Alpha Divided

Three days into being at the compound I'd proven to Daniel, Claudia, and Raphael that I was a walking disaster when it came

to magic. Every spell I tried backfired. I attempted to light a candle, but it exploded, splattering me with melted wax. Thank

God for my Were healing abilities. That wax was freaking hot.

Itried to levitate an object and it flew through the roof, making a nice hole in the ceiling. That had stopped practice for a

while. But at least now I could say I knew some serious home repair skills.

When Daniel suggested we try an invisibility spell, I'd succeeded in turning my clothes invisible. That had been mortifying.

And if Dastien knew what'd happened, and that Daniel actually got an eyeful, he'd flip. The guy would be blind or dead. As i

was, I suddenly felt really exposed around Daniel. No one had gotten such an intimate look at me in...ever.

I felt like a complete moron. It wasn't like I was failing on purpose. I was following the spells to the letter, but nothing worke

for me. It seemed the harder I tried, the worse the damage got. I was seriously starting to wonder if I belonged with the

coven atall.

I'd met a couple other people around the compound, but for the most part, I was a bit of a pariah. How I was supposed to

befriend all these people, let alone figure out which one was supposed to be the next leader, was beyond me.

To add insult to injury, I was a hot mess when it came to missing Dastien. I hated the needy feeling that was eating me up

inside. tt was like I was drowning and anxious all the time. And it was all because I was missing my mate. My other hal.

Pathetic.

I'd been fine being alone before I met him. Why did I suddenly feel like half a person?

During the mornings, the other coven members had meetings and classes. Any group lessons were held at the little

schoolhouse down the road a ways. Daniel told me that the older brujos helped the younger ones with their studies there.

Most of them did homeschooling lessons during the afternoon, but Daniel had finished his work for the semester way early,

so he usually spent afternoons attempting to teach me.

While he was busy in the morning, I took to exercising. The need to change grew stronger every day, but Id agreed to live as

bruja, which meant no shifting. A deal was a deal. I'd stick to it even if it killed me.

As I made my fifteenth (ap around the compound that morning, a car pulled through the gate. The driver was someone I

recognized. I grinned, and jogeed over.

Tia Rosa.

Hola, mijita. Como estas?

Completely shitty was the truth, but she didn't need to hear that I was going slowly mad from being cut off from my mate. I'

getting by.

She grumbled. That's what I thought. She put on the little glasses that hung around her neck and gripped my face with her

hands. As she stared into me, she tugged on the skin under my eyes.

I blinked and jerked away. What was that about?

Hmmm. Interesting. She pulled the glasses off.

What? Had someone spelled me again? Because if so that totally meant I could leave. Didn't it?

Let's talk inside.

Okay. I followed her back to my cousins’ house. Would you like something to drink? I asked as she settled down on their

floral couch.

“No, mijita. Sit next to me” She patted the cushion.

We sat on the couch together in sudden silence. I didn't know who was supposed to talk first, but she already knew what I

wanted to hear, so I waited.

The things that they have you doing, those are distractions.

Not what I was expecting. How did she know what I was doing here? What do you mean?

Spells and incantations and parlor tricks are not worth your time. You need to be working on growing your visions. Becomin

more aware of the lines in the future.

Was it just me, or was she being incredibly...crazy? It was like I was missing half the conversation. Lines?

Up until this point, you've seen past and present. You've gotten feelings and premonitions of the future, no?

Yes.

She wheezed a little as she talked. It made my lungs ache in sympathy. You need to have more than premonitions.

I shook my head. That was impossible. ft wasn't how my visions worked. How?

By finding that place within that's the source of your power. Then you will be able to lead this coven.

I couldn't contain the shocked gasp. No. I can't. That's not what I'm here for. I need to find the next leader.

Your Grams—my sister—found the next leader.

She found me, but I'm in the pack. I'm an alpha. I don't know where I really stand yet, but I'm stronger than most. I can't be i

two places at once.

“No, mijita. You are of two places and you will always be in two places. You think your Grams didn't know what would

happen? You think she made a mistake?"

Honestly? Yes. I kind of did think she made a mistake.

She knew what would happen to you. She knew that your path would be hard, and she prayed over it, but you cannot chang

what is meant to be.

Rosa, I said to her, pleading for her to understand. It's not just me who doesn't want to be here. The coven doesn't want me

either. Luciana didn't want to give me to the wolves, but she hadn't paid a visit since my first day here.

“Now that is a useful way to spend your time. You need to be going around and making friends here, getting to know what

these brujos really think”

She'd lost her mind. It didn't mater if had friends. This wasn't my job. I don't even want to run the pack. I wasn't sure if tha

was the road I was heading down, but I was a strong alpha and it could happen—it almost certainly would happen to Dastier

—so at the very least, I was bound to end up the Were version of a first lady. But Tia Rosa was talking about a whole other

level of leadership. Why would I want to run the coven on top of that?

