Chapter 3

Nates eyes moved beneath his closed lids. He licked his dry lips and exhaled a puff of sour air. Suddenly a breath bounced back at him, his nostrils wrinkling. The hellhound shifted his face and inhaled something that smelled fresh and booze like against his nose. A warm body was tucked in his arms squirmed with a quiet huffed noise, small feet digging between his ankles.

Nate tightened his left arm's hold around the person, who hummed ever so softly and nuzzled their head backwards. The person was motionless and silent for a long beat. Their breaths synced up, their chests and backs expanding and touching for each inhale or exhale. The frat house was quiet, no one traipsing up and down the halls in football gear or making protein shakes in the kitchen—no one having sex on the pool table for a change.

Curiosity finally overpowered sleepiness. He opened his green eyes and lifted his head off the pillow only to squint at the bright light. Why does he always forget to close the blinds? The Alpha grunted about it under his breath and then blinked a few times as he dragged his gaze up and down.

That's when he spotted an unknown beta in his bed. Her hair long, platinum blond sprawled over his high count thread bed sheet.

The Alpha pinched the duvet away from the stranger's chest wondering about her. 'Huh,' he thought with furrowed brows. It wasn't the first time he'd taken a girl with a pretty face to bed, and it likely would not be the last. As long as none of the said girls got too attached or made a public spectacle, life would go on as usual. It was one of the many benefits of being a rich hellhound, a star athlete in the modern age.

The Alpha shut his eyes and yawned.

The beta beside him stirred, opening her eyes to look at him. She sat up and grinned at him like they both knew a secret. Frankly speaking, he didn't even remember her name. His head throbbed lightly, the burn in his throat intensifying with every passing second.

"All good?" The beta cooed, purposefully letting the duvet fall off her naked body.

It took him a moment. Of course, he was very well aware of the trick they pulled to lure him in. He had experienced that one too many times. Not that it affected him. Leaning against the headboard, he blinked at her.

"What's your name again?" He asked.

She made an offending noise, crossing her arms together. "You don't remember?!"

Nate rolled his eyes. "I was drunk."

"Jade"

"Jade. Right," He said, holding out the word, his honeyed baritone echoing in the room. The Alpha yawned again. "Cool. You know the way out, I assume."

"Are you kicking me out?!"

"Yes," He said and stepped out of bed, pulling his black boxers on the way. Nate could hear her mutter something under her breath, but he was too hungry to argue with any of that.

***

When he stepped into the common area, he spotted his best friend Chase sitting with the rest of the team. They didn't even bat an eye at his half-naked form, probably used to it by now. After all, he was mostly running around with his joggers. The Alpha let out a mighty yawn; his arms stretched as wide to the sides as he could manage. He released his stretch.

"Anyone make breakfast yet? I'd kill for some MCD right now!" Nate mumbled, walking towards the table and plopping on his seat. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed the same platinum blonde beta walkout. She slammed the door extra hard.

"What?" He angled himself towards Chase. "What's everyone looking at me for?"

"That's the fourth one this week" His best friend sighed.

"And you have a problem with that?"

Chase lifted his hands in the air. "Don't look at me. I am just reminding you that you need to be careful."

Nate huffed under his breath before taking a huge swig of the orange liquid. Chase was looking out for him as a good friend, but the Alpha didn't want to think about anyone else at the moment. He already had a lot going on.

***

As soon as Nates eyes fell on her, his first thought was, Whoa.

Actually, no. That's a lie. Mostly, he drew a blank face at the person sitting in front of him. He went still when faced with the most prettiest girl he had ever seen. She had long brown hair, with legs for days that were beautifully fitted in black leggings. The loose baggy shirt slipped off her shoulder a little, exposing her wheatish skin.

Her round pink lips distracted him for a while, long enough for him to picture kissing her. Putting his mouth all over her skin, littering with his marks. Just the thought of him made his inner hellhound claw at his inside.

"You're staring, bro," Chase muttered, planting a sharp elbow in his side. Which, ouch. The Alpha startled out of his frozen state, and the girl, Alina was still not paying him any attention. She had yet to catch sight of him. He was slouching a little, trying to get noticed by her.

"I'm not" He hissed, elbowing his friend back.

She read the precise moment to lift her head. And she froze. Recognition dawned on her face. He was sure of that and saw it in the way her eyes widened briefly before they narrow, combined with a sudden frown that was obvious even in the red-tinted light spilling out from behind the counter.

"Oh, I know you" The Alpha rolled his shoulders back and met her gaze for a long, lurching heartbeat.

He was pulled aside by Ashton to be warned. As if that would deter him from pursuing her. There's just something about her. The hellhounds are known for having the most excellent sense of smell but no matter what he can't catch a whiff of her scent. That's suspicious.

"In the locker room?!" Rachel exclaimed, breaking the sudden silence that fell over them.

Alina made a face. "It's a long story."

Nate smirked at that. Her attention snapped back to him. The runners spine was a tense line, and her smile was strained, empty. She was giving him a pleading look, and he understood alright. Not that he's going to discuss their first meeting in front of everyone.

The Alpha was actually embarrassed at the way he treated her back in the locker room. He's still not entirely convinced that she's not an omega.

"Yeah its a long story. Not worth boring you all" Nate shrugged, pulling a chair in front of her.

The runner relieved a sigh. They placed their orders, more like called someone to take an order for Chase and him. Nate managed one more icy swallow before he heaved and pushed his cup away. His throat bobbed, his frown deepening. He wiped his hand over his mouth.

"These are disgusting. How does anyone drink this regularly? So expensive, and I say that as an actual rich person." Nate wrinkled his nose.

"I think they're kind of good." Alina countered, her cheeks hollowed around the straw, a touch of whipped cream on her top lip. He stared at that for a few seconds before averting his eyes.

The Alpha pushed his venti Frappucino across the table. "If you liked it so much you can eat mine."

Alina rolled her eyes at that. "No, thanks! I don't accept anything from strangers."

"Is that what your mother told you?" He teased.

Her face morphed into a frown, and she abruptly stood up. Rachel stood up as well, and they both walked out there without another word. Was it something he said?

Ashton pinned him with a glare. "You need to shut up sometimes."

With that, he walked out.

Nate sat back in his chair, his feet up on his seat and his knees pressed to the edge of the table. "He's a real pain though, isn't he?"

"Ashton?"

"Uh, yeah," Nate scoffed.

"Maybe because you upset his friend."

The Alpha raised his hands in the air. "I didn't do anything to her!"

"Maybe she's just not interested."

"Everyone's interested in me. Hello have you met me?!"

Chase burst out laughing, wiping his mouth with his other hand. "Maybe that attitude is why she's not so into you."

"But why? I don't get it," Nate said, his face scrunched. He blinked confusedly at his beta friend. "I am nice, aren't I?"

His friend cackled from his spot sprawled on the chair, a half-eaten cookie straw hanging out of his mouth like a cigar. The beta lifted his body over the edge of the chair to grin towards him. He plucked his straw from his mouth and pointed at Nate. "I don't think you want me to answer that, brother."

He needed a new best friend.

***