Becoming Alpha (Alpha Girl, #1)

by Aileen Erin

“I didn’t want to have to say this, but I double-dog dare you.” I couldn’t stop the grin. “What are you? Twelve?” “What are you? Forty?”

The more I thought about it the more questions I had. And not only about my cousins, but about St. Ailbe’s. And those wolf-dog things. And that guy. Mostly about that guy.

The whole thing was weird, and that was saying something for a girl who was used to weird.

“My room is much better than Axel’s and that’s what counts, right?” “That’s right,” Dad said. “Hey!” Axel said.

There was nothing more certain in life than the ending of a good romance novel.

“What’s wrong with knowing that I’m awesome?”

Bookstores were my kind of place. All those shiny books, lightly touched by only a couple of people. Each one held a different world, a different life to disappear into.

Holy Freudian slip, Batman.

There was only one thing for a girl to do when she had a close encounter with a guy that hot. Ice cream. I needed lots and lots of ice cream.

I took another bite of my ice cream as the girl tried to stop the fight. Ice cream and a fight? Best mall trip ever.

I’d almost forgotten he was holding my hand until he squeezed it. The fact that he’d done that twice now—held my hand like he didn’t want to give it back—made me exceedingly happy.

I moaned and he growled in response.

My mind was stuck on one thing. It had been an amazing kiss. The best I could ever imagine a kiss being. Even now, in pain, I’d do it again. No doubt. Something in the core of me needed him, and from the looks of him right now, the feeling was mutual.

Oh my God. Why the hell had a naked guy tackled me? “Move, you perv.”

It was a fluke. No need to panic. Okay, maybe a little bit of panicking.

A pitiful whiney noise escaped me before I could stifle it.

Dastien crossed his arms. His biceps bulged and I wanted to squeeze them to see if they were as firm as they looked. Dastien cleared his throat, drawing my attention to his face. I blushed at his smirk.

Chris put an arm around my shoulders and pulled me toward the mats. A growl echoed through the suddenly quiet gym. Dastien was watching us, as promised.

Dastien growled and I could physically feel his anger pulsing through me. The pain took my breath away. I cried out, silencing the room.

“Have a seat, lass, while Dastien tells us what he’s about.” I started to step around Dastien but he rumbled a low growl. “Quiet down,” Sebastian said. “No harm will come to her.”

He cleared his throat. “I didn’t set out to turn her. My wolf momentarily took control. It seems he has chosen her as his mate.”

She’ll make you work for it.” Donovan winked. Dastien’s eyes flashed to gold. “She’ll be mine.” The words sent a shiver down my spine. I opened my mouth, hopefully with a snarky comment, but nothing came out. I was paralyzed under Dastien’s gaze.

“What was that Shannon girl saying about teenage marriage?” Dad crossed his arms. Oh sweet baby Jesus. This couldn’t be more embarrassing. “Don’t worry. I didn’t drink the Kool-Aid.” As I said that, Mr. Dawson and Dastien walked into the cafeteria. The room felt ten degrees hotter as I watched Dastien. Boy did he make the Kool-Aid appealing.

As we walked to class, I was more relaxed. Everything felt a little more okay. But then again, it could’ve just been an ice cream high.

More scratching and whining. I threw off the covers and stomped over to the door. On the other side was Dastien in wolf-form. He came up to my waist, and looked like he weighed a ton. Amber eyes stared at me. I dropped to my knees and ran my fingers through his thick fur, searching for any signs of damage. “Are you okay? I was so worried—”

He whined again. “If you want to talk you should shift back to human. So you can actually talk.” He huffed. “What? It’s against the rules?” He yipped.

I’m not sure why you’re here.” He started sniffing at my belly, and I couldn’t help but laugh as I tried to push him away. “I’m fine. Really. Just a scratch.” He tried to get between me and the door.

Shit. That’s why he was here. To see if I was okay, and to keep watch. I closed the door behind me. “If I let you stay, then there are rules. First, you will not—I repeat—will not be changing in the middle of the night. If I wake up with you naked in my bed, there will be hell to pay. Whatever it is that’s going on with us, we’re not at that part yet.” He tilted his head to the side and made a little coughing sound.

Dastien was my first kiss. My first everything. Him sleeping in my bed meant something, even if he was a furball. It hurt that he’d left before I even woke up.

