The Alpha's Hidden Mate

Friends and Foes

*Kyan*

“Poor guy,” Jaxson says beside me. “Can’t catch a break, huh?”

My eyes are locked across the room on my roommate, Emory, who is Malcolm’s first victim of the day, but he won't be the last. The asshole from Crater Pack never tires of trying to humiliate other people, and I’m over it. We happened to attend the same boarding school together for three years, three of the worst years of my life, and when we both graduated, I was glad to be rid of him.

But I knew this day would come, that we’d end up at Alpha Academy together. I’d just hoped he would have grown up a bit.

“Who is that little redheaded guy?” Russell, another guy I know from boarding school, asks. He’s on Jaxson’s other side.

“Emory from Fire Pack,” Jaxson answers for me. “He had a rough time checking in today, too. Old lady behind the counter didn’t want to accept that he was who he says he is.”

“Weird,” Russell mumbles before taking another bite.

I’m barely listening. Jaxson, whose pack lands border mine, so we’ve known each other for years, jostles me with his elbow. “Kyan? You good?:

Blinking a few times, I look away from Emory. He seems better now. I don’t know the guy with the black curly hair who came to his rescue, but I’d like to. He seems like a good dude, and I’m glad Emory has someone else looking out for him. “I’m fine,” I manage to say. “Emory is my roommate, that’s all.”

“Oh, that explains it.” Jaxson snickers. “I couldn’t figure out why your nostrils were flaring. I know you hate Malcolm, but that’s personal. You think that punk knows and was picking on the red-headed dude just to mess with you?”

“Nah,” I reply, shaking my head. “It's Malcolm’s MO to pick on anyone smaller than him, which is just about everyone in this room.” Not me, though. I’m the tallest, most well-built student in the cafeteria. If I wanted to be an ass like Malcolm, I could use that to cause havoc, but that’s not who I am.

“Well, Emory’s gonna have a tough go of it, that’s for damn sure.” Jaxson shakes his head, a moment of empathy hanging in the air before he goes back to eating. With food in his mouth, he asks the rest of us, “You ready for tomorrow morning? Fitness tests bright and early.”

“Not me.” Russell groans. “That f*****g train ride was so long, and I didn’t sleep a wink.”

“Better get to bed early, then,” Jaxson suggests. “President Nightfall will show us no mercy, I’m sure.”

The conversation goes on around me, and I do my best to stay tuned in, but something is bothering me, something deep inside I can’t quite put my finger on. There’s a charge in the air, something electric and unsettling. Not… bad. Just… new.

I didn’t notice it when I first arrived. In fact, I didn’t notice it until Emory walked into our room. More specifically, I believe it was the moment I rested my hand on his shoulder to assure him that everything is going to be all right.

At that moment, I became acutely aware of… something.

I have no idea what it is, but I don’t like it.

I like to know exactly what’s going on, to be in control of a situation, and the more I think about Emory, the more I feel like I don’t have control over anything–like somehow my new roommate is going to be my undoing.

Eventually, dinner is over, and we all head out of the cafeteria. Emory left a few minutes before me, and I’m guessing he’s probably heading right back to our room.

So I don’t go there. Instead, I wander outside to the back garden and across the lawn to have a look at the practice fields. We’re all supposed to meet here at 8:00 A.M. to start our athletic conditioning. Being an Alpha isn’t easy. It’s imperative that we are strong both physically and mentally.

Walking along, breathing in the fresh grass, I’m reminded of a conversation I had with my father only a few days before he died. “Son, one day, this entire pack will be yours to rule. I hope that I’ve prepared you to be a kind, just ruler, someone who will defend the people–from the weakest to the strongest. You are the hope of Granite Pack.”

I looked him in the eye and assured him that I would be ready when the time came.

Three days later, I was standing outside of the family mausoleum as his body was carried inside. To this day, no one knows what happened to him, and that was four years ago.

I wasn’t ready then, though, and I’m not ready now. My mother has been ruling in his stead, and she’s done a good job. At least, she’s kept war away. But… it’s time for me to step up and be the man my father expected me to be.

“You lost?”

I turn around to see a familiar mop of unruly dark curls, and smile, shaking my head. “No. Just getting some fresh air. You?”

“Nah, just wanted to work off all that pasta.” The guy who was sitting next to Emory at dinner closes the gap between us, offering me his hand. “My name is Luka. I live on the second floor.”

“Kyan,” I tell him. “Same.–Granite Pack.”

“I know,” he says with a soft smile. “Your reputation precedes you.”

I’m not sure what to say to that, so I ask, “What pack are you from?”

“River Pack. Down south.” He hooks his head over his shoulder, and I take his word for it that south is that direction. I’m a little turned around, but it doesn’t matter. None of us will be leaving here for a while anyhow. “You’re Emory’s roommate?”

At the mention of Emory’s name, something erupts inside of me, and a defensiveness I can’t explain leaks into my voice as I ask, “Yeah. Why?”

Luka clearly picks up on my tone as he raises both his hands. “No reason. I just… he’s a good guy, and I’m a bit worried about him. He’s so, uhm… delicate? Fragile?”

I shrug, like I hadn’t noticed, though I have. That must be why I feel like I need to protect him, that and he reminds me a bit of my little brother Tyler who’s only twelve but sometimes gets himself into situations he’s not ready for. “I’m sure he can handle himself.”

Luka buries his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Yeah, I guess. It’s just… assholes like Malcolm are going to seek him out, you know? There are a lot of guys here who don’t look like Alpha material, but Emory? He’s… he’s different. I can’t quite place why that is, but it’s true. You know?”

“I do,” I admit. “I can’t quite put my finger on it, though.”

“Right?” Luka’s face relaxes a bit, and he lets out a breath. “What do you say the two of us do whatever we can to help him out, huh?” He offers me his little finger, and I hook mine through it in a single shake that means we have a pact.

I release him and we both sigh in relief. “Thanks,” I mutter. “It’s good to know not every big guy here is a jackass.”

“Oh, I can be a jackass,” Luka jokes. “But I don’t pick on little guys. I’m not a bastard like Malcolm.”

“Good to know.”

“Well, I’m gonna head inside. See you bright and early?”

I nod and give him a little wave, and Luka turns and strolls back to the building. I should follow him. I take another deep breath and raise my face to the sky where hues of pink and yellow are beginning to paint the day into night. When I lower my eyes, I see a form in a window on the second floor, and even though I’m hundreds of yards away, I know it’s Emory.

What the f**k is going on?