The Alpha Triangle

Fire and Frost

I lunged first. My jaws clamped around his throat, and with all the force in my body, I threw him against the stage floor. The wood shuddered beneath his weight. But he wasn’t down for long. He surged back to his feet and swung, claws slicing through the air, so close I felt the whisper of wind against my fur as I darted back.

We circled each other, trading blow for blow. He was relentless, but so was I.

My wolf was large, bigger than most, towering over Madisen’s delicate form, but Alex dwarfed me. His wolf carried a few hundred pounds more muscle and at least a foot of height. He used that weight to his advantage. When he slammed into me, pain exploded in my side and I heard the sickening snap of a rib.

I hit the stage floor hard. He lunged, aiming to crush me beneath him, but I rolled free just in time. Smaller meant faster. His claws raked the floor where I had been only a breath earlier.

He lunged again. This time, I darted behind him, jaws snapping around his tail just before his paws hit the ground. With a savage yank, I dragged him down and pinned him to the stage. His body thrashed beneath me, muscles straining, but my claws only dug deeper.

For the first time, he stilled. Defeat flickered in his eyes. This was it. I lowered my muzzle, ready to rip his throat out, to end this once and for all.

“Stop!”

The word cut through me like a blade.

My mother’s body dropped across his neck, shielding him. Luna Layla’s voice broke through the haze of blood and fury.

I froze, every instinct screaming at me to finish it, but slowly, dignity intact, I released him and stepped back.

“Shift,” she ordered, her voice trembling but unyielding.

Alex shifted first, smoothly, shame hanging on his shoulders as my mother draped a blanket over him. He sank to his knees, head bowed.

I shifted next. It was easier than the first time, my body settling back into itself with less pain. A thick blanket wrapped around me as I straightened to face the pack.

And then I saw him.

Blue eyes. Piercing. Gorgeous. They locked onto mine, and the voice inside me whispered one word.

Mate.

The pack erupted in cheers. My heart lurched, my breath caught. And then, blackness swallowed me whole.

I must be dead.

The blackness pressed heavy on my shoulders, thick and endless. I couldn’t tell up from down, left from right. It was warm, and I welcomed the weight, clinging to it. I searched for something, anything, to guide me, but there was nothing except the dark and the warmth.

So I walked. Or at least, I thought I did. Left. Right. Left. Right. My feet moved, but it felt like I hadn’t gone anywhere in hours. And then, I saw it. The light.

Déjà vu crashed over me. I wanted to reach it this time. I would reach it. I picked up my pace, pushing forward. But it was like running through molasses. I broke into a jog, then a sprint, lungs tearing, muscles screaming. I couldn’t keep it up, but I knew if I stopped, I’d lose the light forever.

Closer. Closer. My senses sharpened as it drew near. The sharp sting of bleach. The sour rot of dying flowers. Cold air against my skin. And then a faint beep.

I wanted it. Needed it. I stretched out my fingers. Just one more step. The light was ripped away.

My eyes snapped open. My heart pounded in my chest. Too bright. I had to squint to see. The stench of bleach burned my nose. On the table beside me, vases of wilted flowers sagged under their own weight.

Machines surrounded me. Tubes ran into my arms. The beeping was louder now, faster. Panic roared through me. I yanked at the IV in my wrist.

The door slammed open. Two men rushed in, one to each side, grabbing my arms. I tried to scream, but my throat was sandpaper and no sound came out. A third man followed, his voice calm, too calm.

“Freya, you’re okay. You’re safe.”

I wasn’t.

“Freya, we’re going to give you a sedative. I need you to focus on my voice. Breathe. Relax.”

A needle slid into my IV. Cold liquid surged into my veins. My arms grew heavy, my mind numb. I fought to keep my eyes open, but they betrayed me.

And then came a roar. Deep. Shaking the walls.

“Where is she?”

Not Alex. It didn’t sound like him. And I knew he didn’t care.

Then nothing.

I tried to open my eyes again. This time it was easier. The same view lay before me. Wilted flowers, humming machines, the smell of bleach. I forced myself to stay calm. Panic hadn’t helped before; this time I needed to think strategically.

I cracked my eyes open just enough to see, not enough for anyone to notice. The three who had rushed in before were gone, their scents already faded.

The pack hospital.

But why was I here? My mother had cared enough about Alpha Alex to risk her own life, so maybe she’d brought me. But no, if I was dead, my father would have happily kept running the pack his way. He wouldn’t have saved me.

So who did?

Liam?

The IV still dripped into my arm. The machines still beeped in their steady, maddening rhythm. I focused on breathing evenly, keeping my pulse steady so the monitors wouldn’t betray me. I had to get out of here. But where would I go?

I closed my eyes, sifting through my last memory. That’s when it struck me. Mate. My eyes flew open. I needed to leave. Now.

A small remote rested by my side and I pressed the call button. A nurse appeared almost immediately, the door sliding open. She froze when she saw me, like she’d seen a ghost, then quickly backed out, calling frantically for someone else.

The third male from before entered, this time at a calmer pace.

“I see you’re awake, Freya,” he said softly. “And in a little better state of mind.”

His voice was low, soothing. His smile felt genuine. “My name is Dr. Adams, but you can call me Chris.”

Something about him seemed warm, trustworthy. I tried to speak, but my throat was raw, no sound escaping. Chris offered me a small cup of water. I drank greedily, nodding in thanks. After three cups, I managed to croak out words.

“Chris… why am I here?”

He answered with unsettling casualness. “When a wolf shifts for the first time, they should only focus on that. Any extra exertion damages both the wolf and the human body. When you shifted back, you passed out. They brought you to me. You’ve been asleep for three days.”

Three days.

“Layla and Liam have been watching over you,” he added.

I nodded slowly, trying to absorb everything. “When can I leave?”

“As soon as someone comes for you,” Chris said. “I wouldn’t recommend you walking, or driving, for a while.”