The Alpha 9: Protect. Procreate. Prevail., page 33
“I’ve eaten so many chips recently that I’ll probably turn into one,” Arielle giggled as she opened a bag of Lay’s.
“For some reason, I’m really craving fruit right now,” Hailey replied. “But we don’t have fruit, so Raisinets will have to do for now.”
“Ooh, pass me some of those,” Blair said from her spot on my hips.
“I definitely need a protein bar after that workout,” Azalea chuckled.
“Do we still have that bag of gummy bears?” Nikita asked. “I need some fizzy and sour. Mmm. Yum, yum, yumm.”
“I love snacking after an orgasm,” Arielle moaned as she shoved another chip into her mouth. “There’s nothing better. Is this what smoking is like? I imagine it’s the same thing. The craving aspect, of course.”
“What, craving Jesse’s cock, or craving a bag of Lay’s?” Hailey giggled.
“Both,” Arielle snorted. “But no, I saw in movies that people reach for their cigarettes after sex. But replace the cigarettes for a bag of chips, and that’s where my head’s at right now.”
“I know where Jesse’s head is at right now, too.” Blair smirked. “And it’s the most comfortable seat I’ve ever sat on.”
I waited until Blair was able to roll off my lap before I helped myself to some snacks, and my five omegas and I cuddled up in the two beds as we ate our chips, protein bars, and candies, and I downed at least two bottles of water.
The time was nearing four in the morning by the time we called it a night, and the room was still heavy from the scent of our sweaty bodies.
Although tomorrow was going to be a long day for everyone, especially with the second performance in the evening, the satisfaction we all felt was enough to fuel us.
I’d received a few text messages while I was distracted by my sinful omegas, and I briefly checked over them as I made myself comfortable.
The first message was from Daniel, just saying that Hazel had arrived safely back at her hotel. The second was from Grace to say that the cleanup crew had done a wonderful job, and it looked like nothing had even occurred out in the desert. The third and final message was from Hazel Wise, and it was to inform me that my file, not surprisingly, had already been updated, and the alpha’s name was included.
The werecoyote motherfucker was called David Atkins, and he was from Lincoln County, Nevada. He must have been traveling for a couple of hours in order to reach us, which was another common theme with these attacks, but at least he was out of the picture now.
The file also stated that his entire pack had taken part in the fight, so there wasn’t anyone left at home for me to meet. That was information I could give Arthur Mordaine, and we could work out the logistics of taking David’s assets another day.
I was too fucking tired to even think straight, let alone work out where David Atkins lived, and how much money I was about to inherit. That could be sorted out when I arrived back in Monroe, and once I’d finished the second and final performance.
For now, I needed to sleep.
I seemed to fall asleep the second I closed my eyes, and I briefly remembered Arielle tucking herself under my arm, but that was it. I was completely oblivious to anything and everything that went on around me.
I’d set my alarm for one o’clock so that I could shower and eat before I left at two, but instead of my alarm tone, I was forced awake by my phone vibrating loudly against the wooden bedside table.
“Noooo!” Blair moaned as she flipped over onto her side. “Whoever it is can fuck off. I’m too tired to face the day.”
“What time is it?” Azalea asked. “The sun is shining, but it could literally be seven o’clock for all we know.”
“I hope it is seven o’clock,” Blair mumbled. “At least we can get more sleep.”
A sudden sense of panic forced me to sit up in bed, and I wondered if maybe I hadn’t set my alarm after all. Perhaps Jack Nolan was calling to ask where I was because I was late for the rehearsal.
“Shit,” I muttered as I located my phone through blurry eyes.
Fortunately, it wasn’t Jack calling, and it was barely even midday, so I wasn’t late to the venue.
It was actually Hazel Wise calling.
The agent should have been busy in the office, or welcoming the big boss, so it didn’t sit well with me that she had a reason to call during working hours.
“Hello?” I answered the call seconds before it rang out.
“Jesse, can you hear me?” Hazel asked with a soft whisper.
“Yes.” I frowned. “Why… What’s going on?”
“I had to sneak out of the office, I said I was going to get some lunch,” she explained. “I can’t be long because I have a meeting, and don’t be alarmed if I hang up suddenly, but I need to talk to you. Urgently.”
“What’s going on?” I asked again. “I thought you were busy with the boss today?”
“I am, and that’s why I called,” she said. “You see, something just happened when I was greeting the boss and his wife, and I… Jesse, I’m scared.”
“Why?” I growled. “What happened?”