He kissed my cheek and rubbed his nose from the corner where my neck met my shoulder up to my ear. He breathed in deeply, scenting me, and I felt it all the way to my core. “Je t’aime, ma chérie.”

The spark was Fourth of July-sized with Dastien.

Their gaze met and I could swear I felt the heat of it burning. There were some major mutual appreciation vibes going on. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Meredith Savannah Molloney.” He reached across me to grab her hand and pressed his nose to her pulse point. “I’ll be seeing you again real soon.” What the hell. Donovan Murry was totally hitting on Meredith.

My palms started to sweat. I didn’t dare look in Dastien’s direction. But I could feel him. Pacing. Barely holding his wolf at bay. “You’re

He stood up and pulled me against him. “I’m a werewolf,” he whispered in my ear. I didn’t have time to laugh before an arm wrapped around my middle, ripping me away from Chris. Dastien set me on my feet, and turned—arms

All I got in response was a growl. Dastien’s gaze stayed trained on Chris. I reached a hand down to help Chris to his feet. Dastien’s growl grew to a roar.

Dastien’s shirt was soaked through. It clung to every muscle. He shook, spraying cold water over all of us, and my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. Fuck. I finally got the whole wet T-shirt contest thing.

“Aren’t you the cutest?” She leaned in and gave him a kiss on the lips. Red. All I saw was red.

I was growling when Dastien reached both arms around my stomach and lifted me off her. “Shhh. I got you,” he whispered in my ear. My stomach bottomed out at the sound. The smell of him filled me—the scent of outdoors spread peace through my blood. He was like a drug.

“Honey, please.” She held up a hand to stop my babbling. “I made you do it.” What? I stepped away from her, my gaze darting between the four of them. “I don’t understand.” “You’d only attack me like that if he was your mate. As in an actual mated pair. As in the other half of your soul.” It felt like I was floating.

“Okay. I give up.” I swallowed, and opened them. He was sitting cross-legged in front of me. “We’re not normal,” he said finally. I laughed.

He was too far away. I wanted to be closer, so I just went with the feeling. I closed the space between us, sitting on his lap, and wrapped my arms and legs around him. I rested my head on his shoulder.

“It’s not that. I feel like I’ve known him forever but he’s still new. Like I’ve known that he was mine since I first saw him, even if I didn’t really realize what that connection was or any idea of what it meant. It’s a lot to get used to.

Dastien pushed her away, and leaned into me until our noses were touching. He gently placed a hand on each of my cheeks as his

His face still close to mine, close enough to kiss. A silly grin spread across my face. Like he was reading my mind, he leaned in and gave me a soft kiss on the lips.

He didn’t get very far, since I was clutching his shirt in my hand. He laughed, and pulled me to sit across his lap. “Better?” “I’m not going furry.” My words slurred together. “It’s totally better.” Imogene snarled.

I slumped into Dastien. He wrapped an arm around my waist and looked down at me. His smile made me giggle. It was the same one from the night of the party—the one I hadn’t seen since I woke at St. Ailbe’s. It made him deadly gorgeous. I reached up to touch his face.

The only thing I knew about him was that we had the same odd taste in music and that his butt looked really awesome in those jeans.

“I’m not sure if you’re suicidal or a genius,” Meredith said. I grinned. “Go with genius. It’s way more accurate.” I held my fist out to Adrian and he bumped it.

“What are you doing here?” Dastien stomped over to me, his eyes a bright shade of amber. He was pissed and looking like a crazy-man. “Reading.” What was his problem? I lifted my mug and took a sip while he stared. He gave a desperate laugh and sank into the seat across from me. “I haven’t felt this out of control in years.” He leaned forward, putting his head in his hands. “No. I don’t think I was ever this inept.” I should’ve felt bad for him, but I didn’t. It reassured me.

“Glad I’m not the only one feeling crazy.” I tugged on my ponytail. “Why’d you storm in here like that?” He sat back. “It’s too embarrassing to admit.” “That’s a stupid thing to say. Now you have to tell me.” “I thought…” He scrunched his eyes closed. “I thought you and Michael…” My mouth dropped open. “He’s like the principal!” A smile spread across my face. The guy was jealous and I loved it. “Yeah well, he’s Alpha. He could handle you. If anyone here could take you from me…”