The Falcon Ridge Series Book 2 Not Just A Girl

(Chapter song ‘Kryptonite' by 3 Doors Down)

JAYSON

Slapping the shoulders of guys that walk by in the halls of the Falcon Ridge Security Unit , I’m flying high. Nothing’s bringing me down.

I strut down the hallway to my superior's office. He wants to meet with me about new orders.

I run my fingers through my light, sun kissed, brown hair. I know exactly what he wants to talk about.

After busting my ass with the Unit over the last four years, I've earned this.

I was even in the battle with Torrent. I fought damn good, if I do say so myself.

I was born for Operations Leader. To take troops under my command has been my dream since I joined. There was one spot open since one of the Operations leaders turned out to be a Dragon mole and of course, I threw my name in. I've got it in the bag.

I stand in front of my superior's office, wipe my sweaty palms on my uniform pants and knock.

"Come." A gruff voice calls out.

Alpha Fredericks is a stern, tough man and a friend of my father's, Alpha Edward Duke. Alpha of Black Lake. Where I'm from.

Fredericks knows me. Knows my skills. This meeting is just a formality, I'm sure.

I rigidly step into his office. He's sitting behind a cold, metal table with a laptop and some files.

"Alpha Duke reporting sir." I stand at attention.

"At ease, soldier." He grunts.

I relax with my legs apart and my hands behind my back.

"I'm sure you know why I called you down here?" He eyes me then proceeds to open a file.

I nod. "Yes, sir, I think I do." I'm finding it hard to contain myself.

He stands. "Now, I know you put in for Operations Leader, and you were a consideration for sure. Your record speaks for itself."

Wait, what? I study him for a minute. What is he getting at?

"I'm sorry to say, we went with Alpha Blake instead." He crosses his arms and looks directly into my eyes as he delivers his blow to my dream.

All the air left my lungs as I try to process what he just said. Turned down? Turned down?! What the hell?!

I swallow. "Permission to speak freely, sir."

"Go ahead." He sits back down at his desk.

"Sir, I'm more qualified than Blake. I have more experience with operations. I've trained specifically for this. Why him?" I had to ask.

He sighed. "Well, we liked Blake's leadership. He's good. Solid, natural talent. We're not saying you wouldn't make a good leader, just not right now. But we have a new assignment for you. So do this, and when another position comes up, you can try again."

I feel the fire spark and the heat rise as my anger starts to boil. I get passed over for a first year dumb shit who lucked out! This is bullshit!

"We want you to head up the leadership for the new Caledon boot camp. Get these recruits ready for when we take them over. We figured a more relaxed setting with less qualifications will attract more recruits. After the battle with Torrent, we need all the bodies we can get."

"Kids... sir. You want me to train... kids?" I can’t believe it. Can not fucking believe this absolute bullshit.

"Not kids, Duke. Future soldiers. You're one of the best trainers we have. We've already signed Miller, Riley, Taylor, Jackson and Raven. They're your crew, right?'

All of them are my best friends, but buttering me up doesn’t make it any less of a piss off.

"Yes, sir. They are." I manage, still in shock.

"Good." He tosses a file at me. "Here's your orders. You'll be living at the camp in the dorms, so we'll have your belongings packed up and ship there in a weeks' time."

I slowly pick up the file. I was happy, now, I’m angry, defeated and depressed. "Thank you, sir."

Fredericks comes around to stand in front of me. He places his hand on my shoulder. "I know it's not what you wanted, but this could still be a good thing. You're still in charge of a whole unit, it’s just a different department. You have the whole camp to yourself. It's not the same as Operations, but just try and make the most of it. Your time will come."

I look at the file and look at him. "Yes, sir."

"Dismissed."

I nod and leave the office wondering what the fuck just happened. Does the universe hate me that much? Really?

I walk down the halls. Up ahead, I see Blake with his friend, Sloan and his new mate, Alpha Riker. They’re laughing it up, probably all celebrating the job he took from me.

His smug attitude grates the shit out of me. How much you want to be his dad and his money had something to do with this?

He passes me, smiling. "Alpha." He nods and they continue on their way.

I stop and watch them round the corner, shaking my head. What a kick in the ass this is.

I turn back, and continue down the hall. Solemnly, I head to the Alpha dorms.

I just get to my dorm door when my friend, uh… ex-girlfriend I should say, Wren, bounces up beside me. "Hey, did you hear, we're partners." She smiles as she shoves my arm with hers and I open the door.

Wrens gorgeous. Long, jet black hair, toned body, and piercing blue eyes. She’s my best friend and a great stress reliever every once in a while. Whenever I’m down, she’s there to listen and sometimes takes care of other things. Which is ideal for me. I’m focused on my career, not women. I won’t turn one down. I’ve got countless bar hookups under my belt, but I refuse to be that guy worrying about women when the Alliance is under threat.

I get the whole fated thing. You can’t stop it apparently, but whatever. I’d never let it happen in the first place.

I’m certainly not finding my fated with a bunch of brats. Kids barely out of diapers that think they know shit. Fuck that. My fated will be all woman.

Walking in, I toss the file on my table. My room is typical of all the others. A small table, single bed and a small dresser. I don’t have much else in it. I’m military and this isn’t college. I dread the boot camp because I can see it being just that. A college party place that will drive me insane.

I slump on the edge of my bed, lean on my knees and run my fingers through my short hair.

