ALPHA (Mackenzie Grey #3)

by Karina Espinosa

“Thank you, Alexander. This is very kind of you.”

  He nodded and reached for my hands. “That’s nae the only thing I want to give ye, Mackenzie. Now that the trial is over, ye must be thinking about going home, aye?”

  “Yeah…”

  “Well I would love it if ye considered staying. I haven’t had the chance to get to know ye how I should have and I take full responsibility for it. I want to make up for my mistakes and start anew. What do ye say?”

  “I-I don’t know, Alexander. You sort of sprung this on me, I can’t give you an answer right now,” I choked out. I was a total bitch and I’d be burning in hell—but he’d be right there with me. He was still the King who refused to make any changes for the Lunas. He might be trying to get to know his daughter but he was no saint.

  “Think about it, darling,” he cleared his throat. “Go on, enjoy the rest of yer party. Happy Birthday, Mackenzie,” he reached over and planted a kiss on my forehead.

  At this point, I might as well ask for a seat beside the devil himself.

  ****

  I hustled down the dais and handed the jewelry box to Jackson for safe keeping. Before I could say anything about what happened, Amy had me by the arm and pulling me to the dance floor again. She’d made more friends who were teaching her a dance that was popular in Scotland.

  “I think it’s time we show them how we get down,” Amy grinned as she backed away from me toward the sound booth.

  “What? Amy come back!” I giggled. She pulled out her cell phone from between her breasts like the classy lady she was, and went up to the DJ.

  “I swear, they let any old riff raffs in here nowadays,” Drew said as he came from behind me. “Care to dance, little sis?”

  “I rather choke on my own vomit,” I deadpanned.

  “Charming as always,” he said. “Father sent me over and I would really prefer to do as he says.”

  I peered around him to the dais where Alexander and Ivana were seated and saw the King watching us. I expelled a loud sigh and accepted his requested.

  “One dance, and your hands better not wander or I’ll drop kick you so quick, you won’t even have a chance to take a breath,” I took his hand and led him to an open space on the dance floor.

  “Yer always so warm and welcoming, Mackenzie. I can’t imagine ye not having friends back home.”

  “Just shut up and dance.”

  Drew shifted side-to-side with the occasional turn and dip that made me want to roll my eyes.

  “Ye look lovely, Sis. All grown up,” his eyes lingered below my neck and I took my heel and stomped it on his foot.

  “Fuck!” he exclaimed, drawing attention from everyone, including Alexander.

  I bit my lip shyly, “Sorry,” I apologized to the party goers. “I’m not the best dancer. I warned him I had two left feet,” I giggled like an airhead and the others dismissed us as two silly kids.

  “Bitch,” he growled under his breath.

  “That’s no way to treat a lady, big bro. I can’t imagine you having any friends around here,” I smiled wide.

  “Ye’ll regret that, Mackenzie,” he snarled. “Ye’ve already shown us yer underbelly, it’s too easy now to get to ye.”

  I snorted. “Yeah, try getting past Jackson. Not even you’re stupid enough to do that.” Jackson had been glued to Amy’s side since the day I struck a deal with Alexander to keep Amy safe. They now knew I’d do anything for her and that was my weakness.

  “She’s not the only one,” he whispered in my ear, crushing my hands between our chests and keeping me in place. “Yer quite fond of yer granny.”

  I attempted to pull away but he had a bone crushing grip on me. I didn’t want to attract any more attention than we already had.

  “Excuse me? My grandma’s been dead for like ten years. If you’re going to threaten my human family, at least threaten the right ones, dumbass.”

  “I donae care for yer silly human fixation. I’m talking about our fathers mum. Ye jumped to her rescue just like that human pet of yers. It’d be too easy to snap Helena’s neck without a single trace, aye.”

  I stilled. Helena was Alexander’s mother? “What the fuck…” I mumbled.

  “Oh, did ye nae know, Sis? Helena is our dear ol’ granny who cooks and cleans for us, and caters to my every whim,” he sneered. “Did ye really think our father would change the ways of the Lycan because ye said so? If he canae give his own mum a break, what makes ye think he’ll give ye one?”

