Page 10 of Brutal Reign (Shadowed Heirs #5)

10

T here are a lot of perks to being a shifter. The enhanced speed and strength come in handy, and the night vision is clutch. The rapid healing is pretty slick, too, but the absolute best part of shifter life is the ability to take on my animal form. When I’m embodying my wolf, all my human frustrations fade into the background and I finally get a break from all the shit that’s constantly plaguing my mind. Right now, it’s just me and the forest.

Well , and these three assholes running alongside me.

Ace, Beau, and Eli are all keeping pace, the four of us burning off our chaotic energy with a post-training run. The squad leaders posted the rankings today, and none of them seem pleased with where they fell. As a future Alpha, I didn’t get ranked- some bullshit about not wanting to measure us directly against our peers due to our elevated status– but everybody knows I would’ve been at the top of that board if I had. It’s why I was paired with Kendrick Hall as my sparring partner; the guy in the number one slot.

He also happens to be one of River’s new besties, so it was fun knocking him around today.

Ace came in seventh, and he’s partnered with Nate Hines, the guy who finished running laps first on day one. Beau and Eli were ranked twelfth and eighteenth, and they’re both salty as hell about it. They wound up being paired with each other to spar this week, though, so at least they’ll have the advantage of knowing one another’s techniques to showcase their skills and advance in the rankings.

All of it is just a fucking means to an end. If I was already a squad leader, I’d be able to pick out the best of the best within the first week. Instead, the current leaders put us through six weeks of this bullshit just to reach the same result. Once I’m officially initiated into squad leadership, I’ll be pushing for some changes to this archaic boot camp, starting with Alphas being exempt.

I throw back my neck and howl as I pivot to head back to the complex, my packmates howling back as they change course and follow my lead. Our paws drum against the earth at a steady rhythm, the sounds of the forest around us creating a symphony that’ll never get old. It’s instinctual for us to be drawn to nature; running wild and free out here is when we truly come alive.

With a swift kick of my hind legs, I leap over a massive, felled tree, launching myself into the air and landing on the other side. Then I spring off my front paws, using the momentum to propel me forward faster, quickly gaining distance on the others. The breeze whips through my fur, the birds scattering from the trees overhead and small animals diving to seek cover. I’m an apex predator, and everything out here senses it from my aura alone, wisely keeping their distance.

I eventually slow my pace as the squad complex comes into view up ahead, allowing my friends to catch up. The three of them fan out around me, and all of us ease into a leisurely walk as we come upon the grove of trees where we left our clothes, shifting back to our human forms and silently getting dressed. We’re still coming down from the high of the run, adrenaline slowly ebbing as we settle back into our human skin.

“I’m fucking starving,” Eli groans, always the first to break the companionable silence after a run.

“Me too,” Beau agrees as he adjusts the waistband of his athletic shorts on his hips. “I hope they’re serving something decent tonight.”

Eli makes a scoffing sound in his throat. “You’re too picky, man. The steak last night was awesome.”

“It was alright,” Beau mutters.

I tune them out as they bicker about food preferences, glancing toward Ace as he slides a joint and lighter out of his pocket, beckoning me with a flick of his head. I sidestep closer to him as Beau and Eli’s banter dies down.

“We’re gonna head over to the dining hall, you guys comin’?” Eli asks, turning toward us and throwing a thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the squad complex.

I glance toward Ace as he brings the joint to his lips and flicks the top of his Zippo lighter open. “We’ll catch up.”

The two of them nod in understanding, tossing us a wave as they start to walk away, while Ace lights the end of the joint and takes a long drag. He holds the smoke in his lungs for a few seconds, twirling the perfectly-rolled joint between his fingers as Beau and Eli wander out of earshot.

“Talked to Riv this morning,” Ace mumbles on his exhale, so fucking casual that it takes me a second to process what he actually says.

I jerk my head in his direction, brows shooting up. “When?”

“On her morning run.” He takes another hit, sucking the smoke in deep before holding the joint out to me in offering.

I snatch it from his fingers, pinching it between my lips and taking a hit while my mind churns. “What’d you talk about?” I grumble as I blow out the smoke and hand it back over.

He shrugs a shoulder as he takes it from my fingers. “Not a whole lot, she told me about some band she wants to see play in Boulder.” He puffs on the joint, my muscles coiling tighter with each second that slips by before he finally exhales. “She’s pretty adamant about sticking around training camp.”

My jaw clenches in frustration. “Why?”

“Said she wants it,” he murmurs, flicking ash off the tip of the joint. “That people change.”

“That’s bullshit,” I growl. “It has to have something to do with her dad passing her the Alpha rank.”

