Tug of War

5 | administration

5.

administration

At first glance, Grayson O'Brien seemed a completely unapproachable man. Everything about him screamed closed off. His arms crossed against his chest, he stood in an almost defensive posture.  When I spoke, his jaw twitched, but that was the only movement. He didn't reply, or move to shake my hand, or greet me in any way. Yet, that jaw clench was enough.

       Yep. Pretty sure my ovaries just went kablewy, which was a pretty awkward thought considering I could feel the gazes of the Elders intensely on our encounter.

       Why I was being such a hormonal teenage girl today was beyond me, but really, could I be blamed?  It wasn't like I'd never seen an attractive man before, but being in a room with Adonis himself did things to you.

       Maintaining an impassive light, I tried again. "I'm Spencer, I'm sure you figured out," I offered lamely. He just continued to stare at me. I started to get rather annoyed by his reticence and redundant staring. How was I supposed to run a pack with him if he wouldn't even talk to me? So, Sassafras Spenc made an appearance. Snapping my fingers in Grayson's face, "Yo, Alpha Boy. Anybody in there?"

       My sneer made him snap out of his trancing stare, and his eyes snapped back into focus. At this point, all conversation between the Betas and Gammas had ceased, and all of them were watching with earnest eyes. "Sorry, I guess I just didn't expect The Spencer Marquette to.." Grayson gestured towards me, unsure how to go on.

       "Have tits?" I asked bluntly, slightly offended. The hot ones are always jackasses.

       Somewhat taken aback, "Well.. yeah, I guess. I mean, come on. I mean a competent teenage girl running a pack isn't.."

       An Albert Einstein quote came to mind: 'We all know that light travels faster than sound. That's why certain people appear bright until you hear them speak.'

       I raised my eyebrow and crossed my arms. "Isn't what?" He was calling me a girl, like I was five. He was the same age as me, for goodness sake's!

       "Well, Alphas are usually guys for a reason," he reasoned, like it was obvious and not offensive at all.

       Before Sassafras Spencer could go into full-blown diva-mode, Anthony broke his silence and moved in front of me. He pointed at Grayson menacingly, "Look, O'Brien. You may not give a shit about your pack, but that doesn't mean the rest of us don't. And Spencer, girl or not, will be three times the Alpha that you could ever hope to be, and you should count your blessings that you get to lead with her. Because if there's anyone who's going to tolerate and straighten out your irritating, tactless ass, it's going to be her. So, step back and lay off before you insult my Alpha anymore," he seethed.

       Grayson blinked in surprise before regaining composure. "Technically, I'm your Alpha, too."

       "That's not gonna stop me from kicking your ass."

       Naomi started forward to stop Anthony but was stopped as Wesley said, "No, don't. This is just getting good," and grabbed her arm. The moment his hand touched her, Naomi's head snapped back to Wesley. Both sets of eyes went wide, and it clicked in my head what was happening. "Mine," Wesley muttered, before drawing Naomi into his arms and kissing her passionately.

       Completely astounded, I gaped at the coincidence.  I was stuck between the urges to squeal in happiness for Naomi or roll my eyes at Wesley's cliche 'me, Tarzan. You, Jane' reaction. Could men not form a competent sentences when they found their mates? We were werewolves, not Neanderthals.