Kiss Of The Alpha : A YA Paranormal Romance

Chapter 74: Chapter 74

Heather

"Okay," I said when I could speak again. "So, we break the curse or something."

"It’s not that easy," Brent said.

"Nothing ever is." I looked at Dr. Gonzales. "How much time?"

"I’m going to move her to the infirmary and keep her sedated, but her metabolism won’t let that work for long."

"That’s not answering my question."

Her gaze was full of pity I didn’t want. "Two days? Give or take a day."

"Donovan won’t make it back before then," Brent said. "And even if he did get back in time, I don’t know how he could fix this. He doesn’t have magic to break the curse, and I couldn’t get her wolf to listen to me at all. I’m nearly as strong as him."

Holy shit. My chest was tight. There wasn’t time to panic, but I was already beyond that. I was nearing a full on freak out.

My heartbeat rang loudly in my ears.

I got up to pace again. There had to be a solution.

The only people who could help were my cousins who belonged to the local coven. Dad took a job at St. Francis’s so that we could move from LA to Texas, which meant that I could get closer with my bruja family. That had never happened. Brent bit me before we could be reintroduced.

That said, my cousins had helped us before. They’d given me intel and a pretty cool bag of tricks that saved our butts with the vamp situation. I hadn’t met anyone else from the coven, but it followed logic that they’d help me again.

This was good. This was a plan. This I could do. "I’m going to call my cousins. Maybe their coven did this to Serena, but they’re my family. It might make a difference if I’m the one asking them to fix it."

"No. That’s a crazy idea. Your cousins might have reached out before, but the rest of them...non. They’re the ones who did this to her in the first place. They let her suffer for years without a second thought."

"I’ll convince them that what they did was wrong. I have to."

"I don’t want you to take too much of this on yourself," Dr. Gonzales said. "I think you need to start to prepare yourself for what’s going to happen." Her words were carefully said and evenly paced, and they made me want to hit her. I didn’t like what she was insinuating at all.

"Serena was there for me when she had no reason to be. She stood by me, and I won’t repay her friendship by giving up. I’ll find a way fix this."

"Heather..." Brent said.

"Don’t you start," I said. "I can do this." I wish I really knew that for certain, but I’d do pretty much anything for Serena.

I’d grown up an outcast because of my visions and she’d been the first person that wasn’t a member of my immediate family to accept me. She was kind and caring and thoughtful and funny.

She deserved to be happy, and she deserved her mate. I was going to help her get that. If I had to beg my cousins for help, I had kneepads. I wouldn’t let pride get in the way of saving my best friend.

Brent got up, brushing a kiss on my forehead. "Call them, and then we’ll talk again."

"Okay."

He headed into Serena’s room, lifted her into his arms, and left with Dr. Gonzales.

My alarm went off, telling me it was time to go to the cafeteria before class.

Screw classes. I’d grab some food in the common room downstairs. I had a curse to break and not much time to do it in.

In times of crisis, I’d found it best to keep moving forward. I wasn’t sure what the right first step was to help Serena, but I had to do something. Eventually, I’d figure out what would work. I had to.

Calling my brother was at the top of my list. He’d know how to reach the cousins and might have some advice, too. When I first got bitten, he’d hung out with our cousins a few times.

I grabbed my cell and hit West’s number. He didn’t answer. I hung up and called again. No answer.

Shit. He was probably still sleeping off last night’s party.

I didn’t have my cousins’ numbers. This was probably dumb in retrospect, but the two times I’d seen them, I’d been kind of distracted. The first time I’d been in a rush to save Brent from being eaten by a den of vampires. The second time they’d saved me from getting my ass beat by Callista.

If anyone would know how to get in touch with them, Mom would. But she’d ask questions—which was why I’d tried West first.

Screw it.

Mom picked up on the first ring.

"Is everything okay?"

I almost laughed. "Why’s that the first thing you say when I call?"

"Because lately, every time you call, something’s been wrong."

Oh. That kind of blew. And it was totally true. "Right. Well, yes. I’m fine. But no, everything isn’t okay."

"What’s wrong?"

