ALPHA (Mackenzie Grey #3)

by Karina Espinosa

  Shadow trotted in a steady rhythm that put me at ease. “I’ll probably sleep all day. Apparently, it’s the only thing I’m allowed to do.”

  “Don be so intense, darling. Ye haven’t spent time with Drew. He knows this land inside and out. I’ll have him give ye a tour,” Alexander said and I wanted to barf. Drew was the last person I wanted to spend any time with.

  “No thank you. I rather bathe in acid.”

  He blanched. “Ye will spend time with Drew. He is yer family, Mackenzie. Donae make me repeat myself,” he growled. If it weren’t because I was scared he might spook Shadow again, I would have told him to fuck off.

  “Fine,” I grumbled.

  We rode back to the stables in utter silence after that mood-kill. I fumed on the inside but I needed to learn to play ball. Stirring the pot was not a smart idea.

  “Do you know where I can find Jonah?” I asked him as we walked back into the castle. His riding boots thudding against the marble floors. Instead of going into the throne room like usual, Alexander took me through another part of the castle that I hadn’t seen.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Ye wanted to see Jonah.”

  “Oh.”

  “He’s been hard at work with the council; assisting with the investigation of the Lunas, as well as yer attack. He’s a good lad,” Alexander nudged.

  “I don’t think we’re at the boy-talk stage, just yet.”

  “All I’m saying is that he’s a good man whose eyes are set on a certain someone. Ye don find that sort of commitment much, nowadays.”

  He was the last person who should be talking about fidelity.

  He cleared his throat. “Will Jonah be yer escort to the party?”

  I snorted. “No. I’m going alone.”

  Alexander stopped before a set of double doors. “Ye cannae go alone. Someone has to escort ye in and have the first dance. It’s tradition.”

  “I’m not one for tradition,” I shrugged.

  “It’s nae an option,” he said. “Can ye dance?”

  I giggled. “What kind of dancing? Booty poppin’, yes. The waltz, no.”

  He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, the Superman curl falling against his forehead. “I’ll have Ivana set up some lessons.”

  With a knock on the door, we entered and interrupted a board meeting. The room reminded me of the game “Clue.” It was brandished with dark glossed oak wood, a fire burning in the fire place, and dim lighting. The smell of cigars and whisky drove the thought home.

  “We’re looking for Sherlock Holmes?” I joked, but no one laughed. “Tough crowd,” I muttered.

  “Is everything alright?” Jonah came to the forefront of the group of about a dozen wolves, worry lines on his forehead showed his concern.

  “Everything is copasetic. Just wanted to see what you were doing,” I bit my lip, feeling as if I were looking for someone to play with.

  Jonah relaxed. “Well I’m meeting with the council, trying to figure out what happened with the Lunas,” he scanned the room and then cleared his throat. “How about we talk outside.”

  Jonah laughed as the Council gave him a knowing look as if they knew the struggle of “handling” someone. I almost felt insulted if it weren’t for the fact that I sort of was being handled.

  “Kenz, I know that look,” he said once we were out of earshot.

  I shrugged. “I’m good, don’t worry. I just want to help, what can I do?”

  “Nothing right now, let us take care of it,” he pointed to himself and the boardroom.

  “Excuse me?”

  He sucked in a breath. “You know what I mean.”

  “Obviously I don’t. I want in, whether it’s custom for a Luna to be involved or not. We’ll be able to solve this much faster if I help.”

  “Patience, Kenz. They won’t allow you to help and you can’t expect everyone to change right away,” he said. “This is hundreds of years of the same thought process and way of living. Let them catch up with your ways, but they need time.”

  “We only have a few days. We don’t have time to give,” I said.

  My trial was getting closer and closer and we hadn’t done a thing about the Lunas. I trusted Jonah, but what was the Kings Council really doing about the matter? I wouldn’t let it get swept under the rug. Speaking of…

  “What about the safe? When are we going to it check out?”

  “The what?” Jonah did a double take. “Did Sebastian tell you about it?”

  I scoffed. “No. You assholes don’t tell me shit. Luckily, I was awake when you told him. So what gives? Why aren’t you keeping me in the loop?”

