Page 2 of Alpha's Fated Flame

"Before you get old and tired like me and your father," she said with a forced giggle. She quickly got up and made her way back to the kitchen.

I scrunched my eyebrows together at our exchange. I had a feeling that wasn't what she had wanted to say. She was hiding something and I could feel it.

Chapter 1

Two Years Later

Adrianna

"Ithinkthoseguyswould do," said my friend, Jess, pointing out a group of scraggly-looking human guys in the bar across from us. One of them was continually looking at me and winking.

I groaned.

"You're probably right," I said. "I think it's finally time to force my wolf to emerge."

"Remember, I'll keep watch from far away. If I don't see you shift, I'm jumping in pronto," said Jess. She was short but stubby and well-versed in karate. Her shoulders were hunched as she took a sip from her steaming coffee, watching the group of men.

“I don’t think I can do this,” I said.

"If you're serious about picking a fight with just anyone, I think I can handle them."

I didn't want it to come to this, but I had to take drastic measures now.

Waiting for my inner wolf to emerge wasn't going to happen on its own, and I needed to be in a life-or-death situation to trigger my shift. And tonight, I was intent on it to happen on my birthday, whether or not I liked it.

Jess knew about my death wish. Well, it was pretty much a death wish, and she wanted to take all the precautions necessary if anything went wrong.

"Do you think they'll try to attack a helpless lady like myself?" I said sarcastically.

"I think so," said Jess. "When they leave, try provoking them or something."

Was I doing the right thing?

Nervousness set in my stomach. The feeling of self-preservation came over me. I fought off that urge. If this is what I had to do to get my wolf out from wherever she was, then god dammit, I would do this no matter what.

She wouldn't be able to ignore me now.

"If I manage to shift…" I said, my voice trailing off.

"Then we're getting a huge cake tonight for your birthday and party like crazy," she said with a twinkle in her eye, a tendril of her blond hair curled over one eye.

Jess was a werewolf, and we grew up together, going to the same elementary school and college since our parents were close friends. I loved her to death. She was one of the few people aside from my family who knew of my unshifted status.

She wasn’t an omega, and she greatly disdained them for some reason. I didn’t hate any type of werewolf in particular myself. I just wanted to know if I evenwasone.

I never dared to casually date a werewolf, or else he might find out my secret. Not that I was even allowed around any other wolves besides my few friends. My parents never wanted me to be around the rest of the pack.

They claimed it was for my protection, to hide my secret of not having a wolf. Instead, they pushed me with enthusiasm towards the human world. But I was tired of living in isolation. I wanted to join the pack like everyone else.

And tonight, I was going to make sure that everything would change. I was going to shift tonight so I could attend the Were Gathering tomorrow with pride.

"Hey," I called to the group of guys as they rounded the corner of the bar when they left. I had followed them out leaving, and I was starting to doubt myself like I always did.

I pulled on my green shirt that matched my eyes perfectly, a little lower, showing off some cleavage. When they turned, my heart pounded like crazy. I felt like a fool standing under the night sky behind the bar, alone, as they gawked at me.

I knew Jess was keeping an eye behind one of the bushes, and that thought alone comforted me.But what if she couldn't handle them and over-estimated her abilities?

Oh god.

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