The Alpha House

Chapter Eight

"Run!" Jamie roared, the black veins intensifying in his face. I heard his bones begin to crack, and almost as if on cue, the other Alphas began to growl and hiss, their bones cracking.

"Jamie, I don't understand, what the hell is happening?!"

"He's forced us to turn. To test his--" Jamie's words cut off as he cried out, his right shoulder suddenly flying forward and twisting horribly like it was being dislocated. He fell out of my lap and turned so he was on all fours, panting and covered in sweat. The black veins in his neck throbbed.

"To test his theory," Jamie continued, his voice choked.

"What theory?"

"We don't have time for this! Get the other girls--and go." Jamie could barely breathe now, his words coming out in gasps. His whole body suddenly spasmed, and I heard what could only be the sound of his spine cracking. I had to swallow the sudden rise of nausea in my throat.

"What theory, Jamie?" I demanded, rising to my feet slowly. I didn't want to leave him until I knew what had just happened, but I knew it was stupid to stay. The growls and snapping jaws of the other Alphas told me that they were well on their way to being wolves, and Jamie wasn't far behind. He was fighting it but I knew he couldn't last much longer.

"If we turn of our own accord, we can control it," Jamie spat through gritted teeth.

"But if we're forced to turn, we'll be controlled by our wolves. We'll hurt anyone in our path. You're not safe unless..."

Jamie's next scream was one of pure agony, and I saw the bones in his hands popping and tearing through his skin. I staggered back, halfway to the door.

"Unless we're mated."

I wanted to wait to hear more, but there was suddenly a loud growl to my left, and where Wes and Mason had been, there were now two enormous wolves. They weren't as large as Jamie's wolf had been on the first night we'd met, but they were still larger than me.

And their black eyes were fixed on me, their hackles raised over gleaming teeth that parted to growl in my direction once more.

"Addison, run!" Jamie yelled, and this time I didn't hesitate.

I turned and sprinted out of the dining room, letting the heavy double doors slam shut behind me even as I knew that wouldn't do anything to keep them out.

I ran down the hallway, my mind racing in time with my heart.

They can't control themselves now. They'll hurt anyone in their path. Except for their mates. So why was Jamie telling me to get the other girls and run?

We should all be safe.

Gasping for breath, I rounded the corner and took the stairs two at a time as I tried to figure out what to do. A loud howl echoed in the hall behind me, and I sped up.

It was only when I reached the third floor that I realized what Jamie had actually said.

You're not safe unless we're mated.

And now the pit in my stomach suddenly made much more sense. I was safe, since Jamie and I had completed the mating process, according to him. But I knew none of the other girls had so much as exchanged a meaningful kiss with their mates.

Which meant the wolves downstairs felt no connection to them.

Oh my God. They're going to kill them.

"Cheyenne! Sophia!" I hissed as I ran as fast as I could from room to room on the third floor, fourth floor, and finally the fifth floor. I didn't know how long we had until the wolves downstairs would come after us, and I wondered in the back of my mind if Jamie would be able to slow them down. He'd said he wouldn't be in control once he shifted, which didn't make me hopeful.