Alpha Unleashed

by Aileen Erin

  Imogene sneered at me and nudged the redhead beside her. The redhead turned.

  Shannon. I fought to keep my face neutral as I returned her glare. Meredith was going to freak out when she found out that Shannon was hanging with that group.

  Shannon shot me a nasty look and said something to the boys, who started snickering. I guessed she wasn’t over me yelling at her for going through my spell books. Or maybe she was still peeved that I had Dastien and she didn’t. Whatever the reason behind that look, I didn’t care. I didn’t want anything to do with her anymore.

  I made my way to the food. Shannon and Imogene would probably ignore me as long as I ignored them, but seeing them with those guys made me wonder about their connection to the pack.

  As I heaped my tray with food, I focused on the pack bonds—the little strings of magic that tied all the Weres in the pack together. I’d never spoken to the guy who stood next to me, shoveling pancakes onto his plate, but I could sense my connection to him and to everyone else who obeyed Mr. Dawson as their alpha.

  The strings of magic and alpha energy created a web through the cafeteria, connecting the werewolves to each other. Even some of the Cazadores who weren’t exactly part of this pack had distant ties—barely visible, but there. Which made sense since nearly all Weres were tied to each other through the rule of the Seven.

  Everyone except for Shannon, Imogene, and their round-table of sucky people. I couldn’t feel anything from them.

  Dastien. I called to him through our bond.

  As soon as I focused on him, I could feel his rapid breath as he backed away from whoever he was sparring. Are you okay?

  Yeah. But that group is at the table again and I still can’t feel their bond. And now Imogene and Shannon are with them…

  We already told Michael. He said they’re cleared.

  Maybe they shouldn’t be. It wasn’t like Mr. Dawson was totally infallible.

  I’ll tell Michael about Imogene and Meredith, but there’s nothing we can do until they act out against the pack. Just keep an eye on them.

  Will do. I didn’t like it, but if the pack alphas wanted to hide in a room and argue all day pretending the pack was fine, then it wasn’t my place to question.

  Pushing my frustration aside, I ordered my usual bacon, cheddar, and avocado omelet. The more calories packed in there, the better. I had some serious studying to do and I needed to focus until lunch. I had a few witchcraft books I’d dug up at the back of the library, and I planned to keep working through them. The more I knew about magic, the better.

  As I moved past their table, the hair rose on my arms. The group stayed quiet, and I purposely knocked my elbow into one of the guys.

  “Watch it,” he said.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled the word as I hurried past, but I’d already gotten what I needed.

  There was no connection when we touched. It didn’t make sense.

  Unless they were working with another alpha who didn’t answer to the Seven. But that was impossible. Mr. Hoel was dead. I knew it for a fact. I was the one who’d killed him. And the wolves loyal to him had left or been driven out.

  So, maybe magic had made their bonds disappear. But they couldn’t be working for Luciana… Could they?

  No. And they weren’t what I needed to be focusing on. Finding the magic to defeat Luciana and her demons was priority number one. I couldn’t let whatever pranks they were pulling divide my attention. Especially when Mr. Dawson said not to worry about it.

  I settled at a table by myself and flipped open my book—Crystals: The Art of Harnessing Magic Through the Elements—while I ate.

  I was halfway through my second plate when Meredith finally showed. She saw me wave and headed my way.

  “Hey.” She looked flawless in her cut-off shorts and tank. Her hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, showing off one big streak of hot pink down the side of her head. “I missed you in the dorms.”

  “I know. Where were you?”

  A slow grin spread across her face. “On a run.”

  “Should’ve guessed.” Now that she could shift, she was making up for lost time, going on forest runs with Donovan at every chance.

  She pulled out a chair and settled down. “How was training after I left?”

  I played with my half-eaten plate of hash browns. “It was fine. Ate more mat than I wanted to.”

  “That sounds awesome.” Like every other Were, Meredith was an amazing fighter. Watching her and Shannon sparing during my first martial arts class had been insane. Not to mention intimidating.

  “Yep. It was super awesome.” Sarcasm dripped from the words.

