping cocktails and swigging from beer bottles. A few of them glance my way when I enter, but I don’t pay them much mind as I stride toward the table in the back corner. I’ve only been here a handful of times, but I know where Gray and the other alphas typically sit- it’s like their table has an unspoken permanent reservation for only them. A table that usually has five stools around it, but tonight, there’s a sixth.“Hey, you made it!” Gray calls, waving me over. Theo and Jax are already occupying their usual seats at the table, while the other three remain vacant. Gray slaps the seat of the empty stool beside him as I approach and flashes me a grin. “It’s about time we had a sixth stool
Alpha Chase 33
VIENNA The highs and lows of this week have given me some serious whiplash. Just days ago, I hit rock bottom, and now? I’m not sure I’ve ever been so happy. A lot of that has to do with Chase, and while it scares the shit out of me to let my walls down for him, I’m just going with it. I’m sick of holding myself back from the things I really want for fear that they won’t last. I keep silencing my anxiety, telling myself that good things really can happen if I just let go and let them. And after the hell I went through earlier this week, I deserve a little happy, damnit. I suppose that being swept away to Chase’s packhouse after the accident garnered a lot of attention, because when Nessa showed up to check on me the following day, all five Lunas stormed the packhouse with her. I’d already healed up except for a few minor aches and pains, but they fussed over me nonetheless- and going from feeling completely alone before the accident to being surrounded by so much support had me shame
Alpha Chase 34
VIENNA I’m having serious déjà vu looking at Chase right now, relaxed back in the center of the leather sofa with a bottle of whiskey dangling from his fingers. The only departure from the past version of him is his expression- gone is that sullen, broody boy, replaced by the one sitting in front of me with a cocky smile and a glimmer of ‘try me’ in his eyes. Too bad I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge. “Forget to mention you were having a party tonight?” I ask, my arms still folded tightly across my chest as I level him with a tight-lipped stare. He shrugs a shoulder, dimples sinking into his cheeks with his smirk. Throwing up a hand, he gestures nonchalantly to his cronies seated around him. “The boys wanted to have one.” “Uh huh.” I roll my eyes, tossing my long wavy hair back behind my shoulders. “You’re just full of surprises today.” My gaze slides to Chase’s friends surrounding him on the sofa, all on the edges of their seats as their eyes ping between the tw
Alpha Chase 35
VIENNAI have no idea what Chase has up his sleeve, but I can’t deny the little spark of excitement that comes with not knowing. As we roll out of Norbury and head toward Summervale, he starts fiddling with the stereo, muttering something about the specs of the sound system in the Jeep as he works to connect his Bluetooth to play music from his phone. We should talk, but I’ve got a feeling that our conversation will be a lot more productive after he’s cooled down and some of the alcohol works its way out of his system. Shifters can drink a hell of a lot more than humans without feeling the effects, but nobody’s sober after slamming a half a bottle of whiskey.He selects a song and presses play, the opening bars of Machine Gun Kelly’s ‘bloody valentine’ overtaking the silence in the cab of the Jeep. It’s not the upbeat, peppy version of the song- it’s the acoustic version with Travis Barker on drums. MGK’s gritty, melancholic voice comes out crisply through the speakers, the low hum of
Alpha Chase 36
CHASEThe restaurant at the lodge is deserted when I enter, the moon high in the sky and spilling its light through the large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the mountain. The bar area is still dimly lit by hanging pendant lights, casting a yellow glow over the rich wood tones of the bar itself and illuminating the shelf of liquor bottles. The only sign of life in here is a rustling sound coming from somewhere behind the bar, and as I draw closer, something clatters and I hear Vienna mutter a curse under her breath.“Need some help?” I chuckle, approaching the bar and leaning over the counter.Vienna pops up to her feet, brown eyes thrown wide as they collide with mine. “Chase,” she breathes, the husky sound of it going straight to my dick. Her long dark hair is tied back in a tight ponytail and she pulls it over a shoulder, fiddling with the ends. “You’re early.”I am, but only by fifteen minutes or so. I won’t tell her that I was waiting in the parking lot for another fifteen.
Alpha Chase 37
CHASE As we get in the truck to leave the lodge, I’m fully expecting Vienna to unleash her wrath on me for wielding my Alpha command. In hindsight, it was a stupid move- the girl hates being told what to do- but I was so desperate to keep her safe in that moment that I just acted on instinct. As I start the truck and pull away from the lodge, I’m bracing myself for the fallout. I’m ready for it. But it doesn’t come. Instead, she turns up the volume on the radio and ignores me for the entire drive back to Norbury, which is somehow worse. Fighting, I can handle. It’s practically our love language. But the silent treatment? Fucking kill me. I park the truck in the driveway and before I can even cut the ignition, Vienna unclips her seatbelt and jumps out, tearing up the front walk. I quickly follow, my long strides eating up the distance quickly so that by the time she’s walking over the threshold into the packhouse, I’m right behind her, catching the door before she can slam it in my fa
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