Behind The Alpha Book 8 ADAM

ASTRID

I rip a chunk of log off my storage chest and open it. I pull out my travel pack and start to fill it with provisions.

“Where are you going?” Hallie asks.

I glance over my shoulder. Hallie is dirty, her dress is ripped and her cheeks are tear stained. It boils my anger more.

I stand and strip off my clothes. “I’m getting help.” I mutter as I stuff my clothes in the pack then close it. I tie my sword to it, stand and throw the pack on my back.

“Astrid. You can’t leave. We need you.” Hallie says.

“I have to, Hal. We can’t survive another attack and the Alpha…” My heart pains as I remember my brother run from us.

I push past her and head for the trail off the mountain.

“You don’t know what’s out there. Let me come with you.” She says to my back.

I spin around. The north wind blows and I heat my body to hold back the cold. “No, Hal. It’s dangerous. Beyond the peaks is a different world. Stay here. You can help them.”

She holds my hands. “You don’t know either. I feel great fear.”

I smile at my friend. “The Gods will keep me safe. I know where I’m going. Now, I must hurry. I’ll be back before the season changes.”

She hugs me tight. “Please be safe.”

“I will.” I call the wind, shift to my white wolf and take off like a fired arrow into the woods. With the Nymph to west, the east is a safe way off the mountain.

She doesn’t travel this way. It may be because of the Alpha who owns that side of the mountain. I imagine he must have a strong power to hold her off. He will be able to direct me to the land known as Phoenix.

I’ve heard the stories of my brothers encounters with the Phoenix people. They tell of courage and heroics that help my people many times. I don’t know why Christian refuses their help now so, I must be our voice. I must do what he refuses. The journey will be treacherous. I’ve never really traveled the outside world before. With the only exception of finding our new home, but we didn’t explore. We stuck to the shadows of the trees and hid from the those who may harm us as we migrated. Christian made sure we remained untouched by those who live beyond our mountain homes.

But I hold faith that the stories are not as bad as they say. I feel in my heart that help is out there and I mean to find it.

My paws sink in the icy snow as she runs through the trunks. The snow covered branches cover me as I run around boulders and leap over fallen trees. My claws dig in to command more grip. My breath clouds as I pant. My lungs burn and my muscles burn as I maneuver down the mountain.

I round a bend and find a cliff.

I look over the edge. I need a way down. My wolf paces back and forth. She spies a ledge and jumps to it. It narrows to a set of rock a little lower down. She steps carefully. The ice makes it difficult to balance as my paws slide.

She jumps to the rocks and almost slips off them. I’m still quite high and a fall from here could be deadly.

My heart pounds as I figure out the puzzle of the path before me. I jump on another ledge and am hit with a black blur.

I fly through the air and land on the path below. My wolf rolls through the snow then stops.

She rolls to her stomach and shakes her head.

What was that?

She looks around and something moves like the wind behind the trunks. She growls as she stands.

The witch.

Her fur stands up as the blurry creature whips circles around me.

It bounces on the branches and falls to the path.

It’s heavy boots land in the snow.

My eyes widen as I see a pale man dressed in black, standing where I fell.

“Where you going, shifter?” He snarls.

My wolf faces him and growls darkly.

He opens his mouth and let’s out a hiss. Multiple sharp fangs descend from his gums.

My wolf whines.

‘What are you?’ I say in my mind as I start to back up.

He stands and motions to me. “You could run, but I’m starving. I’ll only catch you and kill you anyway so, you might as well just let me eat you now.” He smirks and my wolfs eyes narrow.

‘I don’t think so, demon! GO, MY LOVELY! RUN!’

My wolf spins on her paws and runs down the path.

The creature let’s out an evil hissing that makes my blood crawl.

I skid around a corner, my paws slipping in the snow as it flies all around me. My paws turn the other way as the creature tries to cut me off. Every blur he makes, I duck under his grasp and turn the other direction.

He runs so fast, I can only see him when he stops. When he does, I sense his action to trap me and I react so quick, he misses. He roars out his frustration as I duck into the trees. He appears in front of me and I turn sharply. He cuts me off and I double back.

