Taking Down the Alpha

22 As If Nothing Had Happened

Denise caught Liana by one arm and dragged her up so she wouldn't land hard. I took her by the other arm and helped steady her further, and together we helped her back into her seat.

"I knew you should have visited a doctor," I said a bit more sharply than maybe I should have.

She steadied herself. "That's not necessary, really. I'm just feeling a bit faint. I'm fine, I promise."

Denise inspected her suspiciously, as aware as I was that Liana was the suffer-in-silence-type. The girl spent all her time worrying about everyone else's wellbeing and almost none about herself.

"I know you don't like attention, but if something is seriously wrong we need to deal with it, Liana." Maybe I was being too stern, but someone had to take care of her if she wouldn't take care of herself.

Liana's tone was pleading. "I promise I'm okay. It was just so loud, my head hurts. I just need some air, and some quiet for a few minutes. That's all."

Denise and I shared a look, and silently agreed we'd let Liana have her way for now.

I shot Liana a serious expression so she knew she had no choice. "We're taking you to the doctor tomorrow if you're not better in the morning. No arguments."

"Okay, Jessica."

"Please save our spots and our purses," Denise asked Andrew sweetly. He nodded, watching us with a concerned expression as we led Liana along the row and then through the crowd. Liana must have looked as bad as I thought she did, because the spectators seemed even more willing to give way than normal. She was pale and her movements were more shaky and awkward than her wolfless norm. I resolved to watch her more closely, because she clearly couldn't be trusted to worry about herself.

When we finally got outside, Liana seemed to perk up a bit, although her cheeks still lacked colour. Denise and I followed her around the side of building into the darkness beyond the parking lot lights. She stopped and leaned against the wall before sliding down onto her butt. Wrapping her arms around her legs, she rested her forehead on her knees. The muted sound of a cheering crowd filtered out of the building, the next fight must have begun.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Denise asked, crouching down beside her and moving a strand of hair out of Liana's face.

Liana's voice was slightly muffled by her position. "I really don't think I'm sick. I've just been feeling off since yesterday. I'm just worn out, I think. Back at Hunstone I'd already be in bed by now."

"You're so hot," Denise said, placing her hand on our friend's half-hidden forehead. "Humans aren't supposed to be this hot, Liana. You're hotter than a werewolf."

I nodded. "Liana, I know you don't want to, but maybe you should see a doctor tonight. I'm sure the alpha we met yesterday would be more than willing to let you get a little check up. Denise is right, this isn't norm—"

"And what do we have here?" came nasally male voice. My wolf instantly jumped to the defensive, and I spun towards the intruders on our little temporary sanctuary. Four wolves, all male and stinking of rogue rot, stalked towards us, blocking us off from easy access to the parking lot.

Behind me, Denise slowly rose from her crouch to her feet and took a fighter's stance.

I cursed myself for our bad position. If anyone was still out in the nearly deserted parking lot they might hear us if we screamed, but I was sure the sound wouldn't carry into the building or be heard over the crowd. We were outnumbered, and even if Denise and I could outrun these creeps, there was no way that Liana would have a chance, especially in her condition.