  “Did you make any progress with your visions?”

  I flipped the book shut and leaned back in my chair. “No. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I feel like there’s something on the tip of my tongue. Something big that I’m forgetting. And it’s driving me mad…” I trailed off when I noticed Meredith staring hard at something behind me. I quickly glanced over my shoulder. “What?”

  “What’s Shannon doing with that group?” Her lips pressed into a tight, thin line. “And is that Imogene?” Meredith and I might be split on how we felt about Shannon, but we totally agreed on Imogene.

  I turned back to my now-cold omelet and took a bite. “I know,” I said after a second. “Looks like they’re BFFs now.”

  She scrunched up her nose as she thought. “Why is she with those guys? Shannon has nothing in common with them. She’s from the Irish pack. And Imogene? Really?” Meredith stared at them like she could glean answers off them. “Maybe if we all try reaching out to her, she’ll sit with us again.”

  I’d explained what happened between Shannon and I while Meredith was sick, but she didn’t understand. For better or worse, they’d been friends since forever. Their parents were friends and they’d grown up taking vacations together. Meredith was loyal, almost to a fault, and that meant she refused to give up on Shannon. “We tried that, remember? It didn’t work.”

  “I should go over. Try talking to her again.”

  I nearly rolled my eyes. Meredith had tried talking to Shannon, and in her defense—Shannon was still nice to her, but it was a losing battle. Shannon would obviously rather be with her new friends than us.

  Meredith started to stand up, but I grabbed her hand. “I wouldn’t—”

  “I have to try.”

  I let her go as I tried to think of a way to say what I needed to say without making it worse. “I don’t know. I still can’t feel anyone at that table through the pack bonds. Including Shannon.”

  Meredith crossed her arms as she stared down at me. “Whatever happened between you and her, she wouldn’t do anything to harm the pack. Shannon’s not capable of that.”

  I disagreed, but saying so would only hurt Meredith’s feelings. “What if she thought it would help the pack?” And what if they aren’t part of our pack anymore? I thought the words but didn’t say them aloud.

  For a second, Meredith’s lower lip trembled, and I thought I’d gotten through to her, but then she shook her head. “No. I don’t believe that. Not at all.”

  I kept my mouth firmly shut. If there was one person I didn’t want to piss off, it was Meredith. She’d been my friend—no questions asked—from the beginning. She’d helped me through when all I’d wanted to do was run away from St. Ailbe’s. And when I’d sucked at running and kept falling out of windows, she hadn’t made fun of me. Much. “I just don’t want you to get disappointed.”

  “I—” Meredith stopped in the middle of what she was saying, and turned to the door.

  It took me a second to figure out what was going on, but then Donovan came into the cafeteria, and started our way. Maybe he’d be able to reach Meredith, because I sure as hell wasn’t getting anywhere.

  She laughed at something he must’ve said through their bond. “Donovan is going to keep you company while I talk to Shannon. I’ll be back in a sec.”

  There wasn’t any point
in trying to stop her.

  Donovan took Meredith’s spot at the table He wore sweat pants and a T-shirt and his black hair was still messy from his run. His clothes gave of the scents of cedar and grass and dirt, and it almost made me jealous.

  Maybe a run would clear my mind. Help me figure out a way around these visions.

  “She’s checking on Shannon, eh?” Donovan asked, bringing me back to myself.

  “Yeah.” I’d already said my piece to his mate. I didn’t need to repeat myself.

  He jerked his chin toward the table in question. “There’s still something off about them.”

  My fork dropped to the plate with a clatter, and I glared into his glass-blue eyes. “Oh, come on. We’re not doing this.”

  Donovan raised his eyebrows. “Not doing what?”

  He had to be joking. “I just had this conversation with Meredith. I know how the whole mate thing works. There’s not a chance she didn’t tell you.”

  He gave me a wicked grin, and I knew trouble was coming. “Aye. But what you don’t know is that I agree with you.”

  “You do?” Mr. Dawson had been all—everything’s fine. Donovan hadn’t said a word. Why now?