"Serena’s sick." I hated the sound of that. "I need to talk to Claudia or Raphael. You wouldn’t happen to know their numbers or anything, would you?"

"No." Her voice was firm, like I’d just asked her if I could start stripping.

I paced my room. "Mom. Do you—"

"I know where they live, but I don’t have their numbers."

Awesome. Maybe this wasn’t going as bad as I thought. "Great. Where—"

"I don’t think it’s a good idea that I tell you, honey. They’re all a little..." She sighed. "...upset about your situation right now."

I couldn’t take that answer. She had to tell me. "I’m not joking. Serena could die, and I really don’t care how upset they are."

"Explain." So, I did. When I got to the end, she was quiet for a minute. "I know you wonder why I didn’t bring you back to Texas sooner, but the truth is, I still don’t agree with how La Alquelarre—the coven—is being run. If you go, they’ll try to make you stay. Luciana’s in charge, and she isn’t a friend of the pack. She’ll try to manipulate you, and needing help will make it that much easier."

That sounded like a whole bunch of not fun, but I didn’t have a ton of options. "Mom. Please. I’m strong. I’m a werewolf for God’s sake and I’m not about to let anyone manipulate me."

"You don’t understand. If they have something that you want, they’ll..." Mom stopped herself. "I’m worried about what could happen to you."

"You shouldn’t worry so much." I had it covered for both of us. "I’m going to be fine, but Serena might not be." I paused, hoping that would sink in. "The address, please." I squeezed my eyes shut and crossed my fingers.

She was quiet for so long this time, I had to check to make sure she hadn’t hung up. "I’m sorry, but I can’t. Don’t you wonder why I kept you away from them?"

"Sure..." Not that it was relevant right now.

"Your grandmother led the coven because she fulfilled the two requirements: she was female and had the gift of sight. When Luciana took over, your abuela started searching for the next generation’s leader and found you. We were already in LA because Luciana had everyone fooled. I didn’t have any gifts, so she didn’t bother pretending around me. Mija, she’s not a good person, and the coven went dark when she came to power."

I didn’t like hearing that this lady had been a total bitch to my mom, but I couldn’t let that scare me away. "I get that she’s bad, Mom, but that doesn’t change the situation that I’m in. I have to go over there. Maybe later I can help straighten out the coven, but not now. I barely have a handle on this werewolf stuff."

"That’s not what I meant. It’s not your problem anymore. The coven has been in trouble for a long time, and your abuela thought it best if we waited to bring you back. After she died, we almost didn’t come back at all, but you were having a hard time and your brother was leaving and your powers were growing so strong...so I thought...it doesn’t matter. What matters is that going over there now is not a good idea. Not after what’s happened. It was dangerous before. It’s why we stayed away. But now they feel like the pack wronged them by taking you as their own, and it’s even more dangerous. I understand why Brent did what he did, but he’s placed you in a very bad spot. As your mother, I have to protect you. Even when it’s hard. Even if it means risking your friend’s life. I cannot give you information that could put you at risk."

I wished she had told me this before, but that didn’t matter. "But I’m strong, Mom. You have to trust me. I’m a werewolf and a bruja. I’ll be okay."

"No. I’m sorry, but no."

She couldn’t do this. "Mom. Please. I’m begging you. I’ll do anything."

"I’ll be praying for Serena. I’ll light a lámpara for her." She sighed. "Te quiero mucho, mija."

This was not how I wanted this to go. Not at all. Frustration burned in my gut, but there was nothing I could say to Mom that would change her mind. I got my stubbornness from her.

"I love you, too." I barely restrained myself from smashing my phone. Instead, I blew out a breath, and gently placed the phone in my bag. I wasn’t giving up that easily.

Brent knew more than he’d said earlier, and if I couldn’t convince him to tell me where my cousins lived, then someone else would.

My stomach growled, which wasn’t a good sign. I needed to eat something before my wolf went totally crazy.

I made my way to the common room. The fridge was well-stocked with all kinds of snacks, prepared meals, and treats. I grabbed five sandwiches, a jumbo bag of chips, an orange Fanta, and shoved everything in my bag. Not the best breakfast ever, but it’d do.

I left the dorms and went in search of Brent.