Spurned Queen

Chapter 9: Infiltration

Lexi

I raised my hand to the wall of solid stone before me. My eyes burned brilliant white, and the rock crumbled and split at my whim. The air around moved in a strong downdraft, not carrying away any sounds. In a few seconds, I had my way in.

Slipping through the gap, I used my power to repair it.

I gulped, hoping beyond hope that all the cameras had been noted in the plan of the place. If they hadn't, today might just end with me wearing my skin inside out.

I bound my aura tightly to myself. I hoped the herb I had used to hide my scent would not lose its potency before I was ready.

Then, I steeled my nerves and slunk through the passages, following my memorized map.

To think that ten hours ago I had been shivering under the sheets of my bed.

After following Aevran to the Vampire Palace (which was rather conspicuous), I had headed home and sat at Tyler's computer. It had taken me an hour to find the all-knowing book to research about the Pearl Sea, then another three hours to find out its current whereabouts. Three hours of extensive, advanced hacking had finally yielded to me the security plans of the Wolfsbane pack house.

I had manipulated the air in order to fly here, and even then it had taken three long hours.

I don't think any other Wolf had ever tried to infiltrate the Wolfsbane Pack. They were very powerful Wolves, and their Luna pretty much ruled all other Packs. Their pack house doubled as a school for young Alphas and sometimes Betas, meaning the place was teaming with powerful Wolves.

I felt nervous even though I had already altered my appearance. My hair had temporarily been dyed black and straightened so that it reached my hips instead of my waist. My eyes were gray, like my mother's. I would have added some glasses of the idea of a wolf having anything less than perfect eyesight wasn't laughable.

If I didn't have my Witch, I would never venture here without an invite, much less try to steal the Luna's prized possession, her family heirloom, the Pearl Sea.

I peeped at the first grand hallway. Since there was absolutely no way to get to the Pearl Sea without crossing cameras, I would just have to brave it. I tried to remember everything my brother had told me about how things worked here.

By the time I emerged into the hallway, my head was high and my shoulders back, my eyes looking straight ahead of me. My steps were deliberate and purposeful. I turned and joined other Wolves, walking exactly the same. Not a single Wolf had his or her head down, acknowledging acquaintances with smiles and friends with handshakes. A few actually stopped to talk to each other, speaking in low voices. A majority of the Wolves were males; some females were mated to Alphas, and most were Alpha Princesses, like me.

The setting was so formal it ached.

I quickly made my way to the elevators. Not surprised at the ten floors, I calmly pressed the button of the seventh.

The Pearl Sea was in the ninth level, the Luna's private floor. The top floor held security.

The elevator moved smoothly up. I watched with bated breath as the buttons lit up one by one. When I hit the seventh floor, it beeped and a computerized voice demanded the PIN.

I punched it in. After a few seconds, a green light flashed and the elevator door slid open.

I shut my eyes for a moment in relief. Nothing seemed to be wrong yet.

I stepped out and let my eyes wander. Wow. A whole floor for recreation, not to mention the roof.

I walked calmly though the passages. I looked out the window to the ground, so far down that even a werewolf might not survive. I shuddered.