Page 6 of Strays
I am so done. Knowing we’re walking away makes it ten times harder to swallow any more shit from this tiny man.
I glance at my brothers.
Shane is about to lose it. His fists are clenched so tight his knuckles have gone white. His body leans forward, every muscle taut. If Balls pushes him one inch further, Shane will finally snap, and if he does, he won’t stop until all fourteen bones in Balls’s face are shattered.
And honestly, I wouldn’t blame him.
I exhale slowly and rise to my feet.
Balls falls silent the moment I stand. He turns to me, and his squinted eyes widen in fear, like he thinks I’ve lost my mind and I’m finally going to give him what he deserves. That would be funny if I weren’t so pissed off.
I meet his gaze, my voice calm but firm. “My pack formally requests dismissal from the police force.”
Nine words.
They’ve been in my head for years.
I’ve whispered them under my breath more times than I can count, imagining how it would feel to finally say them out loud. Maybe like a failure. Maybe relief. But now they’re out, and all I feel is rage.
Balls is still staring at me, stunned.
I can sense my brothers behind me, silently waiting for him to acknowledge the request and dismiss us.
But for once in his miserable life, the man’s speechless. I give him one more minute. After that, screw doing it the right way; we’re leaving.
I glance at the wall clock, my fingers twitching. When the minute is finally over, I feel the relief I’ve been chasing for years. We are free.
I turn and look at my brothers. “Let’s go.”
Their reaction is immediate. They’re on their feet in a second, just as eager to leave as I am.
Two steps, and I’m at the door. I grip the knob and breathe deeper, easier than I have in years.
“Inside, Larsen.”
Fuck. My. Life.
The voice slams into me like a hammer. Commander Elias Eneas.
Half the weight I just shed crashes right back onto my shoulders.
I’ve seen the commander a few times, mostly at military events. But this is the first time I’ve seen him alone. Every other time, his brothers were with him: the two Deputy Commanders of Special Operations, never more than a step behind.
I spoke with them once, back when my pack graduated and joined the force. It wasn’t much of a conversation; they congratulated me as pack leader, shook my hand, and walked away.
In six years, not once has any member of the Eneas pack set foot in this station. And of all days, the commander had to show up today.
The day Shane killed a fucker without permission.
The day we quit.
I consider ignoring him. Technically, we’re no longer in his command chain. We’re no longer in anyone’s command chain.
But this isn’t some human who’s been treating us like shit for years. This is a Tier-One aegis. A legend in Special Operations. I’ve got no reason to disrespect him, so I figure if I gave fucking Balls a minute, I can give this guy one too.
My brothers pick up on my decision without me saying a word. Silently, they return to their undersized chairs. But they don’t sit, and neither do I.
“It’s an honor, sir, but we are leaving.”
