Becoming Alpha

We sat there for a moment in the quiet. Bottling it up was making it worse. I looked back at the poster hanging over my bed. Meredith had dealt with crazy just as long as I had. A different breed of crazy for sure, but she’d understand better than anyone I’d met.



So I totally spilled my guts. The only problem was that once I started talking, I couldn’t stop. From my past, and embarrassing lack of friends, to moving to Texas and meeting Dastien—even about my visions. She sat on my bed and listened, with a blank look on her face.



When I finished, she didn’t say anything for a minute. I chewed on my nails as I waited.



Finally, she leaned back on the bed and let out a huge breath. “Wow. No wonder you snapped. What Dastien did is unforgivable. Inexcusable. And completely unlike him. I mean, it’s unbelievable. After I met you I didn’t believe all the stuff about you seducing him, you just seem more real than that. But I thought it was at least consensual.” She got up and started pacing beside the bed. “Why would he do that? What was he thinking! To risk his life and yours…I can’t believe it. It doesn’t make sense.”



I opened my mouth, ready to defend myself, but she held up her hand.



“No. No. I believe you. But I’m blown away. I can’t imagine what you must be going through right now. I thought you were just having trouble adjusting, but your reactions make so much more sense now.” She collapsed on the bed.



I don’t know what I’d expected when I started telling her my story, but for some reason, I didn’t think it’d be sympathy.



“And I have a working theory about your visions.”



I laughed. “Let’s hear it.”



She held up a finger. “One, I think they’re going to come back. Some of the really powerful werewolves have special abilities. There’s a Were I heard about that could move things with his mind. But since you’re different now, they might be different.”



The sense of relief was palpable. “Really?”



“Yep.” She held up a second finger. “And tied to that is my second point—werewolves have stronger minds. We’re not like humans, open for anyone to take a peek. It’s why we’re such good hunters. I mean what if there was a bad witch around? How would we be able to sneak up on her?”



This made sense, in an insane way. “Seriously?”



“Totally. I bet once you get settled with your wolf, you’ll be able to see more and you’ll have more control than you did as a witch.”



“I wasn’t a witch.”



“You might not have known it, but that doesn’t make it untrue. And now you’re like a werewitch or something.”



Oh God. I wasn’t touching that one. I had more than enough issues to deal with.



“By the way, forget what that idiot Nikki said. In case you didn’t notice the resemblance, she’s Imogene’s little sister.”



It made so much more sense now. “What a bitch.”



“I know, right? I’ve never gotten along with those two or any of their crew. You should’ve heard what they said when I put the blue streaks in my hair.” She patted my leg. “Get up.”



“What? Where are we going?”



“Last class of the day and we’ve got it together.”



“No way in hell am I going.” I put a pillow over my face. “I’ve had enough for one day.” It came out muffled, but I didn’t care.



“You can’t hide. You can’t let them win.” She took away the pillow and stared down at me. “This will be good for you. You’ll punch and kick all that anger out, and then the yoga will center you. It’s a must. Plus, I’ll be there and so will Chris, Shannon, and Adrian. It’ll be fun.”



“Martial arts really isn’t my thing.”



“It might not have been, but it is now. Trust me.”



“But doesn’t Dastien teach—”



“Crap. I didn’t think of that.” She paced beside the bed. “I hope Mr. Dawson is smart enough to sub out Dastien from our class, but if not, we need a plan.” She stopped mid-step. An evil grin spread across her face. “Oh. I’m brilliant. I was going to pair up with you, but if Dastien is there, you have to pair up with Chris. It’ll drive Dastien crazy.”



“Wouldn’t that be using Chris?”



She waved a hand through the air. “He won’t mind.” She went through my drawers and pulled out my usual yoga attire—stretchy fold-over pants, a sports bra, and a tank. “I’m going to get changed. I’ll be back here in two and you’d better be up and ready to do some damage.”