  According to the Kings Council, the stationary used to order the death of the Lunas was kept in the Kings safe—we needed a way in to scope out the place.

  “Bash and I will check it out. You just worry about your relationship with Alexander.”

  “Either I go with you, or I go on my own. Your choice,” I shrugged and turned away from him.

  Jonah groaned. “Fine! We’ll go tonight,” he relented. I spun around and hugged him.

  “Thank you!” I squealed. Finally, I was able to do something exciting. It was about damn time.

  We went back into the boardroom that was a little fuller then when I originally arrived. A few guards were in there awaiting orders.

  “The hostiles are four clicks from Sheunta Village. Their intentions are unclear. What do we do?” one of the guards reported.

  “Send a team of ten through the east entrance of Caledonian Forest. Observe, do not engage, understood?” Alexander instructed.

  “Yes sir,” they said in unison.

  Whoa, they actually get some action in Sheunta?

  “Can I help?” my eyes brightened. I was itching to do something, and a good fight didn’t sound too bad.

  “I donae think that’s a good idea,” Alexander interjected. “Let’s leave that to us to handle.”

  I grimaced. “You mean, let’s leave it to the men.”

  “I didnae—”

  “You didn’t have to,” I scowled.

  “Yer a wee ol’ lass, darling. Ye should nae have to get yer hands dirty,” Alexander cooed and my face flamed red.

  “I cannot believe you said that,” I said, dumbfounded. “You’re all a bunch of misogynistic bastards!”

  The council growled and I flashed my silver eyes. They could come at me if they wanted to.

  “Mackenzie,” Jonah scolded.

  “Oh shut up,” I grumbled, pushing past Alexander and walking out of the room.

  Patience was what I need, but didn’t have. It was hard to wrap my mind around the way the Lycan lived. Humans had no issues with sending women into the front lines—you would think being a wolf would make you stronger and more able to do what the men do. I was pissed.

  “Fuck!” I exclaimed as I kicked a statue and nearly doubled over. “Holy shit that hurt.”

  I leaned against the wall and wrapped my hands around the toe area of my sneaker—squeezing the pain away. Maybe I wasn’t qualified to assist the council if I was stupid enough to kick a stone statue with my sneaker clad feet.

  “Hold it!” the King commanded, as if I could go anywhere with the pain shooting from my foot, up my leg. “I willnae allow ye to disrespect the council or myself. Ye do as I say, no questions asked.”

  “I’m not a robot, I ask questions. Lots of them. Either you’re on board with that or not. I don’t care what your precious council thinks of you.”

  He turned beet red. “Ye think I do this for myself?” he yelled. “I do it to protect ye! There’s only so much I can do for ye, but yer not making it easy!”

  “I never asked for your damn help! It’s a little too late to be father of the year. Why don’t you put your efforts in finding justice for my friends and let the Summit do as they please with me. I don’t give a rat’s ass.” I stormed out of the hallway and toward the same way we came from—limping. Hopefully I didn’t get lost. That would
just be embarrassing.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The kitchen was empty when I snuck in from the dining hall. The smell of today’s lunch caught my attention as I tried to find my way back to the guest wing. Some sort of meatloaf concoction simmered in the oven, but what distracted me was the bowl of banana pudding sitting in the middle of the glass door refrigerator. That was what I called comfort food—and I needed some comforting. I peered around the stainless steel kitchen to make sure no one was around, and reached in for the bowl. I didn’t have patience to look for a spoon in the multitude of drawers, so I grabbed a nearby spatula and dug in.

  Sliding down the front of the refrigerator, I sat on the marble floor and buried my emotions in food. “I never asked for this shit,” I garbled between bites. “I’m not even a damn wolf anymore. When was the last time I shifted? Or punched someone in the face? This is bogus.” I took a hearty spoonful, stretching my cheeks to look like two tennis balls had taken residence there. Halfway done with the dessert, I realized I should have paced myself.

  “Oh, donae worry about saving any for us, Princess,” Ranulf grunted. He leaned against the kitchen counter in the middle of the room.

  “Shit.”

