ALPHA (Mackenzie Grey #3)

by Karina Espinosa

  “What are you going to do now?”

  I gazed out the window as we began to lift off the ground. “Go home and start over again. Live my life the way I want to live it.”

  “Will we see each other?”

  I looked away from everyone’s waving hands below us and stared at Sebastian. “I’m sure our paths will cross one day, Bash. I’m a magnet for trouble,” I grinned.

  He rolled his eyes. “Of course you are.”

  I laughed as we flew past Sheunta Village and Caledonian Forest. The vast highlands were a sight to behold from up above. I was going to miss this magical place—bad memories aside. It wouldn’t be my last time here, but it would be for a while. I was no longer bound to laws that made no sense to me, or the pressure of joining a Pack in exchange for my life. I had the world at my feet and I was prepared to take full advantage—I was ready for my first taste of freedom.

  Epilogue

  The leaves were changing colors—reds and oranges—and the wind was picking up. The polluted air was like a welcoming embrace as I strolled down the congested streets mid-day. The bumping of shoulders and foul language of commuters made me smile. I was home. No matter where I went, New York was where my heart was and where I’d always end up. It’s funny how everything comes full circle.

  “I know, Alexander,” I groaned. “I promise to get in contact with Ailios and talk you up a bit.” The King was meeting with the Highlanders in a few days to discuss a peace treaty. It was about damn time.

  “Donae forget, darling. Those Lunas are brutal and I would like to keep the waters calm.”

  I chuckled. Ailios was a force to be reckoned with and she was making sure her people got everything they deserved. “I won’t forget. Now I have to go, I’ll call you later.”

  “Alright, darling. Be safe,” he said and we ended the call.

  I walked up to the gate at 1PP—One Precinct Plaza in Manhattan—and showed my ID. I entered the building and passed the front desk, saying hello to familiar faces, and went into the elevator. The doors opened to the eleventh floor and I stepped into the Major Crimes squad room. I swerved around and between tables like it was just yesterday I had interned at 1PP, and stopped in front of Detective Garret Michaels desk.

  He screamed into his phone, “Not today, not tomorrow, I needed it done yesterday! I want a BOLO out on—” he froze when he looked up at me. “Let me call you back,” he muttered and hung up the phone.

  “Hey Michaels,” I grinned as I picked up his red stress ball and tossed it in the air.

  “Grey,” he gulped. “What are you doing here?”

  I bit my lip to hold in my laugh. “Just got back from my trip and thought I’d come see you. Miss me?”

  His brows scrunched in and he scanned the squad room like he was ready to yell for help. “I thought you were gone for good. It’s been months…”

  It had been months—seven to be precise.

  When Bash and I left Scotland and arrived in New York, I didn’t leave the airport. I took the next flight out to Los Angeles, California. I missed my city, but I needed space for a while—especially from Sebastian Steel. I knew that although I lived across the bridge from him, he would be keeping tabs on me and I couldn’t have that—not now.

  I lost contact with everyone but Alexander. We spoke regularly and it was a nice relationship we were building. We talked about everything under the sun, minus the revolution and what occurred. It was a sore subject for not just me, but him as well. I lost my friends that day—whether I knew it at the time or not—but he lost his family. We both carried invisible battle wounds that I wasn’t sure would ever heal. I think we were using each other to cope—I was all Alexander had left.

  The boys would be fine without me, maybe even better. Scarlet was busy with witch school, so we emailed once in a while. As for Amy…I hadn’t seen or heard from her since she died. Lucian wouldn’t answer my calls and I was too scared to contact Jackson. I didn’t know if he was angry with the decision I made without him and I didn’t want to find out. The idea alone made my stomach turn. Amy was my biggest regret. Night after night, all I saw when I closed my eyes was her empty gaze as she stared up at me—her silent plea for help—but I was helpless. I hadn’t been fast enough—I didn’t protect her like I should have. I lost my best friend, possibly for good. But eternity was a long time, maybe she’d forgive me one day.

  The only good part of this whole sordid tale? The Lunas were free. It’d been a rough transition and some Packs hadn’t conformed to the new laws completely, but it was better. The Lunas had found their voice and were speaking their mind.

  I scratched the back of my neck. “Yeah, it has been a while. I would have called but…”

  Garret waved me off. “It’s probably better that you didn’t.”

  I nodded. “Have you gone to lunch yet? My treat.”

  He was reluctant at first but accepted my offer. He locked his computer and grabbed his jacket. We walked in silence out of 1PP, I was a little nervous if I was being completely honest. I’d pressed the reset button on my life and was starting over. I needed a clean slate now that the collar around my neck had been cut off.

  “You look…I don’t know, different,” he sized me up.

  “Is that good or bad?”

  His mouth twisted to the side. “I haven’t figured that out yet. You just have this look in your eyes—wise beyond your years. Everything okay?”

  I swallowed. “It will be,” I smiled up at him. “I rather not open up that can of worms.”

  He nodded. “What do you plan to do now?” he asked as we headed down the street. The sirens of an ambulance wailed passed us.