“I got you, wolf. We’re just playing now.” He laughs from all around me.

‘Teach him.’ I snarl.

He stops, reaches for me and I sink my canines into his forearm. He screams and holds his elbow as his hand turns to ice.

He growls loud and stares at his arm. My gift stops then recedes as he pants out the pain.

He moves his fingers and glares at me. “Neat trick, but you can’t kill what’s already ice cold dead.” He smirks.

My wolf yelps and bolts away.

He laughs as he jumps from tree to tree behind me.

As I turn down another path a I catch a scent of other wolves. The village.

This gives me more determination. I must beat the creature to the village. I’m sure what ever keeps the nymph away will keep him away too.

My ears pick up voices echoing through the hills as I run between two cliffs.

The creature crawls across the walls and tries to swipe at my back. I duck out of reach and continue to run around the twisted path of the ravine. I hear chunks of rocks fall as his claws dig into the walls.

The walls open up to more trees and the village is just ahead. I leap over a rock and land in the deep snow. I struggle to get out of the bank as he lands on the rock.

I look behind me and he hisses. I struggle more and get loose. He leaps for me and I trip down a small hill.

I get to my feet and the trees end. I see a great expanse of hills with floating chairs. I skid to a stop and look behind me.

The creature stops, narrows his eyes at me and turns back to the forest.

I pant as I catch my breath. This Alpha must be more powerful than I thought. His magic controls all evil. I wonder if his magic can help me.

I take stock of me and my situation.

I look down the hill and see people all over. They’re wearing sticks on their feet and sliding down the mountain. They ride the floating chairs up.

I see houses at the bottom.

‘The Alpha. Let’s go, Ástin min. As fast as you can, my darling.’

My wolf licks her lips, barks and runs down the hills.

She sticks to the side to not interfere with the activities of the land. The people slide past us and some stop, remove their sticks and walk into the very large house.

She stops and ducks behind a small building. She shifts and I dress into my clothes and boots.

I walk into the house and slow my walk. People sit by fires, wrapped in furs. They drink from cups and laugh as they talk.

I see a man behind the counter. This must be the keeper of this place.

People walk by me and carry sticks in their arms. They have funny boots on their feet.

The man is writing something as I approach. He glances at me then straightens up. He smiles. “Hi. Welcome to Topin Valley. Can I help you?”

I place some coins on the counter. “I need to speak to the Alpha. It’s urgent.” I express the seriousness of my request clearly.

He picks up the coins and hands them back. I take them with suspicious curiosity. “Uh…sure. Hold on…EDDIE!”

I put the coins back in my purse and turn. A large man with short dark hair, dark eyes and tanned skin comes from the sitting area to the counter. He’s wearing a kind of coat I don’t recognize. I casually look at my fur and leather.

He grins as he approaches. “Hey, pretty lady. Dope hair! How can I help you? Is that a sword?” He points to my hilt and arches his brow.

I pick up a lock of my snow white hair and nod. “Yes, it is. Please. I need help finding a land called Phoenix.”

He rubs his chin. “I don’t think I know a land called Phoenix. I know Phoenix City?”

I lean on the counter. “Phoenix City. Where is it? How do I get there?”

“Uh…well, it’s a four day drive from here. You could fly it in a day.” He suggests.

“Fly?” I don’t think I like that thought. “No. My shifter can run. I just need direction.”

“Ok. Hold on.” He pulls up a map. He lays it out on the counter and grabs a writing pen. I watch him carefully. “We’re here.” He marks an X. “Phoenix is here. What you need to do is jump on 42 and follow it to 89. Head south to 119 and take that to 95 and that will take you all the way to Arizona. Phoenix is on the southwest side of the state.”

I take the map and study it. “Thank you. I much appreciate your assistance.”

“You’re welcome. Hey, I gotta say, you’re really rocking the Viking cosplay. Great job.” He gives me a thumbs up with a grin.

