In the Alpha’s Arms

Can’t Live With Them, Can’t Live Without Them

“Well, that was probably the worst, most entertaining dinner we’ve ever had, Alex sighed angrily, leaning against the outer wall of the packhouse. “I’ve never been a fan of Erica and it damn sure ain’t a secret. No love lost between me and her. But that was hard to sit through. Somehow I don’t remember her being so

Enca had taken off in her luxury car thirty minutes earlier, ears probably still ringing after Cole told her off. And Lita was still upstairs with Dr. Morgan. Alex saw an opportunity to set Cole straight, so he seized it.

“Yes,” Cole admitted, blowing a tense breath into the night.“I should’ve told Brody to take Lita out to eat instead. Or maybe” Cole ruffled his hair, shaking it out as his words trailed off.

Alex crossed his arms and watched Cole pace the gravel pathway that led from the packhouse to the gym.

“That’s not what I meant,” he snapped. “Lita wasn’t the fucking problem, Alpha. And you know it. Everyone knows it. That shit Erica said to Stace doesn’t get to happen again, Cole. You hear me? I stop holding my tongue if she takes another dig at Stace.”

Cole growled, throwing his hands in the air, “Erica’s just on edge. I think she’s having problems with her father. The Stace thing was too far, but I think the talk of mates must have her on edge.” Alex rolled his eyes. Cole making excuses for Erica was as predictable as Cole claiming he would reject

Lit

“There were a lot of things that went too far and it wasn’t just the comment about mates. You need to set her straight. Lunas don’t treat their future packs like that.”

“I’m not going to be able to do this much longer,” Cole admitted quietly. “This back and forth is too much. When it comes to Erica and this pack, need to make a decision and stick with it.”

Alex grunted his agreement, swiveling his attention to Brody and Mark as they headed for the gym.

“Lita probably hates me now,” Cole said, like he didn’t know how to feel about it.

“It’s fine, that’ll smooth over, Just tell her the truth, Erica has a key, and she just popped up. It’s not like you purposefully invited her here just to fuck with Lita,” Alex said, offering it as a simple solution.

Cole glared at the ground and continued to pace.

“Right?” Alex stood back up, suspecting he wouldn’t like whatever he heard. “You didn’t purposely invite her here to fuck with Lito, right? Tell me you’re not that much of an asshole, Cole.”

The growl of a response told him everything he needed to know, but Cole admitted, “I thought it would help put some distance between us, what I was like earlier. I nearly mauled her in the hallway all because she wanted to check on me.”

You saw

“You’re a real piece of shit right now, Alpha, and I say that as someone who loves you like family. I say that as someone who respects you to lead this- pack. I knew that you were an asshole, but tonight was fucked up on a different level. You need to–shit, I don’t even know. It was foul, man. Just fucking reject her, I don’t get it. Stop dragging this out.”

“Yea, I know! I hated every fucking second, don’t you get it? I feel more of her feelings as time goes on Fuck, last night I might as well have been Lita for how much her confusion and pain ran around in my own head. That’s why slept in the damn room with her while she was out. Midnight wouldn’t let it go. And tonight? I felt like absolute shit, but what the hell else am I supposed to do?”

“What do you mean, what else are you supposed to do? Anything! Do anything other than the shit you pulled tonight! Did Erica know about you two bring mates or was she just extra bitchy in a coincidence?”

“I didn’t tell her yet. I don’t know what the hell was wrong with her tonight. She said she was fine when I pulled her aside, and then said she just gets bad vibes from Lita, whatever that means.” Colle brushed it off like he did every single red flag that Erica waved

“Means she’s fucking jealous, abviously. When are you gonna learn to read women man? That one in particular is an open book. Selfish. Manipulative.

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Can’t Live With Them, Can’t Live Without Them

be like a cold shower, not a knife–fight, man.

and fax, but anyone could see her real beef was with Lita. If you’re gonna reject her, then

“It’s complicated-

just stressed over hurting the girl earlier today and damn near rabid over her getting beat up–that Alpha

have to mark her. And she’s fucking ovulating, so I’m crazed out of my fucking mind right now,” Cole had a point. He was a little on edge, wild–eyed and fidgety. Alex could see his

see that, so what? It’s still not an excuse to

point, making her hate me is all I’ve got. I told Stace and Jaz to set her up in the dorms tonight. I thought I could make it a few more

long to reject someone. I mean, you should’ve done it that first day. Itold you to do it the second I found out! Told you not to sleep in the bed last night too,” Alex said under his breath, annoyed as hell that his Alpha was playing stupid high school games. He was putting himself and everything be’d built at risk. “You’re playing a dangerous game with your wolf. You have been all the

Cole didn’t answer.

a fucking bunny. I mean, come on Alpha, how much control do you really think

to hide behind. He slid to his butt against the building, putting his head in his hands, “I fucking

“Of course you

no. He’s been saying no every fucking day for a month. I thought if I could just give him a little of her, he would be satisfied, you know? But he’s unreasonable. He’s convinced himself she’s perfect and won’t

human.

two to split so hard on anything. The wolf was just

how to do it. It was spiritual and wolves just instinctually knew how to put themselves in that headspace. It wasn’t something they could teach

deny him runs. Lock him away until he relented, but “he hasn’t changed his mind. And at this point we’re playing chicken

crave her so badly I

took a

her out of my head as it is,” Cole laughed hoarsely, his wolf finally

Alex said suddenly, “I get

liked Erica anyway. I know you two met through your parents when you were young and I know you both have baggage, but… this kind

Cole. Or

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Live With Them,

a

It’s just not that simple. You weren’t there, okay? And

Alex put his hand on Cole’s shoulder reassuringly, “It was fucked up, for sure, but

it didn’t reach his eyes. “T’ll figure it out, one way or another. Her hating me is all I could think of to put space between. us for the time being. I’m not strong enough to stay away on my own.” Alex Binched, looking at the ground. He knew how hard it

decision soon because you’ve basically told the whole pack you’re rejecting her and now you’re pushing her away. You’re going to push her right

and he scowled, “She’s

Do you really want that? To watch her with someone else? Someone from your own pack? Don’t think I missed the look you gave Brody today, and all

well he had no room to be jealous. But he

it?

bond, the bonding. But it’s done now. She’s going to keep her distance. Anyway, I need a favor,” Cole stood, dusting himself

“Yea, anything, what’s up?”

need a fight,” he laughed, jogging off

Alex laughed, following his Alpha, “Fight Andres. Fuck, fight Mark, I don’t care. I like

Cole yelled from over his

head, “Which word?

groaned loud enough to wake the dead and Alex