Broken Alpha Page 3

  “What the hell was that?” I asked.

  “Obviously we weren’t alone. Leo and I have been running here for the last year and we’ve never come across any other shifter’s.” Rocky told me.

  “Raven, you smell different.” Leo sniffed in my direction.

  I pulled my shirt to my nose and inhaled, he was right, caramel and spice. I looked at the forest behind us and saw a pair of glowing eyes staring from the darkness. I blinked and they were gone.

  Chapter 5 – Sights

  This was yet again another night I spent turning and tossing in my dorm room. Leo had explained that the forest is usually pretty quiet on a Saturday night. Athens has so many other diversions to offer, that even the other wolves are usually too distracted to be out running.

  I rolled out of bed and made my way to the tiny kitchenette to start breakfast. The hot plate was now warmed up and I dropped a few slices of bacon in it, when it was done, I scrambled two eggs and sliced a pear.

  The sun was peeking through my curtains and I sat on my bed eating my breakfast. Today was a good day to venture out to the new Acropolis museum and take in some sights. After I washed my dishes, I took a shower and got ready for the day. I slipped on a long maxi dress that Aunt Megan had picked up from Shari’s Designs for me. It was dark blue with brown and cream flora designs and really made my eyes stand out.

  I put on my brown sandals, then slipped my purse around my head and shoulder. I went down in the elevator and when I stepped out on the first floor, Karla was standing there watering the plants.

  “Oh, look at you! Are you off on a date with a lovely Greek Boy?” She smiled.

  “Good morning.” I smiled. “I’m going to the Acropolis museum today.”

  “Lots of wonderful Greek history to see there. If you want some company, I have a very nice nephew.” She suggested.

  “Thank you Karla, but I’m okay.” I laughed and waved.

  I walked towards the corner store and stepped inside to buy a bottle of water and ask if there was a metro schedule or bus route. The young lady suggested I take a bus which would be stopping in front of the store in five minutes. I paid for my water, thanked her and stepped outside just as the bus pulled up.

  Forty-five minutes later, I was walking towards the museum which was situated just below the Acropolis. The sun was shining, the breeze was fresh, and the streets of Athens were buzzing. In the distance I could hear church bells ringing.

  I stepped up to the museum ticket office and a young man greeted me good morning in Greek. “Kalimera.”

  “Good morning.” I smiled back. “One ticket please.”

  “That will be five euros.” He said and handed me a booklet, map and entrance ticket as I passed him the money.

  “Thank you.” I said,

  “Efharisto!” He called out you’re welcome as I waved.

  What a cutie, something about him reminded me of Zach. Oh Zach, I needed to stop thinking about Zach. His mating ceremony was coming up and he was off limits. “Come on Raven, you’re in the land of Gods for crying out loud, you can get over him.” I told myself.

  “Maybe we’ll find our mate in the land of Gods.” Rae gushed.

  I entered the beautiful museum; I walked through the lobby and passed the turn styles. I stood on the glass floor gallery looking down at archaeological excavation finds, then I made my way through the museum taking in the ancient Athenian culture and studying the statues. The marble and glass usage in the museum’s design give it a light and airy feeling.

  The Parthenon Gallery at the top level was stunning with a perfect view of the actual Parthenon that stood about three hundred yards away. I stood for a while taking it in, it was almost twenty-five hundred years old. Before I left the museum I stopped at the base to look down at an archaeological excavation that uncovered an ancient Athenian city in the open pit below.

  I looked up and scanned the crowd, I had a feeling someone was watching me, but nothing stood out. After seeing those glowing eyes yesterday, I was left feeling uneasy. I tucked the brochure in my purse, checked the time and decided to venture into the neighboring areas.

  The Plaka district was nearby and I started walking towards it. Plaka was also called the neighborhood of the Gods because of its close proximity to the Acropolis. It’s one of the oldest neighborhoods in Athens, built on top of ancient Athens. The narrow streets are cobble stoned and the neoclassical architecture gives it a small island village vibe.

