The Alpha Must Die

er believe

e wind sliced through her jacket despite the layers, and something heavy curled i

, familiar, jolting her like a snap of cold water. Emilia flinched, then look

ightly. "Thanks, Dad. Didn't think you'd sho

faltered

things." He gave her a small, apologe

ving Emilia a look that was part amused, part repro

ng slipping away. "Happy birthday, sweet

box wrapped in brown paper and twine. She blinked in surp

tephanie said, the excitement

Maybe... just maybe, it was what she'd been hinting at for weeks. Her parents were

!" Emilia said, her voice

head home," Stephanie repli

gh the mirror, then grinned

heavier here, the streetlights spaced too far apart. Emilia pressed her n

he car

nced onc

ephanie gasped, han

ed, already easing th

his way toward the back. Stephanie leaned forward, peerin

ing on?" Emilia

rinting back to the car, eyes wide with som

shouted, slammi

dered in her ears.

enched. His eyes flicked wildly between the

nd the next bend when it

Thick fur. Glowing eyes. Something between wolf a

brake. He

the word was swallowed

imbs locked. Her mind screamed to move

ilted, lost balance, then flipped. Once. Twice. Glass exploded. Met

came the sound of a tire

Max's voice broke, raspin

es scanned the wreckage. Stephanie was slumped forward, unmoving.

cracking. He thrashed against the sea

voice dropped

n, he thoug

he he

s. Stead

ything blurred and swayed. She caught a glimpse

was too white. Too clean. Machines beepe

er bed, clutching a

n bolted from the room. Moments later,

your name?" He leaned over, flash

spered, her throa

ened?" he asked, lifting h

ked slow

eel pain

s... my leg.

t you're stable for now. You're going to

d at the edge of her memory. A low growl. Eyes glo

nwh

r as he stepped into the mangled remains of the vehicle. Wind hiss

ments again," he said, e

owing eyes," Martha replied, holding up a not

shc

aid. "And the memo

ightened. "An

round, then lean

sed tight. "Fur at a crash

king what I'

answer r

id it. "Ch

s whispered. Always tangled up in cases li

OR'S

ed. Their shape-shifting nature, able to move between human and wolf-like forms, makes them almost impossible