Wren closes the door, grabs a chair, spins it around and sits on it backwards. Resting her arms on the back, she tilts her head to try and see my eyes.

"Hey, what's up?' She asks with concern.

I sit up. "Four years, Wren. Four fucking years, for what? A glorified babysitter.” I lean back down and rub my nape. “This is bullshit. I worked damn hard for this. That Operations position was mine. They gave it to Blake because he's screwing the girl who killed Torrent. That's all."

I rubbed my forehead, I can feel a massive headache coming on.

She gets up and sits beside me. "Hey, just because it's not Operations, doesn't mean you're not a leader. You're a damn good one, Jay. You can teach these kids to be the best soldiers this Unit has and I'll be there, too." She smirks.

I turn my head to her. "Yeah, that does make it a little better."

"So, do you need me to stay, or..." She rests her arms on her legs.

I sit up and clap her back. "Nah. I have to go over my assignment. Some other time, ok?"

"Ok, but if you need anything, you know where to find me." She smiles a smile that could kill a man.

"I will." I walk her out and shut the door.

I pick up the file and go through the papers. I read for a total of two minutes when I throw the file on the floor. I can't even look at it right now.

I'm agitated. Pissed off. I need a run.

I grab my jacket and head for the woods to let my guy out before I explode.

****

I look at my watch for like the hundredth time. Sighing, I toe the dirt with my hands on my hips.

"The busses are late." I grumble.

Cass claps my back. "Relax. It's just a few minutes."

Cass Raven is basically best friend number one. With his ripped muscles and brown hair and hazel eyes, he could get any lady he wants. But of all my friends, he's the most like me. Doesn't date, yet doesn't mind relieving himself every once in a while. The only thing we differ in is he's waiting for his fated where I'm not even trying. He’s a sucker for that romantic stuff, but he’s a perfectionist and not desperate.

"I've got shit to do." I stuff my hands in the pockets of my sweat pants, puff out my chest and try not to look like I want to rage out.

"We all have shit to do, buddy. Just chill." Luke shoots me a look, telling me to calm down.

Luke Jackson. He's ok, but don't piss him off. Huge anger issues. He's not scary looking. Shorter than me by a few inches, brown hair, hazel eyes, but when he's mad, look out. He's put many in hospital just for looking at him wrong. When he's not a raging lunatic, he really is a nice guy. Huge flirt with the ladies. His tough guy act really gets them going. He just has this attitude that grants attention. All it does is makes me shake my head most times.

I had hoped I could get this over with so I could hide in my office for the rest of the day. It's been over two weeks and I'm still not over my down grade in job position and making me wait is only agitating me.

My friend Kale Taylor chimes in. He’s the youngest with the biggest mouth. He’s outspoken and a shameless flirt. I'll have to keep an eye on him when the troops get here. "You know. This could be a good thing. Think of all the hotties." He wiggles his brow and elbows me.

I shove him back. "You're here to work, Kale."

He waves me off. "Whatever, you and I both know that's not true."

I shake my head and ignore him. He's young and doesn't get it.

Deacon Riley, the last of my friends, comes from the parking lot. "They're here." He jogs up and we all stand waiting for the busses to stop. Deacon is fun. Of all my friends, if you want to do something crazy, talk to that guy. Any idea he comes up with will have thrill with a capital T.

Five busses in total, all from each of the surrounding cities, pull through the gates to the courtyard in front of the main building. This is only the first round. More will come in the coming weeks.

"Here we go. Time for kindergarten." I grumble.

Wren elbows me. "Would you stop." She warns.

I watch as the kids all file off the busses. There must be at least a hundred. They're so fresh, they even look tiny. Definitely untrained. I watch them scan the place and the attendants grab their bags.

I study the faces of the innocent. They aren't going to like me. I'm planning on breaking them all. We'll see how long they last against me.

Luke steps up to the growing crowd and raises his hands to indicate them to stop. "Ok. Everyone?!" He pauses. "Hey... Ya you... Eyes up here." He talks sternly and puts his hands on hips. His head floats around the group. "Alright. Welcome to boot camp! I’m Alpha Jackson. You’ll get to know the others later. We will have you for four years! Yes. Four years. You will train here. You will work here and you will live here. The next four years we will be making soldiers out of you. There is no quitting. We don't train quitters. You will try and when you fail, you will try harder."

I watch the sea of heads as Luke talks then I see her. Long, bright blonde hair. The big blue eyes. It can’t fucking be. Please, god. Don’t do this to me. Are you fucking kidding me?

I sigh, lower my head and shake it.

Wren leans to me. "What's your problem?"

I raise my head and look at her again. This time our eyes lock. It's an intense stare. It almost looks like she's blushing as she tucks her hair behind her ear and turns away.

"Nothing. I just saw someone who's going to make my job that much fucking harder." I nod in her direction.

"Who is she?" Wren folds her arms.

"Sarah Reynolds. The Terror of Black Lake. The girl's nothing but trouble. What the fuck is she even doing here?" I scrub my hand down my face.

"Well, maybe we can straighten her out." Wren says with a shrug.

"Or maybe she'll drive us insane."

And that's what she'll do. She's only been here five minutes and already I'm on edge.

I watch her as she pulls her hair into a little bun thing on the back of her head. Her light skin still a slight shade of pink as she glances at me.

I'm getting more agitated as I think of all the hell this girl could cause for the camp... and for me.