  My eyes were wide and I had a deer in headlights gaze. This was beyond fucked up. “Let me go,” I seethed.

  “Aw, but we’re having such fun. One more song, lassie,” he twirled me around and I almost lost my footing.

  “She said to let her go,” Bash came up beside us. “Let’s not make a scene, Andrew.”

  Drew laughed. “Oh, I’m scared now. He used my full name, sis. Ye sure have a winner here. Has our father even told ye the meaning of yer name?”

  I swallowed loudly, trying to push down the lump in my throat that kept me from speaking.

  “Sis, ye really need to have a talk with dear ol’ da. He’s been keeping things from ye,” Drew winked and let me go. “Happy Birthday, Mackenzie Grey.”

  Sebastian pulled me toward him as Drew walked away, his hands tucked into the pockets of his pants and whistling to a table of Lunas who blushed at his attention.

  “I’m going to be sick,” I said and Bash hurried me out of the ballroom.

  We made it just in time to one of the private bathrooms. The minute Bash shut the door, my head was surrounded by the porcelain throne and I was blowing chunks. Sebastian pulled my hair back to avoid dirtying it, but it was pointless. I didn’t want to go back in there—not with what I now knew.

  I dry-heaved a couple of times before I realized there was nothing left in my stomach to expel.

  “What happened, Mackenzie?”

  I rummaged through the sink cabinet and knocked over some spare toilet paper rolls before finding some mouth wash. I rinsed my mouth with water before disinfecting it with the burning peppermint liquid.

  “Alexander never planned on hearing me out or changing a single law.”

  “You can’t listen to what that creep says, he’s talking out of—”

  “Helena’s my grandmother!” I cried. “The woman who serves us meals, washes our clothes, and cleans after us like a maid is Alexander’s fuckin’ mother. What makes you think he cares about me if he couldn’t give a rat’s ass about his own mom?”

  “Shit,” Bash muttered.

  “My point exactly,” I plopped down on the covered toilet. “How everything pans out tomorrow is more important than ever.”

  Sebastian squatted before me. “Don’t worry, Mackenzie. For now, let’s go back out there and have some fun with our friends. Let’s enjoy being alive.”

  ****

  Amy had the party in full swing with the band, Young the Giant, blasting through the speakers. The party goers were a bit confused on how to dance to alternative rock, but we kicked off our high heels, snatched Scarlet before she had time to protest and started to jump around. Within seconds, many of the guest joined us on the dance floor, mimicking the uncoordinated Americans.

  It took me a minute to gather myself up, but when I walked into the ballroom and saw my friends, I realized that today might be the last day we’re all together. I wouldn’t let Drew ruin that for me—not on my birthday. I would only be twenty four once, after all.

  Chapter Thirty

  None of us could get a wink of sleep. The party ended around three in the morning, which left us only a few hours of shut eye before meeting at Caledonian Forest with the Highlanders. We synchronized our watches with the Packs overseas so the attacks would happen simultaneously. The advantage for the American Packs? All of the American Summit was in Scotland. The disadvantage for us? Both Summits were here in Scotland.

  Scarlet slept over because she was “intoxicated”—that was the story we were telling Ran
ulf. With her here, she was able to cook up an invisibility spell to bypass the guards at the bridge. The only downfall of the potion was its longevity. Five minutes tops. We had to find the quickest route out of the castle and sprint over the bridge and away from the guard’s sight into the village.

  “Out the balcony is our best option. If we go through the castle, we’d have to drink this concoction before leaving the room. If we leave through the window, the five minutes start once we land on solid ground,” Jackson said.

  “Fine. Let’s hurry, I’m getting antsy,” I mumbled and grabbed a vile from Scarlet. “It’s going to taste like ass, isn’t it?”

  “Sorry,” she winced.

  “Don’t apologize, Scarlet. To anyone,” I winked and stepped out onto the balcony. One by one we repelled onto the lawn. No one was guarding my window anymore now that the trial was over and I was on good terms with Alexander.

