Designated Alpha

by Crissy Smith

  At least she’d had some responsibility in what had happened to her then. If that wasn’t a clear reason why never to have a one-night stand, she didn’t know what would be. But Jace and Mitch didn’t deserve to suffer because of what she was.

  She’d always hated what she had become—some kind of monster that she wasn’t sure she would always be able to control. Without her realizing it, her view of herself had started to change. Since Jace had accepted her, somewhere along the way she had started to acknowledge that she was still the same person.

  Why had she let Jace investigate for her? If she had refused to bring in Mitch, maybe they wouldn’t be in this mess.

  Hearing Mitch’s pain had been unbearable. She’d had no choice but to try to help. Still she didn’t know what she had done. Vince had figured something out, though. That was why he had gone after Jace.

  It was harder connecting with Jace than it normally was. If she didn’t know better, she would have said that Jace was trying to block her. But there was no way. He wouldn’t know how.

  Why couldn’t she pinpoint where exactly he was like she’d done at the hotel? She hated not knowing what could be happening to him. If she was going to be cursed with these special gifts couldn’t they work right when she needed them the most?

  Piper slipped lower onto the bed, hardly able to hold her head up any longer. She clenched her eyes closed, trying to fight the tears that had started to fall but it was no use.

  She wept quietly, burying her face in the rough blanket. Her eyelids grew heavy and she let sleep overtake her.

  * * * *

  It wasn’t long before the door opened, causing her to have to fight to reopen her eyes. She turned her head and watched as Vince strolled into the small room and squatted in front of her.

  Too tired to even lift her head, she tried to scowl at him instead.

  “Oh, Piper.” Vince ran his hand through her hair.

  Disgusted by his touch, she wanted to jerk away but just couldn’t get that message to her brain. Instead she allowed Vince to try to soothe her.

  “If you would just stop fighting me, this would be so much easier.”

  “I’m going to kill you,” she croaked.

  Vince’s chuckle sickened her.

  “I have no doubt that you will try. But what if we can come to a better arrangement?”

  Piper stiffened.

  “You’re remarkable. Can Jace really give you everything you need? Can he relate to the feeling of letting the transformation come over you and running free?”

  Piper shook her head. “That’s not going to work,” she warned.

  “I just want you to think about it,” Vince retorted. “Having a mate who truly understands your gift is something you’ll never experience with Jace.”

  She snorted. Of course she should have seen Vince playing this card. Jace was more than her mate, though. He was everything she had always searched for. Human or werewolf, Jace was hers. “Go to hell,” she murmured. “I wouldn’t ever be with you.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure,” Vince taunted. “This is just the beginning. No one knows where you are. Help is not coming. And I’m high enough to make up an excuse for Mitch going AWOL. I have all the power here.”

  “That’s all you want,” she said with a smirk. “But I will make sure you die begging. There will be no mercy for you.”

  “Bloodthirsty little thing, aren’t you?”

  “I guess we’ll find out,” she answered truthfully. After what Jace and Mitch had already gone through Piper would have no problem taking Vince down.

  “We’ll make a good match.”

  “Not even on your best day.”

  His hand tightened in her hair for just an instant. “You’ll have plenty of time alone to consider my offer.”

  He dropped a bag onto the bed next to her. “Eat.”

  “Fuck you.”

  As he pushed away from the bed and turned sharply on his heel, Piper smiled. “Score one for me,” she whispered as the door slammed closed behind Vince.

  Ignoring the brown paper bag, she closed her eyes once again. If Vince was already trying to convert her over to his side, she had more influence than they’d realized. Hopefully that could be used to her advantage.

  First thing was first, though. Jace would want her to eat. Pushing herself up into a sitting position was even tiring. Grabbing the sack, she pulled out her dinner.

  * * * *

  Jace paced the small room he’d been moved into. He’d woken alone, his wounds throbbing, but it was easy enough to push away his concern and injuries. Worry for Piper and Mitch kept his adrenaline high.

  He wasn’t surprised when the door swung open and Vince—along with the two other men—stood in the entrance. Vince tossed a brown paper sack to him, which Jace caught easily.

  “Eat. You’ll need your strength,” Vince ordered.

  Jace dropped the bag to the bed and faced his opponent. The glower on Vince’s face was proof enough that the man’s plans weren’t working out the way he’d believed they would.

  “Where are Piper and Mitch? I want to see them.”

  Shaking his head, Vince glared at him. “You’re not really in the position to make demands. The sooner you accept that, the better it will be for all of you.”

  “So you’ve decided to stop acting as if you’re doing us a favor and show your true colors? What’s wrong? Can’t get one werewolf and two humans to follow your directions?” he taunted.

  Vince growled and took a step forward. “You need to remember that I don’t need you humans. I have your mate.”

  The words sent a wave of panic through Jace, but he pushed it aside. “And you need to think about what Piper would do to you if she wasn’t trying to protect Mitch or myself.”

  Vince’s lips tightened just before he grunted and stomped out of the room. Okay, so it hadn’t been the smartest thing to bait the crazy werewolf, but Jace felt satisfied with the exchange. Any little advantage they could get would help in the long run.

