The Alpha’s Surgeon

33

Rae leaned back, a wicked grin spreading across her face. “Oh, you want chaos stories? Let’s talk about my partners in crime.”

Del groaned, but couldn’t hide her smile. “Oh no…”

Rae’s eyes twinkled as she jabbed a finger toward Remi. “Remi here—four years ago—stole the dean’s golf cart. Just… took it for a joyride around campus. Nearly got caught, too. I mean, who thinks to steal the dean’s cart?”

Remi waved a hand casually. “It was a short joyride. I returned it. Mostly intact.”

Trey’s jaw practically dropped. “She what?”

Elijah leaned forward, eyes narrowing in amusement. “That’s… insane.”

Rae turned to Del next, her grin widening. “And Del—oh, Del’s glitter volcano in the girls’ dorm room. You know, the one they really didn’t like. Glitter everywhere. Took a week to clean.”

Del groaned again. “I thought it was artistic expression!”

Will snorted. “Artistic expression that coats everything in glitter? Seems safe to say chaos is your style.”

Rae laughed, pointing between the two of them. “And that’s just the beginning. The prank war Remi and Del started at the end of freshman year? Legendary. Dorm floor still talks about it. Who knew two freshmen could turn a single floor into a battlefield of glitter, coffee hacks, and very creative humiliation?”

Remi smirked. “We were motivated.”

Del nodded, teasing. “Also highly caffeinated. And slightly vindictive.”

Trey and Elijah exchanged a glance, both silently agreeing that surviving college with these three would have required a personal hazard suit.

Rae leaned back, satisfied. “So, boys—consider yourselves warned. Chaos runs in the veins of this duo. And yes, I helped. Maybe.”

Aspen barked approvingly, tail thumping, as if to underscore: “They weren’t kidding.”

Will shook his head, chuckling. “I see now. So it’s no wonder the cabin chaos doesn’t surprise me.”

Rae just shrugged, her smirk mischievous. “Chaos is tradition, boys. You’ll get used to it… eventually.”

Del leaned back on the couch, raising a finger in mock warning. “Just… please. Don’t ever try to talk Rae into a dress and heels. That’s a hard nope from me.”

Remi snorted, glancing at her. “Yeah, remember what happened last time? She got us arrested.”

Rae threw her head back and laughed, shaking her head. “Oh, come on. I kicked three stupid idiots for touching our asses. And guess what? Didn’t even break a heel.”

Trey let out a low whistle, grinning. “Impressive. Very impressive.”

Elijah raised an eyebrow, smirking. “I’d pay to see that.”

Will chuckled, shaking his head. “Seems like heels only make you more dangerous, Rae.”

Rae shrugged, a devilish glint in her eyes. “Exactly. Don’t underestimate the power of stilettos, boys. They’re weapons in the right hands.”

Del groaned dramatically, covering her face. “I live in fear.”

Remi laughed, nudging her. “We all do. But we survive—mostly.”

Trey leaned back, clearly entertained. “I can see why Aspen trusts you. You two are absolute chaos magnets.”

Rae grinned, resting her chin on her hand. “And that, gentlemen, is just a warm-up.”

The girls exchanged a sly look, grinning like they’d just conspired on something deliciously dangerous.

“Kitchen check?” Del whispered, already sliding toward the doorway. Rae moved after her, but Remi, curious as ever, trailed right behind, silently giggling to herself.

Inside, the dim light caught the glint of something promising on a high shelf: a bottle of bourbon, mostly hidden but not quite enough to escape three curious women.

“Jackpot,” Rae muttered, lifting the bottle. Del grabbed two cups from the cabinet, and Remi quickly snagged a third, her grin spreading.

Soon, they were sneaking back toward the living room, laughter bubbling between them like they’d just pulled off the heist of the century.

Back with the boys, they plopped onto the couch, cups in hand, the bourbon between them, grinning at the sheer thrill of their tiny rebellion. “Careful,” Rae said, mock-serious, “this is very mature chaos.”

Del chuckled, lifting her cup in a silent toast. “To chaos. And being adults who get away with it.”

Remi winked at the boys, who looked up, eyebrows raised, but the girls only laughed, letting the warm, amber liquid and the shared mischief settle around them.

Del shot the boys a sharp look, her tone half-teasing, half-commanding. “Alright, enough gawking. Go grab a cup and enjoy a drink like the rest of us.”

Will blinked, smirking, while Trey raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, and Elijah shook his head with a small laugh.

“Fine, fine,” Will said, rising to grab a cup. “Don’t want to get on the wrong side of the boss.”

Trey sauntered after him, smirk still in place, while Elijah followed more deliberately, clearly keeping an eye on the girls’ reactions.

Del leaned back, smirk growing wider. “That’s better. Now we can all enjoy ourselves without you drooling over us.”

Rae laughed, handing the bourbon over to the boys as they poured themselves a measure. Remi rolled her eyes playfully. “Yeah, enjoy it—but don’t start acting like rookies.”

The boys raised their cups, clinking them with the girls’, the warmth of the bourbon and shared laughter filling the cabin. Even Aspen thumped his tail happily at the side, as if approving the adult chaos unfolding around him.

The cabin settled into a comfortable chaos, the soft clink of cups and occasional laughter echoing off the wooden walls. Rae leaned back against the counter, smirking at Del and Remi as they teased the boys mercilessly over their inability to pour bourbon without spilling a drop.

Will raised his cup with mock indignation. “Hey, I’ve been doing this for years!”

“Years of practice, my ass,” Del shot back, snickering. “Maybe if you actually paid attention instead of staring at us, you’d know how to handle a cup.”

Trey chuckled, shaking his head as he swirled the bourbon in his cup. “She’s got a point, you know.”

Elijah smirked at the banter, taking a slow sip. “At least we’re all learning patience… and humility.”

Meanwhile, Aspen had finally settled, curling into a tight little ball on the rug in front of the fire. His soft snores blended with the laughter and chatter, a gentle reminder of the calm at the center of their chaos. Every so often, his ears twitched at a particularly sharp tease or burst of laughter, but otherwise he remained contently asleep, blissfully ignoring the ongoing playful war.

Rae grinned, nudging Del with her shoulder. “See? Even Aspen approves of us… well, mostly him.”

Del laughed, rolling her eyes. “Mostly him? I think he’s just glad we’re not kayaking right now.”

Remi snorted, sipping her bourbon and letting her gaze sweep over the boys. “Don’t worry, he’s used to us by now.”

The teasing continued, soft and warm, blending into stories, laughter, and the occasional eye-roll. Outside, the last hints of sun dipped below the treeline, but inside, the cabin was alive—cozy, chaotic, and perfectly theirs.