The Pack's Alpha (by Cooper) novel Chapter 37

Yorick

Sunday was a good day. Cyra and I spent the day with our friends and while we did study, we all started looking into strategies to defeat Alpha Christer in a war.

“He really doesn’t stand a chance, Cyra. You have six to seven of us actively trying to find ways to defeat him and he doesn’t even know you’re planning a war, or if he does, he won’t expect what we’re going to have coming at him,” Piper says.

Cyra looked around at our friends, then looked at me, her gratitude shining in her eyes. I winked at her but kept my focus on what’s important – getting Cyra out of this alliance bond.

Monday morning started off as usual but quickly took a shift in Sparring class. After our initial training on new techniques, we were partnered up. I was set to spar with Landon, but Alpha Leo stepped in and switched Landon with Talek. Talek, unlike Jory, probably is worthy of being here. However, he’s not an Alpha and he’s not a smart fighter like Landon.

His switch didn’t go unnoticed by our group of friends nor by the other instructors. I saw Alpha Naveah pull Alpha Leo aside and while I couldn’t hear the entire conversation, Alpha Leo basically said he’s in charge of the Academy and it’s his prerogative to change out the partners.

Talek is still angry about Jory and he fights with emotion, so I took him down easily. We’re supposed to be practicing what we’ve learned but since he keeps coming at me with cheap shots, I just keep taking him down.

“Yorick, the instruction is to take down your opponent using the tactics you learned today,” Alpha Leo barks.

“Isn’t Talek supposed to be attacking with the tactics we learned today as well?” I ask, not taking my eyes off Talek. I know he’ll come at me while my head is turned if I look away.

“Do you have a problem with authority, Yorick?” Alpha Leo growls, stalking over to where we’re sparring.

“No sir. I do have a problem with favoritism though,” I say.

“Get out! You get no points for class today,” he says, getting in my face.

Thad pushes forward and I snarl.

“Come at me. I fucking dare you. I may not have been able to expel you for killing Jory, but you lay a hand on me and you’re out,” he snarls.

I hold his gaze, not backing down. The man has gotten soft with age. I could easily take him if I wanted to.

“Yorick, go work on that project we’ve been talking about,” Cyra says. I feel her hand wrap around my wrist, the sensation calming me instantly.

“Better listen to your little girlfriend, Yorick,” he says, smirking at me.

I step back, keeping my eyes on Alpha Leo and Talek before finally turning and walking away.

“Are you okay?” Cyra whispers.

“No. I’m fucking pissed off,” I say, but I don’t take it out on her.

“Get back to your partner, Cyra! This isn’t free time,” Alpha Leo yells.

I glance back over my shoulder and see all of the other instructors looking at Alpha Leo with frowns on their faces. So, he’s doing this on his own. For some reason, he’s targeted me. Great.

“I’ll see you at lunch,” she says, as I storm off.

I go straight to my room and call Wendy.

“Hey Yorrie. I heard you talked to Connor,” she answers. I can hear her typing on her computer.

“You’re not letting what I’ve asked you to help me with interfere with your studies, are you?” I ask, suddenly worried that she’s become too obsessed with finding out information for me.

“Nope.”

“Good. Have you come up with anything on Alpha Leo yet?” I ask her.

“I was focusing on Alpha Arden and Jory, why?”

“I think Alpha Leo has something against me and I’m trying to figure out what it is. You didn’t figure out anything with Jory yet?”

“I’m looking into it,” she says cryptically.

I hear her computer ping.

“Hey, let me go. I might have something for you. I’ll let you know as soon as I know something. Wait, was there anything else?” she asks.

“No, except you didn’t tell me you applied at the Academy.”

She’s quiet a moment.

“Do you think I’ll get in?” she asks, and I can hear the worry in her voice.

“Hell fucking yeah, I do.”

“Thanks, Yorrie. As soon as I have something on Jory, I’ll let you know and I’ll start digging on… Oh yeah, I’ve got info on Jory,” she says.

“What do you have?” he asks.

“It looks like you were right. He didn’t meet the criteria for admission.”

“Who approved his admission?” I ask, already pretty sure I know the answer.

She’s just about to answer when there’s a knock on my door.

“Hang on,” I say, opening the door to Hacker.

“You have a problem, Alpha,” he says.

“Who is that?” Wendy asks.

“Tell you sister I said hi,” Hacker says grinning.

“I have to go, Wendy,” I say, hanging up.

“You know that listening in on people’s phones is illegal,” I growl.

“Oh, then I guess you don’t want this information that you asked me to get that I couldn’t come by legally,” he says, turning to leave.

“Stop. Of course I want it.”

He turns and raises an eyebrow at me.

‘Walk through it with me so I can help guide you.’

Wendy’s mind is brilliant. When I looked her up, I realized she was also a very powerful warrior in her pack. She really will make an excellent addition to the Academy and I’m glad I was able to convince her to apply. There’s no way in hell I’m letting anyone who isn’t worthy take her spot next year. The reality is, she could probably figure it out on her own, unlike her brother who is too close to the situation, but I want to know how her mind works, how she connects the dots to get to the right

answer.

‘It could be Jory, I guess, but I doubt it.’

‘Why?’

‘Why is he targeting Yorrie now? Why not right after the incident?’ she says, making me smile.

‘So what else could it be? What other ‘incident’ has occurred recently?’

‘Stellan, Cyra’s betrothed.’

‘Keep going,’ I say, impressed that she’s figuring it out so quickly.

‘Stellan realized that Yorick and Cyra are mates. Yorick practically beat the shit out of him when he was there. So, if Stellan wanted to get rid of Yorick, then he could have possibly gone to Alpha Leo, especially if he’s responsible for admitting these individuals who aren’t worthy of being at the Academy each year like you think,’ she says.

‘You make me so proud, my little Padawan. But there is one other option.’

‘What’s that?’

‘We don’t know why Alpha Arden wanted this alliance bond. Depending on his reasons behind it, he could be the one putting pressure on Alpha Leo to get rid of your brother.’

‘Are you any closer to getting past that firewall?’ she asks.

‘I’ve gotten through two. One more to go,’ I tell her.

‘What can I do to help?’ she asks.

‘I’m so glad you asked. It’s grunt work, but it’s a good learning opportunity for you,’ I say, sending her the information on the five candidates who were admitted without meeting admission criteria. She never grumbles about the work I send her and she’s not only damn good at finding the information, but she’s fast.

‘Find out everything you can about these five individuals for me. The more we know, the tighter we can make the noose. And Sphinx, your brother is right. You need to be careful. Don’t do anything that could jeopardize your admission to the Academy. If you get to something that is illegal or outside your scope, send it back to me.’

I’ve put too many firewalls in place around her computer and our chat for that to happen, but Yorick had a good point about Wendy being underage. She’s going to be fucking amazing when she comes to the Academy, but until then, I need to be careful with what I have her doing for me.

‘And no cutting classes to work on this,’ I add as an afterthought.

‘Yes Dad,’ she says and I’m absolutely positive that she just rolled her eyes at me.

I chuckle. ‘Get to work.’

The screen that I have permanently monitoring her computer starts moving and I smile as I start digging deeper into Alpha Leo’s finances.