  Dropping to the bed, he opened the brown sack and pulled out a bottle of water, sandwich, apple and chips. It was pretty much the same meal that he’d been given with Piper. Not good sustenance but enough to keep him from starving.

  Vince wasn’t stupid. No, the man had managed to draw them to him and easily get them into his clutches.

  Jace started on his food, knowing that any amount of provisions would help the battle to come. He’d just crumpled the trash in his hand when a loud beep then static filled the room.

  Glancing around, he tried to spot the speakers but they were too well hidden. He jerked when he heard the scream.

  Jumping to his feet, Jace ran to the door as Mitch’s voice came into the room in the form of a scream.

  “God damn it!” Jace cried as he pounded on the door.

  Mitch yelled again with terror in his voice. Then his best friend screeched loud, only to be drowned out by an ear-splitting growl.

  “No!” Jace slammed his fists against the wall again. “No!”

  * * * *

  Piper drew her knees up to her chest as she listened to Mitch’s struggles. She wasn’t sure what was happening to Mitch, but it wasn’t anything good.

  It sounded like he was being devoured, and Piper was barely able to keep the sandwich down that she’d eaten. She tried to calm herself, to find the link she had with Mitch, but it was no use. Not being able to concentrate due to whatever was happening with Mitch messed with her.

  Inside, her animal was clawing to be released. To hunt and protect.

  Her skin was rippling and she had to grit her teeth to keep from changing.

  The need to transform was so strong she actually became lightheaded. Breathing in through her nose and out through her mouth, she blocked out everything around her.

  Gasping and shaking, she fought to hold onto her human side. Vince would probably love for her to shift. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

  Opening her eyes, she fou
nd herself on her hands and knees.

  Just then a deafening howl filled the room and Mitch went silent.

  “No, oh God, please no,” she cried.

  Losing the fight with her wolf, Piper began to shift. Her vision grayed and narrowed as pain overrode every other thing in her mind. She panted as she slowly came back to herself. Rising to her four legs, she shook her body.

  Scents were stronger in her new form and she paced the entire area, trying to pick up on anything that might aid her in escaping.

  She could pick up on the people—both human and werewolf—that had been in the room before her. Moving toward the door, she sniffed the barrier but the seal was too good and she couldn’t pick up anything from outside her room.

  Backing up into the corner closest to the door, she crouched and waited. They would come for her sooner or later. If the speakers were hidden well enough that she couldn’t find them, she would bet anything that they had cameras monitoring also.

  It wouldn’t be long now. And as soon as the door opened, she would pounce. She’d kill whoever was unlucky enough to walk in. They’d taken one of hers and she would make them all pay. Piper would get her revenge then she would get her and Jace out of this horrible place.

  She stayed alert, and the instant the door opened, Piper launched herself from the corner. She heard Vince curse before a dart hit her side. Landing hard, she growled but picked herself back up.

  It was only as she advanced toward Vince that she saw the two men that were always with him holding Mitch up by his arms.

  She snarled.

  Grinning at her while holding Mitch’s bloody arm close to his chest, Vince shook his head. “I expected the attack but am pleased that you’re quicker than I anticipated. Now back up or I’ll end Mitch’s life right now.”

  She roared when Vince stepped aside, giving her a view of one of the men holding a knife to Mitch’s throat.

  “Back off,” Vince snarled.

  Piper slowly took one step away then another. She could pick up Mitch’s shallow breathing, so at least he wasn’t dead yet. The two goons walked forward, looking at her warily.

  They dropped Mitch onto the small bed before quickly rushing through the door and into the hall.

  “Now you have a choice,” Vince told her.

  Vision swimming from the drug that had been in the dart, she tried to get her body under control to take one more leap at Vince.

  “I’ve started the process, so if you want Mitch to live, you will have to do the rest,” Vince told her.

  Piper froze. What in the hell was he talking about?

  “You have about two hours until Mitch will need to be fed your blood. You bite him and then he drinks your blood. He’ll live. If not, he’ll die. Whatever will you do?”

  Finally what Vince was telling her started to make sense. Starting the process…biting…drinking blood. Holy hell, Mitch was starting his transformation.

  He’d been changed.

  Body heavy, Piper fell to the ground.

  “Sleep well,” Vince taunted. “You’ll be busy once you wake.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Piper knew she wasn’t alone even before she opened her eyes. Placing her hands under her body, she struggled to lift herself. Her gaze fell on the man breathing rapidly on the mattress across the room. It hadn’t been a nightmare. Vince had attacked Mitch and started to turn her friend.

  Back in her human form, Piper remained on her hands and knees then crawled toward Mitch. The big man’s body looked so small and broken lying there.

  When she got to his side, she was afraid to touch him in fear of hurting him further.

  Even though his eyes were open, she wasn’t certain if he knew what was happening. She knew how much pain he would be in and how confused his mind would be from when she had been changed herself.

  “Mitch,” she said softly while she placed her hand on his cheek gently. “Mitch?”

  He blinked.

  “Mitch, I need you to tell me what to do.”

  “Hurts…”

  “I know,” she told him. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Make it stop?”

  “I can’t. I wish I could. I’m… Mitch I don’t know what to do!”