  “Is this where ye been hiding? Half the guards been looking for ye.” He extended a hand for me to pass him the dessert. “Come on, give it.”

  I sighed. “Fine! It’s not like I need any help standing.” I shoved the bowl at him and scrambled to my feet. My stomach was full and the -itis was setting in.

  “I’m sure the King will be pleased to know that his favorite dessert has been demolished before he could even have a taste,” Ranulf said as he put the bowl back in the refrigerator.

  “Oh give it a rest,” I threw my hands in the air. “You found me, now what? Am I grounded and being sent to my room?”

  “I’m sure ye’d like that,” Ranulf rumbled, “but since ye don like horses or going shopping like a normal lass, maybe ye might like this,” he motioned for me to follow him.

  We marched to the south side of the castle, another part of this never ending place that I had yet to explore. While every other part had been renovated, the south side was a step back in time to the medieval days. The walls of stone were chipped and covered in smudges of dirt, with a smell that was not all too welcoming. The dim lighting gave it an underground feeling but we hadn’t descended.

  “Are you going to lock me up in the dungeons?” I said. My head swiveled around trying to get a look at all the armor and shields that hung on the walls.

  “That would be easier,” his voice echoed and I gave him the middle finger behind his back.

  Ranulf pushed through a pair of heavy set doors with his shoulder and a burst of light blinded me. I stumbled backward, raising my arm over my eyes. The sound of growls and clanking of steel propelled me forward.

  “Princess, welcome to the Guard’s Tower,” Ranulf held the door as I walked through an open, circular space—the sun filtering in from the rooftop. We were in the center of the south tower of the castle. I never thought it would be this spacious.

  Multiple guards were sparring with one another, practicing. They used everything from swords, knives, to their own natural weapons of claws and teeth. It was fascinating.

  Ranulf grunted. “I should have known this was yer cup of tea. I’ve never seen that sparkle in yer eyes.”

  “You haven’t known me long enough,” I smirked. “And I want in.”

  His forehead wrinkled. “Ye want in on what?”

  “On the action!” I exclaimed. “Give me one of those shiny swords!” I pointed to a rack filled with weapons across the room.

  “Oh no, Princess, the King will have my head if I put ye in anymore danger,” Ranulf gripped my elbow to stop me from going anywhere.

  My grin widened. “Or are you scared I’ll embarrass you in front of your comrades and kick your ass?”

  Ranulf let out a deep and rumbled howl, catching the attention of the other guards. “Darling, the only arse ye’ll be kicking is yer own once ye realize the mistaken ye’ve made,” he chuckled.

  A hand grabbed my free arm and tore me away from Ranulf.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Bash growled. He was shirtless. Sweat gleamed off his chest and biceps, and his hair was wet, like he’d gone for a swim. Holy shit balls. I was in trouble.

  “Hello?” Bash snapped his fingers in my face. I was obviously not having the same effect on him.

  “He brought me,” I jerked my thumb at Ranulf, my vision focused on Bash’s well-sculpted abdomen. Sweet baby Jesus.

  “You should go back to the guest wing. This is no place for a Princess,” Bash narrowed his eyes and I didn’t understand what he was trying to tell me. I was too stuck on the last thing he said.

  “Excuse me?” I blanched away, pulling my arm out of his grip. “Don’t be an asshole,” I whispered. It was useless, every single ear heard what I said and the gasps could probably be heard all the way in Sheunta village.

  Sebastian’s eyes widened for a fleeting moment, “A Luna has no business being here.”

  I was stunned by Bash’s reaction that I turned to Ranulf who stood behind me, but all he did was offer me a weak smile. He knew this would happen—he hoped it would. If this was his plan to get me to behave, he was dead wrong.

  “It seems a lot of you are scared to spar with a sweet little Luna like myself…” I smiled to the crowd of guards that had formed to watch us.

  “Mackenzie,” Sebastian warned but it was too late—I was going in for the kill.

  “Or are you scared of a little challenge?” Ding, ding, ding, people we have a winner. Pack law: no challenge goes unanswered. That was my first lesson in the Lycan world—one I would never forget thanks to Sebastian.

