The Alpha (The Pack Book 3) Read online

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Epilogue

  Author’s Note

  Meeting Jess

  Jailbait

  The Alpha

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  THE ALPHA

  First edition: November 23, 2018

  Copyright © 2018 Kristin Coley

  Written by Kristin Coley

  Jess Carter found a home in Banks, Idaho with her Dad and brother, Monster. It’s there she met her mate, Dom, and realized there was more to the world than she ever imagined.

  But all good things must come to an end.

  At least that’s been Jess’ experience.

  Her mother’s arrival brings to light shocking secrets that once again put Jess’ life in danger. With the Hanley Pack eager for any sign of weakness and a pile of secrets dividing loyalties, Jess and Dom have to find a way to keep the Packs unified as they fight to finally end the Hanley threat once and for all.

  Chapter One

  Jess

  “It’s not safe, Jess. Not anymore.” Dom ran his hand through his hair, staring at me firmly. “You need to go. Get away from here and start college. Be a teenager.”

  I rolled my eyes, ignoring him as usual. “You’re going to give me a complex, Dom,” I said sweetly. “Or whiplash with the way you keep changing your mind.”

  “I want you to be safe,” he groaned, dropping to his knees in front of me. “Can’t you understand?”

  “What I understand is that on your knees is a good look for you but I’m not going anywhere.” I shoved his shoulders, not even rocking him in the slightest as I scooted past him. He turned to follow my path as I headed into the apartment’s kitchen, my stomach rumbling. “Do we have any cookies left?” I mused, tapping my chin.

  “Jess,” Dom said forcefully and I spared him a glance.

  “Not going,” I said succinctly.

  A knock on the door interrupted him from whatever he was about to say and I went to the door, not bothering to check the peephole with Dom right behind me.

  I yanked it open and blinked at the person standing in front of me. “What are you doing here?” I asked harshly and her lips made a small moue of disappointment.

  “Is that anyway to speak to your mother?”

  “Mother no, you yes,” I replied, blocking her from coming in any further. Her presence was the absolute last thing we needed right now. Between Dom’s sudden ascent to Alpha, the Hanley threat that had yet to be eliminated, and the million other problems we faced, I couldn’t handle my mother and her drama. And there was no doubt in my mind there would be drama as her gaze shifted over my shoulder, her eyes widening as she looked up, way up and took in the formidable form of Dominic behind me. “Don’t even think about it,” I bit out, as I fought the sudden overwhelming urge to slap her as she ogled my man.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she denied even as her eyes lingered, and my own narrowed in response.

  Jess, Dom whispered in my mind, the mental link we shared from our bond strong after the events of the last few days. His voice sounded urgent and a little shocked, and I sent an inquiring nudge to him as I glared at my mother. She’s a, he started and my eyes drifted closed already anticipating what he was about to tell me.

  Don’t say it, don’t say it, don’t say it, I chanted internally, knowing it was useless.

  A breeding female, he finished, either not hearing the mantra I was screaming inside or choosing to ignore it.

  “Fuck,” I said aloud, the word summing up my emotions nicely.

  “Someone would think you were raised in a barn,” Mother sniffed and it was all I could do not to bash her face into the wall. The realization that she knew about shifters and had said nothing began to seep in and an incoherent rage formed inside of me. Dom must have sensed it because he grasped my shoulders in a tight grip, immobilizing me.

  “And since Jess seems to have forgotten her manners, who might you be?” She purred to Dom, not seeming to understand his hold on me was the only thing keeping her alive at the moment.

  “Her mate,” he said tersely and the shock on her face was almost enough to calm the shimmering rage inside of me.

  Almost.

  He relaxed his grip, giving me just enough leeway to bring my clenched fist up and into her face. The responding crunch sent a visceral satisfaction through me as she reeled back, clutching at her nose as blood seeped through her fingers, a stunned expression on her face the last thing I saw as I slammed the door in her face.

  “Feel better?” Dom asked in amusement as he crossed his arms over his broad chest.

  “Immensely,” I responded pithily, flicking my fingers at him as I tried to hide my wince at the motion. Punching someone in the face hurt. He caught my hand, his thumb smoothing over the reddened knuckles. Before I could jerk my hand away, he brought it to his lips, his tongue darting out to brush over my stinging knuckles. Tingles shot through me and I swallowed hard as my fingers heated and the pain vanished.

  “I didn’t think you could heal in human form,” I whispered, my voice shaky as his tongue continued to trace over the cracked skin. He pulled back, a small smile playing on his lips.

  “There are exceptions,” he murmured and I arched an eyebrow. “Mates are one of them,” he enlightened me, his thumb running over my now unmarred knuckles.

  “You staked your claim in front of my mother,” I commented neutrally and he eyed me carefully. I wasn’t upset by his decision, in fact it had sent a little thrill through me, but I also didn’t mind watching him squirm a bit.

  “You are my mate,” he rumbled, leaning down, his breath whispering against my cheek. “I was stating a fact.”