  “Finish it…” His voice cracked before he groaned.

  Piper buried her face in his chest and tears fell. Out of everything she’d imagined, she hadn’t considered that Vince would turn Mitch or Jace. What if he was currently doing the same thing to Jace? How would he ever forgive her?

  “Please, Piper,” Mitch whispered.

  “It’ll hurt,” she told him. “The pain won’t stop until you are fully transformed.”

  “Okay, do it.”

  She shook her head but more at herself than Mitch’s request. She couldn’t let him die, even if it meant doing as he asked and Vince wanted. She didn’t know if it was wrong or right. Wouldn’t it be better if she just let Mitch go? He had no idea what it would be like to live with the animal inside him, always fighting and clawing to get free. “I don’t know if I can,” she confessed.

  “I don’t want to die.”

  Sobbing, she lifted her head and cradled his face in her hands. “Please forgive me.”

  The scent of his blood had been calling to her wolf. She released Mitch and scooted back until she had enough clearance to change. She let the transformation take over.

  When she was furry, she climbed onto the mattress and stood over her friend. Jace’s best friend. His eyes were wide as he stared up at her. Then he nodded, arching his neck back.

  She huffed. There was no way that she would bite him there. She rubbed her nuzzle over his arm.

  “Okay,” he said softly.

  She bit down on his biceps. He grunted before burying his other hand in the fur of her neck. She tried to make the nip as gentle as possible, although she wasn’t certain how much she succeeded. Mitch whimpered, and she removed her teeth. Jumping off the bed back onto the floor, she urged her wolf to let her turn back fully to human.

  Naked and sweating, she scrambled back to Mitch. Cupping his head, she helped him raise his mouth.

  “Your turn,” she told him, placing her wrist to his mouth. “Close your eyes. The change is already inside you. Let your teeth down.”

  The sharp throbbing pain of him slicing into her flesh caused her to hiss and jerk. She barely managed to keep from pulling away. He needed this.

  Hopefully her blood was all he needed. Piper had never turned anyone and her memories were still fuzzy on her own transformation. That was one reason she remained adamant that Jace stay human. What if she messed up the changing?

  Mitch still might not survive.

  Probably another one of Vince’s tests. The man himself had declared he didn’t know how to turn someone. For all she knew, she could be doing more harm.

  What choice did she have, though? Mitch needed something!

  Mitch drank her blood until she started to feel faint. Tugging her wrist free, she lay next to him as his breathing grew slower.

  As she closed her eyes while dropping down beside Mitch, she started to pray for the first time in years. Please let Mitch survive this. Wrapping her arms around his chest, she held him tight, trying her best to protect him now, unlike how she failed before.

  The light connection that she had with Mitch before was flaring brightly behind her closed lids. Everything was different now. Her blood rain through Mitch’s veins and his in hers.

  They would always be tied together.

  If this worked, she would be able to help him through the changes coming. Even if she wished that he’d never have to face what his future was going to be like, she would do her best to care for him.

  Mitch and Bobby both needed her. Piper had to be strong for them.

  Maybe Vince was correct in assuming she was making her own Pack. If that was what she was doing then she would have to live with it. At least the three of them would have one another to lean on.

  Jace would b
e there too and would surely offer support.

  * * * *

  Jace didn’t know what was going on. Judging by the meals that had been tossed into his room, he suspected three days had passed. The injuries he’d received from Vince’s experiment had started to heal since he hadn’t been removed from his prison again.

  Not since he’d heard Mitch’s screams and cries of pain.

  He demanded answers every time Vince or one of his henchmen threw him food, but they never answered him. It was driving him crazy not knowing what was happening to Piper or how Mitch was. He didn’t even know if his best friend was still alive.

  The door sliding drew him from his thoughts, and he pushed himself to his feet. Sure he was weak, but he wouldn’t give Mitch the satisfaction of showing Vince anything but strength.

  “And how are you holding up?” Vince asked, stepping into Jace’s personal space. He held the dart gun and another brown paper sack. Tossing the bag on the bed, Vince sneered at him.

  Jace opened his mouth, and Vince waved his hand.

  “Yes, yes I know. You want to see Piper. You want to know where Mitch is. Seriously, your demands are getting tiresome.”

  “Then let me go. I’ll be glad to get out of your hair,” Jace replied with a grin.

  Grunting, Vince shook his head. “I don’t get what she sees in you.”

  Jace refused to play any mind game that centered around his and Piper’s relationship. He knew how much she loved him. They belonged together. The mate bond proved that.

  “Doesn’t matter now. Not after what I’ve witnessed between your woman and best friend.”

  Jace didn’t flinch but it was a near thing. Of course Vince would tell any lie to get Jace to question Piper and Mitch’s loyalty. That was a predictable play.

  “Don’t believe me?” Vince asked with a laugh.

  “No.”

  “Maybe you would like to see for yourself?”

  “Sure,” Jace agreed. Like he would pass up the chance to leave the room?

  Vince motioned him forward with the dart gun. “Try anything and you will be put down. And I might get the mixture wrong and make you OD. I’m really not seeing a point of keeping you around any longer.”