I look down at my leather pants and vest. I study my fur lined leather gauntlets. “Cosplay.” I mumble.

“Yeah. Really convincing.” He leans on the counter.

“Thank you.” I eye him and walk out.

I walk out the front door and stand in the road. I look up and down it then at the map. I hear the rumble of something loud behind me and look over my shoulder.

I yelp and jump out of the way. My first reaction made me pull my sword and aim the tip at the beast.

He stops and removes his head covering. He’s riding a weird animal with no living flesh. He flashes a smile. “You need help?”

My mouth is small as I look around and back at him. “42.” I mumble.

“I’m headed there now. Where you going?” He asks.

“Phoenix City.” I answer.

He chuckles. “I’m headed to California. I can take you as far as 95.”

I look at the map and back at me. “On that?” I point my sword to the thing he’s on.

He nods. “Yeah. You never rode a bike before?”

“No. My wolf can run.” I say cautiously.

“Ok, but you’ll get there in a week by wolf.” He shrugs.

I eye him as I consider my time here. I need to get to Phoenix quickly. “How?” Again I point to his bike.

He motions to the seat behind him. “Just hop on and hold on tight.” He smirks and waves me on.

I look around and question whether to trust him.

“Come on. We’re losing light.” He encourages.

I press my lips together, sheath my sword and swing my leg over the bike like he is.

“Yep, just wrap yourself around my back. Real close and hold on.” He instructs.

I do as told and he starts the bike. I suck in a breath as it starts to move and my heart pounds as the speed of moving off my paws increases my nervousness.

I rest my head on his back and shield myself from the increasing wind.

He leans back. “Don’t worry! You’ll get used to it!” He laughs as he increases the speed.

I watch the trees fly by and it almost feels like running, but in a different form. I’m outside my mind to feel all the sensations.

The air warms and the sun beams down. The world opens up and I take in all the sights of tall structures and small houses. We could never build anything like this.

The village is vast. There must be thousands who live here. We turn down streets and soon we are on 42. Signs direct our way. We’re surrounded by metal beasts the man called cars. They pass us as great speeds. Are all these traveler’s going our way? Why?

It was after nightfall by the time the man named Jasper, pulled off 42 to look for shelter for the night.

We stopped at what he calls a motel. He was in the office as I take in the bike.

He comes out and stands close behind me. I turn and immediately feel uncomfortable with him.

“I got us a room. Come on, baby.” He motions to the motel and walks away. I grab my pack and follow. Looking around at the place. He stops at a door and inserts a key. He opens the door. “After you.”

I walk in and it’s dark. I hear a click and the room lights up. I see a square box on a chest of drawers and single bed big enough for two.

I spin around. “There’s only one bed?”

He nods and stepped closer to me. “Ones all we need baby. I’m sure you’re tired.”

“Not really. I have no need for regular rest.” I mumble.

“That’s good. I’m not particularly tired myself. We can…do other things.” He reaches up and places his hand on my cheek. He leans to my lips. “What do ya say, baby? What to have some fun?”

I grab his hand and squeeze hard. He crumples and screams in agony. “No.” I grumble.

His face twists in anger and he swings a punch at me. I throw up my arm and swing back. My fist connects with his jaw and I swing my right. It connects with his other side. I hop and kick my leg out, my foot lands between his legs. He doubles over and groans out in pain. I drive my elbow into the middle of his spine and he hits the floor.

“FUCK!” He yells as he tries to get up.

He rolls over and his eyes widen as he stares down the blade of my sword. “The keys to your bike.” I hold out my hand. He reaches into his pocket and hands them to me.

I grab my pack and back out of the room. I put my sword on my back and throw the pack on my back.

It’s a good thing I paid close attention to how he worked the beast. I put in the key, start it and pull the throttle. I spin out of the lot and hit the road. Doubling back to where we came.

I drive to the highway and get back on track to Phoenix.

The wind blows my hair and my brows stitch together as I focus my determination.

I hit the throttle and kick the bike up. I speed off into the night and pray to the Gods that they will help me find what I need.