The Guardian Alpha Read Online Free PDF

Goldbridge had a history of using and abusing the pack. To trust them, to give them an inch, meant setting up their followers for pain or – worse – death.
     
    “We need to be critical, Selene,” Kristi turned away, resisting the urge to hunch her shoulders to her ears. She had nothing to be uncertain about. She was an alpha, now. She and Selene were on even footing. “Goldbridge has a very long history of lying, backstabbing, and going against written pacts.”
     
    “I know that,” Selene snapped. Kristi's gaze snapped to the redhead's face. For a brief second, a flare of tension swayed between them. The tenseness eased away as Selene's stiff shoulders relaxed. “The city is under new leadership that's willing to meet with us. That's something.”
     
    “Yeah, something worrisome.” Kristi muttered under her breath. As she turned back to the barrels of silver, she rolled her eyes to herself. Goldbridge had always been a bad idea. It had ruined their pack and sent them into the forest, away from sacred lands and fertile dirt. Goldbridge's construction drove away prey and brought in pests of all sizes. The longstanding rivalry had killed countless lycans, on both sides.
     
    “What are you doing anyway?”
     
    Kristi's heart slammed into her throat. She hadn't been thinking of anything when she came to the inventory room. She just wanted to get away from all the talk of Goldbridge – fat lot of good that did. However, with the papers in her hands and the gloves on, one answer came to mind. “I was thinking of taking it to the forest folk for smelting.”
     
    “What for?” There was an edge to Selene's voice that grated on Kristi's thoughts.
     
    She swallowed down her bristling thoughts of rage. It wouldn't do anything for pack morale if both alphas went head to head. Instead, she forced her tone into light caution, “You never know when we'll need it.”
     
    “So, you're going to make weapons while I try to manage peace?” The barb in Selene's voice grew. Kristi's gaze flickered up as Selene sighed in exasperation. The redhead crossed her arms and sneered, “That's just great, Kristi.”
     
    “Hey, someone has to look out for our people.” The words came out of Kristi's lips before she could manage them. She instantly regretted it.
     
    Selene's gaze hardened and Kristi could see her lips twisting into a growl. “That's what I'm doing.”
     
    “And you did such a great job yesterday.” It seemed Kristi's mouth had a life of its own. Then again, she didn't really mind. The whole thing with Goldbridge had been gnawing on her mind and leaving a sour pucker to her stomach. She and Selene were of even status; she could freely criticize her. That didn't stop Kristi's heart from shuddering under Selene's heated glare. “I heard the stories. You and that alpha–”
     
    “Mayor.”
     
    “Whatever,” Kristi muttered, wrinkling her nose. She couldn't believe Selene was correcting her, over Goldbridge of all things! “You and that mayor were about ready to sink your teeth into each other.”
     
    “And Jay arbitrated a temporary solution,” replied Selene, icily.
     
    Kristi balked at the mention of her Mate. Bitterness and frustration coiled in her head as residual pain flickered over her nerves. Spite coalesced over her tongue as she spat, “In the mean time, one of our own could get hurt or killed while our guard is down.”
     
    Anger flashed in Selene's eyes. Her eyebrows dipped into an angry 'v' as she swept her arms toward the silver and the weaponry. “And that's how you justify preparing for a battle that may never come?”
     
    “ Yes, ” Kristi hissed, setting down the sheaves of paper. Her muscles tensed as she and Selene stared each other down. Her shoulders set, her hair prickled across her scalp, her bones prepared for an impromptu transformation. Selene's body tensed, making the same adjustments.
     
    The atmosphere between them flickered with lightning and weighed heavily