She grasped one of my hands. Her skin was so soft and papery thin; I had to be careful with her. She was human, both old

and fragile.

As you grow, you learn that life is rarely about doing what you want. We all do what we must, and that is even more true for

the powerful ones like you. My sister saw the times changing. To stop war, you must be the link that unifies the pack and

coven..and eventually, all supernaturals. When the time comes for the world to know the truth, the people will need

someone to look to. A trustworthy leader who knows what its like to be human.

I couldn't breathe. There wasn't enough air.

No longer able to sit still I pulled away from Rosa to pace the small room. I can't be that person. 'm just me. I'm a normal

girl.

You're not normal, and it's past time for you to let go of that delusion. Rosa stood and walked to the door. When you're

ready, if you want my help, you know where to find me.

I'm not sure I'm allowed off the compound.

“Not allowed off the compound to visit [a Aquelarre’s wise woman? I think 'd have something to say about that. You send

Luciana my way if it's not allowed."

I cracked a grin. Rosa might be old, but she still had her wits and sass. I'l think about it.

I opened the door for her, and she patted my cheek. I'l be seeing you soon.

I was still sitting on the couch, trying to absorb Rosa's words when Daniel stepped into the house. His morning lessons.

must've been done. I glanced at my watch. How long had I been staring into space?

He started chatting about the spells he wanted to try today, but I held a hand up.

Dude. Four days of trying something and getting the same results...don't you think we've had enough? I mean, a hole in the

roof? Really?

He crossed his arms. You're giving up?

I shrugged.

Didn't you break the curse on Meredith?

Yeah. But I majorly F*+++d up when I tried to use magic to do it. She almost died. I used my normal powers plus some Were

stuff to actually break it. I rubbed my eyes, trying to make sense of everything. Maybe 'm messing everything up so badly

because I didn't grow up around spells and magic, but some of this stuff.it's just not working for me.

Well you have to learn it.

Says who?

He looked away from me with a sigh. Says my mother.

I snorted. Yeah, okay. I hoped the sarcasm was thick enough for him to pick up on it. You've been really nice to me and I've

had fun, but I'm not sure that we're getting anywhere with these lessons. I keep getting it wrong. I follow all the steps, and I

get the complete inverse reaction. Do you think it's because of the Were in me?

He uncrossed his arms as he thought. You might be on to something.

I thought so. The thing is, I got more control over my natural abilities when I became a Were. That could've come with a cost.

That's a really smart theory. How did you come up with it?

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. As much as people've

called me crazy, I don’t think I actually am. I smiled. If something's not working, it's time to try something else. Plus, Tia Ros

came by earlier. She said I needed to work on strengthening my natural abilities. I started walking toward the craft room. An

chance there's a book on that in here?

Claudia? Daniel yelled through the house.

Yeah, she answered as she came down the stairs. What's up?

Do you have anything on sight here? I think I have a few books at my house, but my mom/ll be pissed if she sees that we're

working on something that's not on the prescribed list. His cheeks got a little pink.

Prescribed list?

He got redder. She's a little controlling.

I gave him a bland stare. I've noticed.

We followed Claudia into the craft room. Should have something here, she said as she got down on her hands and knees an

started searching through the piles of books under the worktable.

I shook my head. This was no way to store books. Someone needed to do some reorganization. I knelt down on the floor

beside her and started digging through the piles.

After what felt like forever searching and coming up with nothing, Claudia dusted off her hands. There's another place I can

check. Hang on.

I'stood up from where I was digging through the books, and Claudia came back with a box.

Maybe in here?

She and Daniel started inspecting the books, but something else caught my eye. I hadn't noticed before that there was a

hidden door built into one of the walls.

What's back there? I asked.

Back where? Claudia said without looking up.

Behind this, I said as I walked to the wall.

Nothing. What you see is what you get.

No. There's something here. I ran my fingers along the crease, looking for some sort of a latch. A small, thin piece of metal

stuck up about two-thirds of the way up the door from the ground. I pushed on it and the door swung open.

Way to hold back, Claudia, Daniel said.

Claudia stared open mouthed at the closet. I wasn't holding back. I had no idea.

The three of us crowded around to look inside.

Wow. Look at this. Daniel held up a little jar of something that looked like nail clippings.

0h my God, Claudia said. Those are so hard to find.

Okay. They had my attention. What is it?

Claudia winced. It's gross. Trust me. You don't want to know.

Her saying that made me really want to know. I leaned forward, and knocked a book down. I'm such a klutz. I bent down to

pick it up and paused.

It was brown with a teal colored seal—the one that I remembered in my vision. I'd searched my whole bedroom to no avail

and then forgotten about it. Then, just like that, the book was here.

It was almost too perfect. Like I was meant to find it after I talked to Rosa.

But that couldn't be right. Could it?

What'd you find? Claudia said.

I'm not sure.

