Alpha Divided (Alpha Girl Book 3)

Dastien patted my back as I nearly choked again. I was on a roll today. “Jesus, Axel. Shut up.”


“Who’s talking about knocking my daughter up?” Dad said as he stepped outside.

I groaned. If he owned a shotgun, I was pretty sure he’d be cocking it right about now. “No one is getting knocked up.” I’d need to have a sex life to get preggo and we hadn’t gone there yet.

And God. Could this be more embarrassing?

“Just be safe,” Mom said as she patted my hand.

I was wrong. It could totally get more embarrassing. “Please. For the love of all that’s holy, everyone just ixnay on the exsay alktay.”

“If you can’t say it, honey, you shouldn’t be having it.”

Jesus Christ almighty.

I set my drink on the ground and covered my face with my hands. “Did no one hear what I just said? Shit. And it’s my birthday…”

I heard Dastien’s laugh through the bond. I peeked at him and his face was a perfect mask of serious.

This isn’t funny.

It’s extremely funny.

“No. It’s humiliating.”

Just think, this time next week, we’ll be getting ready for some Paul van Dyk.

I grinned. Can’t wait. “Hey.” I kicked Axel’s foot. “We’re going to PvD next Saturday. If you wanna go, you’re gonna need tickets.”

“Dastien warned me a while back. I guess I’m going to suffer through yet another night of Nintendo music for you.”

Axel had always been my dancing partner, even if he didn’t like the music. Hitting the clubs had been my one release when we lived in LA. “Awesome. Thanks.” The tickets were Dastien’s birthday present to me and I couldn’t wait. We had the same taste in music—a heavy rotation of trance and house with some breaks and ambient mixed in. I never thought I’d meet someone who shared my passions, but Dastien did. He got me.

“Can we have a moment with our daughter before you go?” Dad asked.

I started to protest—whatever Dad said to me he could say to Dastien—but Dastien stood before I could say anything. “Of course. I’ll wait by the car?”

We were quiet as Dastien stepped off the porch. I knew he could probably hear whatever we said—werewolves had fantastic hearing—but he gave my family the illusion of privacy as he leaned against his black Porsche Cayenne at the end of the driveway.

“Are you sure you want to go through with this?” Dad asked. “If you want to wait, I’m sure we can talk to Michael.”

Mr. Dawson, a.k.a. Michael, was Dad’s boss, the head of St. Ailbe’s and the local pack. Even if I wanted Dad to step in—which I didn’t—it wouldn’t do any good. It wasn’t Mr. Dawson’s decision.

I cracked my knuckles as I stared across the driveway at Dastien. The way he leaned against the car made my heart race.

He wasn’t even doing anything and my whole body flushed. How could that get me so riled?

“I’m not nervous about it. Dastien…” God. My face burned because I knew he’d be listening to this. “Dastien is kind of perfect for me. I’m a worrier and he’s mega calm. We have the same interests in music and dancing and whatnot. I’m not good at the fighting stuff and he’s not good at the magic stuff. It’s like we balance each other. We fit.”

I couldn’t even explain what I’d felt when I first saw him. From that moment, it was like I already knew him. I’d never felt something so strongly. And when I left him at the mall, the longing that drew me to him… I couldn’t help but hope he felt the same.

“I know it’s fast and we’re all still adjusting to everything that’s happened, but I need to do this. I think once I do, I’ll feel more settled. But right now, it’s like something could happen and I dunno. I’m nervous. I’m on edge.” The more I tried to pinpoint my feelings the more illusive they became. It wasn’t just growing up that was bothering me.

I blew out a breath. “I don’t know what to say, but I want you to trust me. It’s going to be okay.”

Dad pulled me in for a hug, and I wrapped my arms around him. Dad was always free with his hugs. He didn’t understand my visions the way Mom did, so he didn’t keep his distance. But I didn’t care anymore. Now that I finally had more control, I could relax into his embrace. “You want away from the pack, then we’ll find a way,” Dad said.

I kissed his scruffy cheek. “Thanks, Dad. But seriously, I’m going to be okay.”

He blinked, not letting tears fall. “Okay, big girl.”

Mom pulled me in for a hug next. “Te quiero mucho.”

“I love you, too.”

I turned to Axel.

“God. It’s like it’s a fucking funeral.”

“Axel!” Mom said.

“What? It’s true.” He pulled me in for a hug, too. “I love you, kiddo. Good luck tonight. And happy birthday. You finally have friends, you awkward dork.”

“I love you, too.” I shoved him away as I laughed. “I’m gonna go. Gotta get ready.”

“Don’t miss dinner next Sunday. Even if you’re tired from dancing,” Mom said.

“Will do.”

I walked to Dastien’s car, and he opened the door for me.

“Hey, Dastien,” Axel shouted.