by Kat Zaccard
“The thing is, Henry, Alice here needs to run and we need to keep her secret.”
“What secret is that?”
“I’m already a Sliver.” I said it so Jack didn’t have to and so he couldn’t minimize my skill. If I was going to tell Sir Henry, I was telling him the whole truth. Well, nearly. No one else needed to know about the new moon shifting. That was too weird for the average werewolf to comprehend.
“What?” Sir Henry stuck a finger in his ears and wiggled it around.
“You heard her right, Henry,” Jack responded helpfully. “She already has the month under the moon. She’s already a Sliver.”
“And I’m dying to run!” I whined.
Sir Henry laughed. “Well, if what you’re saying is true, I can imagine. When I finally trained my way to becoming a Sliver, I couldn’t go back to shifting only three nights a month either. But how is it even possible?”
“Umm…”
Luckily, Jack helped me out. “She’s a true alpha, Henry. She’s a Luna, after all. Her mother was a true alpha too.”
Sir Henry’s eyes widened. “I’d heard rumors from other Slivers that served in her Royal Guard. I didn’t know if it was a myth or real,” he admitted.
“It’s real,” Jack affirmed, “though her mother never mentioned having the ability to shift as easily. As I remember, she had to work just as hard at it as I did to become a Sliver. She did have the telepathy. I remember having to make up really lame excuses when she forgot to shield. By her senior year, she was great at shielding, and everyone thought I was crazy.”
“Wait? Alice, you have alpha telepathy too?” Sir Henry got more than he bargained for when he agreed to call Jack.
“Just when I’m a wolf, and it’s not like super precise. I can sense other creatures’ brain signatures like a cross between a color and a smell. I can pick up a thought if someone projects it to me specifically or if they are really bad at shielding. It’s easier with people I trust like my good friends and the wolves I run with in patrols.”
“So if you have the telepathy and you’re already a Sliver, are all the alpha powers true?”
I knew what Sir Henry was asking. It was the one power only Shea and Diego really knew about. I hated admitting it out loud, so it was hard to meet Henry’s eye. Jack, for once, looked a little confused. I guessed that since he’d grown up in human foster homes prior to his first shift, he might not be aware of the more mythical alpha power that only a true alpha can possess.
“Yes.” I looked down at the ground not daring to look at Henry, though I heard him let out air in a rush.
“Really?”
“What?” Jack wasn’t used to being out of the loop, and he didn’t like it. He pulled at his lengthening beard in frustration. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s something I try not to use at all if I can help it. Sometimes, I can influence someone’s actions, but usually only if I’m physically threatened. I only ever used it once during a match, and that was an accident. It didn’t affect anyone’s grade.”
I dared to look up at Henry, who looked dumbfounded. Jack, on the other hand, was beside himself.
“What do you mean ‘influence?’”
I turned to Jack before he started shouting. “Okay, the thing is, Jack, I can command another werewolf and they have to obey. It only lasts for a few seconds. I’m still trying to figure it out, but I think the first time I used it was when I helped Pamela shift back to human on her first full moon.” I thought back to last year when Pamela shifted for the first time. She’d been so scared she wasn’t able to shift back.
“She almost went feral?” asked Sir Henry. “That’s worse than being a runt.” Werewolves who can’t shift back become feral. It’s an even scarier fate for a werewolf than being a runt, which is a werewolf that can’t shift into a wolf at all. It’s rare and terribly sad, but at least they can remain within the werewolf world since the average werewolf spends most of their time in their human skin anyway.
“You helped her shift back?” Jack was incredulous.
“I think so, just helped a little. It’s more like I calmed her down so she could shift back, but…” I hesitated.
“But what?” prompted Henry, unable to contain his curiosity.
“Well, I’ve been trying to help my junior patrol gain more nights under the moon. I think it’s been working.”
“So that’s why your group is progressing so fast!” Jack was having an epiphany. “I knew there had to be an explanation! I knew it wasn’t all Boris,” he muttered the last line.
“Huh? Who’s Boris?”
