Page 2 of Red and the Alpha
“Wolffang Pack?” he asked, breaking the quiet.
“I hope not,” she replied.
The local pack and the coven had an understanding between them. Hollowgate was big enough for two different supernaturals to get along. Humans lived there as well. For centuries, the town was a mixed-race little haven nestled deep in Upstate New York away from the hustle and bustle of the major cities.
If the local pack did have something to do with Hazel’s death, then they would answer to Kamila.
“I heard the pack had a change in leadership,” Kadir said.
“Oh?” She hadn’t heard. Not that she was on any mailing list on local pack news.
“Yeah, Grieg stepped down. His son, Maxius, is now the new alpha. He ascended about a year ago.”
Maxius Wolffang, the eldest child of Grieg and Clover Wolffang. Kamila had met Maxius when she was younger and studying under her grandmother. He had come around with his father for a meeting with her grandmother. He was devilishly handsome but stayed far from her. In the years she’d known him, he had maybe spoken three words to her.
He was older than her and always gave off arrogant, stubborn alpha vibes.
Even though the witches and wolves lived in the same town, they didn’t really mingle much. It was as if there was an invisible line drawn through the center of town.
There were witch hangouts and then there were places for wolves.
The two groups had a history together that many didn’t want to speak about.
“Well, let’s hope that his wolves weren’t involved in our grandmother’s death.” Her jaw tightened. A few hours ago her phone had rung. Azin, the coven’s council head, had been on the other line. The second she’d heard his voice it confirmed what she had already knew.
“Red.” Azin sighed.
It was rare that the councilman used her nickname, given to her by her grandmother. He was her grandmother’s closet friend and trusted warlock. She’d known him her whole life and respected him.
“No,” she whispered. Closing her eyes, she sank to the floor in her bedroom and rested her head on the mattress. She tightened her hand on the phone, and it took everything in her to not crush it to pieces.
“It’s Hazel.” His voice caught in a hitch. “She’s gone.”
She clenched the comforter as she tried to control her breathing. Her energy surged through her body in anguish.
“What happened?” she growled. Fury was rising inside her. She sensed miles away that her grandmother didn’t just pass away. Her life force was taken by someone who had no permission to take it.
They would pay.
“We don’t know. We just found her—”
“Leave her where she is,” Kamila snapped. She lifted her head, and the flames of her powers were at the tips of her fingers. She pulled back on it, not wanting to set fire to her own home. “No one is to touch her. I will be there.”
Within thirty minutes, she and Kadir were in the car and on the way to Hollowgate.
“There will be no stone unturned until we find out what happened to her,” Kadir swore.
“I should have been there. I should have never moved away—”
“Stop,” Kadir snapped.
She jerked her head up and wiped away the few tears that slid down her face. Only in front of Kadir could she show an ounce of weakness and not be judged. Once she stepped foot outside of the car in Hollowgate, she was the leader of Eternal Flame.
She would ascend and take over her birthright.
“Hazel understood you needed to spread your wings a little. What would a priestess be if she didn’t go out and get experiences from around the world? What did she always tell us?”
Kamila barked a dry laugh.
