Chapter 35
Elliot
“You can’t be fucking serious,” I say as we approach the outdoor adventure park.
“Dead serious. This is listed as the number one team building activity in the area. Let’s go Pack Torrin!” Wells cheers happily as I furrow my brow.
I suppose that if Forrest is pack lead that we would indeed be Pack Torrin.
“We could hyphenate,” Forrest says and I turn to look at the other Alpha.
Is he really offering to hyphenate our pack name to include me?
He must notice the look on my face, because he shrugs.
“I didn’t have any attachment to my last name.
In fact, I couldn’t wait to get rid of it, that’s why I took Wells’ last name as soon as we were official.
Plus, Wells’ family is already Pack Torrin, along with a few of his brothers.
Might be interesting to be Pack Torrin-Smith. ”
Yeah, I was right about telling this man to be pack lead, it also took a lot of pressure off my shoulders in accepting pack life. With a heavy grunt of acknowledgment, we follow Wells to the cabin to get outfitted with the gear.
The harness is a little too tight on my crotch, and Forrest seems to have the same sentiment.
“Baby, I was only five pounds under the top weight limit. I don’t know if this is a good idea,” Forrest says.
“Those weight limits are bullshit. You’re fine,” Wells waves off his concern, and Forrest and I give each other concerned glances.
We follow our guide to the first launch point and he gives us a smile. “Welcome Pack Torrin,” he says with a chipper attitude. The man looks like a complete boy scout. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has every badge under the sun.
“Torrin-Smith, we just work shopped that on the walk up here,” Wells corrects him.
“Right, Pack Torrin-Smith. Wells tells me that you’re a newly formed pack and looking to forge a strong pack bond,” he says, making a weak showing of his arm muscle.
“You’ve come to the right place. Gladys Adventure Park is the perfect place to build trust between pack mates.
My name’s Teddy and I’ll be your guide today.
Let’s start with the swing of death,” he says.
Forrest and I look at each other again. Meanwhile, Wells is just smiling at the term swing of death.
“What exactly is the swing of death?” I ask, keeping in step with our guide as he leads us to what looks like a massive foam wrecking ball and a spider web.
“You and your pack will work together to cross the web while the swing of death tries to take you out. It’s like a metaphor of pack life and the things that can tear you apart,” he says.
“Is he deadass?” I whisper to Forrest.
“I think he is,” Forrest says with a furrow in his brow. “Let’s just get this shit over with and then we can go home and enjoy whatever Claire made for tonight.”
“How do you think we can get through this as fast as possible?”
“I don’t know, but we need to get Wells the fuck away from this guy before he starts talking in his own metaphors.”
“Let’s ace this test,” Wells says excitedly.
Forrest looks at me with a sharp nod. “Whatever we have to do to get out of here. Let’s do it.”
We’re on the spider web, Wells is the smallest of all of us, and a professional athlete who apparently missed the fucking memo of working as a team. He’s like a goddamn spider monkey swinging across the fucking thing. Teddy hasn’t even swung the wrecking ball once.
“Alright, you go to the midpoint and I’ll follow,” Forrest says.
Just gotta get this shit over with, and I do as he says, doing my best to get across.
“Ball incoming, move two steps to the right,” Forrest directs, and I do as he says, and sure enough, I dodge the massive wrecking ball.
I take longer than I’d like to get across, but then I do the same for Forrest so he can get across too.
We’re both Alphas in our prime, but at the end of that exercise, we’re both breathing a little heavy.
Especially Forrest, there were a few parts you had to support your entire weight to get through the course.
“Great, on to the ropes course,” Teddy says.
Wells has a pep in his step following the man while Forrest and I lag behind.
Thankfully, the ropes course isn’t too bad.
We have to work together to collect flags in a certain amount of time or else Teddy said he would make us do it again, which is enough motivation for Forrest and me.
Wells, on the other hand, I think is doing it for the love of the game.
How in the fuck did Forrest turn into my favorite pack member in a matter of a day?
Luckily, Teddy gives us a break after the ropes course. We’re drinking water, both Forrest and I completely over Teddy, this course, and dreading what’s coming next. Meanwhile, Wells is typing away on his phone, acting like he could run a marathon.
“Who are you texting?” I question him and he places his phone against his chest.
“Uhh. My mom.”
“You’re lying,” Forrest says, and Wells goes to pocket his phone. Forrest grabs it out of the Beta’s pocket and his lips part in shock.
He’s scrolling through the chat as Wells stands there with a guilty look on his face.
“What is it?” I ask.
Forrest turns the phone to me and I scroll through. Claire and Wells have been conspiring against us. They picked an activity that they knew Forrest and I would hate, and therefore our common hatred would bring us together.
He also sent her pictures of us with all sorts of emojis telling her that we’re the cutest pack brothers he could have ever imagined.
“You two plotted against us?” I ask and Wells clicks his tongue.
“Plotting is a loaded word. I’d like to think that we gave you a light push in the right direction. Just like the push of the wrecking ball that was going to hit Forrest, and you saved him from his demise,” Wells says, and Forrest groans.
“Now that you’ve been found out, can we fucking leave? This harness is ruining my chances of ever procreating," he says, gripping onto the harness and trying to tug it down.
