Page 110 of The Alpha

Kwaku bent to her. “Not from you. Nothing can truly separate the two of you. But right now, your ability to know where he is, is limited. Still, you should practice.”

Pari’s eyebrows shot up. She had no idea what he was talking about.

“Picture Melvale in your mind,” Zara instructed. “Just Melvale, then let surroundings form.”

“Uh, okay. Like, now?” It was probably a stupid question, but they were starting to freak her out. But theywere aliens, Zara and Melvale at least, so what did she know? Maybe this was normal for them.

“Now, little treasure,” Kwaku said. He gazed up the street and frowned.

Pari got the feeling that Melvale might get himself into trouble if he wasn’t careful. She backed to the wrought iron fence that enclosed a small grassy area and the building’s trash cans to get out of the way of any passersby. That done, she closed her eyes and tried to picture Melvale in her head, as Zara instructed. Suddenly she saw him going into a three-story brownstone and disappearing into the building’s basement. What was weird, was the pull she felt in her chest to go right, and then head up Park Street. When she opened her eyes she was already moving. “What is this…?”

“There is already a bond between them,” Zara stated.

“Good.” Kwaku walked beside her and bent toward Pari’s ear. “Follow him.”

A chill went up her spine as the sensation to find Melvale grew, and she picked up the pace. Soon she was trotting up the sidewalk, the urge to move faster overwhelming, until she could stand it no longer and had to break into a run.

She heard Kwaku right behind her laughing. He sounded mighty happy about something.

Pari ran for several blocks before she slowed. But not because she was tired, but because she sensed she must. When she stopped it was in front of a three-story brownstone with a leaded glass door. The same building she saw in her mind.

She went up the stairs, opened the door, went through the vestibule and reached for the handle of the second door. It was broken, as if someone forced the locked door open.

“Melvale is here,” Kwaku said.

Zara looked at the door and sighed. “Yes, I see that.” She pulled some money from a small cross body purse she wore and an envelope. She stuffed the money in the envelope then produced a pen. Pari watched her scribble something down, then close her eyes. When she opened them, she went to the first door on the right and shoved the envelope beneath it. Was it money for the broken lock? “Let us go.”

Kwaku smiled and touched Pari on the shoulder. “Go.”

Pari stood for a moment before her eyes fixated on the end of the hall. There was a door to the right at the end of the hall. Pari headed for it and saw its lock was broken too. “Melvale did this.” She looked at Zara. “I hope you left them enough money.”

Zara smiled and said nothing.

“Go, little treasure. Find him,” Kwaku urged.

Pari went to the door, opened it, and descended a set of stairs into the building’s basement.

35

Melvale knelt in the middle of the basement, ears attuned to the sound of Pari’s footsteps coming down the stairs. He caught her scent when she began searching for him and was waiting for her to come to him. He knew Kwaku and Zara would guide and protect her until she found him.

He smiled as she reached the basement floor. She was learning quickly. Melvale looked at her over one shoulder and she sucked in a tiny breath. “Your eyes are blue.”

“Yes.” He returned to studying the floor. “I fell here.” He touched the cold concrete. “And they took me.”

Pari approached him and put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

“Do not be.” His voice was deeper, his speech slightly different. His Alpha used less contractions. Interesting…

“Alpha Melvale,” Kwaku said as he joined them. “What have you found?”

“They are scattered,” he said. Indeed, all the scents of the men that took him were going in different directions. Had they scattered, a handful carrying him off, and then reconvened at thelab with the others? “The lab…” He stood. “Has anyone returned there?”

“No,” Kwaku said. “It will be watched. A trap has probably been set.”

He met Kwaku’s gaze. “I want the doctor.”

“We all do.”

---