KREW

“How long will it take to find this stupid fucking alpha?

Heads turn my way as soon as the words are out of my mouth. Impulsive of me to say, but justifiable. “I haven't come in five goddamn days. I am going through a withdrawal.

Kai punches my shoulder, mocking. Some chuckles come from the other members.

Luckily, my pack laughs at the jokes, or I think they would hate me. Honestly, they probably know at this point, but it is too late. They will have to deal with me for the rest of our lives.

Ha-ha. Motherfuckers.

Stone sighs, looking out the motel windows. He was the first to bear the mark of our Alfa… it burned right into his shoulder. When he woke up to the burning sensation a week ago, it was as if someone had branded him with a hot iron like cattle, and then there, the shape of the symbol in all its glory.

A diamond is on top with a line running through it, extending beyond the bottom. An 'x' shape crosses below the diamond with the horizontal line still between it. Within the middle line towards the top are two diagonal lines going up the right side of the diamond. However, Kai cannot figure out what that means.

“This has got to be the right town. The attraction ends here - says Stones, as tired as we are.

I was the next one to get our alpha's tag. Either Stone does not feel anything through his thick, inhuman muscles or I am just a bitch because that shit hurt.

Very.

I almost wanted to reject the mark, but I would never do that to my pack.

Kai, my twin, was next. Then Reed was next and finally Zeno. Our marks are in the same place as Stone, on our right shoulder. We all know what that means, our alpha is not found and it is time to find him. We thought Stone would be the Alpha because he is always acted that way. But once we hit the mark, we knew differently.

“Why are you the only one who feels this 'tug'? Zeno asks in his hauntingly deep voice as he pushes his long black hair back. "Don't you think that's a little strange?"

Stone shrugs.

"Okay, so what are we going to do?" - Kai asks, white hair rubbing his dark eyebrows.

“I'm tired,” I say, sitting on the bed next to my brother. — And hungry.

"Krew, we just ate!" Kai speaks.

“We'll eat again in the morning and then look for more. He has to be here somewhere…” Stone murmurs.

Reed lets out a sigh. "What if he's on the move?"

“Then we follow. Stone closes the window of the shitty hotel and looks at us. “But thanks to Claire, we know he hasn't moved since the appointment.

His hard eyes make my wolf cringe inside. My wolf is a bitch. I am not afraid of Stone, at least not when he is in this form.

"Do you think he knows we're coming and who we are?" Kai asks, leaning back next to me.

I snort. "I hope we don't have to break the news to him." 'Hi, yes, you are a wolf shifter. The wolf shifter our hound,” I point at Stone, “is sniffing around. Yes, our alpha too. We were waiting for this day without even knowing it. Preparing to finally have our pack complete and finish Moonborn Academy together.

My wolf shakes and howls, wanting to break free. I miss my jogging routine in the morning. Shortly. I think of my wolf. There is no need to be every wolf shifter in the real world.

Zeno laughs at my joke. “We'll see soon. Right Stone?

Stone nods.

- Take a rest. Tomorrow we look for more.

ESMERAY

Goldie and I danced like idiots to the old Miley Cyrus song on the radio. Anything to make cleaning up in the restaurant quicker. I rock my hips, clearing the table and then each of the chairs.

Goldie turns to me, singing into the mop handle. Her index finger swings at me as she belts out the lead notes.

I smile, joining her.

- All good. I don't pay you two to sing,” Rick, the manager, says, waving us on.

I direct a glare at Goldie, but she is already attacking. She approaches him, singing. I circle him, snapping my fingers.

He laughs. “Hurry up, ladies.

In five minutes, we are done cleaning. Goldie turns off the radio, still dancing and singing. She hooks her arm around mine, pulling me toward the door. Behind us, Rick turns off the lights and then closes them as we leave. I dance all the way to Goldie's car next to my sleek red rocket.

"Good night, ladies!" Rick yells, heading across the parking lot to his car.

We wave back at him. The icy night breeze feels amazing against my flushed skin, but ends up pushing my long curls around my face. The full moon shines brighter than the streetlights, so it is not too dark.

“Go home safely,” Goldie orders, jabbing her finger at me again.

I agree. "Text me when you get home!" Tell Devin I said hi.

