His Trouble Maker

Chapter 6

JESS

We’ve been driving for thirty minutes.

Thirty. Entire. Minutes.

Gray hasn’t said a single word about where we’re going, which, to be fair, isn’t exactly shocking. He’s not the talkative type -at least, not with me. With me, it’s always clipped commands, sharp glances, and long silences thick enough to suffocate someone less stubborn.

Unfortunately for him, I’m not exactly known for my survival instincts.

I’ve come to terms with the fact that, in Gray’s perfect little Alpha–brain, I’m just another bratty omega who needs to fall in line. The thought alone almost makes me snort. Me? Fall in line? Over my dead body.

I cross my arms, making sure to shift just enough to make it obvious I’m annoyed. Childish? Probably. Satisfying? Absolutely.

“Where are we going, Alpha?” I ask. The word still feels wrong on my tongue – like I’m tasting something bitter – but whether I like it or not, Gray is the next Alpha of this pack. Might as well get used to it.

He barely spared me a glance, but he reached out and adjusted the aircon, angling it directly at me. Well, he always does that. I just noticed now because what the hell? Did Pierce tell him about how I always get car sick?

1 chew on the inside of my cheek, deciding to just be quiet. The road looks familiar. Maybe he’s just going to dump me at his father’s office, deliver the brat personally, like some kind of package marked fragile but annoying.

Fine. Whatever. I can survive that.

“Are you seeing Logan?”

My head snaps toward him.

“What?”

Gray’s jaw flexes. “You didn’t answer the question.”

I blink. Because huh. That’s… new. I force a laugh. Fake as hell. “Didn’t realize you cared about my dating life.”

“I don’t.”

Liar.

“Do you ask all your packmates who they’re screwing, or am I just special?” The second it’s out, I realize my mistake. My breath catches–just for a second–before I force myself to look away, quickly, tou quickly. My hand twitches against my leg before I shove it under my thigh, pinning it down.

“I mean—obviously I meant dating. You know. Like… relationships. Normal, appropriate–”

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Chapter 6

“It was a simple question, Jess.”

Yeah, sure.

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simple girl who makes simple choices and doesn’t have the

happens.

slow, feeling the heat prick at my skin. I’ve been asked this question before. Plenty of times. Hell, too many times. I

words roll off my tongue, lazy and just a

“Logan’s cute.”

+20

cut of his expression, but he doesn’t look at me. He

I frown.

licks his lips, slow, like he’s forcing himself to stay in control. And then, finally, he looks at

“You like him?”

tell him that. Instead, I laugh, quick and sharp, shaking my head. “What, are you

a joke but when Gray snorts, it was ugly, mean and dismissive like having that idea is the dumbest thing he’s ever heard in

Ouch.

crossing my arms, leaning

shrugged.” Just curious. You both

do you mean

being mean again and just focus on the road. Sometimes, I wonder what goes inside the head

in there.

stares back at me, narrowed eyes and tight lips, the neon signs from passing buildings

“You could do better.”

I blink. “Sorry, what?”

like the conversation

like it’s enough. Like the name itself is the insult.

all

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Chapter 6

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+20

mean to, threads catching under my nails. If he weren’t my Alpha, I’d put my fist through that smug face

One. Two. Three.

It barely helps.

my mouth – ready

to train

Train me.

–

on the wheel

he beats

I wish I didn’t. What the hell does

he has to deal with. His knuckles flex against the wheel, and his jaw–oh my god, his

“Training. You need it.”

because what the actual fuck? “Gray, I know you have

control.” His voice is flat, unbothered. “You run your mouth. You act on impulse. You make

“Wow.”

he just

of course he is.

I hate him.

“I’ll make you stronger.”