Who's Your Alpha?

 Who’s Your Alpha?

Vicky Burkholder

Published 2014

ISBN: 978-1-62210-092-7

Published by Liquid Silver Books, imprint of Atlantic Bridge Publishing, 10509 Sedgegrass Dr, Indianapolis, Indiana 46235. Copyright © Published 2014, Vicky Burkholder. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Manufactured in the United States of America

Liquid Silver Books

http://LSbooks.com

This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

Blurb

Sunny Clark always thought she was the only shape-shifter in the town where she grew up. When she returns to the mountain community for her high school reunion, she is shocked to find that nearly the whole town can turn into one thing or another, including her teen crush, David Maxwell.

David has always known it was Sunny he wanted, but she wasn’t like him and the others. She couldn’t shift. At least, he never thought she could until it was too late. She left town and took his heart with her before he could let her know how he really felt. Now she’s back and he can’t lose her again.

Unfortunately, there are others in town who aren’t so happy to have Sunny back, and another man is determined to have Sunny for his own. But Sunny is no longer the shy little puppy she once was, and the pecking order is about to change. With sides being drawn, the real question becomes: Does Sunny want David enough to change her entire life?

Dedication

To my alpha group—the Bootsquad. And to my husband for all his support. He is my true alpha.

Chapter 1

“You’ve got to come, Sunny. That’s all there is to it.”

There were times when Sunny Clark hated her best friend, Rommy St. James. Times when all she wanted to do was slam down the phone, turn off her e-mail, lock up her mailbox, and otherwise become unreachable. “Give me one good reason.”

“I’ll pull the mom card.”

“Rommy! That’s not fair.” Although Sunny’s mother was off somewhere in the wilds of the South American rain forest, Dr. Emily Clark could still exert her extensive influence over Sunny, and Rommy knew it. If Rommy brought Sunny’s mother into this, Sunny would never have any peace. Sometimes she thought Rommy stayed in touch with her mother more than Sunny did. There was no justice in the world. None. Pushing thoughts of her mother to the background, Sunny came back to what Rommy was saying.

“You’ve put this off
forever
. I’ve heard every excuse ever invented, and more than a few new ones. You’re done with college, so no more working to pay for books. You’re done with your master’s, so no more teaching assistantship duties. You’re done with your doctorate, so no more thesis research, and I know for a fact the psycho clinic is closed that week, so you’ll be on vacation.”

“That’s ‘psych’ not ‘psycho.’ Gee, you’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”

“Oh, and if you check your e-mail, you’ll see your mom and I already made reservations for you at Carson Place, the new hotel. It’s a block off the square.”

“You already told Mom? Thanks a lot, traitor.” Sunny sighed. “Where are you and Sam staying?”

“We’re with Sam’s folks this time. I’d have offered to bring you with us, but I didn’t think you’d enjoy their sofa.”

“Not the orange monster?” Rommy’s in-laws had had the same ratty sofa since the 70s. It was a huge relic that should have been trashed a couple of decades ago.

“Yep. His mom claims she can’t see the point of getting a new one when it’ll only get ruined.”

“Ew. No thanks.” Sunny hugged the phone to her shoulder as she checked her PDA, hoping against hope she had something going on during those dates. No luck.

“And David will be there.”

At the mention of his name, Sunny’s heart rate sped up, and she was pretty sure if anyone took her blood pressure right now, it would be sky high. “David?”

“Yes, David. As in David Maxwell. You remember him. Tall, dark, handsome, gorgeous eyes? Into science and music and sports? Oh, and I think I remember he lived next door to you for oh, what, your whole life?”