“Everything was going fine, and they’re both really nice, like, super nice,” Hazel replied. “I’d met them before, so it wasn’t like I was meeting with complete strangers. My own boss then came over and started speaking privately with the big boss, so I was left to talk to his wife. I asked her generic questions like how their trip was going, and how tired she must be with constantly traveling around. You know, standard queries. But it was when she was talking about time differences that she adjusted her bra strap, and that’s when I saw it.”
“Saw what?” I asked.
I felt like I was attempting to solve a difficult riddle, and I wasn’t awake enough to piece everything together.
“It was only for a split second, and at first I thought it was a tattoo of a star located just below her collarbone,” Hazel paused to sigh. “But it looked too faint to be a tattoo, and I… I remembered seeing something like that on Arielle and Nikita once, so I think it might be a–”
“A mating mark,” I snarled.
“What?” Hailey shrieked.
“That cocksucker!” Azalea spat.
I was fucking furious, but I was also incredibly grateful that Hazel had managed to spot the star on the boss’ wife’s skin.
“Jesse?” Hazel asked.
“Yes?” I mumbled.
“Mating marks are just symbols for omegas, right?” she clarified.
“Pretty much.” I nodded. “It’s a sign to show that omegas belong to an alpha. Every mark is different, because every alpha is different.”
“So if she’s an omega, and she’s married to the big boss, then that means…” the agent trailed off.
“That means the head of the SDD is a motherfucking alpha,” I growled.
Everything seemed to fall into place at that exact moment.
And it made me question one thing.
If the head of the SDD was a shifter, then how many shifters did he have working for them?
Perhaps Hazel Wise was the only human in the entire agency across the country?
That would explain how everyone knew where I was, why the sudden attacks happened in the first place, and why we thought the regional hubs were corrupt.
For all I knew, the entire agency could have been working together, and it no longer mattered which state these shifters lived in. If they were after me, then they’d do whatever it took to get to me.
It didn’t explain why it all started in the first place, or what I’d done to cause that guy to hate me so much.
However, it did help me realize something.
If I wanted this shit to end, then there was one thing I needed to do.
I had to take on the SDD.
End of Book 9
Cast of Characters
Abigail: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Islander. Ginger hair. Tan fur.
Adam: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Aiden’s beta. Brown hair. Brown eyes. Muscular build. Tan and yellow fur. Short temper. Deceased.
Aiden Jansen: Werecat alpha (mountain lion) Blair’s previous alpha. Tall. Blond hair in a man bun. Deceased.
Alex: Human Violinist in Jack Nolan’s orchestra.
Alfie: Avian beta (raven) East Oregon flock. Messy black hair.
Allison Barnes: Werecat (mountain lion) Nikita’s younger sister. Long brown hair. Azure eyes.
Amber Jansen: Werecat omega (mountain lion) Married to Jonathan Jansen, mother to Aiden and Max Jansen. Dark brown hair. Dull green eyes. Deceased.
Angela: Werecat beta (lynx) Islander. Auburn hair. Light-brown eyes. Organized.
Angelique: Werewolf beta San Bernardino pack. Dark brown hair with blonde roots.
Annika Roswell: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Mainland. Petite. Strawberry-blonde hair. Enormous dark green eyes.
Arielle: Werecoyote omega Jesse’s half-Filipina omega. Warm brown hair. Reddish-brown eyes. Russet brown fur, bottle brush tail. Chocolate-cinnamon scent. Rescued from Gray Mackenzie.
Arthur Mordaine: Avian Jesse’s shifter lawyer. Tall and rail-thin. Curved nose. Gold, circular glasses. Short brown hair. Black feathers.
Ashton: Avian beta (raven) East Oregon flock. Black hair. Brown eyes. Tanned skin.
Austin Hayes: Werewolf beta captain San Bernardino pack. Long blond hair. Blue eyes. Thick, wiry beard. Broad build. Always wears a plaid shirt and cowboy boots.
Autumn: Werewolf beta San Bernardino pack. Golden hair.
Azalea: Avian omega (bald eagle) Jesse’s omega. Blood-red hair. Blue-gray eyes. Coffee and caramel scent. Rescued from Reuben Dillard.
Beatrice: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Modoc County pride. Curly blonde hair. Sky-blue eyes. Nickname is Bee.
Benji Shaw: Werewolf beta captain Jesse’s half-brother and best friend. Dark blond hair. Hazel eyes. Gray fur. Viola student at Everleigh University.