“Maybe,” he shrugs. “Either way, you two are gonna have to learn to play nice.”

“Is that what you’ve been doing?” I scoff.

Ace rolls his eyes, taking another long drag off the joint. “Just trying to keep the peace.”

I snatch it back from him as soon as he lowers it from his mouth, my hackles raising. “Whose side are you on, Ace?”

He arches a dubious brow. “Is that even a question?”

I puff on the end of the smoldering joint, scowling as I lower it and kicking the toe of a sneaker against the dirt. “You’re right,” I mutter. “Sorry. I just… fuck , you know how it is being around her.”

“Brings up old shit.”

“Yeah.” I stab my fingers through my hair, blowing out a long breath. “Ignoring her isn’t gonna work.”

“I know.”

“So what do we do? Keep trying to make her leave?”

“Worked the first time.”

I pass the joint back to him, frowning. “I’m gonna hit the showers,” I grumble, stuffing my hands into the pockets of my athletic shorts. “Meet you in the dining hall?”

Ace gives me a subtle nod, the smoke curling around his face as he puffs on the roach of the joint.

Pivoting on a heel, I start in the direction of the squad complex, passing through the gate and making my way across the vacant practice field. When the dinner bell rings around here, everyone flocks to the dining hall. It’s no surprise that the halls are empty when I enter the building, the barracks a ghost town. I grab some fresh clothes from the cabinet at the end of my bunk before heading for the locker room, glad to find it just as empty as the hall and barracks.

Even though my stomach’s grumbling in protest for putting off dinner, it’s a rare privilege around here to shower in peace. Chandler always acts like it’s a coincidence when she turns up to shower at the same time as me. She routinely claims the shower head right next to mine, as if the pathetic display she makes of batting her lashes and prancing around naked will make me suddenly want her. Back in the day, I might’ve gone for a girl like that, but not anymore. She’s too fucking eager. There’s no element of challenge in it worthy of my time.

Of course, right as I’m soaping up under the shower spray and that fleeting thought crosses my mind, the biggest challenge of my fucking life walks in. River stops cold as soon as she spots me, hazel eyes flickering with indecision as the locker room door swings closed behind her. She obviously came in here to shower– she’s got a stack of fresh clothes in her hands– but now that she’s seen me, she seems to be reconsidering that decision.

“What’s wrong, afraid to take your clothes off in front of me?” I taunt, arching a brow as I twist beneath the spray to face her fully, my heavy cock flopping against my thigh. “Not like I haven’t seen it before, but you should probably get dressed in here afterwards like everyone else does rather than parading naked through the barracks for attention.”

River narrows her eyes on me angrily, lips twisting in a scowl. “Fuck you,” she hisses.

“Dare you,” I smirk, gliding my hands over my broad chest to rinse off the soap.

Much to my disappointment, she doesn’t take the bait. Her arctic glare remains fixed on my face as she bites out, “In your dreams, dickhead.”

A chuckle rumbles in my chest as River flips me the bird, stomping over to the bench and tossing her clothes down. “You got your girlfriend waiting in the wings to steal these?”

“Maybe,” I reply, flashing her wolfish grin. “You scared?”

“More like annoyed.” She spins around, putting her back to me as she starts stripping down. Out of habit, I politely avert my eyes.

Well, for a second or two, at least. When I hear her feet slapping against the tile on her way over to the shower, I dart a glance over my shoulder, unable to resist sneaking a peek.

All the girls around here are fit, but River Jacobsen is next level. She has the kind of body men fantasize about– legs for days, dangerous curves, soft in all the right places… her full, perky tits are perfectly symmetrical, and don’t even get me started on that ass of hers. It’s like a juicy peach just waiting for someone to take a bite out of it.

According to her, someone already has. And the thought of that makes me murderous.

It’s no surprise that River chooses the furthest shower from mine, switching on the tap and rocking back a step to wait for the water to get to temperature. She holds her palm under the spray to test it, and a few seconds later she steps beneath the stream, eyes falling closed as the water cascades over her supple olive skin.

Fuck.

Oh Fuck.

I whip around to face the wall, suddenly all too aware of where my blood’s rushing. My cock thickens against my thigh, hardening at an alarming rate. Squeezing my eyes closed, I try to think of something– anything – other than the naked girl across the room, but my brain is short-circuiting, mind drawing a blank.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“What’s the matter, Seb?” River calls, a taunting lilt to her tone.

I flick a glance at her over my shoulder, clocking the little smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

Ace was right, she’s changed. River barely used to recognize her sexuality, let alone wield it like a weapon. Right now, she knows exactly what she’s doing, and the fact that I can’t control my reaction to her is goddamn infuriating.