“Claire isn’t expecting us home until six,” Wells retorts.
“Then why don’t we do something that isn’t psychological torture for the next three hours?” I suggest, wanting to get the hell out of this harness and away from Teddy.
“I’ve got an idea,” Forrest says, smirking at me.
Wells’ face drops and I hope whatever plan he has in place will be appropriate payback.
I’m taking the harness off as Teddy approaches us. “Not so fast, friend. We still have a few more challenges left.”
“We’re done,” I tell him, and I’m proud of myself for not using colorful language.
“Come on now, you wouldn’t give up on your pack so easily, now would you?” Teddy says.
I’m about to throttle the motherfucker as Wells steps in between us.
“We have a pack emergency, Teddy. We have to go. Thanks for everything.” The lie slips easily out of Wells, though Teddy doesn’t look like he’s buying it.
“Well, if you ever want to bring your Omega—”
“Teddy, shut the fuck up,” Forrest says, handing him the harness and grabbing Wells by the back of his neck and guiding us back to the car.
“You guys can’t hurt me, it would upset Claire,” Wells cries out, like we’re leading him to his execution.
“Stop being so dramatic,” Forrest says as we get into the SUV and I wonder what the hell part two of pack bonding is going to look like.
I didn’t realize paintball could be so fun. Wells, Forrest, and I worked together to take out all the teenagers who were playing. Most of the little bastards hurled out insults the entire time too, so I didn’t have an ounce of guilt at taking them out with a few paintballs.
Unfortunately for Wells, now that our common enemy has been taken out, it’s time to turn on one another. Normally I would assume that Forrest would take Wells’ side. They aren’t just pack brothers, they’re also lovers.
But it seems like Forrest is open to his own payback for having to wear a harness and deal with Teddy. We hide behind the same wall and glance at one another.
“We take him out first and then it's the last man standing,” he says.
I hold out my hand, and we shake on it. When I glance at the side of the wall, I can see the top of Wells’ helmet.
“You can’t do this to the man you love!” Wells shouts from behind a hay bail.
I can see Forrest’s wide grin underneath his mask. “All is fair in love and war, baby!” Forrest shouts back.
“I’m going to text Claire,” Wells says back and I snort.
Forrest looks at me, wondering how Claire might react to us ganging up on her Beta.
“She grew up with two brothers. She knows all about holding her own. Don’t go soft on me now,” I tell him and he scoffs.
“I’m not going soft.”
“Prove it,” I tell him, making quick strides behind another wall.
I watch as my plan falls right into my lap. Forrest hits Wells in the middle of the chest with a yellow paintball, and as soon as Wells is out, I aim right for Forrest’s mask, a pink paintball splatting right on his helmet.
“Oh, you sneaky asshole,” Forrest complains, but when I jump out of my hiding spot, where he’s removing his helmet with a smile, I find it contagious.
There’s a bar right next to the course, and we order a pitcher and a few appetizers to make sure we don’t spoil the meal Claire has prepared for us. Conversation flows easily, laughing about Teddy, the kids in the paintball course, and my victory as paintball champion.
I always thought of being in a pack as competition, but as I sit at this sticky bar top with Forrest and Wells, I see it for what it could be, what I want it to be for all of us. A brotherhood between us, with the common goal of keeping Claire happy and safe.
I smile to myself as I take a sip of beer.
Wells throws an arm around my shoulder and lightly shakes me. “Now I need to work my magic to be your favorite pack mate again.”
“Claire is my favorite pack mate,” I tell him and he nods, agreeing that it makes the most sense.
“We should get back home. Unless you think we should eat more before we go?” Wells asks in the most polite way if we should fill our bellies before trying Claire’s food.
I snort and shake my head. “She’s an unbelievable cook. Just don’t get in her way in the kitchen,” I warn him.
When we’re back at the house, it’s filled with delicious aromas. Wells, of course, did not heed my warning of getting in the way when Claire is in the kitchen and immediately gives her a hug from behind, resting his cheek on the top of her head.
“It worked, but they caught me scheming. They took it out on me with violence,” he says, trying to get sympathy from her.
“There will be violence if you don’t back up out of my kitchen right now,” she says, turning down the burner.
Wells gasps in mock shock as he slowly backs away. “A little kiss though,” he begs and Claire takes mercy on him, giving him a little kiss before pointing her spoon at him as if it’s a weapon.
Wells raises his arms in surrender and comes to where Forrest and I are standing on the other side of the island.
Claire is locked in on her task and I sigh in happiness watching her.
Her mom and my grandma were the same way.
They both love to show their love through food, and I’m just so elated that this is my life.
“We’ll leave you to your kitchen,” Forrest says, elongating your, like he’s happier than shit that she’s already claimed ownership of it.
Claire looks up briefly, looking how sweaty we all are and crinkles her nose.
“Go clean up. Dinner will be in a half hour.”
We do as she says, and when I step into my room, it doesn’t feel like a stranger’s room. Sure, it’s still empty and devoid of personality, but this place is home. These people are home.
Damn. I’m really a part of the pack. Now all we need to do is make it official.