The Alpha - Joel Abernathy Page 0,2

the Hillyards had left, Colt loosened his collar. He wasn’t cut out for formalwear.

“You know, the charmer routine will only work until one of them is smart enough to figure out you’re mocking them,” Evelyn said, watching him in disapproval.

“Given the level of self-awareness I’ve seen in our species so far, I think I’ll be alright,” he said, going into the kitchen to pour himself a glass of bagged blood. Usually, he didn’t like indulging since it had to come from somewhere, even if no humans had been killed for it, but that night, beer just wasn’t going to cut it.

Chapter 2

“You know, you didn’t have to do this. I could’ve hired movers.”

“What, and shatter my fragile alpha male ego?” Colt quipped, hefting another box out of the truck they’d rented to move Jason’s things from his dorm room to his new apartment in the heart of the city.

On the one hand, Colt was relieved they would be able to have sex without the whole soccer team knowing about it. On the other, he wasn’t thrilled that Jason would quite literally be in the middle of ghoul central. The area was safe enough from human predators, but it was teeming with ghouls.

At least Colt had a security force to command now. He knew his subordinates were already rolling their eyes because he had a tail on Jason whenever he couldn’t be there himself. After what had taken place with Miles and the Browns, he wasn’t taking any chances.

“Well, at least we get to spend some time together,” Jason said, following Colt up the stairs with another plastic bin. Colt had never realized just how many things you could pack into a dorm room until he’d signed up to help Jason move. The other half of the truck was loaded with things from Jason’s old room.

“Yeah, it’s nice,” Colt agreed, setting the box down on top of what he hoped was the beginning of the last stack.

“I feel like I hardly see you anymore between your job and this internship,” Jason said, tossing Colt a bottle of cold water from the refrigerator before opening one for himself.

“Yeah, you know how it is. Corporate…stuff.”

“I still can’t believe after all that fuss about not leaving your old company, you ended up taking the first offer you got out of Bracher.”

Colt shrugged. “You were right, I was being overly sentimental about it. Founders made me a better offer, so I took it.”

“The CEO must have been impressed with the way you handled the New Plaza Condominiums to offer you a job in operations.”

Colt was starting to get the feeling he was being interrogated. Again. “She was.”

Jason arched an eyebrow. “I see. And would this high-powered CEO who’s so taken with you happen to be attractive?”

Colt smirked, taking a seat on the couch. “Some might say so.”

“Some, huh?” Jason wandered over to the couch and slipped his knee between Colt’s thighs, jutting up into his groin. Colt wheezed before Jason shifted to settle on his lap. “And what do you think, hm?”

“She’s not my type,” Colt admitted.

“And what is your type, Mr. Jager?” Jason asked, smoothing his hands over Colt’s shoulders and down his biceps.

“You know. Smart, sexy, kinda nerdy. Stubborn to the point of absurdity,” he said with a lopsided grin, resting his hands on Jason’s waist. “Crazy in the sack. It’s a hard combo to find.”

Jason’s lips quivered, but he kept a straight face. “I see. That does sound like a very specific type.”

“It’s a shame all the good ones are taken,” Colt said, his lips brushing Jason’s.

“Mmm. Well, I know a guy who happens to be exactly my type, but lately I could swear he’d been replaced by some stranger in a suit.”

“I’m losing track, are you the good cop or the bad cop in this interrogation?” Colt half-teased. “Because I’m all for roleplaying, but if we’re gonna do this, I’m gonna need you to be wearing less clothing.”

Jason rolled his eyes. “It’s not an interrogation. I’m just an office grunt, remember?”

“That’s not what Andrew says.”

“Oh, you two are close now, are you? Do you brunch?”

“From time to time,” Colt said unapologetically. “Let’s just say we’ve bonded over our mutual goal of keeping you alive.”

Jason scowled. “That’s the last thing I need, you two teaming up.” A familiar glint of determination came into his eyes. “I don’t know what happened between you two at WaterFire last year, but I will figure it out.”

Colt didn’t doubt it. He was just hoping to put