Firm fingers sink into my bicep, dragging me farther back. “It’s over, Drax.” A new deep, rumbling hiss comes from behind me. The voice of Orin Strike. My boss. “Calm the fuck down.” His words rattle straight through me, anchoring me to the spot as they sink deep into my bones, rendering me helpless and with no choice but to comply. “Come with me.”
Something inside me snaps, my arms going limp at my sides as all of the fight leaves me. I can’t help falling into step behind the man, my head hanging in shame as I go to face the consequences.
A few girls squeak in terror at the sight of me as I follow Orin through the parting crowd. I can imagine I look a mess, caked in blood, but I don’t care. I’ve always wanted to be one of thegood guys, like my dad. But tonight, I’m the villain, ruining the superhero’s party. How ironic.
We go through a door leading us into the depths of Club Knotty, an area only staff are permitted to enter, before heading upstairs into the security staff office.
Orin doesn’t talk on the way. He doesn’t have to. I can feel his disapproval radiating from him in waves, a disappointment that is somewhat terrifying. Although he isn’t as big or tall as other alphas, at just over 6′ tall, he’s broad, and his presence is commanding enough to make anyone cower.
“It’s a good thing I agreed to cover a security shift last minute, Drax.” Orin’s steely-gray eyes pierce through me as he steps aside to let me pass into the office. “Come in.”
A cold shiver slithers down my spine as I enter. Orin is the head of security at SVU. He’s young for the position, in his late twenties, but he’s a legend. A military hero who was discharged after an injury, who saved countless lives and won coveted medals for bravery. He commands the respect of those ten years his senior, and he’s someone I’ve always looked up to, someone whose approval I’ve always sought. And now disappointment strangles my lungs, knowing he’s seeing me at my worst.
The room is small—a desk with a few well-worn chairs in front of a wall full of screens with live camera feeds, showing every angle of Club Knotty from the dance floor to the bar to the omega-only area. My heart sinks, seeing that the usually empty omega-only area is full. Fights tend to heighten alpha instincts, posing a greater risk of them going into rut, so it’s not a surprise that omegas have fled upstairs for safety after the carnage I caused. I’m supposed to keep people safe, yet what I’ve done has only put them in danger.
On the screens, I also see that Rook and Damon are managing the scene, doing damage control to calm the angry alphas and help clear the mess. I didn’t realize that three tableswere tipped over in the altercation, like a mini hurricane had torn through the bar. As if they don’t have enough to be dealing with on a Friday night without me adding to their problems.
Orin takes a seat behind the desk then gestures at the chair opposite. “Sit.”
I do as he says, although this time, I feel like I actually have a choice. My knees jump around, struggling to sit still from the adrenaline rush. I grip the chair arm, bracing myself for either being fired on the spot or losing my place at college entirely.
The top drawer of his desk creaks as he opens it, making me wince.
To my surprise, he pulls out a bottle of amber liquid, placing it down along with two glasses.
“Drink?”
“I…” My hands tremble. “I don’t understand. What…?”
“A strong ginger shot is just what you need.” He pours a generous serving into the glass then pushes it over. “You’re spiking so hard that you’re going to make yourself ill. Drink. You’ll feel better.”
I eye it warily before downing it. The fiery liquid sets my tongue alight and makes my eyes water, but it also sharpens my senses and clears out the sour smell of the club enough to bring me a sense of calm before the realization of what I did slams back into me again.
“I…” The beast from the bar has vanished, filling me with a gnawing guilt that makes it difficult to even look at my boss. I keep my gaze fixed on the empty shot glass as Orin refills it, sickened by the sight of the drying blood over my knuckles. “I didn’t mean to. It’s just…”
“I know.” Orin’s voice is surprisingly gentle. “It’s a hard burden to carry such a secret alone, especially with instincts as strong as yours. How long have you been hiding that you presented as an alpha?”
SIX
Adler
I’ve had more one-night stands than I can count. Cheerleaders, puck bunnies, random fans. Even an opposing team’s mascot at an away game last season. But I knew that they were all just casual fun. I’d wake up in the morning, not remembering their names, and happily send them on their way, but Sabs is different.
Her gleeful laughter fills the house as I dash up the stairs with her over my shoulder. Her slick-drenched pussy is so tantalizingly close to my face that it pushes me to move faster. After licking up her sweet cherry slick, my knot has been pulsing so hard that I’m afraid it’ll explode if I don’t fuck her soon.
I kick the door to my room open then throw her onto my bed, making her big tits bounce underneath my jersey that looks like it was made for her.
“This is the famous Adler Ace’s room, huh?” She smiles, eyes half-lidded with lust as she props up on her elbows, long legs extended in front of her, her bare skin rubbing all over my sheets.
“There’s not much to see.”
Despite living in a grand mansion, my room is nothing special—a desk covered in partially-completed assignments, acloset, and a bathroom. I don’t have a lot of belongings. Never have. The only personal touch I’ve added is an SVU Foxes poster.
“Wow.” Sabs’s gaze lands on the poster mounted on the wall. “Very modest.”
In it, I’m the focal point, being carried on my teammates’ shoulders. Luca is always talking about the power of visualization, so seeing it every day should help me manifest success. Theoretically.
I laugh. “It’s for motivation.”
