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Game after game. With a near-undefeated first season under our belts, we went to the championship.
But Declan had to fuck all that to hell and back. He betrayed us all. And our pack was never the same.
“This team,” Meg murmurs, bringing me back to the present.
“Yes,” I confirm.
Before she can ask any more questions, we arrive at the gym. I see the outdated team logo I paid a shitload of money to have etched into the doors and shoot her an exasperated glance.
“I suppose I’ll be paying to have that redone.”
She smiles widely. “If you know what’s good for you.”
chapter
thirteen
Ronan stares at me for a beat too long, his eyes shifting hotly. A second later, he’s back to his cool mask. He opens the door and gives me one last pointed look. “If anyone bothers you in here, you will tell me.”
It’s horribly rude for him to bark at me. Unacceptable, actually—but he doesn’t know I’m not a beta. So I just nod and pretend like his command didn’t sock me in the stomach. “Yes, sir.”
I ignore the too-pleasant hum that surges through me when I acquiesce to his order. The truth is, as good as it feels, I hate it. It feels like the height of injustice—not only am I smaller and physically weaker than him, my body tells me to obey him. Begs me to. In a desperate way it really never has before.
The clang of dropped weights interrupts the odd moment. I inhale quickly, testing the air. It’s mercifully clean. I can still scent Ronan, of course, just like yesterday, but it’s muted in here.
When the smoke—musky, masculine, woodsy, and sweet—first hit me in the parking lot, it was all I could do not to snap into one of my fits. I had to breathe through my mouth the whole way to the gym, and I’m still praying I don’t lose my grip.
But all these other shirtless alphas grunting and sweating? Nothing.
I ignore the way Ronan studies me, as if waiting for some sort of reaction. Instead, I turn toward the enormous exercise floor stretched out before us. Rows of machines, weight benches, and padded floor mats, all in the same matte-black and brilliant orange stretched over Ronan’s muscled chest.
With a disappointed sigh, he leads me around the periphery of the room. I force down the skittish impulse to flick my eyes from one alpha to the next, but it’s hard. My instincts tell me not to turn my back on any of them.
Ronan’s on edge too. The further into the gym we wander, the tighter his shoulders look from behind. I notice him shooting glares at anyone who so much as glances at us.
By the third guy, a confused giggle bubbles out of me. “Is everything okay?”
Ronan’s jaw works, and he speaks through gritted teeth. “Remains to be seen. Your plan mentioned viral videos of the team working out?”
“Yep,” I agree, digging in my purse for my phone. “They’re funny. I have a couple saved on TikTok. Do you want to see them?”
Ronan shrugs. “I’d rather you show me what you can do.”
I have to stifle a grin. Somehow, I knew he’d ask me that. I already have an account set up for the team; and I saved several viral sound clips to record content with.
“All right,” I agree, game. I wave my hand at the floor. “First, we need to pick the hottest guy here.”
Ronan’s features fill with disapproval, but his eyes ooze heat. “And who might that be?”
My smile feels grim. “That would be Declan Howard.”
Declan Howard. Asshole extraordinaire.
I regret my request the second Ronan motions for me to follow him.
Still, Declan’s attractiveness is an indisputable fact. He’s arguably the hottest guy in the whole damn country, let alone this gym.
As much as I loathe the idea of starting yet another social media account starring his handsome, stupid face, I reassure myself that using him to get things going isn’t the end of the world. As soon as we have a proper following, I won’t have to see him nearly as much. Or at all.