  When we were outside of the castle, I raised my vile. “Bottoms up,” and we chugged.

  It took less than thirty seconds before I couldn’t see any of my friends or myself for that matter.

  “The timer begins now,” Scarlet said, somewhere to my right.

  We ran around the castle to the front entrance. The drive-way was filled with cars of guests who were too drunk to drive home last night. Two guards were posted on opposite sides of the bridge that crossed over the moat into Sheunta Village. We couldn’t run past them because it would be too loud and we had to make sure we didn’t bump into each. Which was why five minutes wasn’t enough, but we’d make it work.

  I walked slowly toward the bridge, my hands outstretched in case someone was in front of me. I held my breath as I was five feet away from the guards. They looked exhausted and I almost felt guilty for what we were about to do. Almost.

  I was passing by when someone ahead of me kicked a rock by accident. I froze. One of the guards jerked up and whistled to the other guy.

  “Was that ye?” he asked his companion.

  The other guard yawned. “What are ye going on about?”

  The guy thought about it for a moment, looked at the ground as if something would jump out at him and then he shrugged.

  “Never mind.”

  I walked as quickly as I possibly could until I was over the bridge. From there, I ran to the Apothecary and made it just in time. As I walked through the door, I began to reappear and I saw the others waiting for me.

  “What took you so long?” Bash asked.

  “Someone was in front of me and kicked a rock. I thought they were going to find out. Who was it?”

  They looked to one another but no one admitted to the deed.

  “Whatever,” I rolled my eyes. “Let’s get out of here.”

  We ran upstairs to the apartment and helped Amy set up her laptop and hook up Scarlet’s desktop. She would be staying at the Apothecary with Jackson keeping her safe. Scarlet would ward the building in case someone figured out they were in here. The rest of us were going to Caledonian Forest to meet up with the Highlanders and Lucian.

  “Are you good?” I asked Amy once she had all her stuff plugged in.

  She nodded. “Yeah. Just make sure you guys keep your ear pieces in so we don’t lose communication.”

  “I know, Aims. I’m asking if you’re okay.” I hated that she was in this situation. Once this was over, I really needed to figure out what I was going to do. Amy couldn’t be mixed up in this world anymore.

  “I’m fine, Kenz. With Scarlets voodoo, it’s gonna be like Fort Knox up in here. I’m more worried about you.”

  I waved her off. “Don’t you know? I got nine lives,” I winked.

  “Nine lives my ass,” she scoffed. “All jokes aside, I need you to make it out alive. I don’t know what I’ll do—”

  “You’ll survive,” I said. “No matter what happens to me, I want you to get as far away from this crap as possible. Go somewhere with Jackson and be happy, Amy. You deserve it.”

  “But—”

  “But nothing,” I stopped her. “You’re more than my best friend, you’re my sister—my family. I might go about things the wrong way, but all I’ve ever wanted is for you to be safe. I’ll give my life if it means keeping you away from danger. So the minute things go downhill, get out of dodge, Amy. I mean it.”

  There was a pause before she jumped out of her computer chair and wrapped her tattooed arms around me. I squeezed her back just as hard—maybe for the last time.

  “I love you, Amy.”

  “Love you too, Kenz.”

  ****

  We took the back exit out of the Apothecary and ran to Lucian’s cottage. It was almost seven o’clock in the morning and I worried people would start waking up if they hadn’t already. I didn’t want to raise any suspicions.

  When we crossed the vast land between Sheunta Village and the cottage just on the border of Caledonian Forest, we didn’t need to knock on the door. Lucian came out—in a black turtle neck might I add—and we went straight into the forest and out of sight from any prying eyes.

  We followed the map the Highlanders had given Lucian and Scarlet that took us to the meeting point.

  “How do you know we can trust them?” Jonah asked. “Didn’t they almost kill you?” Things were still a little tense between us but that was an issue for another day.

  “Yes, and then we kissed and made up,” I shrugged, ducking under a branch. “I’m not crying over spilled milk, Jonah. I’m over it.”

  “And if they turn on us?”

