Dalton made a sound that was half a scoff, half a snarl. “You mean where other alphas are getting naked.”
Oh, so that was the problem.
I stopped walking, pivoted on my heel, and glared at both of them. “You do know nudity is expected in a werewolf academy, right? Or did someone forget to explain biology to you?”
Their jaws tightened. Neither of them backed down.
“Still doesn’t mean we like the idea of you seeing other naked alphas,” Dalton growled.
“Oh, please,” I muttered. “I’ve probably seen more naked asses in my life than both of you combined.”
That earned an honest-to-Goddess snarl from Derrick. His eyes glowed, showing that his wolf was pressing just under the surface. Dalton’s hand clenched into a fist.
I raised both eyebrows, biting back a laugh. “Touchy.”
“Protective,” Derrick corrected.
“Possessive,” Dalton added.
“Insane,” I deadpanned.
Summer stretched lazily in my mind, yawned, then whispered, ‘They would drag every single male out of that locker room if you let them.’
‘I’m aware.’
I turned back around, walking again, slower this time. “Relax. I’ll do what I always do. Stall until they’re all dressed, then change last. Same thing I’ve done every damn day since I got here.”
Derrick was still bristling. “We’ll stall with you.”
“You wish,” I tossed over my shoulder. “There’s no way in hell I’m stripping in front of either of you.”
Silence. Then:
“Why?” Dalton’s voice was low. Dangerous. “You think we’d touch you?”
“No.” I stopped in front of the locker room door and turned to face them, arching a brow. “I think you’d both forget what century we live in and challenge each other to a death match the second you saw me naked.”
Their expressions didn’t change. Not even a twitch. But I saw the storm brewing behind their eyes.
Inside, though-deep, where no one could see-I wasn’t quite as calm.
I didn’t fear them. Not their strength, not their wolves.
What scared me was me.
What scared me was how I might react.
Because some part of me, some traitorous spark under my skin, wanted to find out what would happen if one of them touched me. If one of them gave in. Just a brush of fingers, a slip of control, and-
No.
I pushed the thought away before Summer could purr something wicked in my mind.
They couldn’t see that hesitation. They wouldn’t.
I stepped closer, tilting my head, dropping my voice into something teasing-dangerous.” Besides,” I said, lips curving into a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes, “I’d rather keep the mystery alive a little longer. Can’t give you all the good stuff up front.”
Dalton’s jaw flexed. Derrick’s nostrils flared. Both of them looked like they were trying very hard not to growl again.
Good.
Let them stew.
Without another word, I turned on my heel, pushed open the locker room door, and slipped inside, leaving the two alphas outside, fuming in their own possessive frustration.
I didn’t glance back.
Because I already knew-they were still watching me.
Always.
DERRICK POV
We waited.
Dalton and I stood like statues next to the locker room door, shoulders squared, jaws tight, pretending like we weren’t dying inside. Pretending like we weren’t counting the seconds until the last idiot stumbled out with his gym bag, towel slung around his neck, stinking of sweat and testosterone.
Like we weren’t both seconds away from snapping necks just to be alone with her.
Kai had told us to wait. That she’d stall. That everyone would clear out before we went in.
She kept her word.
The moment the door creaked shut behind the last oblivious bastard, I exhaled slow and sharp. The air was thick with her scent.
Dalton peeled his shirt off, dropping it to the bench with a growl. “Finally.”
I followed, tugging off my own tank, trying to distract myself with the ache in my muscles, the pull in my shoulders from this morning’s sparring session. My knuckles were still red from pounding the mat when Reyes put his filthy paws on her.
I wanted to rip them off.
Needed to.
“Let’s just get this over with,” I muttered, pulling at the waistband of my shorts.
But then-
ZAP.
Pain shot through my ass and up my spine like a damn lightning strike.
I cursed, nearly stumbling into the lockers. “GODDAMN IT-“
Dalton yelped beside me. “SHIT-again?!”
Kai stood at the end of the row, fingers crackling with controlled static, a smug glint in her
eyes.
That smug little minx was enjoying this. I knew it. She was taking actual pleasure in frying our asses with her spark-tricks.
“Now now,” she said, all innocent lips and wicked grin. “I’m going to have the first shower. You’ll go after me.”
Dalton opened his mouth. I shot him a warning look, but he said it anyway.
“Or we could join you.”
I smacked a hand to my face.
“Ha. Nope.” She didn’t even hesitate, just spun around, sauntered straight to the shower stall like she hadn’t just fried us both into twitchy messes. Still fully dressed. Smiling wickedly. Walk of a goddamn goddess who knew exactly what she was doing to us.
The sound of the door closing was punctuation.
I stared after her like a starving man watching the last crumb get swept off the table.
“I’m going to go insane,” I whispered.
Dalton groaned. “Too late.”
The silence between us stretched. Thick. Charged. We stood there like two beaten dogs, chests rising and falling too fast.
Then-
Water.
The sound of the shower turning on.
Steam started to rise.
And with it, so did the images.
Kai.
Naked.
Under the spray.
Water sliding down her skin. Beads clinging to the curve of her spine. That scar on her shoulder catching the light, the one I wanted to kiss until she melted against me.
I groaned.
Dalton groaned too.
We both leaned against the lockers.
“We are fucked,” I said.
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