1302 The Alpha (The 13th Floor) Read Online Free

Stefanie stayed crouched. “I don’t usually run around on rooftops. Do you?”
    His cheeks flushed, and he pushed back his hood to slide a hand through his hair as he stood.
    “You do. You hang around on rooftops. And do what?”
    “Well,” he said and crossed his legs. He started hesitantly and then gained more confidence. “Okay. I watch over the city. You know, see what’s going on and maybe help out when I can.”
    “What? Like Batman?” She snorted.
    “Kinda, yeah.” James flashed her a dimpled smile. “Batman has cool gadgets and a costume. I figured I’d be too memorable in a costume. So I just wear a hoodie, sometimes with a scarf over my lower face. People are less likely to remember what I look like that way. I figure since I have all these powers, why not use them to help people? Nothing big to draw major attention. Just muggers or bullies or whatever.”
    “Shit. You think you’re Batman.” Stefanie couldn’t stop herself from laughing. She’d never been into superhero worship and definitely wouldn’t do anything to draw attention to the fact she wasn’t human. People would flip if they knew there were things like werewolves and vampires in the world.
    “Not Batman, but I want to help.” James rose up onto his knees. His expression was amazingly earnest. “I know I can’t let anyone know what I am. Yet it feels like a waste if I don’t use my gifts. Carmine has problems. I can help. Is that such a bad thing? At least I didn’t go the other way and become a villain. Imagine the destruction one wolf could do before he was stopped.”
    Humor fled her face. That she could imagine. Wyatt and the pack had done their share of bad things, and they weren’t afraid to use their strengths to their advantage. Speaking of which.
    “Hey, look over and see if the pack is still there.” She bet they were, but she needed to make sure.
    “Sure.” James hopped up and peered over the ledge. It didn’t take but a few seconds before he nodded.
    It wouldn’t take the pack long to realize where she went. She might be upwind, but seeing she didn’t come down anywhere, they’d figure out she went across the rooftops. Gritting her teeth, she considered continuing farther along the tops of the buildings until the end of the next block.
    “I can help you.” James offered and pointed to the door.
    “I can’t risk going down right now. And, sorry, I don’t think you’d stand a chance against the pack. Not even Batman would have much of a chance against Wyatt.” Then she added, “The Alpha.”
    “I might fare better than you think. I’m a brown belt in jujitsu and I’m studying two other forms of martial arts. But I wasn’t suggesting I help you fight. I know a way down to the basement and into the sewers. We could get away right under their feet and they’d never know.”
    Stefanie raised her brows. Well now, he was a clever wolf despite his ridiculous desire to be a superhero. She nodded. “Let’s get going then. Lead the way.”

CHAPTER 4
     
    Stefanie would never get that stench out of her clothes, and maybe not even her nose. Well, the more atrocious the stink, the less likely the pack could track her. She still wasn’t going to take any chances. They went a good ten blocks before coming out, and then she took him back to her apartment.
    No, she didn’t know him, but there was something about him she trusted. Besides, he’d never get on the 13th floor if he were a threat. The door swung open for him just as it had for her when she first found it. Now she was even more certain she could trust him.
    “The thirteenth floor. That’s so cool. I didn’t think many of the older buildings like yours had one.” James said.
    “It doesn’t.” Stefanie peered down the hall to make sure no one else was around. Her neighbors liked their privacy as much as she did. She pushed open her door. “Go on in.”
    “You don’t lock it?” James stepped in. His nose twitched as he breathed in his new