Blair Avalon: Werecat omega (lynx) Jesse’s omega. Dyed black hair. Honey-colored eyes. Vanilla and honey scent. Sister of Gemma Avalon. Rescued from Aiden Jansen.
Bodhi: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Modoc County pride. Short black hair. Brown eyes. Tattoo of cat paw on right calf.
Brenden: Werecoyote beta captain Mainland. Jet-black fur. Rangy build.
Caleb Moreno: Werecoyote beta Mainland. Copper-colored skin. Black curly hair. Reddish-brown eyes. Bronze-colored fur. Smoky markings on paw and snout.
Cameron: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Islander. Tan and white fur. Youngest pack member. Best friends with Finn.
Caroline: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Modoc County pride. Straight blonde-brown hair. Gray eyes.
Cassie: Human Blonde hair. Gray eyes. Small and mouse-like. Delicate features. Wife of Kyle.
Cayden: Werecoyote beta Californian pack. Blondish-brown hair. Mechanic.
Charlie: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Islander. Curly blond hair. Blue eyes. Tan fur with a black mark under his chin.
Charlie Jansen: Werecat infant Islander. Dirty blond hair. Green eyes. Son of Aiden Jansen and Sarah. Five years old.
Chelsea: Werecat beta (bobcat) Modoc County pride. Bright blonde hair. Brown eyes. Sean’s younger sister by two years.
Christopher: Werecat beta (lynx) Mainland. Long dark hair. Blue eyes. Campus security.
Clarice Osborn: Werewolf omega Theo Finch’s omega. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Previous alpha was Gabriel. Wanted shifter. Deceased.
Clay: Werecat beta (lynx) Modoc County pride. 17 years old. Youngest member of Jesse’s pack. Very energetic.
Connor Mackenzie: Werecoyote beta captain Previous alpha to Californian pack. Submitted himself to Jesse. Black hair. Brown eyes. Gray Mackenzie’s second cousin.
Coral: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Islander. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Quiet but fierce. Sweet, angelic smile.
Corey Ryan: Werecat alpha (mountain lion) Previous alpha to Modoc County pride. Tanned fur. White paws. Black tips on his ears. Scars on his face. Deceased.
Curtis: Avian beta (raven) East Oregon flock. Ginger hair. Freckles on the bridge of his nose.
Dallas: Avian beta (bald eagle) Mainland. Curly brown hair. Gray eyes. Calm and chill personality.
Damien: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Modoc County pride. Long brown hair with blond highlights.
Daniel: Werecat beta captain (mountain lion) Islander. African-American. Very strong. Wanted to be in the military.
Darla: Werewolf beta Mainland. Strawberry-blonde hair. Green-blue eyes. Quite small. Always hangs around with Lucie.
David Atkins: Werecoyote alpha Lincoln County, Nevada. Gray-and-black fur. Red eyes. Deceased.
Dexter: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Islander. Messy black hair. Bright blue eyes. Tan and blond fur. One black ear. Childish attitude. Youngest member of the pack. Nickname is Dex.
Dr. Chase: Human Jesse’s professor at Everleigh University. Crow-like woman. Wrinkly face.
Dr. Stenton: Werecoyote Monroe town doctor. Black hair.
Duncan: Werewolf beta Mainland. Ginger hair. Green eyes. Freckles across his nose.
Dylan York: Avian alpha (raven) Previous alpha to East Oregon flock. Never saw him in human form. Deceased.
Eden: Avian beta (raven) East Oregon flock. Black-brown hair. Brown eyes. Birthmark on left side of neck. Twin sister of Ellis.
Eliza: Werecat beta (lynx) Mainland. Sleek black hair. Pale eyes. Zane’s twin sister.
Elliot: Werecat beta (lynx) Islander. Curly blond hair. Greenish-brown eyes.
Ellis: Avian beta (raven) East Oregon flock. Black-brown hair. Gray-brown eyes. Loves skateboarding. Twin brother of Eden.
Eloise: Werecat beta (lynx) Modoc County pride. Reddish-blonde hair in ringlets. Green eyes.
Elsie: Werecat beta (lynx) Modoc County pride. Toffee-colored hair. Blue eyes.
Ethan: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Islander. Black-brown hair.
Eva Rafe: Werewolf beta captain Jesse’s aunt on his father’s side. Dark brown hair. Icy-blue eyes. Silvery coat that’s sleek and full.
Faith: Avian beta (raven) East Oregon flock. Copper-colored hair. Very sweet and quiet.
Farrah: Werewolf beta captain British Columbia. Burgundy hair. Pierced nose and eyebrow.