Jack blushed slightly, looking away. Meanwhile, Henry laughed. “Oh, Boris is the Head of Patrols from Russia. He’s been giving Jack and Olaf no end of grief for how we run patrols.”
“It’s not just patrols, it’s everything! How we train, what we eat, how I twitch my freaking tail!” Jack complained. I was shocked. The Jack I knew was good-natured and easy-going. He liked everybody and everybody liked him. But this wasn’t quite the Jack I remembered. The Jack I’d known had a beloved wife, his true mate. This was the new Jack. Without Kulani, he was a little adrift.
“Don’t worry, man, we all know you’re the best,” Henry reassured his patrol leader. “We just never had the threat of upyr to contend with. We’re all in new territory here. Boris wants to be as relevant as you do.”
“Yeah, I know, he does have some good ideas.” Jack was humbled and Henry looked pleased with himself.
“Have there been any new sightings?” I inquired.
“No, nothing nearby, but there are a few reports from Alberta that are unsettling,” Jack admitted.
“That’s why we’ve tripled patrols and we’re training around the clock,” Henry confirmed.
“Well, I promise to be careful, but I need to run,” I said, reminding them why we were out there in the first place.
Henry shook his head. “I can’t believe you’re a Sliver already!”
“Well, I am, get used to it.” We all laughed.
“So here’s the plan…” Jack filled Henry in on letting me run on his property so patrols wouldn’t pick up my scent. They sketched out ways to avoid patrols on the way there and back along with excuses should we get caught. The only downside was there wasn’t time left to run tonight. I grumbled the whole way back. Sir Henry quickly admonished me, reminding me that Jack was putting his job on the line letting me run at all. I promised to keep it a secret and not to head out on my own. I guessed they were more concerned about the upyr threat than they were letting on. I might have let my guard down, but they hadn’t.
I said goodnight to Sir Henry and headed back to my room. I was grateful to add another ally to my ongoing tally. I realized that counting my friends made my enemies less threatening. I hadn’t gotten my run, but I drifted off to sleep content none the less.
The following evening, Sir Henry walked me to Jack’s property and let me tear around like a maniac. We went on runs three nights a week after that, though I begged for more. Sir Henry was too proper to tackle and play, so I mostly chased rabbits and plotted strategies in my head. Really, I mostly had fun.
It was late October and the sky was dark; only a sliver of the moon smiled down on us. We were walking back in a rush, having spent a little too long at Jack’s and hoping to beat curfew. Sir Henry wouldn’t let me risk running back as a wolf, so we made our way through the woods on two feet. Henry led me down a shortcut that was more of a deer trail than a true trail, but we were eager to avoid a reprimand from Ms. Grizzle.
He stopped suddenly and held up an arm. I halted and held my breath, straining to hear whatever had alerted Sir Henry’s excellent tracking skills. He motioned for me to wait where I was and he stepped cautiously forward. I thought I heard a rustling and hushed voices. Suddenly, there was a huge commotion. Sir Henry hollered something intelligible and a woman screamed.
I ran forward, trying to make out the shadowy figures. “Sir Henry! Is everything okay
?”
“Oh great.” I heard the snide voice and knew who I’d see. Sure enough, I caught a flash of ice-blonde hair whip through the air as she pulled a dress over her head. The shapes I saw were bodies, hastily getting dressed.
Sir Henry was apoplectic and kept a running litany of Logan’s stupidity while chucking his shoes at him. I didn’t catch most of what he said. I was maybe a little stunned, but I caught a few phrases like, “your grandfather!” and “the crown!” Logan didn’t meet my eye. I was almost impressed he had the decency to look ashamed. I narrowed my eyes at him coldly, but he avoided my look studiously.
Finally, he snapped out of it and addressed Sir Henry. “Now there’s no reason to get my father involved in any of this. We were just having a little fun and it really has nothing to do with my future or the crown. I’m sure we can come to an arrangement.” He ran a hand through his sandy brown hair, smoothing it to the side a la Bieber.
It was Jillian’s turn to get incensed. “Oh, nothing, really? That’s not what you said a minute ago.”
