Page 25 of Cruel Alpha Beast
Sawyer nods. “Not a lot, but even a few fights like that every once in a while are too many. You know how we are here.”
I can’t help but snicker. “There would have been more fights if I’d been giving combat training.”
Sawyer grimaces again, but not because of any physical pain. He looks contemplative, even remorseful.
“Ellis stopped a fight between a shifter and one of the normies in the valley last week,” he continues. “That could have gotten really bad, really quickly.”
“Yeah, that’s not good at all,” I mutter.
“It’s getting harder to keep the peace every day,” Sawyer admits. “I know that I’m capable… I know that I’m strong. But what if I’m not strong enough to stop this, Lacey? What if I can’t do it? What if my people alldie? What if you and—”
But whatever else he was going to say fades into nothingness. I can’t hear a thing. Nor can I see. I fall back into the seat for the second time that day as the darkness closes in.
I see the fights. The rot. But then the willow tree burns again, bright red and orange flames, smoke billowing in the sky. Only this time, dark crimson blood runs down its roots and toward the valley.
My heart pounds inside my chest so hard that I worry it will fly out of my ribs. The black clouds clear, and I see Sawyer staring at me with concern, a tiny droplet of blood bubbling up from his cut.
“I need—I need to—”
My throat is too tight to speak properly, so I push myself out of the chair and stumble back into the living room. Sawyer calls out to me, following me through the house. I fall to my knees by the coffee table and find a clean sheet of paper. Using Shea’s crayons, I make a rudimentary sketch of the burning, bloody tree so I can show it to Danielle the next time I see her.
I can feel Sawyer’s presence behind me. He drops down at my side, looks at the drawing, and then into my watering eyes.
“Whose blood is that?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I don’t know.”
Chapter 10 - Sawyer
Another meeting goes by. Nowadays, there’s much less beer and more serious conversation. And today, I spent much of our time together discussing Lacey’s visions to a visibly uncomfortable Ellis and Jasper. Though I’m sure their discomfort was much more to do with Lacey having magical powers and cavorting with witches than anything else.
I lean forward in my seat at the table as the two other alphas file through the door. In the past, our meetings have ended with the three of us and sometimes Greg getting food together or going for a swim. The jovial atmosphere is gone this time, and only Greg and I remain.
My oldest and best friend runs a hand through his shaggy black hair. He looks exhausted. I wouldn’t be surprised if he hasn’t had a decent night of sleep in weeks.
I tap my fingers on the tabletop, the silence surrounding us making each fingertip leave a loudthudon the glossy surface. There’s a question I need to ask him, but I don’t know if my tongue will allow it.
“Greg,” I finally start.
He meets my eyes, his sitting over two dark circles. “Yeah?”
I have to ask it now. “Did you know Lacey was living in a coven this whole time?”
Greg’s body becomes rigid for a moment, and then he nods his head. “I did,” he admits. “I didn’t say anything, though, because Lacey asked me to keep it to myself.”
A humming noise comes from my closed mouth as I think about his answer. It’s not a bad excuse, especially consideringhow close he and Lacey have always been. Still, it hurts to think he wouldn’t have told me such an important piece of information.
Another secret. How many more are there?
“Look, I know witches are supposed to be our bitter enemies, or whatever,” Greg adds. “But I don’t give a single fuck. No one should. I mean, why would we? No one even knows why anymore. Whatever happened between wolves and witches was forgotten a long time ago. We’ve all just been told to hate each other blindly. I’m sick of it.”
My mouth opens, but I can’t argue with his words. “You make a good point.”
“Honestly, dude?” Greg continues. “All I care about is keeping the people I love happy and healthy. And if those witches in the forest could do that for my sister and my niece, then that’s fine with me.”
All I can do is nod my head.
“Look, I’m sorry for not telling you,” he says. “But I couldn’t betray Lacey like that. Not after everything she went through beforehand.”