I ran my hand over the book and hesitated for a second before grabbing it. Its cover was made of soft, flexible leather.

opened it, and the first page was signed with Grams’ name.

For Teresa. Don't forget to use what you have to find the answers.

I shut the book and held it against my chest.

Holy shit. That was my abuela in the vision. I'd never even seen a photo of her that young, but now I knew why she'd seemec

so familiar. Sometimes I was a little too dense for my own good.

Grams had been a really strong precog. She could see what was going to come, which was why she'd made a good coven

leader. Luciana had some precognition, but all she could see were really vague things that might come to pass.

Rosa was right. Grams must've known what was going to happen to me. So, why would she ever name me as the leader? She

had to have a back-up plan. leaned against the countertop with the book. This was too good of a find.

I turned the page delicately. I know you're in a tough place now, but there isn't anything to lessen the burden you must bear

I followed the roads of time and saw that if I told you what to do or gave you any hints in your life, it wouldn't end well. You

needed to be raised away from the coven. It's why I had your mother keep you in California.

I paused. Whatever she'd seen, my life would've been a lot easier if Grams could've at least taught me about the coven. I

wanted to shake her.

wish I could tell you what's going to pass, but if I do, everything will be destroyed. So, ll tell you that even at your darkest

hour, when you're stripped bare, I will be with you. Don't ever lose faith.

The thing that will set you free is just above your head. Don't be afraid to break through.

When the time comes, and you'll know when it's here, listen to your mate, trust in the one you doubt, and push the one who

denies it.

wish I could say more, but I can’t. My hands are tied. What I'm placing on you is a tremendous burden, and it breaks my

heart to know that I can do nothing to stop what will soon happen.

Do your best to learn the coven’s ways and accept the ability you've always feared. Follow your gut. It won't lie to you.

Know that there are hard times ahead, but stay strong. The worst days only make the best ones that much sweeter. This too

shall pass. And happy days will be ahead.

I lipped the pages but the rest of it was blank. That was it. Something horrible was going to happen to me and all I got to

help were a few extremely vague words of wisdom? Was that it?

How was this supposed to help me?

What does it say? Claudia said.

I shook my head. It's from Grams. She left me a note.

Can I read it?

I chewed my lip for a second. If say no, will you be upset?

Alittle.

I could handle a little. No. I's really personal.

She nodded. Okay. She turned around and started looking in the closet again.

Maybe I should've just shown her, but I really didn't want to. t felt really private, and I hoarded my privacy as much as

possible these days.

Daniel cleared his throat, So, what now?

The only thing from Grams’ message I could really do was work on learning the coven's ways. So, what do normal people sta

learning first when they join the coven?

Depends on their abilities. We start from there and then grow out, Claudia said.

So, why haven't we been working with my visions?

Because that's not what my mother wanted, Daniel said.

So, basically, we should've been working on my sight the whole time, but your mother doesn't want me doing that. Luciana

never failed to piss me off.I hadn't even seen her and I wanted to rip her throat out.

He nodded once.

Good to know.

It's not that I—

I get it. Your mom's the one in charge. No worries. But it was good to know that he had a particular agenda. Or, more

accurately, his mother did, and he was working for her.

We shared an awkward moment where we just stared at each other.

He cleared his throat. The thing is, he said slowly, only someone with sight can teach you about it.

Then why isn't your mother teaching me?

I don't know.

That meant that she really didn't want me to rule the coven. I was here for some other reason. But what was she up to?

Alli can do is tell you what I know and hope it makes sense to you, Daniel said.

Right. Well, good thing I'm a really fast learner.

I'm not seeing anything, Claudia popped out from the closet. fm sorry.

That's okay. It would've been too easy to find a book to explain everything to me. I'l just wing it like always.

She smiled, and I hoped maybe she was over me not showing her what Grams had written. Claudia started to leave, but

stopped. I forgot to tell you that I have a couple of people coming over for dinner tonight. I thought it might be fun for you t

get to know some more of us. I hope that's al right.

Sure. I wasn't feeling like meeting a bunch of people, but Tia Rosa had said I needed to, so I'd do my best.

Plus, I was still holding out hope for someone to show up and be the answer to my prayers—a leader for the coven.

So, what now? I asked Daniel.

He held up the book of knots. I brought another box of glasses.

Iaughed as I shook my head. You're a glutton for punishment. I rubbed my hands together. One box of glass powder, comin

right up!

As Daniel set everything out, I wondered how I was going to figure out expanding my visions. If Rosa was right and she could

help me, then maybe it was worth facing Luciana to get permission to leave the compound.

I thought about it for a second, and I imagined how many ways that confrontation could go wrong.

I'd wait until I really, really needed to go see Tia Rosa before approaching Luciana.

Until then, I'd just go with my gut. That was what Grams had said to do anyway. And when has that — ue

Maybe this wasn't such a good plan after all.