The Alpha Can't Know I'm His

#3 - Being Super Weird

Ryker

"He'll totally tank my A game!" I growled, slamming my fist into the nearest tree at the thought of sharing my room—my sacred space, my inner sanctum at Lycadale—with a lowly omega. "What the hell is coach thinking?"

Josh, my best friend and Beta, leaned casually against a tree, arms crossed, smirking. "Since when do you care about Coach's rules? They've never stopped you before." His lips split into a wide grin. "I'm pretty sure a weak omega from nowhere can't either, so I don't get why you are being such a little sissy about this."

I froze. A little sissy? Was he serious?

A flash of irritation surged through me—too fast, too sharp. Before I knew it, I had Josh pinned against a tree, my wolf Maximus growling low in my chest. We didn't take too kindly to the insult.

But was that really what set me off? Or was it the insult towards the omega?

Goddamn, this was— Why the hell did we even care about the new omega roommate again?

"What the hell, man?!" Josh choked out, shoving me off—barely.

I exhaled hard, stepping back with my hands raised. "Sorry, I don't know what came over me."

That was a total lie. I knew exactly what had come over me. It had everything to do with him—that damned omega.

Quinn.

His name rang in my head, deepening my irritation. Why did I know his name again?

This was so not me.

At Lycadale, I was the Alpha, no, I was the king.

I didn't notice people, they noticed me.

I most certainly didn't remember them, I was the memorable one.

I didn't go to them, they came to me. And yet with that little mutt, I had run up to him before I even realised.

From the moment I saw him, I'd had this funny feeling. He... interested me, somehow.

And after tripping him, after our fingers brushed, it had felt—

No.

I shut the thought down before it could take shape. I refused to name it either.

"You sure you are okay?" Josh scrunched up his nose at me.

"Why wouldn't I be?" I snapped.

"That." My beta gestured all over me. "You are being super weird."

I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. "I'm fine. I just hate sharing, you know that."

Josh flashed me a sloppy grin. "Which brings us to a much more important, more interesting topic. Chicks, booze and more heavenly booze." He wrapped his arm over my shoulder and I cringed at his closeness for whatever reason. Thankfully, he was too excited about tonight's party to care.

"And I, your right hand Beta will make sure there will be no sharing tonight," he said winking. "And you'll be too wasted later to care about a nameless omega."

Quinn.

My unwanted roommate's name rang in my head as if it refused to be forgotten.

Argh.

"What do you say, Alpha? Race you to yours?" Josh smirked, drawing out my own smirk.

"Actually, I've got a better idea." I grinned before shifting and landing on all fours, Maximus getting on the prowl as soon as I let him loose.

Josh's eyes went wide. "You can't be serious."

"What, afraid of a little duel with your alpha?" I mind linked my best friend. Although a little duel was putting it mildly. Too mildly. Because someone was bound to get hurt and that person wasn't going to be me. It would be bloody but running wasn't going to cut it for my mood. I needed to shove that little omega out of my head—and what better way than drawing a little blood? Or a lot.

I inwardly grinned. "What do you say, little mutt?"

"Arrogant much?" My Beta mind linked mid shift, flaunting his flawless, huge wolf as he too landed on all fours.

Pride filled me, watching him. My family had been blessed by the best line of betas from the moon goddess, but sadly he would be no match for me.

"Are you checking me out, alpha?" Josh sassed.

What the hell?

I glared at him.

Why would he think I was checking him out? And why did it bother me so much that my best would even say anything like that?

"And why would I do that?" I snapped, Maximus growling at our beta.

"Oh, I don't know. Because I'm awesome." He pranced about, his wolf showcasing himself to me and Maximus.

I knew he was only playing, but it annoyed me enough to lunge for his throat. It took me too long to realise I'd fallen right into his trap. He'd been baiting me and I was too distracted to know it.

Crap.

Josh dodged my assault just as his claws ripped through my fur drawing blood.

It stung. Not enough to kill me, but that is not what whoever gasped loud beyond the trees thought.

I stopped, frowning, looking out among the trees, wondering who dared to interrupt me. It was all Josh needed to take a swipe at me again.

My shoulder stung next. The bastard.

Maximus snarled, pissed off by our Beta's assault.

"Now that's more like it, pretty boy—"

My wolf leapt, cutting off Josh's retort, our target locked in as we let everything fall away, except the need to draw blood.

An hour later Josh and I stalked towards the raging bonfire s***h welcome party for the newbies. We were freshly showered, healed from our blows, but most importantly, my head was in the perfect space. Ready to party and bury myself in a few skirts tonight... or more.

That was before, that voice hit me and my wolf suddenly went crazy.

"Reese, I really don't do parties." Quinn's voice carried into the space, instantly irritating me. "What the hell is he doing here?" I growled taking in the little mutt or more importantly, the hand from the other jerk resting on his arm as Quinn was pulled towards the fire. I wanted to chop off that hand.

"Whose hand are we chopping off again?" My beta asked as he shoved a drink in my hand, making me realise I'd spoken out loud.

"No one." I downed all the contents of my glass, surprising Josh. I wasn't such a fast drinker.

"You are really being weird today," Josh commented, scrunching his nose. "Hope it won't be the case with the she wolves lining up to please their alpha tonight." His gaze went over to a group of giggling girls watching us. "As always, his highness gets to choose first," My best friend bragged.

I watched, but for the first time, I wasn't taken with the usual sight, no matter how short or inviting the skirts were tonight.

My eyes itched for someone else. Someone way beneath me as future alpha of Stormhowl Pack. Someone with the most striking eyes that had pierced me to my core with one fleeting look and a touch that woke me in ways I never thought possible. Someone totally forbidden to me even if I could have anything I wanted... someone like him.

I found myself staring, right into those striking eyes.

My breath hitched.

My heart raced.

My blood rushed.

Maximus purred.

No.

This wasn't happening.