  “Yes. I do.”

  “What do you know?” I leaned toward him, lowering my voice. Pesky Weres and their super-awesome hearing. “Why are their bonds missing? I thought they couldn’t leave the pack without putting in a formal bid to Mr. Dawson.”

  “That’s true enough. I don’t know what’s going on, but I think you’re going to find out. If this absence of pack bond is spreading, then we need to find the cause. Just… Don’t say anything to Meredith until we’re positive. All right?”

  Whoa. I didn’t keep much—if anything—from Dastien. “Do you think that’s wise?”

  “Keeping my opinions from my mate?” One side of his mouth quirked up. “Not usually. But she made her side clear enough with you, and I’d rather not start an argument that won’t get us anywhere.”

  Who knew? Even the great Donovan—one of the all-powerful Seven—was afraid of pissing off his mate. The idea was a little preposterous, but then again—I didn’t like upsetting Dastien either. I’d done it. But that didn’t mean I liked it. That left me with one last question. “Why can’t you keep an eye on them? You’re probably way better at this pack bonds stuff than I am.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “In case you’ve forgotten, I’m not of this pack. I’m an alpha, and can use that to overpower and override the pack bonds if necessary, but this needs more finesse. An insider’s look.”

  “But your mate’s in our pack.” When Dastien bit me, I’d become part of the St. Ailbe’s pack. I figured it would be the same for Donovan and Meredith and their mate bond, even if they hadn’t gone through with their bonding ceremony.

  “Doesn’t work that way. I’m already the alpha of another pack.”

  “So, what about Meredith? Is she still part of this pack?”

  “Until she and Michael decide to let her move to mine. She’ll keep it for as long as she’s here, and I think that’s best.” He leaned forward. “I’ve heard through Michael and Meredith, but I want to know what it is you’re feelin’ from them. I’ve not experienced this before, and that’s sayin’ something to me.” His Irish accent thickened, and I finally knew that someone else was as worried about this as I was.

  “I don’t know what to say except that I can’t feel them. It’s like they’re there, but they’re not.” I sighed. “It makes no sense. Which is why Mr. Dawson blew me off when I brought it up. Shouldn’t you be talking to him about this? He’s the alpha.”

  “What makes you think I haven’t already?”

  The tension on my shoulders relaxed. It seemed like a good sign that two alphas were really talking about the problem. “And?”

  “Nothing. If they’ve withdrawn from the pack, he’s not feeling it.” He leaned in closer, speaking so quietly that even I could barely hear. “But last night, he gave that group of boys from the Canada pack a direct command and they disobeyed. I backed the command and forced their obedience, but I shouldn’t have had to. He’s their alpha. It may be that Rupert Hoel’s influence went deeper than those we’ve caught. There’s still a major player out there, and I’ve a fine idea who it might be.”

  Holy shit. That was bad news. Only someone more alpha than Mr. Dawson could ignore his commands, and they weren’t more alpha. At all.

  “Who?”

  “I think you might know. It’s one who got away.”

  It hit me then. They’d kicked one of the Seven out of the Council. The one who hated me. Ferdinand. “Do you really think it could be?”

  “Aye.”

  “But you didn’t say anything when I brought it up before.”

  “It took me longer to feel what you were getting at. I like to suss things out before actin’. Get fully aware of the situation. If you feel anything else out of the ordinary, let me know. Just be aware that if that lot wants to leave, that’s fine by me. They’re welcome to go their own way, but they need to make formal bids to Michael and they’ll have to tie to the Seven until they find their new packs. It must be done properly, or they’ll be considered lone wolves. And if they align with Ferdinand… I’d like those youngsters to avoid that if possible.”

  My stomach churned, and suddenly I didn’t feel much like finishing my omelet. If the pack was breaking up, then how were we ever going to defeat Luciana? We needed to be united if we wanted to stand the slightest chance of surviving.

  Meredith came back with a tray of food. “What are you two talking about?”