“Jillian, please, I’m trying to be tactful here.” Logan tried to placate her, holding out his hands. I snorted in disbelief.
“Well, you’re failing, miserably. Logan, I’m not doing this here,” she spat at him then turned to me. “You don’t even want him!” she screamed at me. Her fists clutched at her sides as she stamped the ground.
“You’re right, I don’t. By all means, help me get rid of him.” I turned away from them and headed back to the true path, curfew be damned. I heard Sir Henry following, urging the others to keep up. I ignored his calls for me to wait and speed-walked back to campus. Sir Henry was on my heels by the time I reached the garden, but he didn’t try to talk to me or slow me down. I appreciated that. I nodded once to him at the back door, trying not to notice Jillian and Logan coming out of the gardens behind him. I went inside and headed straight to Shea’s room. It was past curfew, so she was surprised to see me at the door. She was even more surprised to see the tears trailing down my cheeks.
“What happened?” she inquired as she ushered me in. She settled me on the beat-up couch and fixed me a cup of tea. Between sniffles, I filled her in on my evening runs and eventually the scene we’d just come upon. She looked annoyed at first when I admitted to my evening runs, but quickly became appalled as I described finding Jillian and Logan naked in the woods.
“And it’s not like they were running,” I finished bitterly.
“What are you going to do?” Shea asked.
“I don’t know. I’m not sure why I’m even so upset. It’s not like I want Logan anyway,” I grumbled.
Shea wrapped me up and made soothing noises. I eventually fell asleep. Shea must have tucked me in with a blanket. When I woke up a few hours later, she was curled up on the floor next to the couch.
“Shea,” I whispered.
She stirred a little and gave a half-conscious, “Mmm-hmm?”
“Thanks,” was all I could croak out.
She opened an eye. “Anytime. Now go back to sleep.”
Chapter 14
The following Monday, I had an unpleasant surprise waiting for me at lunch. The weather was still mild, so we all brought our trays outside to have lunch with the guys. Boys weren’t allowed in the Artemis dorm, so we took advantage of the warmer weather to share our meal outdoors. It was a week before the Fall Fling and the traditional day for girls to ask out their dates. Shea asked Adam at the table, and he pretended to deliberate before accepting with a grand bow and a kiss of her hand. Her freckled cheeks blushed with pleasure.
Hayley, who was nothing if not brave, brazenly asked Anatoly if he’d be her date. Anatoly looked surprised and pleased, preening a bit if you asked me. He accepted her proposal. I couldn’t help but notice the scowl on Fanya’s face and surprise on Damka’s. I guessed she’d planned to ask him herself. Shea and Hayley were discussing the current fashion and shopping options when I noticed a stall in conversation around the table. They were all looking at me, no wait, behind me. I turned in my chair and saw Logan looking sheepishly around at the group of unfriendly eyes.
“Hey, Alice, can we talk?” Hayley looked ready to throw down, but I motioned for her to stay put. I excused myself and followed Logan out of earshot.
He cleared his throat a few times, looking anywhere but at me. Finally, my patience wore out. “What is it, Logan?”
He looked up at me, his green eyes piercing. He had such a classically handsome face with chiseled cheeks and a dimpled chin. His hair was just styled just enough to appear carefree. I’d almost loved him last year. Remembering our make-out sessions made me blush then curse my traitorous cheeks.
“Look, I know you’re mad at me, and you’ve every right to be,” he started.
“Thanks for the permission,” I snarked back, crossing my arms angrily.
“Alice, I’m sorry, that was … tacky.” I snorted, but he held up a hand to stop my retort. “Please, let me finish. I’m not particularly fond of our situation either. The thing is, though, we’re still a team.”
“A team?!”
“Yes. And I would like to escort you to the Fall Fling.”
“You can’t be serious?” I remembered what Nadia had said, but I didn’t believe Logan wanted to take me. “Isn’t the girl supposed to ask the guy?”
“Well, you’re the one who wants to break traditions.” Logan smiled, and I almost believed he wanted peace.
“I don’t want to go with you.”
“I know you don’t, but my parents and grandfather made it clear that I better take you to that dance.”