  The guards stomped their feet over the sanded ground in sync with one another. The sound reverberated against the tower walls as the wolves waited for either one of us to make the first move.

  “You know the rules,” Bash growled. “This time it won’t be dumb luck.”

  “Not this time, buddy.” I cracked my knuckles.

  My smile stretched across my face like the Cheshire cat as I took off my t-shirt, revealing my sports bra.

  “Princess!” Ranulf ran to me, picking up my shirt and covering my front. “This is inappropriate behavior for a Luna. Ye’ve made yer point, now I will be yer champion.”

  I scoffed and pushed past him. “No way, he’s all mine.”

  Sebastian wore sweat pants that were cut off into shorts with a pair of sneakers. I’d have it a bit tougher since I was wearing jeans that constricted my movements, but it wasn’t a total loss. I slipped off my shoes and socks, and dug my toes into the damp sand.

  “Eat your heart out, Sebastian Steel,” I smirked as I charged ahead, going into a half shift. My wolf awoke after a long slumber and I could feel her; ready to conquer the world and regain her pride after what happened in the abandoned subway tunnels. A power radiated from her with such vigor, I was stunned as it coursed through my veins and outward in a loud and fierce roar.

  I ducked as Sebastian’s clawed hand swung from his right and I twirled around behind him. My knee slammed into his mid-back, knocking him forward. He regained his footing and rammed into my mid-section like a linebacker. My feet lifted off the ground and I heard the scurrying of feet as the crowd rushed to get out of his way as he slammed me onto the tower wall. I tucked my head into the crook of his neck to avoid banging my head, but the force still sucked the air out of my lungs. I gasped as he let me go and I slid down the wall until my feet hit the ground.

  My fist collided with his jaw before he blocked my other jabs. We tousled around the make-shift fighting ring—soaked in sweat and the occasional drip of blood at the hands of our claws. It had been a while since I worked out and I was winded. I slid between Bash’s legs and climbed onto his back, my arm wrapped around his neck as I tried to put him to sleep.

  “Nighty night,” I whispered in his ear
and he fell to one knee, his body relaxing as I tightened my grip.

  With renewed strength, he flipped me over his shoulder and I landed flat on my back in front of him—right between his legs.

  “You make this all too easy,” I grinned. He caught on to his mistake as I jabbed my fist at his groin.

  The sound of everyone grimacing was nothing compared to the squeak that Bash let out. I almost pitied him but then I remembered what he said earlier. I didn’t even hit that hard. Not like I wanted to stop him from reproducing or anything.

  I sat up as he tipped over to the side, holding his boys in his cupped hands. A few of the guards helped him up as I circled around in place, looking at the faces watching me. “Anyone else want to give it a go?” I taunted.

  “I doubt it,” Ranulf came up beside me with my shirt. His face was a mixture of pride and concern. I couldn’t figure out why.

  I shrugged on my t-shirt and dusted the sand from my hands. The guards whispered to one another but stayed as far away from me as possible. I wanted to laugh at their foolishness, but this was the perfect time to check out the weapons rack while Ranulf looked for my sneakers.

  They had everything: swords, daggers, axes, throwing stars—you name it, it was there. I didn’t grab anything but I ran my fingers over the steel.

  “Yer quite the warrior, Sis,” Drew chuckled as he came up beside me. “Quite the show ye gave the boys. I’m sure they’ll remember it when they’re wanking off to yer shirtless figure tonight.”

  “Gross,” I mumbled and tried to walk away. No use, he only followed me. “Shouldn’t you, I don’t know, be doing something more important than stalking me? That’s what Ranulf is for.”

  “But it’s so much fun! Ye never disappoint with all yer outbursts and quirks. I have to get my fill of it before yer trial,” he mused.

  “Oh yeah?” I snorted. “How come?”

  “Well the council is watching yer every move,” he whispered. “Ranulf reports to them every night and they’re not happy with ye. I’m surprised yer boyfriend hasn’t told ye with all the time he spends with them.”

  I stiffened. “You’re full of shit. I know what you’re trying to do and it won’t work.” He couldn’t drive a wedge between the three of us—he didn’t know that the only person who could was me.