Page 11 of The Alpha

Melvale stared at the stone floor and nodded. “I’m going to vacillate back and forth, aren’t I?”

“Until she balances you, yes,” Kwaku said. “She must bring you balance, give the Alpha inside you time to merge with all that you are. Den she will become your heart.”

Melvale knew the process, he’d studied it when he studied his people’s history involving the Dissans. An Alpha was rising up inside of him. Once he had his mate at his side, he would change, like a caterpillar to a butterfly. He would still be himself, but there would be a side of him that would come out when needed, if his mate didn’t prompt a full merging. If that happened, he wasn’t sure what would happen. All he knew from studying the history, was that a full merging meant he could shift into anything. There was no fixed physical form his heart would take. His brother shifted into either a huge white lion or a black one, depending on whether he was to protect or mete out justice. But with an Alpha, he became whatever his mate needed him to be at the time.

“Did you see her?” he asked, voice soft.

“Yes,” Kwaku whispered back.

Melvale looked him in the eyes but wasn’t sure he should ask anything more. The fact Kwaku hadn’t laughed once since entering the cell area said a lot.

Melvale closed his eyes. “Is she… whole?”

Kwaku must have closed the distance between them. He put a hand on his shoulder. “She needs you.”

Melvale looked at him. “What’s wrong with her?”

Kwaku narrowed his eyes. “Would de Creator make a mistake?”

Melvale gasped. “Of course not.”

“Den do not question Him. She is your mate. You will find her, put your mark on her, den mate her. Den de two of you will be one for life.”

“Wait a minute. Find?” Melvale squeaked in alarm. “Oh, stab me, don’t tell me we lost her too!”

Kwaku exchanged a look with Zara. “We had to save you.”

Melvale stiffened. “Where is she?”

“Kawahnee,” Zara said with a hint of caution. “His eyes.”

Kwaku looked at Melvale and frowned. “De Alpha in you is coming to de surface. What do you feel?”

Melvale noticed he was agitated all of the sudden and had to move. Then it got worse.

“Kawahnee!”

In once swift move Kwaku shoved Melvale back into the cell and slammed the door shut, locking it.

Melvale growled in response.

“Wow,” Kitty said as she entered. “His eyes are turning bright blue.”

“Yes, little treasure. Dey are.” Kwaku looked intently at Melvale.

Melvale looked right back and tried to calm himself. It was hard. He had to get out, had to find her! Where was she? Why wasn’t she at his side?!

Melvale shut his eyes tight, went to the bars and beat his head against them a few times. It worked. He let out a breath, opened his eyes, and looked at the three people lined up in frontof him, just out of reach. “I’m sorry, I can’t help it. The Alpha side of me takes over…”

“We know,” Zara said. “We have been re-studying the histories.”

Melvale looked at them. “Am I… safe for you now?”

“Yeah, I think so,” Kitty said. “Your eyes are gray again. Normal.”

Kwaku nodded. “You must stay in control, Time Keeper, while we retrieve your…”

“Special someone?” Kitty offered.

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