Free The Alpha by Annie Nicholas

seat. “Really? Have you ever seen a werewolf in its beast form? Watched them fight?”
    “No, but I’m starting to think I don’t have a choice. Everything you and Daedalus told me last night points to one solution. I have to challenge Clair and beat her before she claims Eric. Let’s see if they have any weaknesses.”
    “There is another solution.” Katrina’s accented voice startled both sisters. She stood in the doorway, her thin, narrow face solemn and her hands clasped in front of her.
    “What?” They spoke in unison. Spice screwed her lips in annoyance. Twenty-five years and they still managed to sound like the Doublemint twins.
    Katrina came into the room and sank onto Robert’s thinking couch. “I will challenge Clair on your behalf. If I win, I will be Eric’s mate in name only and represent you in the pack.”
    Spice opened her mouth but nothing came out. She turned to Sugar, who looked just as speechless. What could she possibly say? Honesty always worked best when lost for words. “Uh… do think you can win?”
    “Spice.” Sugar smacked her upper arm.
    “Hey, she offered. I don’t mean any offense, Katrina, but you’re tiny. Is Clair small too?” Maybe they could make this work.
    Katrina smiled. “My human size is irrelevant. What matters is how strong my beast form has become. I lived a long time as a werewolf in China before escaping to America. Over there one needs to learn to fight to live.”
    Sugar leaned forward. “Really? How long have you been a werewolf?”
    “Longer than your age.” Her smile turned secretive.
    “You never told me any of this.” Sugar waved her hands, confusion drawing her brow down.
    “Like you advised me, I built barriers between me and the past, then focused on my friends and future. If Clair takes over as the female Alpha our pack will wilt, not grow. My future begins to appear bleak.” She shrugged. “I don’t know if I can win. I haven’t fought a challenge in decades.”
    “Decades?” they both said together. Spice glared at her little sister. “Stop that.”
    Katrina giggled. “You two are so cute.”
    Spice aimed her stare at Katrina. “This doesn’t sit well with me.” She left her chair and paced the room between the two computer desks. Her fingers caught in the tangles of her short curls as she ran them over her head. “Eric belongs to me . I should be the one fighting.” Daedalus’s words floated back to her memory. Too bad she’s not wolf.
    Her heart skipped a beat. It would solve all their problems. Did she have the guts? She stopped her pacing and stared at her sister, who faced a similar problem, just not as urgent.
    “What if I became a werewolf?”
    Sugar got to her feet. “No, Eric would be furious. He never wanted this from you.”
    “I know, but maybe it’s what I want. I came home to find a fresh start, and I found him. He’s everything I need and more than I deserve. The least I could do in return is become what he and the pack needs.” She shifted her gaze to Katrina. “Is it that much of a sacrifice?”
    The petite woman didn’t answer. She fixed her stare on the floor.
    Sugar shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, there’s not enough time to change you. Eric’s body took weeks to transform the first time. I doubt Clair will wait.”
    “Sugar’s right, once the pack accepts her as Eric’s mate the only way you will be able to take your place by his side is a challenge to the death. We need to act now while the challenges are only to dominate.” Katrina still didn’t meet their mutual stares as she spoke. She fiddled with a button on her red sweater instead. “I know another way.”
    “And…”
    Katrina leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, and faced them. “A human’s body needs time to assimilate the werewolf contaminant. It needs to be a certain—what is the word I need?” She looked at them as if searching for the answer in their faces. “Concentration, yes? When something gets