The Falcon Ridge Series Book 2 Not Just A Girl

(Chapter song ‘So What’ by Pink)

SARAH

"Come on, guys or you're taking the bus!" Jayson yells from his car parked on the road outside my house.

"Bye, mom. Bye, dad." I hug them quickly as Shane pushes past me through the door.

"Shotgun!" He yells as he runs to the car and adjusts his duffle on his shoulder.

Jayson puts his hand up. "No way. You get in the back." He flips the front seat forward.

"Dude. Don't you know the code? Bros before..." Shane stops in mid-sentence as Jayson glares at him, arms folded.

Shane swallows. "Uh... Girls."

"Get in the back." Jayson grits as he pushes him into the car.

"I'm ready." I smile and pant as my sneakers slow down and stand in front of him.

Jayson takes my duffle off my shoulder.

"About time. Get in, beautiful." I blush as I get in and Jayson drops our bags in the trunk.

My dad walks up to the car. "You take good care of my kids."

"I will. See you next break." Jayson climbs in, revs the engine and drives away, heading to the highway.

With break over, that means the fun’s over, too. Now, we have to concentrate on training for the biggest battle of all our young lives. It's time to prove we aren't a bunch of kids. We're soldiers. Fighters willing to die for the cause. I just hope we don't.

We rode in silence for a while until Shane popped through the seats. "It's too quiet in here." He reaches forward and turns the radio on.

Jayson shoves him back and flips his head back. "Seatbelt!"

"Relax, man. I just wanted the radio. Besides, with a ride like this, I bet you're an awesome driver." He leans his arms on the seats. "Hey, how fast can this thing go, anyway? Bet you tear up the black when you're not driving like a granny."

Jayson looked out to the road. "I don't speed."

"Sure. You get this cool car and don't lay it out. Like I believe that for a second." Shane snorts.

Jayson turns his head to me. "Is he always this annoying?"

"Pretty much." I grin. Shane sneers at me and shoves my shoulder.

"Come on, dude. Show us what you can do." Shane nudges Jayson's shoulder.

"Shane, you may be Sarah's brother, but I will kill you. Sit. Back." Jayson looks at him in the mirror.

"Fine." Shane sits back, but lasts for all of two seconds.

He jumps forward again. "Bet you scored lots of hotties with this car, huh?" He wiggles his brow.

"Shane!" Jayson growls.

"Alright, alright. Jeez. Just saying." He sits back and crosses his arms.

I look at Jayson. "So, are we training right away or do we get some time to unwind first." I lace my fingers in his.

"Today? No. Unpack, get your bearings, then we train." He signals around a little Camry.

Shane pipes up. "Wolf training, right?"

Jayson looks in his mirror. "Yeah. This battle will be in both forms. If you can't control the shift during a fight, keeping up with your opponents will be hard."

Shane chuckles. "Awesome."

"This isn't a game, Shane. It's life or death." Jayson narrows his eyes.

"I know." My brother runs his fingers through his hair. "Doesn't mean it's not cool. Besides, with all these new skills, the ladies will be hanging off me." He grins a big stupid grin.

I groan, roll my eyes and shake my head.

"Shane." I turn to him. "God. Not everything is about hooking up. We're not fighting so you can get a date."

He scowls. "Easy for you to say, you're already getting laid."

My eyes widen. "Shane!" Jayson’s jaw falls and he narrows his eyes at Shane in the mirror.

He waves me off. "Don't deny it. I'm your twin remember. I know things."

Jayson jerks the car on purpose, squealing the car tires, making Shane flop to the side.

"Hey!' Shane protests.

"Don't talk like that to your sister!" Jayson warns.

"Jeez. You're worse than dad." He scowls.

I kiss the back of Jayson's hand and smile. "That's because he's an Alpha." I bounce my brow at Shane.

He pretends to gag. "Gross."

The rest of the ride was more banter and Shane almost getting tossed out a few times.

We pull into the camp parking lot. "Ok. Everybody out." Jayson barks.

I open the door and let Shane out. Jayson comes around the car and points his finger in Shane's face. "If you don't want me pummeling you into the field, you'll stop being an annoying little fuck right now."

Shane swallows and arches back "Yes, sir."

"Good." He grabs Shane by the back of the neck and leads him to the trunk. "Help me with the bags."

I can't help but laugh as I look across to see the busses start to pull in.

Ash gets off the bus, sees me and squeals loud. She

She runs at me with her arms in the air and I do the same. We collide halfway and give each other big hugs.

She pushes me back and loops her arm in mine as we stroll to the recruit groups.

I tuck my hair behind my ear. "Sorry, I didn't spend too much time with you. I was... kind of busy." I feel my face heat as I watch Jayson load Shane up with bags.

"Girl. Tell me you hit that all break." She squeezes my arm and my face goes three shades of red.

She looks, throws her hands up and squeals again, hugging me. "I'm so happy for you! Oh my God, an Alpha? Are you kidding me? I need all the details. Is he strong? Is he all growly? Is he huge?"

"Ash!" I slap her arm. "Not now." I motion to the boys walking our way. Jayson lifts his hand and presses the fob, making his car beep.

"Alright. Let's get you inside." He holds out his hand to me and I take it. "Ashley." He says in a deep voice.

"Alpha." She has a shit eating grin on her face and bounces her brow.

I smack her again. "Would you stop?"

She giggles and takes my arm we walk into the complex courtyard.

****

JAYSON

We come up to the walkway for the dorms. I see the other Alphas greeting the recruits as they gather to get instruction. Everyone looks worn out, but happy for the week they just had.