  “I think she was looking for a name,” I mused, fighting a smile.

  “You don’t like her,” he declared, proving how astute he truly was and my smile broke free. “I figured introducing myself was a waste of time.”

  “A man of few words and fewer friends,” I teased, bumping my nose against his cheek and inhaling. “Alpha,” I added, breathing the word into a title. A growl formed in his chest but before he could say anything the apartment door opened.

  “Why is your mother standing outside the door with a broken nose?” Dad asked, coming to a stop when he saw how close Dom and I stood. He exhaled roughly but didn’t say anything. I knew it was tough for him to see his Bunny growing up, mainly because I had the same issue when I saw him with Wren. Hard to get past the eww factor but we were both trying.

  Dom eased back, putting space between us and I smirked. Dad rubbed his temple, pretending like he didn’t see the move, and I could imagine the headache forming behind his eyes. It hadn’t even been a week since Monster had been kidnapped and we’d staged a rescue of him and Dom’s nephew, Nicky. Now, my mother had shown up and the worst of it was I knew without a doubt that Dad had no idea she came from a shifter line.

  There’s no way
she doesn’t know? I asked Dom telepathically, the question borderline desperate, because I was not ready to explain to my dad how shitty his ex-wife and my mother really was.

  No, Dom answered emphatically. She knows.

  My breath escaped me in a rush. I have to tell him.

  Can I leave first? The note of pleading in his mental thought almost had a smile coming to my lips. My big, brave Alpha didn’t care for emotional outbursts or the fallout from them.

  I might need your help, I replied and felt his thoughts form a question. In case he decides to shoot her and put us all out of our misery, I explained and he snorted, drawing Dad’s attention.

  You think I’m going to stop him from shooting her?

  No, but we might need your help disposing of the body, I countered, sending him a sidelong glance.

  “Can you converse where everyone can hear?” Dad broke in, an edge to his voice that snapped our heads around. He waved at the door, his normal good nature absent at the reappearance of my mother.

  My shoulders curved in at his chastising, knowing we had been rude with our mental conversation.

  “Sorry, sir,” Dom rumbled, manners on full display and my eyebrows rose at his quick apology. “It was rude of us not to include you.” He glanced at me and then lowered his voice confidingly to my Dad. “But you can claim plausible deniability.”

  Dad stared at him for a second, his mouth opened and then shut again, before he finally shook his head. “I don’t even want to know why she’s here,” he declared. “I came in to see if we had more cookies.”

  His words reminded me I was still hungry and I headed to the cabinet to see if there were any left. “Where’s Monster?” I asked over my shoulder. Since the kidnapping, Monster was usually within eyesight of me or Dad, with the rare exception of Dom unless he could get out of it.

  “With Trent,” Dad replied shortly, and I turned, cookies forgotten as my gaze zeroed in on him.

  “What’s going on?” I asked, my voice bordering on curt as Dom’s gaze went inward, a sure sign he was talking to Trent or another pack member.

  Dad sighed as he walked toward me, his expression becoming placating and my hands went to my hips. “I don’t need anyone coddling me. What happened?”

  “Dylan ran off,” Dom answered before Dad could and Dad shook his head slightly as he muttered under his breath, “I’ll never get used to that.”

  My brow furrowed as I tried to follow the logic that had brought my Dad inside, leaving Monster outside with Trent. “What are the cookies for?” I finally asked in confusion. After a second, an amused smile formed on Dom’s face and I knew he knew, but my stare didn’t waver from my Dad.

  He had the grace to look sheepish as he mumbled, “Monster is trying to lure him back with cookies.”

  I didn’t know how to respond to that bit of logic so I whirled around and went back to digging in the cabinet. My hand curled around a familiar package and I yanked it from the cabinet, snitching a cookie before I handed it off to Dom, to both of their surprise. “Take these to them,” I told him and he lifted his eyebrows.

  “You think this will work?” He asked, taking the cookies reflexively.

  I shrugged, “Worked on Monster.” He thought about it for a second but decided not to ask.

  Dad reached for the cookies as he said, “I’ll take them. Give you two some privacy.” The words sounded like they pained him and a smile ghosted my lips.

  “No,” I answered, stopping him in his tracks. “We need to talk, Dad.”

  “You’re not pregnant?” He asked, horrified, and my eyes crinkled even as Dom made for the door at a speed which revealed his true nature.

  “No, Dad. I’m a virgin and definitely don’t qualify for Immaculate Conception,” I revealed as his cheeks reddened. “It’s about Mom.”

  “I think that might be worse,” he managed to get out, his feet dragging as he went to the couch. “The whisky is in the….” He trailed off as I opened the drawer next to the sink and reached back for the small bottle. “Never mind, I see you have it.”

  “You have few secrets from me,” I replied, lifting the bottle as I came over to him and plopped down next to him. “I’m kind of relieved to know that you consider anything I say about Mom to be worse than me being pregnant.”

  “That wasn’t my intention,” he said around the bottle as he took a swig. “I’d rather you not get pregnant before graduating high school.”

