The Alpha's Possession: The Choice

The Enemy

CHARLES'S POV

The black folder has a thick rubber band wrapped around it with a single folded notebook paper creased in half. I shake my head because I know this means Jake has something a little extra for only my eyes to see. Anything coming from Jake is always humorous. In one snap, I break the rubber band in half and toss it in the trashcan next to my bed.

“What does it say?” Randolph curiously asks.

Randolph likes Jake a lot. The two of them have a lot in common. Both are strong, yet a dull word never seems to cross their tongues when they speak. Jake is my right-hand man. Not only have we had each other’s back since we were kids, but I cannot begin to count just how many times we have saved each other’s asses in battle.

“Hmm, let’s see,” I say while unfolding the paper.

“You’re taking your time on purpose.” Randolph grumps.

“What makes you say that?” I snicker.

“Because you are stopping and spacing out like every two minutes. What’s gotten into you this morning?”

Randolph sounds half concerned, half frustrated. “Honestly, I don’t know. Let me just read the letter.”

“Fine. What are you waiting for?”

I roll my eyes and read Jake’s note.

 ****

Charlie,

Hey, man. Listen, I didn’t want to tell you this at the office because there is a leak somewhere. One of our own is watching and running off to the Salaquins and reporting everything. I only know this because I found a tracker on your computer, and when I clicked on it, several of your files were showing tampered with. I tried to get Erik to investigate it, but when we got there, the tracker data was already missing.

The good news is, I backed up everything onto a card right before I left. No worries, man. I will give it to you this evening after work.

I know you are probably still wondering why I didn’t tell you this in person, but you know as well as I do, the hunters are linked, and if it is one of them, then they will hear us talking about it.

Oh, by the way, my sister was asking about you again. Let’s double date this weekend. What do you say?

Bad timing to ask? Hell, no. Get your ass over at my house tonight and don’t forget to bring my sister some flowers this time. Not my wife’s weeds from the garden!

                                                                                                                                                                              ~Jake

********

So, there is a leak, huh?

Tiny black hairs spread down my forearm and the top of my hands. The tips of my nails curl past the tips of my fingers. I tuck them into the palms of my hands. It takes everything I have not to lose my cool.

One of my own is betraying me.

Randolph is ready to devour the betrayer. He doesn’t take traders very well. When I find out who it is, they will be dead by their next breath.

It takes willpower and strength not to shift. It takes more than that to keep Randolph from ripping to the surface and taking the matter into his own hands.

“THEY’RE DEAD!” Randolph lashes out.

“Yes,” I agree as calm as possible, “they are, Randolph, but if we act now, then we will scare them off and not find out who is the mastermind behind it.”

“I DON'T CARE! I WANT THEM DEAD! NOW!” He bellows out.

Randolph’s roar rages through my head. His rational thinking is out the door.

“Me too, and we will. Promise me you will keep it together until I catch the snitch.”

There is silence. Too much silence.

“Randolph, answer me!”

PEARL’S POV

A gust of wind blew the branches back and forth in the trees closest to the water. I squint my eyes as far as I can see and look for any sign of life. I look in between the trees. It is dark, making it nearly impossible to see, but nothing seems out of the ordinary. My clothes remain untouched. Everything is as it should be.

I know I heard something. I just know it!

I wait and listen. There is nothing there. I try my best not to make a sound, but the thumping of my heart against my chest must be heard by at least several miles away.

Holding my breath, I quickly dive under the water and swim back to land. As fast as I can, I make my way toward my clothes. I don’t bother to dry off as I squat behind the tree where my clothes are hanging and listen one more time. Tiny drops of water trickle from my hair, down my eyes, and on the back of my neck. I want so bad to wipe it off, but I am afraid to make any sudden moves.

The leaves crunch again. This time louder and closer. I know now that there is someone or something and I am not about to hang around to see what it is.

Shit! I cannot stay here! I have got to get out before whatever it makes me their next play toy or worse… dinner!

In one swipe, I grab my pants and shirt off the limb. My clothes are still wet, but I try with all my might to get dressed, The harder I work, it seems the clothes stick to my skin like an insect trying to break free from a fly trap. I have no choice but to stand up and force my leg into the pants. I try to steady my left leg while pushing my right leg through the fabric.

A branch snaps in half only several feet behind me. Whoever it is doesn’t care whether I hear them. It's as if they want me to listen to them - watching their prey, knowing they are scaring the living s**t out of them.

Adrenaline kicks in. I finally shove on my pants and button them. I slide my feet into my sneakers and twisted my ankle back and forth several times, trying to get the heel of the shoe unstuck. I find the strength not to give up and pull my shirt over my head. The moment I look up, there are five wolves black as night with glowing eyes and drool dripping from their sharp canine teeth. Each wolf has two slashes directly above their right eye. “The Salaquins...”