Page 36 of Alpha Hunt
I’m already up when Casey emerges from the bedroom, looking exhausted. She’s in a change of clothes, but somehow, it looks like she slept in them. Her normally sleek ponytail hangs limply.
“What are you doing up?” she grumbles as she takes in the sight of me. I’m freshly washed and dressed. I took a shower in the guest bathroom earlier, and I’ve changed into the spare training gear I keep in my gym bag, which I found in the living room when I got in last night. I’m guessing the rest of my stuff is here somewhere because it hadn’t been in the room I once had in the barracks when I checked yesterday.
“I like to get an early start to the day.” I shrug, pouring a mug of coffee and handing it to her. She frowns into the steaming mug. “Cream and sugar?” I ask. I know she takes it black. She shakes her head and ambles sleepily to a tall stool at the breakfast counter, taking a sip as she sits. She inhales deeply.
“You made breakfast?” She looks down at where I’ve set plates and cutlery on the counter.
“The refrigerator was stocked.” I sit across from her. “I thought you’d be hungry. We skipped dinner last night.” I gesture to where I’ve set out scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and golden toast. “Help yourself. “
“This is…nice.” She stares around at the food. Then she picks up a slice of buttered toast and nibbles at a corner. A glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice sits beside her plate, the condensation beading on the outside. She traces a droplet with her fingertip, the corner of her mouth tilting up.
She likes it. I’m glad. It’s a simple meal, but I’ve made it with care, hoping to start our day off right.
I watch as she serves up egg and bacon, then reaches for her fork and starts spearing at her food. She eats with gusto. Like she’s in a hurry to get somewhere. That doesn’t surprise me. Casey Stone does most things with purpose. As she catches me watching her, her eyes narrow.
“What?” she says. She’s suspicious of why I’ve done this. And yet, she’s secretly charmed. I look away from her to hide my smile, turning my attention to my own food. We sit like that, eating in silence for a while. I don’t choose to break it. I’m not one for idle small talk.
Finally, she speaks. “Why did you sleep in the guest room?” she asks, her tone a mix of curiosity and something else I can’t quite place.
I shrug, keeping my expression neutral. “I thought it would be better for the time being.”
Her brows pull together, and I can feel the conflict within her. There’s a part of her that seems disappointed, as if she’d hoped for something more. Yet, she’s still trying to hold me at arm’s length, resisting the pull between us.
And there’s certainly a pull. Even if I can’t quite understand it yet. But I know I need her to embrace that connection fully before I can take the next step in our relationship. For now, I’ll give her the space she needs, even as I work to break down the walls she’s built around her heart. And there are certainly walls. A fortress.
That doesn’t trouble me. It’s something I understand.
Finishing the last rasher of my bacon, I push my plate away and stand, then reach for hers. She’s practically licked her plate clean. A female with an appetite. And she can fight. And beautiful to boot. Could a woman get any more perfect?
“Thanks,” she mutters. It would sound ungracious if I didn’t know that beneath it, she’s trying to stifle a smile. “We should get going.”
“Ready whenever you are,” I say as I rinse off our plates and set them on the drying rack. She frowns as she watches me. She didn’t expect that there was this side to me.
We leave the apartment and make our way onto the street. Nothing is familiar, and I observe our surroundings with curiosity as I walk beside Casey in the early morning light, our footsteps echoing through the quiet streets of the neighborhood. It’s that silent time before the day begins its regular bustle.
The buildings lining the sidewalks are picture-perfect, with neatly trimmed lawns and colorful flower beds. A sense of tranquility hangs in the air, the world still asleep as the sun begins to rise over the horizon. There’s a warm glow across the rooftops.
So this is what “normal” feels like…
As we make our way through this fresh territory, I can’t help but notice the way Casey’s eyes dart around, taking in every detail. There’s a hint of wonder in her expression, a softening of her usually sharp features. I find myself drawn to this side of her, the part that allows herself to be captivated by the simple beauty of a peaceful neighborhood.
“This is nice,” I say, the sound of my voice surprising me. I hadn’t planned to say anything.
“Just a street in the morning,” she responds, shoving her hands into her pants pockets. She shares my sentiment, though. I read it in her. She hadn’t expected any of this when she’d made her decision to find a mate. She’d never thought beyond the walls of the world she’d created for herself. This is different.
She likes it
For me, this experience is both foreign and alluring. Having spent most of my life on the fringes of society, never truly belonging, I’m struck by the sense of community that emanates from these homes. The years I spent as an outsider, always looking in from the periphery, have left their mark on me. But here, walking alongside Casey, I feel a glimmer of hope, a possibility of finding a place to call my own.
We arrive at the gym, where Tarkin and Gage are already waiting for us. They greet us with playful grins and good-natured teasing.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the ‘newlyweds’!” Tarkin laughs, his eyes sparkling.
“How was the big night?” Gage chimes in, waggling his eyebrows.
To my surprise, Casey doesn’t bristle. Instead, she fires back with a quick wit of her own. “Wouldn’t you like to know, boys? Too bad you’ll never find out.”
Their laughter fills the air, a camaraderie that I observe with interest. The easy banter between Casey and the other males is a side of her I’ve noticed before but never been part of. I find myself drawn to it, wanting to understand the dynamics at play.