Finn: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Islander. Messy blond hair. Green eyes. Best friends with Cameron.
Florence: Human Waitress at Alice’s Restaurant. Bright ginger hair. Forest green eyes. Assisted Jesse with information on the were-hunters.
Franco: Werecat beta (bobcat) Modoc County pride. Brown hair. Orange-brown eyes.
Frederick: Werecat beta (lynx) Islander. Curly brown hair. Very quiet. Boyfriend of Lily.
Gavyn: Avian beta (bald eagle) Mainland. Buzzed black hair. Green eyes. Broad build. Loves playing football. Bit of a jock.
Gemma Avalon: Werecat beta (lynx) Mainland. Brown hair. Hazel eyes. Sister of Blair Avalon. Campus security.
George: Avian beta (bald eagle) Mainland. Ginger hair. Green eyes.
Gia: Werecoyote beta captain Californian pack. Short red hair. Italian heritage. Wanted to be a chef.
Grace: Werecat beta (lynx) Islander. Short brown hair. Green-brown eyes.
Gray Mackenzie: Werecoyote alpha Arielle’s previous alpha. Long, highlighted, curly hair. Blue eyes. Orange-brown fur with black-tipped hairs. Deceased.
Gregory: Werewolf beta Mainland. Buzzed brown hair. Gray eyes.
Gus Dunn: Werefox beta captain Short blond hair. One green eye, one brown eye. Rotund figure. Red fur. Deceased.
Hailey: Werewolf omega Jesse’s omega. Brown-and-blonde streaked hair, often dyes some strands in different colors. Green eyes. Light-gray fur, white speckled chin and stomach. Ears are a darker shade of gray. Honeysuckle and lavender scent. Deceased brother was a were-hunter.
Hannah Pierce: Human Jesse’s class partner at Everleigh University. Blonde hair. Dark brown eyes. Former cheerleader.
Harlow: Avian beta (raven) East Oregon flock. Mahogany hair. Crystal blue eyes.
Harry: Werewolf beta Mainland. Short brown hair. Blue eyes. Muscular build. Dark gray fur. Like a big brother to Hailey.
Hazel Wise: Human Shifter Detection Department agent. Long, mahogany hair. Almond-colored eyes. Heart-shaped face.
Holly: Werecat beta (lynx) Islander. Ginger hair. Green eyes. Orange-brown fur.
Hope: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Islander. Short golden hair. Brown eyes. Very shy.
Hydra: Selkie beta (orca) Long black hair. Soft gray eyes. Scar on left cheek. Black smudge on eyespot.
Jack Nolan: Human Neat brown hair. Grayish-green eyes. Dark stubble. Previous student at Everleigh University. Musician who offered Jesse a part in his orchestra.
Jackson: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Islander. Short dark hair. Cyan eyes. Blond and tan fur.
Jake Woodruff: Human Jesse’s friend. Member of DnD group. Film Major at Everleigh University.
Jayden Carver: Werewolf alpha Previous alpha to San Bernardino pack. Looked to be in his late-twenties. Only saw him in hybrid form. Deceased.
Jesse Rafe: Werewolf alpha. Tan skin. Dark brown hair. Blue eyes. Black fur. Violin student at Everleigh University. Parents were Ivan and Miranda Rafe.
Jonah: Avian beta (raven) East Oregon flock. Bleached blond hair. Brown eyes.
Jonathan Jansen: Werecat alpha (mountain lion) Gray-blond hair. Blue eyes. Married to Amber Jansen, father of Max and Aiden Jansen. Deceased.
Jude: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Islander. Neat and tidy. Good friends with Kora.
Julia: Human Violinist in Jack Nolan’s orchestra.
Julien: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Modoc County pride. Dark blond hair. Green eyes.
Kahn: Werecoyote beta Mainland. Black hair with silver strands.
Karina Barnes: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Mother of Nikita and Allison. Widow of Anthony Barnes. Brown hair. Teal eyes.
Kasia: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Islander. Red hair. Green eyes. Motherly. Girlfriend of Spencer.
Kassidy: Werewolf beta Mainland. Curly black hair. Brown and gray fur.
Kiara: Werecoyote beta captain Californian pack. Mahogany hair.
Kiri Everard: Werecoyote beta Mainland. Platinum-blonde hair. Reddish-brown eyes. Ash-colored fur. Map enthusiast.
Kora: Werecat beta (mountain lion) Islander. Blonde hair with silver highlights. Gray eyes. Neat. Good friends with Jude.