  The cafes, eateries and boutiques lined the narrow streets. The tables outside made it impossible to actually drive a car through. I made my way to a small restaurant and was seated outside. It was midafternoon and I was starving. I ordered a dolmades appetizer, the Greek chicken and salad dish.

  I ate my lunch and watched the mixture of tourists and locals walk by. I had even scented several wolves and was amazed at how easily they blended right in. I was looking at a flyer on the table about the Cina Paris, an outdoor rooftop movie theater. I had heard about its breathtaking views of the Acropolis under the night sky while watching a movie. I would have to visit once my Greek was better, I’m sure the movies are in Greek.

  “Are you planning on visiting the cinema tonight?” I heard a deep voice ask.

  I looked up to find Eros in a two-piece suit smiling at me. “Be nice Raven.” I told myself. If this guy was a mafia criminal, I certainly didn’t want to make an enemy of this wolf in nice clothing.

  “Hello again.” I forced a smile on my face.

  “Hello, little wolf.” He smiled back.

  He may have been dangerous and possibly corrupt, but he sure was Greek handsome. Dark thick hair, brown eyes, olive skin, pearly white smile and the carved muscles. He had to have been about fifteen years older than me, luckily I didn’t have any daddy issues, or I would have been attracted to him.

  “Are you going tonight?” He motioned to the flyer.

  “Oh, um no. My Greek isn’t very good yet and I’m sure the movies are all in Greek.” I said.

  “I can always translate for you.” He grinned.

  “Thank you, but it’s also a school night for me.” I said. Then I mentally head slapped myself, why am I telling him personal information?

  “Perhaps another night then. I think you will be with us for a while if you are attending the university. I can also have the cinema play an English speaking movie for you.”

  He can have them show an English speaking movie just for me? What kind of power or influence did he have, I wondered?

  “That’s very nice thank you.” I replied.

  The waiter came out with my bill and bowed his head to Eros. “It’s on me.” Eros said and waived him off.

  “Yes Sir.” The waiter turned and left with my bill.

  “Oh, you didn’t have to do that.” I said.

  “In my country, you just say thank you.” He smiled.

  “Thank you, Eros.” Slipped out of my mouth and he smiled at the mention of his name.

  “You’re welcome. Raven.” He said and nodded his head as he walked away. It sent a chill down my spine hearing him say my name. I had never told him my name.

  I left the restaurant and soon found a charming clothing boutique. Sometimes when you go out on a mission to shop for clothes, you never find anything you really like. Other times, when you’re not even looking for clothes you find a lot of things that you absolutely must have. This was one of those unexpected times where I knew I was going to buy several things!

  This boutique had the cutest and trendiest of things. Soon enough I was in a dressing room with several items on the keep rack. I made my way through the streets of the Plaka carrying four full bags. I turned down a narrow street and noticed graffiti on the walls. Some was artwork and some would be considered borderline vandalism. There are lots of stone stairways and zigzagging narrow streets through here. I’m not exactly sure which direction will get me out.

  I walked faster and could hear someone behind me. I turned around and found no one
. I caught a glimpse of a shadow on the rooftops of the buildings in this narrow back street and looked up for a moment. I couldn’t see anyone, but it sure felt like someone was there.

  I finally made my way back out to the main street. I walked back towards the Acropolis to see if I could find a taxi to take me back home. I noticed a few missing posters of young females and wondered if they were run a ways or actual abduction victims. Rocky has mentioned something about a black market and human trafficking.

  “Raven? Is that you?” I heard a man’s voice ask.

  “Kosta! Thank the Goddess.” I said relieved.

  “Here, let me take those for you.” He reached out and took my bags.

  “Thank you. What are you doing here?” I asked.

  “I live nearby in the Monastiraki area.” He said. “Are you leaving?”

  “Yes, I was just going to find a taxi.” I told him.

  “I will take you, come.” He said.

  We walked to his car and he opened the door for me and placed my bags in the back of the car.