  As much as I didn’t feel like eating, I reached for my fork and shoved a big bite in my mouth. I was crap at lying, and if I even tried, she’d smell it.

  Man.

  Visions of death. Hiding things from my best friend. Today was a real winner.

  You okay? Dastien’s voice came through our bond.

  It used to weird me out when he did that, but ever since I came back from the compound, it felt natural. I found it comforting that no matter what, I could rely on him. He was there for me. Yeah. I think so.

  If you’re still stressing about your visions, don’t. We’re going to figure it out. I promise.

  I hope we can. Because if we couldn’t rely on the pack, we were going to need every bit of help we could get to stand against what was on the way.

  Chapter Three

  After I finished eating, I left Donovan and Meredith to their flirting, and went to check on Raphael. Luciana’s attack a couple nights ago had left him looking worse for wear. His bite from the reanimated zombie version of Daniel was horrifying for a lot of reasons.

  That Luciana could do something like that to her own son…

  Anger made my skin itch as the wolf rose, and I tried to remember that Dr. Gonzales was keeping a close watch on him in the infirmary. Still, there was a limit to what she could do. He’d looked pretty rough when I checked on him last night, but I was hoping she could cook up some good drugs to at least keep him stable until my cousin, Claudia, came back from Peru with a cure.

  I made my way back through campus to the infirmary. It was never quiet in the mornings. People were always racing to get last-minute food before the melodic warning tone rang, telling us that classes were starting. But today, everyone seemed especially busy.

  A group of Cazadores ran at full speed on a lap around the campus, but as they passed, I noticed that they weren’t in sync. Usually, the footfalls matched and they looked like they were running as one—as a unified group—but one of these guys was completely off. His footfalls were exactly opposite the others. Another was just a fraction too slow.

  The sight was unsettling to say the least. Even after being bitten, I’d been able to run in sync with my pack mates on my first jog around the gym. For the Cazadores, it should be like breathing.

  Motion on the quad drew my attention away. Two Weres had shifted and were circling and growling in the middle of the grass, I wasn’t positiv
e, but going by the low rumbling sounds and flashing teeth, they weren’t play fighting.

  It seemed like everywhere I looked, the pack was falling apart. Maybe I was pushing my own suspicions on everyone, but I didn’t think so. Not anymore. Especially not after what Donovan had just said.

  Another Cazador’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. He had a group of freshmen gathered around him.

  “You have to be fast,” he said as he paced back and forth in front of the group. His black hair was slicked back, but I couldn’t see his face. I only knew he was a Cazador by his uniform—black jeans and a plain, black T-shirt. “If you see their fingers flick or their lips moving, they’re cursing you. Act first. Slash your claws across their throat. If you can’t get the right angle, biting off hands works well, too.”

  I rubbed my arms as goose bumps ran across my skin. It was probably good information for them to have, especially since we had a few bad witches under sedation in the feral cages—but still—the idea of killing witches willy-nilly was upsetting for obvious reasons. I shoved my hands in the pockets of my jeans and picked up my pace.

  As soon as I reached the second floor of the building, the smell hit me.

  Rotten eggs.

  My stomach rolled, and I moved a little quicker. That scent brought back memories. None of them good.

  The witches—Tiffany, Beth, Shane, Elsa, and Yvonne—were gathered around Raphael’s bed. I briefly wondered where Cosette was hiding herself, but Raphael took all my attention as his breath came in loud rasping wheezes.

  “He’s worse than before.” I’d thought we had more time for Claudia to find a cure and get back, but now… A shudder of fear ran up my spine.

  “He’s dying,” Elsa said. She was shorter than me—which was a feat since I was barely over five feet tall—and rail thin. Her pixie cut made her appear even younger than she was. She usually liked to fade into the background, but every once in a while she said something that cut deep.

  This time I hoped she was wrong. “Where’s—”

  Dr. Gonzales pushed past me, answering the question on my mind. “I’ve got an idea.” She held one of her needles. “I don’t know about the dose. He’s human, but I think the demon’s overpowering the human side. If I’m wrong, this could go very badly, though. I want—”