  I smirked. “What I do best—fight for people who can’t defend themselves.”

  It’d taken me a while to realize that this was what I’d been meant to do. My vision quest wasn’t just for the Lunas, but for anyone who needed me.

  He gave me a side glance. “Thinking about joining the force?”

  “Did you look into what I told you about?”

  Garret blew into his cupped hands before stuffing them in his pockets.

  “I sure did.”

  “And?” I peered up at him.

  “And I put in a transfer,” he said. “I’ll be part of the Supernatural Investigative Unit next month.”

  My eyes widened. I knew he’d check it out, but I didn’t think he’d go to the extent of joining the SIU.

  “Surprised?” he grinned.

  “Definitely,” I chuckled. “Are they hiring?”

  He shrugged. “I can check it out…partner.”

  I laughed. “I’d appreciate that.”

  ****

  We spent over an hour at Grays Papaya, throwing back hot dogs like drinks during happy hour. It was a nice distraction.

  I arrived in New York City last night after spending five months in California with Roman and Emma. They’d gotten so attached to one another that Emma was going to permanently live with Rome. Maybe she would domesticate the vampire and get him to find love. Roman had been alone for far too long. He needed a little commitment in his life and I wished them all the best. I’d make it my business to check in on them once in a while.

  I headed home after saying goodbye to Garret and making plans to meet with him next week. It was weird being able to walk down the street without looking over my shoulder. The Summit wasn’t hunting me down and Packs weren’t trying to recruit me anymore. I laughed and smiled with ease; a feeling I hadn’t felt in years. My life was different, it was new. Although I had lost much, I gained some too. I was ready for this new chapter in my life and was confident that things would work themselves out.

  I turned into my neighborhood, toward my apartment that had been emptied out of Amy’s things. I was alone but I had faith that things would get better.

  My eyes flashed silver as I envisioned what the future held for me.

  I was a Luna.

  I was free.

  No one owned me—I was my own A
lpha.

  Dear Readers,

  It has been a crazy and wild ride with Mackenzie Grey, and there is no one I need to thank more than you. To the ones who started out with me from the first book, to the readers who jumped in half way through or at the end; you have motivated me in my times of doubt, and encouraged me in my times of need. With that said, I could never, ever disappoint you by leaving the Mackenzie Grey series with an ending in ALPHA. We have been on this journey for far too long to not know what happens in the future.

  If you follow me on social media, you know I had a hard time completing this novel because of how lengthy it was. I was able to cap it at 95k words, but in reality I could have gone 50k more. So that is why I am announcing a FOURTH BOOK coming in the very near future that will end the Mackenzie Grey: Origins series.

  I hope this is good news for you and that you enjoyed ALPHA! Please remember to leave a review for fellow readers and let me know your thoughts!

  Thank you once again from the bottom of my heart <3

  Love,

  Karina Espinosa

  xoxo

  Acknowledgments

  This section always feels so repetitive when I write it because I have such an awesome team/support system that has stuck it out with me and all of my shenanigans.

  To my family, who constantly pushes me to always follow my dreams, no matter how silly they may be. I love you beyond words, and nothing I could say or do would be enough to express my appreciation.

  My best friend, Daniella Brooks, who has been with me since day one! I honestly could not have done any of this without you. You have made me a stronger writer and storyteller. You don’t put up with my BS, and put me in my place when I’m ready to give up. I don’t trust anyone’s judgment but yours because you know exactly who my characters are and how to mold them—you know my voice. A million thank you’s for being the greatest friend ever!

  My cover designer, Laura Hidalgo, you absolutely rock! Your creativeness and imagination when it comes to designing not just my covers, but any other graphics I need is just pure magic! You’ve not only put up with my diva antics, but you also take the time to read my books and get to know my world in-depth to construct art that truly reflects the Mackenzie Grey universe. Thank you for sharing your gifts and offering a lending ear when needed!

  H.D. Gordon and Janelle Stalder, you ladies are just absolutely brilliant! Sometimes it’s hard when you’re in the writing process, and friends and family don’t understand what you’re going through. Which is why it’s so important to connect with other writers such as yourselves. I value your friendship so much, and I am grateful that we were able to form such an amazing bond. Thank you for always being there for me. Love you, homies!

  Last, but definitely not least, I want to give a special shout-out to my ARC readers. You ladies take time out of your busy schedules to delve into the world of Mackenzie Grey without hesitation. Without your feedback and encouragement, I wouldn’t have made it this far. Thank you!

  About the Author

  Karina Espinosa is the Urban Fantasy author of the Sins of the Fallen series and the Mackenzie Grey novels, and a Senior Contributor for HollywoodNewsSource.com. Infatuated with travel, pop culture, and the need to write everything down, she spends much of her days in front of a computer working on her next book, shopping online, and listening to music. With nomadic tendencies, she is currently resting her head in South Florida until the itch to move strikes again. You can usually catch her on Facebook, Instagram, and live-tweeting during episodes of The Walking Dead and Orphan Black.

  Follow her on social media!

  www.karinaespinosa.com