  “They won’t,” I spun around and faced him. “They hate the MacCoinnich’s way more than they care to betray us.”

  “You’re a MacCoinnich, Pet” Lucian chimed in. “The young Cadwell is not wrong for being a tad suspicious.”

  “Trust me,” I grumbled. “I know we can trust them.” I was The Savior—whatever that meant. In case they laughed at me for being so damn gullible, I kept that little secret to myself.

  When we arrived at the meeting point, the first one to approach us was Ailios—the leader of the Highlanders.

  “Mackenzie,” she grinned and dropped to a knee before me. Her fisted hand over her heart. “It is an honor to fight by yer side.”

  “No need for formalities, Ailios,” I pulled her to her feet. “I want to introduce you to some friends.”

  She stiffened and sniffed the air. “I know the girl and the pale one, but the other two are wolves.”

  “Yes,” I nodded. “They’re my friends.”

  “How do ye know ye can trust them?” she grunted as she sized them up.

  I chuckled. “Ailios, I trust them with my life.”

  She hesitated before she accepted Bash and Jonah. “Very well. The Highlanders are in place and ready for yer command.”

  “Okay, but remember what I said, Ailios,” I said sternly.

  “Yes, yes, no killing the King and Queen,” she rolled her eyes.

  “Good,” I smiled and let her lead us through the forest. It was sort of a contradiction—attacking the Lycan but not letting them hurt the King and Queen. It took Lucian a while to convince them otherwise, but they relented. I didn’t want to kill anyone but if push came to shove, I’d get my hands dirty. The only ones I couldn’t bring up the nerve to off were them. Ivana, mainly because she didn’t have a choice in the matter, and well Alexander’s my father. I couldn’t live with myself if I caused his death.

  “Kenz?” Scarlet murmured as we hiked to the rendezvous point where the rest of the highlanders were waiting. Her face was flushed and she was worrying her hands so much, they were beet red.

  “What’s up?” I slowed down and let the rest of the group pass us.

  She bit her lip and waited until everyone was far away and couldn’t listen. “About my mother…”

  “I’m sorry, Scar. I know I made you a promise and I haven’t made good on it.”

  She shook her head. “Don’t worry, Kenz, that’s not what I was going to say. I know you meant well,” she paused. “It’s just
—I can’t help but wonder if my mom is the bad guy in all of this. It was her spell that sealed the vault in King Alexander’s office. No one besides the King has the ability to go in there.”

  She was right. Had we not found those damning letters from the Sisters of the Sight, I would have assumed Cosima was guilty, but… “What if she had no choice? Your apartment had clues to her being kidnapped, Scarlet. I don’t know to what extent, but Cosima played a big part in how my life played out—whether good or bad—and someone might be using her for it.”

  Scarlet kicked at a patch of dirt and dug her hands into the pockets of her dark red jacket. “I don’t want to come face-to-face with her playing for the other team. I don’t think I could hurt her. I would be betraying you.” Her two braids bounced over her shoulders with every step she took. Scarlet was young and hadn’t experienced the world as I had these past few years. It made me more sympathetic. She was raised in a supernatural world, but Cosima did a great job at keeping the darkness out—by giving her some humanity. That’s what made me confident that Scarlet’s mother wasn’t our enemy.

  “You wouldn’t be betraying me. I would never expect you to do anything you didn’t want to do—especially hurt the people you care about most,” I said. It wasn’t until that moment I realized that I cared about Alexander—enough to keep him safe.

  A tear rolled down Scarlets cheek and she brushed it away with the sleeve of her coat. “Thank you,” she muttered.

  I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her along so we’d catch up with the rest of the group. “Come on, Scar. Let’s go kick some Lycan tail.”

  Chapter Thirty One

  “The alarm has been rung and they know you’re missing,” Lucian said as he ran up to us and about two hundred Highlanders. I was taken aback when we arrived to the rendezvous point and were met with a legion of lone wolves that lived in the backyard of the Lycan Capital. Maybe not their backyard exactly, but all across the highlands and lowlands of Scotland—and there were more coming from Caledonian Forest at the rear of the Castle.