Alpha Divided (Alpha Girl Book 3)

“But she’s our leader, and with you gone, it’s like she has no end in sight for her rule,” Claudia said. She leaned forward in her chair. “I’m not sure how she’s done it, but every year she’s gotten stronger. Other than you, she might be the most powerful living witch. I understand that you can’t take your old place now, but could you help us find someone who could? Or at least help us find a way to take Luciana down?”


“I’d be happy to help. I’m just not sure how.” Neither statement was a lie. I didn’t want some crazy person with power going around doing God knew what, but short of taking over the coven like I was supposed to, I had no idea what to do to stop her.

“You know how we find our new leaders?”

I wasn’t totally sure where she was going with this. “Yes. The previous leader goes to find someone, but it always skips a generation. So when Luciana took charge, my grandmother announced the following leader.”

“Exactly. It’s something that only you or Luciana could do for us. She’s not going to find anyone. She never wants to step down. And your grandmother passed away…You’re our only hope.”

She wanted me to find them a new leader? “Don’t you think someone from another coven would be better suited?”

“No,” Claudia said. If she thought I was the best person to find a new leader, then she must really be desperate. I didn’t have the first clue about anything that went on in la Aquelarre.

“We have a little bit of a rivalry between covens,” she said. “It’s not like a pack, where you’re like separate states in the same country. We’re separate countries. And not a lot of us are allies.”

This seemed like great news for the pack. Donovan had made it sound like the witches were way more united. But I’d never known Donovan to be wrong. “So, if war starts with the wolves?”

“Then, we join together,” Raphael said. “But that’s it. Only when we have a common enemy.”

So, not only would Luciana get rid of the wolves if she started the war, but she’d unify the covens and immediately take charge of all that power.

It was all starting to make sense.

I only had to stop a war, find a replacement coven leader, and then take down one of the most powerful, evil witches on the earth. And I had all of twenty-six days to work with.





Chapter Ten



With all the unpleasantness done, I went in search of food. It hadn’t been that long since I’d eaten, but I wasn’t giving the wolf any chances to take the upper hand. Claudia and I went to the kitchen, and Raphael left to go do something. I didn’t ask what.

The kitchen hadn’t been redone in forever. It wasn’t eighties old, it was like thirties old. White tile lined the countertops and thick iron handles were mounted on the white cabinets. None of the doors closed properly, all of them hung a little open and drooped just a smidge. A round table with four chairs took up one corner and a backdoor led outside. Even though it was small, the space was efficiently used, and it had a ton of cabinets. The pale yellow paint was trimmed around the top with flowered wallpaper. It was peeling back along the edges, but it still had some vibrant colors. I could almost picture Mom growing up here, but that didn’t mean it felt like home.

I opened the fridge and sighed.

“What’s wrong?”

“We’re going to need more food.”

“What?” Claudia peeked around my shoulder. “I got twice as much stuff as I usually get just in case you stayed with us.”

“I could eat all of this in a day.” I closed it. “So, am I allowed to leave the compound? Because we’re going to need to hit a Sam’s as soon as possible.”

“Really? You eat that much food? But you’re so little.”

I pulled up my shirt to show her my abs. “I’m a little skinny for the Weres. I still don’t eat as much as I should, which makes me a little thinner than normal, but I’m all muscle.” I dropped my shirt. “I wasn’t always like this. I used to have curves. Come to find out, Weres have a super high metabolism.”

“So when you go to McDonald’s you get what? Three meals?”

“Five.”

“Madre santa. That’s crazy. Okay. I have no idea how much to get for you and I’m not sure that Luciana is going to let you leave so soon after you got here.”

This wasn’t something that could be ignored. There was no way the coven was going to let another Were onto the compound, but I had someone who could help.

I pulled my cell out of my back pocket, but as promised, I had zero bars. “Do you have a landline?”

“Sure, but I have to get Luciana to turn it on.” Claudia pointed to the antique mounted to the wall next to the back door.

That seemed like the craziest thing. “She has a switch for the phones?”

Claudia nodded. “In her living room. Keeps it all locked up.”

“Doesn’t that seem a little overboard?”

“Yes. One of the many reasons why we need some change.” She paused. “I hate to ask, but I’m going to have to tell Luciana—who are you going to call?”

I thought about it for a second. I wanted to call Dastien, but no way would Luciana go for that. “My mom. She’ll make a grocery run for me.”