A low growl leaves my throat as I jerk my head sideways to face the wall again.

Deep breaths, Seb. Think of car crashes. Hunter attacks. A global extinction event.

No matter how hard I try, I can’t get this fucking boner to deflate. I shut my eyes and lean into the shower spray, water cascading over the contours of my face while I draw ragged breaths.

Luckily, River doesn’t seem intent on proving her point further by drawing out her shower. Within a few minutes, she cranks the faucet off and heads over to the towel rack, pulling one off the top and wrapping it around her dripping body. As she heads for the bench, I chance another glance in her direction and her eyes immediately lock on mine. Her lips curl in that same smug smirk as before as she picks up her clothes from the bench, tucking them under an arm before turning to head for the door to the barracks.

I grind my molars as I watch her go, now seething with fury. River knows my impulse control issues better than anyone, so she of all people should know not to test me. Not when I’m teetering this close to the edge.

The moment the door snicks closed behind her, I shove away from the shower with a growl, cranking the faucet off and storming across the locker room to the towel rack. I snatch one of the fluffy white towels in a death grip as if it’s her skinny little neck, rubbing it over my body before securing it around my hips and stomping over to the door.

I shouldn’t go after her. Deep down, I know that, but I’m too far gone. Ace isn’t here to talk me down.

The door bangs loudly against the wall as I throw it open, marching down the aisle of bunks with a purposeful stride. When I come up behind River rifling through the cubby at the end of her bunk, she startles, hazel eyes widening like a doe caught in the headlights of a speeding car when she pivots around to face me.

“The fuck are you playing at, Riv?” I snarl, getting right up in her space.

She readjusts the tuck of the towel at her chest as she rocks back a step, lifting her chin and meeting my cold stare unwaveringly. “I have no idea what you mean.”

“Yes, you do.”

“No, I don’t,” she snaps. “Back off.”

“Make me,” I growl, leaning in closer.

A flare of copper ignites in her irises as her wolf presses forward in warning. “Don’t make me let my wolf out on you,” she grits out.

“As if she could take mine,” I snort disbelievingly.

She lowers her chin, leveling me with a glare. “Bet.”

I scoff a laugh. “Oh yeah? Care to test that theory? We can go out to the woods and settle this right now.”

Her body visibly tenses as she averts her eyes. “No.”

“You sure?” I press.

River’s brows pinch together in frustration, a little crease forming between them as she slaps a hand against my chest and shoves me back. “Just leave me alone.”

There’s something suspicious in the quick shift of her demeanor; something she isn’t saying. She might’ve changed over the past three years, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still read her like a fucking book.

“You hiding something, Riv?” I taunt, pressing in closer until her back meets the cinderblock wall.

She cuts me another glare, slapping a hand against my chest to shove me back again. I dig in my heels, refusing to be moved, and that’s when I notice the pleasurable little sparks simmering between our skin from every point of contact.

River sucks in a shallow gasp, abruptly yanking her hand away as if touching me burned her. “Why do you care, Seb?” she grumbles, folding her arms tightly across her chest.

“I don’t,” I lie.

“Then leave me alone.”

“Nah, I like watching you squirm.”

She huffs out a breath, rolling her eyes. “Why are you such an asshole?”

“Why are you such a tease?” I growl.

“I’m not.”

I lean in, the tips of our noses brushing. “Liar.”

I don’t know how we wound up like this, but suddenly we’re way too close, our panted breaths mingling in the sliver of space that remains between us. River tips her head back to rest against the wall behind her, sultry eyes beckoning my advance, and as soon as I edge forward, she abruptly lifts a knee between my legs.

“You have two seconds to get the fuck away from me before I crush your balls,” she warns.

That threat is what it takes for reality to finally come crashing back in on me.

What the fuck am I doing?

I shove backwards with a scowl, shaking my head as if that’ll clear the fog clouding my judgment. With each step, it slowly dissipates, until the full weight of my actions settles over me with startling clarity.

“Watch your back, Jacobsen,” I snarl, pointing a finger at her menacingly.

“You’d better watch your own, Walker,” she snaps back, and before I can even blink, she’s dropped her fucking towel, standing there radiating confidence with her hands pinned on her bare hips.

As much as I hate it, I know when I have to admit defeat. At the sight of that body, I’m immediately tongue-tied, every coherent thought in my head screeching to a halt. All I can do is turn around and leave, stomping angrily across the barracks to my own bunk while River basks in her fleeting victory.

Little does she know, this is far from over between us. It never truly has been.