She sighs. “Don't tell me that! He drools on you!

I laugh. - Strange. He is like ten. He does not stand a chance!

- Sixteen! He is in love with you!

I roll my eyes. "Just tell him I said hi." Just it! I lift my leg and straddle her, undoing my kitty helmet from the handlebars and pulling it over my head. Goldie's car roars to life, creaking and clanking. Piece of shit car if you ask me. My bike purrs to life between my legs beautifully. A moan leaves my lips. Oh, my beautiful baby.

- God! Goldie teases. "Do you orgasm from that every night?"

I speak. - Yes. Yes, I want.

She makes a face. "See you at the crack of dawn, Esme!" she yells as she takes off in her car, leaving behind a cloud of gray fog and a strange burning smell in the air. I kick off my kickstand and rev my bike forward, following her. I walk beside her until I reach the open road.

There... I will hurry.

I pull the straps, making a little horse. My bike bounces when the wheel hits the ground. Therefore, I step outside, feeling the air rush past my clothes. Adrenaline courses through my veins, begging for more. I am never satisfied, no matter if I get a hundred or close to two hundred. I shake my head, exposed hair blowing in the breeze. Something in the back of my throat groans for more. First, my car was not fast enough. Now my bike.

I sigh.

I am hard to please, that is for sure.

I pull up to my building, park, and turn off the engine. A loud, deep growl cuts through the air, making me spin. The wind shakes the trees lining the streets, but it calms down quickly. My eyes scan the tree line, trying to make out anything.

- Are you okay? The man at the door asks.

I look up, grateful he is here. "I just heard something strange."

"Did you hear that someone else was attacked by wolves?" - He asks.

I look at him. - Serious? Where?

“A few towns over. Maybe an hour or two away.

He escorts me inside, and I go up to my floor and then to my house. Home... However, not really? I am used to moving around a lot, so home is not much. Just a few unimportant things litter the apartment, nothing that makes it feel like home. I undressed in the living room, singing a song in my head. I roll my hips into the bathroom to shower. I wash away all the worries, all the horrible old and low tips.

After the shower, I step outside, wrapping a towel around my body. I grab my phone before going back to my towel. Falling onto the bed, I pull up the news about the few attacks. There seems to be a lot more of it lately in South Dakota, which is weird because it does not seem to happen often, at least not before these sitcoms.

I will have to be more careful at night.

A new door attendant is at the door when I wake up and leave at six the next morning. I hop back on my bike, half-sleepy. It is not the best way to drive, but I do it safely and before everyone else. I like to speed up, especially when there is nobody else on the road. This is the best time to ride a motorcycle. No matter how tired I am, riding a motorcycle gives me the adrenaline I need.

I wait a while for my co-workers to start showing up. Everyone is there except the manager who needs to open.

Goldie turns to me after about ten minutes of waiting. — Open the doors and play manager. We still need to be paid. — It was common for a restaurant that the managers did not show up to open. Rick probably got a little drunk last night. I rip a pin out of Goldie's hair, earning a groan.

Crouching in front of the door, I drive the staple into the lock, popping it open and opening the door. I walk in, letting my co-workers begin their prep. The doors technically open in five minutes at seven in the morning, but few people enter at that time. Sometimes truck drivers or elderly people who are awake at this hour show up for a bit. I walk through the diner, pick up the phone and call the owner to leave a message. I will play manager until someone comes. I start working on the tables, labeling them on a clipboard for the servers, and then I count the money and put it in the cash register when the first truck driver arrives. .

“You should be the real manager,” Goldie mutters, brushing past me.

I scoff. I would rather not. The pay is not much better. The server does not always get tips, but I would rather not deal with all the drama of being a manager. Having to stay all day and kill myself because people do not show up. We cannot simply close or not open. People have lives and mouths to feed.

The breakfast rush arrives and goes right into the lunch rush at eleven o'clock.

The door opens and the air around me changes. It feels warmer and more comfortable, enveloping me like an embrace, but I cannot explain why. She sends the newcomers off, a fake smile before seeing that I am next on the list for a table. Adorable, right? I am still busy being a manager. Five people move inside the door. - Hey guys! Booth or table?