Page 73 of Alpha Varsity

I’m not sure when I shifted, but my four paws scrabble over Lotta’s polished saltillo tile. I’m slamming into walls, knocking over furniture, trying to get out of confinement.

Lotta throws open the door, and I bolt for the outdoors.

I need to hunt my progenitor and kill him.

Lotta

My vision goes wavy, and I clap a hand over my mouth to hold in a sob. My casita feels like a tiny card house in Asher’s wake. There are claw marks on the wall. A broken barstool lies on its side on the floor.

My mate is in so much pain.

In this moment, with the advantage of hindsight, I’m sure I did the right thing. My wolf or my muse or whatever part of me it is that sees into my future was guiding me when I swore the council to secrecy about what happened.

There’d been a mix-up about where I was supposed to meet Asher. I’d told him I couldn’t make it to Sweet Treats after school, but I’d come to his house later, but he was waiting at the bakery for me. His dad pulled me into the house. He was angry with me for defending Asher the day before, and he launched into a tirade against me, how Iwas uppity like my mom, and that pack royalty shouldn’t exist.

And then his aggression got physical. I don’t know why I couldn’t shift to defend myself–probably he had some form of alpha command that held me in place. All I remember is that he had me pinned against a wall with my shirt half-torn when Asher’s mom walked in and beat him off. Only then did I shift and run straight home.

I ran into my house coated in the scent of fear and drunken shifter. There was no hiding what had happened from my parents, and my mom wasn’t going to allow the man who laid a finger on her daughter to remain in the pack.

It had been a horrific, vicious decision.

I didn’t want to hurt Asher. My mom said I’d be protecting him and his mom because his dad was a monster who hurt them both. She said I had the opportunity to rid him from their lives, and the pack would thank me.

I made one stipulation. I asked that the council proceedings be sealed from the pack before I spoke. I was underage, so everyone thought it was about protecting my privacy, but it wasn’t. It was for Asher. Even then, not knowing he was my mate, I intuited how much this knowledge would hurt him.

I recounted the attempted assault, and I told them about Asher’s dad stealing money from the till at the brewery. I asked that if they ever needed to give a public reason for his banishment, his thieving was why. My mom had spent all night before the meeting digging up proof of his on-going crimes, so it wasn’t just my word.

When I returned and realized how much Asher hated me, I’d questioned my decision. Not because I needed his understanding–I was willing to be the villain to him. It wasbecause it seemed he’d suffered terribly anyway. The pack had treated him like shit without even knowing what happened. But now, seeing his anguish at finding out the truth, I’m sure I did the right thing. Feeling wronged by me allowed him to have a sense of righteous anger and rebellion. He retained his dignity. Had he borne the shame of his father’s deeds through his teen years, I fear he would’ve shut down completely. Perhaps even left town, as well.

And then I probably never would’ve met my fated mate.

My morning alarm goes off, making me start. I swing the door shut and look around.

Crap. What should I do?

Asher’s hurting. I want to help. I need to help him. I wish I would’ve shifted immediately and followed him. Now there’s no way I’d catch up to him.

I glance at the clock. Dammit.

I take a quick shower, grab an apple to eat, and drive to Sweet Treats. Asher’s mom should be working today.

She and I have avoided each other since the incident. I’m not sure why. I think I was ashamed for leaving her to fight her husband alone that night. She was probably ashamed for what happened. Neither of us have spoken about it–which now strikes me as really fucked up and weird.

I park in front and walk in. Mrs. Angelson gives me a wave from the kitchen door. “Hi there, Carlotta! I heard you were back in town!”

“Hi, Mrs. A!”

I force myself to meet Mrs. Martin’s gaze and step close to the counter. “Um, good morning, Mrs. Martin. H-have you seen Asher?”

There’s no surprise in her expression, but her brow furrows. “No,” she says slowly. “He didn’t come home lastnight.” She studies me. “I guess I thought he might be with you.”

“He was,” I say. “But, um…” I swallow. “This morning he found out about…” My heart thunders against my sternum, and my palms are wet. I haven’t spoken about the incident since the council meeting. “It came out this morning.” I try and fail to swallow. “--what happened with his dad. And Asher wolfed out and ran.” My eyes swim with tears.

Asher’s mom goes pale. She comes out from behind the counter. To my shock, she pulls me into an awkward hug. “Thank you.” Her voice is taut.

“For…what?”

“For caring about my son.”

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