I stop and hand Sarah her bags. "Babe. I got to talk with the guys. You alright to walk your room?"

She puts her bag on her shoulder with a giggle. “Yes, I can walk to my room, Alpha.”

Ashley grabs her and the three walk away.

"Hey!" I call to her back and she turns. "Kisses!" I playfully scowl with my hands on my hips.

She looks to Ashley who teases her and she drops her bag. She runs back to me. "Sorry." She gives me a shy smile as she glances around at the people around us..

I hold her chin in my fingertips and plant a small but long kiss on her lips. I pull back just a little. "I'll stop by your room later." I whisper and I can feel her heat. I love that I do that to her.

"Ok." She breathes.

I release her chin, smile and motion to her friends. "Go on."

She turns back to her friends and they gather together. I watch her cute ass walk to the dorm and sigh. That ass is mine and I can’t believe it.

I can already hear the snickers as I join the Alphas and I prepare myself for the rib fest that’s setting up.

"Well. Well. Well." Of course, Kale is the first to pipe up. He has a stupid grin on his face and crosses his arms. "Have a nice break?" He bounces his brow.

"Don't." I point at him with a small growl.

"You released a lot of tension on break, didn't you?" He smirks as he elbows my arm.

"Kale." I warn.

Cass slaps my shoulder. "It's good, man. She's a nice girl."

"Fucking hot, too. Bet she's a little wild in the bedroom." Kale nudges me again.

I turn and shoot daggers at him.

Deacon shoves Kale. "Do you have a death wish?"

"Come on. I'm just fucking with you. Besides, I've got a perfect woman already." He says proudly.

Wrens' brow goes up. "Oh yeah? You and Georgia?"

He nods. "Yep. Like an angel from heaven. I swear. She's ruined me for all others."

Cass snorts. "Yeah, right."

"It's true." Kale's brows shoot up. "I haven't even thought about hooking up in weeks. I think she may be the one."

Deacon shoots him a serious face. "You think she's your fated?"

Kale rubbed his nape. "I think so. I've never felt this way before."

"Well, don't get too excited. That can change really quick." I say flicking my eyes to Wren whose eyes meet mine.

Cass folds his arms. "Ok, Mr. Rain on people's parade. Not everyone gets disappointed."

"I'm just saying. It may not turn out." I stuff my hands in my pockets.

Wren folds her arms. "What about blondie?"

"Sarah?" My eyes flick to Wren again. "I don't know. There's something there, but I'm not getting my hopes up."

Kale places his hand on my shoulder. "I know if it was me, I wouldn't care about the moon if I got to hit that chick every night." He grins.

I shake my head slowly, ticking my jaw. My wolf egged me on from his cage. He didn’t like Kale talking about Sarah like that and neither do I. "That's it." I shrug his arm off and grab Kale in a headlock.

"Jay... I was just... kidding?" He chokes as he fights my arm off.

Other people laugh as they walk by watching us wrestle. Everyone’s use to our fucking around.

"You going to shut your mouth?" I growl.

“Never!” He growls back as he struggles.

Our sneakers grip the pavement as we try to best each other.

"Jay, let him go." Deacon laughs.

I rip my arm off him, point at him and walk back to the group.

His red face gives me a sarcastic look as he fixes his clothes and hair.

I know Kale won't let up, but I just realized the other Rib Master isn’t here. "Where's Luke?"

"He wants to stay in Red Rock a few more days to see what he can find out. He'll be here." Deacon supplies.

I cross my arms. "Alright. Dea, you'll have to take up Luke's group for training until he gets back."

"Got it." Dea nods.

"I've got to head. I've got some things to do." I turn to the Alpha building.

Kale smirks. "Yeah. Curvy things with long, blonde hair."

I turn back, glare at him and stamp my foot in his direction. He cackles as he jumps back, prepares to run.

"Call me if you need anything." I eye him, shake my head and turn back around.

It's funny to see a guy like Kale all caught up in the fated thing. The last three years he's been all about the hook ups. Gone by morning kind of guy. Now, to see him actually trying to shack up permanently with someone. It's a little weird.

I can’t really say much because I was once that guy. I wasn't a stranger to casual hookups. In fact, that's pretty much how Wren and I got together in the first place. A torrid affair between Unit soldiers. My problem was I fell in love with her. I didn't mean for it to happen, it just did. If I knew the crushing heartbreak that waited for me at the end, I never would of done it. That’s why I’m so apprehensive about Sarah. I don’t want to go through that pain again.

I've never wanted to deny someone so badly, but with Sarah, I choke at the finish line. Like the universe is giving me a big 'fuck you, you aren't leaving'.

Am I to believe that this is it?

The forces slapping me in the face seem to feel like they're telling me to wake up. She's everywhere, surrounding me and I'm drowning in her. I'm starting to feel like I really don't want to.

That goofy kid at the ball stares at me in my mind with the look of confusion, hurt and rejection on his face as the moon rises to its peak.

It haunts me. There has to be something more. There has to be something I’m missing that will tell me for sure that I need to be under the moon in two months. There's got to be something that proves to me that Sarah is mine.

My wolf breaks my thoughts by rattling his cage. He's trying to tell me something and I stop, close my eyes, pushing him back down. When he's finally tucked away, I open my eyes. I look around the property in wondering what riled him up all of a sudden.

I scan the tree line and don't sense anything. I rub my nape as I walk away. He’s probably just excited to be back and being a dick about it. I haven't let him out for a while, so he's just probably getting antsy, now that we're home in woods he's familiar with. I'll let him out soon enough, but for now, I have business to attend to.