“Wow, chivalry is alive and well and giving me an ulcer,” I grumbled.
“Alice, I know you want to annul the betrothal. I… I think I get it now. But I don’t know what to do about it.”
“Try admitting to your family you don’t want to marry me either.”
“They don’t care what I want, Alice. They want a Dolph on the throne. We’re the next oldest family clan in the Great Pack. They believe it’s our right to rule.
“Please, I know this isn’t ideal for any of us. Believe me, this is going to cost me a world of hurt. But we’re expected to be seen together.”
“Sorry, Logan, that’s just not good enough.”
“Alice, there will be consequences.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“No, I’m warning you. Believe me, the consequences will be far worse and far more immediate for me.”
I almost felt a twinge of pity, but the memory of him scrambling to pull up his pants sprang to mind and hardened my resolve. “Sorry, Logan, the answer is no.”
The following weekend, I helped the girls get ready and sent them on their way. Shea looked lovely in a green dress. Sara wore yellow and Lola wore purple which was striking against her red hair. Hayley looked amazing in a pumpkin-colored dress that only she could pull off. She seemed happy to have Anatoly on her arm that night. Fanya was less pleased, but again, I played Switzerland. Fanya, Damka, Cas, and Jaro went as a group. They all begged me to join them, but I waved them away, happy to avoid the dance and the drama.
The next day, I received a scathing note from Nadia reminding me that I had obligations to the crown and to the Dolph family. She reiterated Logan’s threat that there would be consequences. She demanded I remain in my room until she arrived later that morning. She showed up at my dorm, and I took my scolding. She’d been putting out diplomatic fires all week and made me promise to go with the lie that I had the flu and terrible diarrhea all night.
“Does it have to be diarrhea? No one wants to hear that,” I complained.
“Hush, yes, you deserve diarrhea and worse. You’ve put me in a terrible position with Prince Ulric. I have promised him that you will attend the Winter Ball with Logan on your arm.”
“But, Nadia!”
“But nothing, Princess! You two are in the public eye whether you like it or not.”
“Yeah, well, what if I just don’t? I d
on’t go to the ball. I don’t dance with Logan. Hell, what if I don’t show up for the alleged wedding either?”
Nadia put a hand to her brow and took a deep breath “Alice, you know what happens. The Dolph Clan sues you for millions, the Queen Regent is handed a perfect excuse to call a vote of no confidence, and you risk your right to take the throne.”
“Argh!” I wanted to yell at her more, but it wasn’t her fault. I cursed the archaic law and my long-dead parents for subjecting me to a betrothal.
“Alice, remember that we don’t know the whole story. It’s highly plausible your parents felt an alliance with the prolific and Royal Clan Dolph would secure your safety until you come of age.”
I scoffed, “Yeah, that worked out so well.”
Nadia ignored my sarcasm and returned to her diplomatic debriefing. She left that afternoon after I promised to stay put and act sick for the rest of the weekend. Ms. Grizzle delivered plain broth to my room for dinner that night and forbade any visitors to discourage an outbreak. I grumbled at the isolation, but took the opportunity to catch up on homework and call home.
The Royal Herald printed a picture of me and Logan at last year’s Fall Fling stating my illness for our absence this year. They printed well wishes for my recovery, and soon after that, get-well cards and flowers began arriving at my door. Finally, Ms. Grizzle put an end to it demanding the headmaster assign someone to sort my mail before delivery. I was relieved since all the attention was overwhelming. But I did wonder where the extra treats and flowers were going since I’d gone from about twenty baskets and bouquets a day to two or three.
There were also notes and pictures from kids around the country wishing me well. Some of them called for my coronation. Some of them invited me to events. One four-year-old werewolf named Ely asked if I could come to his birthday party. I wrote him a card and bought him a present online. I wanted to reply to all the kind messages, but there were far too many. Instead, I composed a general thank you on social media. Of course that prompted a frantic call from home. In the end, I lied and told Mom and Dad I was sick with the flu. It was easier to keep up the ruse if I lied to everyone equally.