  “You should have called me, I’m happy to take you anywhere. I work for your father, so my services are at your disposal.” He told me. “You need to be very careful, the Plaka has many dangerous people lurking around. Between the criminal activity and our shifter unrest, you don’t want to be caught in the line of fire.” He said.

  “I have your number saved Kosta, I promise to call the next time I venture far from the university.” I said, in case he was reporting back to my father. Speaking of my father, I have to remember to video call him tonight.

  Kosta got out of that car and I moved to the back to grab my bags. Karla was walking towards us holding a takeout bag of food.

  “Ah, I see you’ve been shopping.” She said to me. Then she turned to Kosta, “Kalispera Kosta.” She greeted him with a good evening. He responded back with, “Kalispera Karla.”

  I stepped in the elevator with my bags, I wondered about the shifter unrest that Kosta mentioned. Then I wondered when Kosta and Karla had actually been introduced; they seemed to be familiar with each other.

  Chapter 6 – Odd

  It’s been two weeks since the start of class and the professors have been moving at a fast and unrelenting pace. Leo and Rocky are second year students, so I don’t have any classes with them.

  Angela sat across the table from me in the library, she’s my assigned partner for a project we’re working on. It was getting late and I wanted to have some dinner before I went to bed. Angela was a great partner and is actually in the same dorm on the second floor. We left the library and started walking back towards the dorms.

  “I’m going to stop and pick up some food at the corner restaurant, do you want anything?” I asked her.

  “I’m good thanks. My roommate picked up a pizza, so I’m going to head back.” She said.

  “Sounds good, I’ll see you on Monday.” I said to her and stepped inside the restaurant.

  Ten minutes later, I had a takeout box with some meat filled moussaka and walked the remaining block alone to the dorms. It was Friday night and the dorms were pretty quiet. Most were out enjoying the night life of Athens. I entered my dorm room and opened the window to let the night breeze in.

  My phone is connected to the bluetooth speaker in my room, so I played some music. I opened the takeout box and found a generous helping of moussaka, bread and Greek salad. I sat at the desk eating and feeling the fresh breeze blowing. Halfway through I started feeling stuffed and decided to take a shower before I slipped into bed.

  I washed my hair, soaped myself up with my favorite French vanilla wash and shaved my legs. I stood under the hot water thinking about tomorrow. Tomorrow was Zach and Sydney’s mating ceremony. Here I was, halfway around the world and yet I still felt painfully close.

  I dried off and put on my pajamas. Then I ran a large tooth comb through my towel dried hair. I stepped over to the window and looked out for a moment. My view faced east, over the top of a tree. I could see other buildings and the forest in the distance. I closed and locked the window before I pulled the curtains shut.

  I turned off the music and reached for the takeout carton to place in the refrigerator for tomorrow. The rest of the moussaka was gone, I had only eaten half. Someone had finished the rest of it while I was in the shower.

  I checked my front door to make sure it was locked. Maybe Leo had stepped in and helped himself? I sniffed around and there was no scent of anyone in my room. Of course, Leo and Rocky can’t really be scented while they’re taking those masking herbs.

  I laid in bed staring at the ceiling. The stolen food forgotten as I frowned thinking about Zach’s ceremony tomorrow. I suppose it’s a good thing I didn’t have to suffer through it tomorrow in person. Maybe I should do something fun and distracting tomorrow. I drifted away to sleep after sulking for a few moments longer.

  I woke up in the morning to the sound of my phone ringing. My father was on video chat. He had been so worried the last few times I had spoken to him, that I hadn’t asked him about the Olympus Blood Moon pack that belonged to some fabled beast. The last thing I wanted was for him to send a babysitter over to watch me.

  “Good morning dad.” I answered.

  “Hello Princess. Did I wake you?”

  “No, I was just getting ready to start my day with some breakfast and maybe go out to Delphi to see the temple.”

  “That’s over two hours north of you. Is Kosta taking you?” He asked.

  “I was thinking about taking a bus.” I told him.

