Alpha Divided (Alpha Girl Book 3)

That got me thinking. If I’d met the coven first, would I have wanted to be part of it? Would I have drunk their Kool-Aid?

I hoped I would’ve been able to see through it, but it was possible that I could’ve been blinded by their powers.

It was dumb to sit around thinking about what-ifs. That hadn’t happened. I was here with the pack, and I liked my life. I doubted the coven could’ve helped me gain control of my powers so fast. I would’ve been stuck on their land, living in their middle-of-nowhere compound—that sounded terrible.

I liked running with the pack. I liked being with Dastien.

No. I loved being with him.

I sighed and tried to focus on the words as I read the first chapter.

I was fully sucked into the story when Meredith popped back into my room. “Ready?”

“Yes. I’m starving, Miss I-said-I’d-be-a-sec-and-meant-half-an-hour.”

“Shut it. Not everyone can be as naturally gorgeous as you.” She laughed at her own joke.

Werewolves were all kinds of hot. Probably because they all were ripped and had naturally healthy skin and hair. They looked like the best versions of themselves at all times. When I first showed up, I’d thought I’d walked onto Mount Olympus. Each Were was a testament to perfection. It was sick. And I was from LA. I was used to people working hard at looking good. But the Weres made it effortless. Tall. Fit. Graceful. My five feet and change couldn’t ever really compete with that, but I didn’t care. I didn’t mind being different. I was used to that.

We chatted about the ins and outs for the watching order of Firefly as we walked to the cafeteria, agreeing that the chronological order, not airing order, was best. The cafeteria was next door to the dorms. I smelled the food before I saw it. Cooks worked at different stations while workers on the line kept heaping more into the trays of prepared food. It was enough to drive my senses crazy. I ignored whoever was in the room and went straight for the buffet. Turned out, I was hungrier than I’d thought.

We made our way around the stations, loading up our trays until they were piled high. When I turned, I found a mostly full cafeteria.

That was weird. Sundays were usually the most laissez-faire time on campus. People slept in and came and went throughout the day. They were my favorite days for that reason. No packed cafeteria.

This Sunday wasn’t my favorite. Not only were there a bunch of new people, but someone in particular caught my eye as I made my way between the large round tables.

Imogene Hoel.

She’d helped her father nearly tear the pack apart a month and a half ago, and she was the whole reason we were having the Tribunal. Sure, I’d attacked her, but she’d gotten in my face. And it wasn’t like she hadn’t tried to kill me in return. If Claudia and Raphael hadn’t stepped in, she might’ve succeeded.

Her father, Rupert Hoel, was still on the run. No one had heard from him since his failed attempt to take over, but that didn’t mean he was gone for good. His wife butted into the whole Luciana thing last night—sponsoring the coven for the Tribunal and at the ceremony—and now his daughter was back from her mandatory leave of absence. That whole family was trouble, and I had a feeling I’d be hearing from Rupert before long.

It was stupid to be blindsided by the sight of Imogene, but I’d totally forgotten that she would be here for the Tribunal. Or maybe I’d been hoping I wouldn’t see her. We’d kind of made peace with each other before she left, but I still didn’t trust her. It was one thing to forgive, but another to forget.

And now she was sitting with Dastien. My Dastien. Her hand was on his arm.

“Calm down,” Meredith said. “No need to rip her throat out again. We all know Dastien’s yours.”

I took a breath. “Yeah, but does she know that?”

“She’d be dumb to not know that now.”

Meredith was right. I’d forgiven her, so I needed to stick by that. The only reason she was bugging me was because I hadn’t seen her since she left, and her parents were trying to make my life miserable. This was not the time to act like a jealous girlfriend. Even if I kind of was one.

Dastien looked up, and his glowing eyes met mine. He scooted away from Imogene. I don’t like what you’re feeling right now.

“Me neither,” I muttered to myself. Jealousy sucked. It made me feel petty and weak and insecure. I didn’t like it one bit.

There’s nothing to be jealous of. You’re my mate. It’s not a secret.

Sorry. I started toward him. I’m feeling a little unsettled after last night, and she’s not bringing out the best in me.

Dastien pushed out the chair next to him. As soon as I sat, he brushed his lips against mine. “I was going to come get you in a few if you didn’t show up.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” He held up his phone. “You barely made it.” The countdown had less than a minute on it.

“Why the time limit?”