The Alpha by Annie Nicholas Page A

her sister through hell again by trying to fight for Eric.
    “Sister’s stick together.” Sugar patted her shoulder and they parted.
    Spice glanced at Katrina. “What do I do now?”
    “Is the moon out yet?”
    Daedalus moved to the window. “I don’t see it.”
    “Usually, we wait for the full moon. It helps draw out the beast.”
    “Great, I get to add getting furry once a month as well as getting my—”
    “Hey, hey, old-fashion vampire in the room. I don’t need to hear it.” Daedalus left the window and crossed the room to the door. “I’m going to get dressed.”
    Sugar rose to follow him. “You need to feed.”
    He stopped her. “You’re exhausted. I can wait. Sounds like tonight might provide some sport. I wouldn’t mind you washing my back though.”
    They left Spice alone with Katrina. She twisted to face the small woman.
    “We should discuss controlling your beast before you transform. Otherwise you will be seduced into allowing it to take over, to give up responsibility of your actions and ultimately part of your humanity. This happened to many of the Ayumu, some no better than beasts even in their human forms. We’ve cleared out those who didn’t wish to change, and taught better control to those who wanted to remain. But once you’ve crossed over that line it is almost impossible to regain those pieces of yourself.”
    “So the moral of the story is don’t cross over to the dark side.”
    Katrina leaned forward until their noses almost touched.
    “No, it is not to let the beast get control. Ever.”
    “You keep speaking like I have a creature living inside of me. Am I not the beast?”
    “Yes, you are but the animalistic side of your nature will be more prevalent. Instinctual urges will want to dominate, but you need to be in charge of them.”
    “Like what?”
    “Hunger, territory, sex, and pack will affect you.”
    Spice cleared her dry throat. “When you changed I could still see you in the beast’s eyes. How do you keep it under control?”
    “I always stay in the forefront of its mind. Never succumbing to the lure of oblivion.”
    “Oblivion? Why would you want that?”
    “You have to remember, most werewolves did not choose this path. They were made against their will. The fact you volunteered for it will give you a greater advantage since you will have less inner turmoil and a purpose to your existence.” Katrina took her hands. “Let us do an exercise.”
    She nodded. The noise in the shower, far below them in the basement, distracted her. Her new and improved hearing made it possible for her to hear that Sugar was doing more than just washing Daedalus’s back. She smirked until Katrina squeezed her hands.
    “I want you to close your eyes and focus inward. Try to…introduce yourself.”
    Crossing her legs, Spice tried to get comfortable. Meditation wasn’t on the list of things she liked to do. She closed her eyes. How did someone look inward? Roll their eyes back? Her parents always told her to quiet her mind and stop thinking, but there was no “off” button so how did—
    Something prowled in the darkness.
    Her eyes sprung open. “Oh, crap.”
    “Don’t be afraid. Remember it’s part of you.”
    “It’s a lot freakin’ bigger than me.” Her heart pitter-pattered at the thought of becoming that creature. Arnold Schwarzenegger, watch out . She took a deep breath. Nobody made her cringe without a fight. Did she always win? No, but boy did she try.
    Closing her eyes, she tried to remember what she did to get past the guard dogs to escape her last place of “employment” in Vegas. She pulled out a piece of imaginary meat and set it in front of her. Not a moment later the beast appeared and sniffed at the offering, then swallowed it in one bite. Covered in pure white fur, it eyed her with her own emerald green eyes. “Cool.” It approached and rubbed against her shoulder. She ran her fingers through its soft fur before it disappeared.
    The phone