The Alpha’s Surgeon

32

The movie ended, the credits rolling across the screen, but the cabin didn’t immediately quiet. Popcorn crumbs still clung stubbornly to clothes, hair, and the floor, a testament to the chaos that had just unfolded. Rae leaned back on the couch, laughing softly as she brushed a few kernels off her shorts, while Del and Remi simultaneously groaned, fumbling with the straps of their tank tops.

“Ugh,” Del muttered, tugging at her bra strap. “Popcorn everywhere. Why do we even wear these things?”

Remi echoed the sentiment, lifting a stray kernel from her chest. “Seriously. It’s like, half the fun of being comfortable in a cabin just got destroyed by—what?—snack warfare?”

Rae smirked, tilting her head. “See? Another reason not to wear them. Besides the fit is already uncomfortable, right?”

Del groaned again. “Yep. Ten out of ten would never wear one for a movie again.”

Remi leaned against Rae, still brushing crumbs off her, sighing dramatically. “I think the bra just officially declared war on me.”

Will, Trey, and Elijah sat nearby, exchanging amused glances as they watched the girls’ complaints. Will chuckled softly. “I think they’re having their own battle over comfort now.”

Trey smirked, glancing at Rae. “And somehow she’s the only one laughing while everyone else suffers.”

Rae grinned, leaning into the warmth of the couch cushions. “I didn’t start it… I just survived it.”

Elijah shook his head, quietly laughing. “We really do have chaos on our hands, don’t we?”

Aspen, of course, had found a soft spot between Rae and Del, curling up and resting his head on Del’s lap, tail thumping softly as if to signal, peace at last… for now.

The laughter faded into a calm hum as everyone settled into the cushions, blankets draped over knees and shoulders. The warmth of the room, the soft glow from the screen, and the quiet chatter of the group created a cozy cocoon. Even with crumbs and popcorn lingering, the cabin felt perfectly lived-in, perfectly chaotic—and perfectly theirs.

Remi nudged Del, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “You know,” she said, glancing at Rae, “you literally just admitted you don’t wear a bra. In front of everyone. The boys, too.”

Del snorted, elbowing Rae playfully. “Bold move, Rae. Seriously, who does that?”

Rae shrugged casually, leaning back into the cushions, unconcerned. “I don’t care. It’s my body. I’m not wearing it.”

Remi and Del exchanged a look, laughter dancing in their eyes. Del shook her head, mock exasperated. “Yep, that’s Rae for you. Zero apologies, all sass.”

Rae smirked, tilting her head at them. “Exactly. You can fight it, tease me, whatever. Doesn’t change a thing.”

Remi grinned, shaking her head. “Fine. But don’t act surprised if the boys stare a little too long now.”

Rae only laughed, reaching for a stray popcorn kernel and tossing it into her mouth. “Let them stare. I survived snack war; I can survive their looks too.”

Will, Trey, and Elijah, overhearing the exchange, exchanged quiet, amused glances. Trey smirked, whispering to Elijah, “Yep… she’s chaos incarnate.”

Elijah just shook his head, trying not to laugh. “And somehow, we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Aspen let out a small huff of agreement, tail thumping softly as he nestled closer, the little chaos ambassador of the cabin.

Remi leaned back, grinning like she was about to spill a secret. “You guys think you’ve seen chaos? College Rae was a whole different level.”

Del nudged her, eyes sparkling. “Yeah, boys. You need to understand—this is not the same Rae who quietly eats ice cream. Freshman year, she basically ran the dorm.”

Rae rolled her eyes, though her smirk betrayed amusement. “Oh, sure, exaggerate a little. Go ahead, tell the story.”

Remi leaned forward, gesturing at the boys. “First week, she hacked the dorm speaker system and turned it into a full-blown dance party. Middle of the night, lights flashing, music blasting—everyone was either dancing or hiding under their beds.”

Trey raised a brow, trying not to laugh. “She did what?”

Del grinned. “That’s not even the best part. She hacked the vending machines, made them spit out snacks non-stop, and freaked out a security PA in the process. The guy thought the place was haunted or under siege.”

Elijah’s eyes widened. “She hacked the campus systems? Like… all of them?”

Rae shrugged, flipping her hair. “Well, I did have a plan. Free coffee at the campus café? Yeah, I hacked that too. Ended up giving out coffee for everyone for a week straight. People loved me. Security hated me.”

Will chuckled, shaking his head. “So your freshman year consisted of dorm dance parties, rogue vending machines, and free coffee chaos?”

Remi laughed, leaning against the couch. “And that was just the start. I still don’t know how she didn’t get caught.”

Del added, smirking at the boys. “Honestly, we were terrified, but also… impressed. She turned ordinary campus life into… well, a total spectacle.”

Rae shrugged again, nonchalantly. “I call it efficiency. Others call it chaos. Either way, everyone remembers it.”

Aspen barked in agreement, tail wagging like he approved wholeheartedly. The boys exchanged glances, the kind that silently said: Yep. This is the woman we’re dealing with.