  “Nonsense Raven, Kosta is available to take you anywhere. I’ll call him for you.” He insisted.

  “Dad, I’m perfectly capable of making my way there.” I said.

  “I know you are, but a private car with an experienced tour guide will be much more comfortable for you then a crowded tour bus.”

  He had a point; I’d be stuck with the tour bus all day. “Fine, call Kosta.” I conceded.

  “Do you need anything?” He asked.

  “No dad, I’m good. What’s mom doing?”

  “She’s been busy with Vannica getting things ready for the ceremony.”

  “Of course, she is. Listen, I should get going, I need to get ready.”

  “I love you Princess.”

  “I love you too dad, give mom a kiss for me.” I hung up before I had to listen to anymore mating ceremony news.

  I walked over to the bathroom to brush my teeth, hair and get ready. There was going to be a lot of walking on the sacred path at Delphi, so I put on my sneakers with denim shorts, tank top and a light jacket. My phone dinged, I looked down to find a message from Kosta. “Be there in five minutes, don’t eat breakfast.”

  I grabbed my sunglasses and headed out the door. There was some commotion in the lobby downstairs when I exited the elevator. Sara was Angela’s roommate and was talking to Karla and a university security guard.

  “Here comes Raven, maybe she knows something.” Karla said.

  “Good morning.” I said.

  “I’m Gus, university security. We found Angela’s backpack just outside and she did not come back to her dorm last night. Do you know anything? When did you last see her?” He asked me.

  “I was with her last night at the school library. We left just after 8:00pm and walked back together. I stopped down the street at Cristopalous Taverna to pick up dinner. Angela walked back alone because Sara had ordered pizza.” I told them.

  “She never came back to the dorm.” Sara said.

  “It was Friday night, maybe she had other plans?” Karla suggested.

  “Does she have a boyfriend?” Gus asked.

  “I don’t know.” Sara said.

  “Okay, we’ll keep an eye out. Karla please call me when she gets back. Hopefully she’s just been out having a good time, this isn’t the first time this has happened, certainly won’t be the last.” He said.

  “Should we call the police?” I asked.

  “You have to wait two d
ays before an inspector will look, but I’m sure she will be back soon.” He bowed out the front door.

  That’s odd, Angela seemed like a quiet and reserved person, not the party type at all. I saw Kosta’s car pull up, “I have to go, I’ll see you later.” I said.

  “Where are you off to?” Karla asked.

  “Kosta is taking me to Delphi.” I told her.

  “Ahh, good. Enjoy the trip and take some pictures.” She called out behind me as I walked out waving goodbye.

  “Kalimera, Raven.” Kosta smiled as he held the door to the back seat open.

  “Kalimera.” I wished him a good morning and stepped up into the black Mercedes G-Class.

  We pulled out into traffic and a motorcycle pulled up alongside of us. I couldn’t see the driver because he had a full face covering helmet on, but he had a very muscular body and his biceps were as big as my head. He could have easily passed us but was maintaining the pace next to us.

  “There’s a small taverna that has excellent breakfast just ahead, we can stop in and get something.” Kosta said.

  “Sounds great, thank you.” I said. Kosta had to be well into his forties, but sometimes it’s hard to tell with a werewolf. I wondered why he was living in the city and if actually belonged to a pack or had a mate. I wasn’t at that level to ask him just yet, so my curiosity had to wait.

  Kosta parked the car on the busy street and opened the door for me. We stepped into the restaurant and the delicious smell of food and Greek coffee hit me.

  “What is that?” I pointed to something coming out of the oven that looked like pizza.

  “That’s Ladenia, a flat bread with tomato, onion and olive oil. It’s very good with a side of sausage.” Kosta told me.

  “Sounds great!” I smiled and Rae yipped in my head.

  Kosta ordered the same for both of us, the Ladenia with sausages. He carried the food to the car, and I carried a coffee for him and a tea for myself. Soon enough we were driving outside of Athens, eating and talking.