How could she forget? Sunny had had a crush on him for as long as she could remember. But he’d been one of the “in” crowd and she, well, wasn’t. Being overweight, nerdy, and a late bloomer didn’t exactly put you high on the popularity scale. It didn’t matter that they’d shared a backyard fence, and cookies and milk when her family was in town. Fortunately, most of her parents’ research trips had been over summer vacations. But it still meant she hadn’t had many chances to bond with the more stationary kids. And traveling over the world didn’t help her popularity. Sunny tamped down her memories.
I’m not a bump on the scale of humanity. I am somebody.
Keeping that litany in her mind, she turned her attention back to Rommy.

“When’s the last time you shifted? I mean really shifted, and went out for a run?” Rommy asked.

Sunny refused to answer. She caught a glimpse of herself in her mirror and stuck her tongue out.

“Uh-huh. That’s what I thought,” Rommy said. “You ever heard the phrase ‘use it or lose it’?”

“Of course. Just because I don’t shift anymore doesn’t mean I can’t. I have other priorities.” She studied her hand, turning it back and forth in a ray of sunshine. Hand—paw—hand—paw—hand.

“Yeah, I know. Tell me something, Dr. Clark, if you had a client who refused to recognize an important part of their past, a part defining who and what they are, what would you tell them?”

“That’s not fair.”

“I never promised to be fair. So you’ll come?”

Sunny sighed. “All right. All right. I’ll come. But don’t expect me to shift and go running through the woods with you. I’m not a kid any more.”

“You were never a kid. A bitch, yes, but never a kid.”

“Good-bye, Rommy.” She hung up the phone before Rom could say anything else. It looked like she was going back to Carsonville. When she left ten years ago, she was certain it had been forever.

* * * *

Sunny slammed the trunk lid to her car and stared at the hotel that hadn’t been there the last time she’d been in town. Of course, ten years had passed, but still, a four-story hotel? And out on the edge of town, one of those new mega-stores across from a huge gas station/convenience shop, right off the new highway. Where once there’d been cornfields, now apartment complexes stood, catering to the ever-expanding city folks looking for an escape from their cramped, expensive lives. So much had changed in the small town, and yet there were parts left unchanged for over a century.

She wondered if the people had changed.

Or the mountain.

She wheeled her suitcase into the lobby. A small fountain bubbled in the center, flanked by two sofas and tall palms. Everything was done in shades of cream, maroon, and navy. All very pretty—and so very boring. She approached the desk.

“Hey, Sunny. I didn’t expect to see you here. Surprised a lot of us when we saw the registration.”

The woman behind the check-in desk smiled a false smile. Her long bleached-blonde hair and too-heavy makeup couldn’t quite hide the ravages of too many cigarettes, tanning booths, and late nights at the local bar. The crisp navy-blue uniform covered a pencil-thin shape. “Ruby Baker. How nice to see you.”

The woman smiled with her mouth; it didn’t reach her eyes. Eyes colder than the Antarctic in mid-winter. “It’s Montgomery now. I assume you’re here for the reunion?”

“Yes.” Sunny resisted the urge to straighten her rumpled tunic and creased slacks, or run her hand through her short, dark curls. Though she wasn’t nearly as heavy as she’d once been, Sunny knew she’d never be one of the “thin” girls—the style-conscious clique who decided who counted in their school. And Sunny hadn’t. Though she’d been a leader of sorts in her own right, she was never one of the alphas. “I have a reservation for four days.”

Ruby turned to her computer. “Ah, yes. Here you are. Non-smoking. Single room. Sunny Clark. Still the same name?”

Sunny attempted to ignore the smug smile on Ruby’s face. “Yeah. And what about you? I understand Tom’s your second? No, third husband. Oh, wait. He’s already moved on too.”

Ruby slammed a keycard on the countertop, her smile tighter than a Hollywood starlet’s pushup bra. “Room 401. Enjoy your stay—and the view.”

Sunny picked up the card. “Why thank you. I think I will.” Whistling an old country song about a cheating farm wife who left her husband, Sunny wheeled her suitcase to the elevator.