  A small laugh escaped me as I leaned my head back on the couch. It wasn’t actually funny since my diploma had arrived in the mail the day before, but laughing was better than crying.

  “Technically, I did graduate,” I replied, rolling my head toward him. He lifted the bottle slightly as he contemplated my words and then tilted it to me in a wordless gesture.

  “One sip. Make it count,” he answered as I took the bottle. I stared at it for a second, took a sniff and then brought it to my lips. Burning heat seared through my mouth and throat as I swallowed and I coughed automatically. Dad chuckled as he took the bottle back and downed another swallow.

  “That is horrible,” I choked out. “Are you punishing me?”

  “No,” he answered instantly, his gaze on me. “You are not at fault for them kicking you out of school a semester early.” He sighed ruefully as he admitted, “I know you and Dom acted appropriately at school. The principal is a short sighted little son of a bitch.”

  A choked snort erupted from me at his words, and it took a minute before I could respond. “I don’t know if you need to insult his mother too,” I managed around my laughter and he pointed his finger at me as he raised the bottle again.

  “I bet his dad is a stand-up guy,” he replied, his expression tired, and I swiped the bottle out of his hand. It took me a couple of tries before I got the top screwed back on and by then he’d turned serious.

  “Why is she here?” He murmured quietly, his voice pitched so low I could barely make out the words. I wondered for a split second if being Dom’s mate also gave me super hearing and then shrugged off the thought.

  “I don’t know,” I answered honestly. She hadn’t answered the question when I asked and then I’d gotten pissed at Dom’s revelation. “But I do know something else,” I added and he spared me a quick glance.

  “Lay it on me,” he said, thumping his chest lightly.

  “She’s a breeding female,” I told him bluntly, not bothering to sugarcoat the truth. It didn’t take him long to come to the same conclusions I had.

  “I really hate that bitch,” he sighed, the words lacking heat and coming out more in resignation.

  “Me too,” I replied, my head dropping onto his shoulder as I offered him the bottle once again. He shook his head, and then rested it against mine.

  “It’s a bad sign that she’s here, isn’t it?” I asked, flexing my hand as the memory of hitting her came back to me. I kind of wished she was in front of me so I could hit her again.

  “Knowing your mother….yes,” Dad replied as he curled his hand around mine, stilling my fingers. “I guess I don’t need to ask who gave her the broken nose.”

  “She –” I shook my head, unable to formulate thoughts into words.

  “Yeah, I hear you,” Dad responded, understanding lacing his words. He patted my hand after a minute and added, “However, I’m really glad to know you’re a virgin.”

  Chapter Two

  Dom

  I escaped the motel apartment with a relieved sigh. I’d rather face her mother than that conversation. Hell, I’d prefer to face a dozen angry Hanleys rather than the pregnancy question. My body tightened at the thought of Jess pregnant and I heard a crunch as the cookies in my hand turned to crumbs. I loosened my hold on the box of cookies before I ruined them all.

  A quick sniff revealed she’d left the immediate area and I scanned the ground, picking up droplets of blood before they stopped next to a vacant parking space. She’d driven off but I had no doubt she’d be back. I’d picked up on some o
f the stuff she’d done from Jess’ thoughts, and it didn’t seem likely that she’d come to make amends.

  I cleared the corner of the two story motel and immediately spotted Trent standing there with Monster. Monster’s russet head gleamed in the fading sunlight and acted as a beacon against the dark shadows of the forest. I knew he’d be a distinctive wolf one day and was eager to be there for his first shift. A shift that was hopefully still a few years away, I thought to myself, not really believing it though. Monster was exceptional for a five year old human much less a shifter. He’d immediately recognized me as something other than human, a trait that didn’t normally manifest itself until puberty. He was also highly intelligent and self-composed for his age. Facts that would help if he did have his first shift at a young age, which was fast becoming a reality we couldn’t escape.

  “Reinforcements,” Trent cried as he shoved his hand through his hair, a familiar tell that he was upset. His hair ruffled, a few strands standing upright as he smiled grimly. Trent was a uniquely colored wolf because his fur resembled his hair color, neither of which could decide what color it wanted to be. He had red, brown, blonde, and black strands that mottled into a blend of fur that was barely discernable in the forest.

  “You have my cookies,” Monster demanded, hand already out to take them. I tossed them at him, the bossy little shit, as I eyed Trent.

  “What happened?” I asked, watching as Monster started to set cookies on the ground, working his way to the edge of the forest. Trent rolled his shoulders uncomfortably, his eyes constantly scanning the forest.

  “I was pulled in after the fact but from what I can determine, Wren opened the door to their room and Dylan darted out.”

  “Where’s Wren?” I asked carefully and Trent’s gaze darted to mine before going back to the forest. I let out a few choice curses until Monster’s head came up. I pointed at him, “Don’t repeat those.”

  “I’ve heard Jess say worse,” he told me before going back to laying cookies down. I shrugged, pretty sure a couple of those curses I’d learned from Jess myself.