I immediately went to Alpha in the conference room and told him that someone had killed Katie in the woods. Alpha immediately canceled the meeting and stood up. He seemed so furious that he immediately ordered his security team of werewolf warriors to prepare to go into the woods and catch the criminal in the act.
Alpha, with his security team and a slew of expensive cars, arrived at the scene within 4 minutes.
Kane looked stunning in his business suit. As much as I wanted to linger on Kane and find some semblance of peace, I had things to do.
"He brought a lot of wolves with him." Nova pointed out this interesting fact.
I frowned. "It's kind of odd, isn't it?"
There had to be at least fifteen people who followed Alpha into the clearing. Too many people for what looked like a simple rogue attack.
Alpha looked at Katie's lifeless body.
"Beta Hunter," I muttered, nodding my head in respect.
Having found Emma's body, Kane had arrived with a large security team, including both werewolf warriors and corporate bodyguards. Beta Hunter, Kane's second-in-command, who is both the pack's Beta and the CFO of Sterling Financial, was asking them questions as Kane surveyed the scene with the same focus he brought to hostile business negotiations.
"Tell me about the events of tonight that led to the discovery of the wolf." Beta Hunter's tone was very informal. "Don't leave anything out."
The Jacksons, who were patrolling with their team at the time, glanced at Beta and reluctantly began to speak.
I kept my pounding heart in check, choosing to keep my wandering gaze on Katie's body. The last thing I needed was to lose the tight grip I had on my emotions.
Kane didn't come over to Jackson or spare him a glance as we left the clearing.
***
I don't think Ryan was home, but Dad was sitting in the living room. Dad turned sharply toward the door as I walked in, and Dad rose to his feet.
"Someone told me something happened in the woods tonight." Dad frowned, his rough voice full of concern.
I frowned and crossed my arms over my chest. "A girl was found dead. Looks like a rogue attack."
Dad wasn't reassured, "I don't want you working under Alf Sterling or anywhere near the woods."
I understood where he was coming from, but I also knew that his personal needs wouldn't trump Alf Kane's. I shook my head. I knew no one would disobey an Alf.
The earlier exhaustion that had colored my words was gone, leaving something else in its wake. A feeling of power and authority filled me that didn't quite suit a werewolf.
Dad's jaw clenched, but if he sensed the strange waves coming off me, he gave no sign.
After a few moments, the strange sensation subsided, leaving me feeling drained and a little sleepy.
Falling asleep that night was easy, and I made sure to set my alarm for the morning.
As I thought, Katie haunted my dreams. Her glassy green eyes burned in my mind, as did the image of her scarlet throat.
Although chilling dreams of Katie kept me awake, I felt refreshed from the events of the night before.
I climbed out of bed and pulled on a black sports bra and workout shorts. Pulling my long hair into a ponytail and putting on my shoes, I ran down the stairs.
Death was in the air, the news of Katie's murder reaching everyone's ears.
"I'm surprised Alpha Kane didn't keep this from anyone." I shook my head. I could only imagine what life was like for Katie's poor parents right now. I think of her parents when I walk to practice.
Alpha Kane's powerful aura filled the room, and I knew without looking that he had entered.
My eyes immediately found his own, and they darkened as he looked at my face.
Alpha looked irritated and irresistible. He wore a black tank top, showing off the large muscles along his arms. His scars stood out proudly, giving him a sense of experience and danger. His chocolate hair was tousled, and his darkened honey eyes looked in my direction.
"Attention, everyone," Alpha barked. "As you all know, one of our own was killed last night. In times like these, we must be more prepared than ever."
A cloud of silence hung over the crowd as we took in Alpha's words. This didn't sound like a one-time attack by cheaters.
"Now that we have one spot in the class, things need to change." My stomach clenched as Alpha's honey eyes stared straight at me, a dark sense of amusement flickering in his gaze.
"That doesn't sound good. he needs to change partners," Nova muttered under her breath.
"This is going to hurt," Nova groaned. "This is what happens when you keep angering Alpha."
"Don't act like you weren't encouraging it when his hand was in my pants." I snapped at her, and thankfully, she shut up.
"Damn." I hissed, gritting my teeth, irritation flaring in their eyes.
"We'll pair up and pick up where we left off on Friday," Alpha snapped.
I stayed where I was as Alpha slid toward me. It took an incredible amount of self-control to keep my eyes from wandering over his strong face to his chiseled body.
"I'll be your partner." Alpha's honeyed gaze was impassive as he stopped in front of me.
Blame it on the fact that I was feeling annoyed, or that I was tired of Alpha's bullying, but I had no control over myself when the words came out of my mouth.
"Why do you feel the need to bully me?" I snapped, pushing past Alpha to a clear section of the rug.
If I thought I was getting away, I was sorely mistaken.
A moment later, I was thrown to the floor. The thin padding of the mat did nothing to stop the breath from pounding out of my lungs.
The dark-eyed Alpha Kane stood above me, his gaze stern as he looked down at me.
"Someone thinks highly of themselves." The Alpha's comment was harsh, sending an embarrassed heat flooding through me.
I growled and rose from the ground, bracing myself for the Alpha's next attack.
"Oh, you have no idea," I hissed, growling as his fist slid across my waist, "how highly I think of myself."
I managed to dodge one of his attacks, my anger spurring me on.
It seemed the Alpha was taking his frustrations out on me today, as his blows hurt a little more than usual.
We continued like this for half the class. The Alpha lunged with such speed and precision that it stunned me, and I tried to dodge his brutal attacks.
"If you learned a little obedience, this might be easier for you," Kane growled, his forearm connecting with my chest and sending me to the ground.
I gritted my teeth against the pain and sat up.
The training ended, and the others began filing out of the locker room.
"Where's the fun in that?" I snapped, looking at his towering figure.
Something flickered in his eyes, darkening. "Is this how you treated your old Alpha?"
His voice was deathly calm. I could feel the power radiating off him, but the urge to run and submit never came.
Instead, I snapped at him, challenging him to say more.
A familiar tingle of excitement, mixed with fear and irritation, washed over me.
"The old Alpha had nothing to do with this," I snapped, getting up off the floor again.
"Like that?" Alpha snapped. "I heard you two were really close."
Alpha's gaze was stern as the words left his lips, and I felt white fury shoot through me. Alpha had no right to talk to me like that. Everyone else in his company might let it happen, but I wouldn't. As Alpha, my past had nothing to do with him.
"Fuck you." I spat it out, storming past him and into the empty locker rooms.
I slammed my locker shut in anger. I shut Nova out of my mind, not wanting to hear anything anyone said at the moment. I was furious, and I was determined to ride this out.
I yanked the ponytail out of my hair and shoved my sweaty sweatshirt into my bag.
I was too busy wallowing in my anger to hear the locker room door open or the lock click.