The room looked like a thousand other generic hotel rooms, though maybe a tad smaller. Sunny dumped her suitcase on the bed closest to the door. She opened the curtains and snorted. Her “luxury” room looked out over the rear parking lot and was next to the elevator. At least she could see the mountain from here. Ruby might not think the view was much, but it was exactly what Sunny wanted to see. The late afternoon sun turned the autumn colors to a dazzling kaleidoscope display.

Sunny checked the clock on the nightstand. Five o’clock. She could grab some supper and then go for a run. Rommy wasn’t due in until late and she’d have to do the family thing first. They’d hook up tomorrow, if possible. She stretched out her hand and stared at it. Her fingernails changed to claws and dark fur grew without her even thinking about it. Odd. Usually she had to really concentrate for the shift to happen. She shook her head and her hand resumed its normal long-fingered, manicured shape.

Except for the occasional run, she’d kept the urge to shift closed away for years. What was so special about this town that increased the desire, like hunger needing feeding? Or, in this case, changing? She couldn’t even blame the urge on the full moon since she could change whenever and wherever she wanted. But why here? Why now?

Shaking off the questions, she chose to stroll the three blocks to the nearby family diner rather than eat in the over-priced hotel restaurant. Besides, she figured from the fancy names on the menu, they probably gave you “cuisine” sized meals. And she wanted food. Food she could sink her teeth into. Food that filled her up. Food not served with crystal goblets, fine linen, and a wine list. She grinned as she passed by stores already closed for the night. Unlike larger towns and cities, Carsonville stores closed around five, except on Fridays. Then they stayed open as late as nine.

She pushed open the door of the diner. The noise of loud locals, country music, clanging heavy china, and “order up” assaulted her ears with a forgotten—and welcome—din. The place was pretty well packed. She inhaled. And inhaled again.

“Can I help you?” A waitress who looked to be barely past jail bait age smiled at her, the bright fluorescents glinting off her braces.

“Table for one?”

“I’ve got one booth left, or the counter.”

Sunny spied the open booth—a two-seater next to the door. Noisy, cold—few people liked it. But she didn’t relish sitting at the counter on a stool barely big enough for one hip let alone two. “I’ll take the booth. Thanks.”

“Sure.” The girl—Darla, according to her nametag—led her the two steps over and handed her a menu. “The specials tonight are the ham steak, meat loaf, or macaroni and cheese. I’ll give you a few minutes.”

Sunny looked over the menu and grinned. Another thing that hadn’t changed. Oh, the prices were a little higher and they’d made a passing nod to “healthy” food by adding broiled or baked choices, but it was basically the same menu from ten years ago. And she knew exactly what she wanted. As she waited, the rest of the seats filled up with more people still coming in. Though older, she recognized many of the patrons, some of them her old classmates, now with families of their own. A touch of envy colored her vision. If only…“Might as well wish for David to walk in.”

“Sunny?”

She looked up and all thoughts of food scurried away like a mouse from a cat. “David?”

The man standing next to her table looked even better than the lean-muscled, dark-haired boy she’d had a crush on. Of course, every other female—and a few males—had felt the same way. David Maxwell was every girl’s dream. But he’d been her neighbor and her friend. Unfortunately, that hadn’t extended to boyfriend.

“Hi.” His smile shone brighter than Las Vegas at full power. And she’d just spun the Mega-prize.

“Hi. You here with anyone?” Heat poured into her face. Man, was that lame. Of course he was. How could he not be?

“No. Just waiting for a seat.”

Willing her hand not to shake, she pointed at the empty bench opposite her. “You’re welcome to join me.” She came close to melting into a puddle when he slid onto the seat.

“Don’t tell me you’re here alone,” he said.

“Completely. It’s been a long time since I was in town. How ’bout you? Are you here for the festivities?”

“Actually, I still live here. I was away for a few years but came back.” His shoulder lifted in an easy shrug, drawing her gaze. “Guess I missed the place. What about you? We never heard much after your folks left. Where are they now?”