Page 16 of Tethered to the World
He was being more than generous, but she couldn’t help but feel that he was manipulating her. He handed over a credit card with her name on it, and she shoved her hands behind her back like it was a snake ready to bite. “What is that?”
He looked amused by her question. “Money to cover any added expenses.”
Annora rolled her eyes. “I know what it is. Why are you giving it to me?”
“Think of it as an advance against your pay.” He pushed the card forward with one finger. “Take it.”
She reached for it, then paused and glared at him. “You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?” He kept his face straight, but there was a twinkle in his eyes.
She opened her mouth to answer, but wasn’t sure what she was going to accuse him of doing. She waved her finger at him in warning. “Whatever it is you do to manipulate people into doing what you want. You did it at the gym, and you just did it to the guys.”
“This will be a good test run for both you and the team. They’re good guys, but they’ve been through a lot. Use this time to learn from them and test what you can handle. There are no better hunters.”
Annora pursed her lips, positive he was keeping something from her. “What else?”
He flashed her a smile and nodded to her to sit, waiting to speak until she obeyed. “Do you know what an alpha is?”
Annora shrugged. “The leader of a pack?”
At least that’s the way the animal world worked.
“Close.” Rufus nodded to the door. “Those guys are each an alpha in their own way, and will only become stronger with time. The stronger the alpha, the more responsibilities rest on his or her shoulders.”
She glanced at the door, grimacing at the thought of what it would mean to live with a bunch of bossy men.
Fuck my life.
The uncomplicated life she wanted was becoming more tangled by the day.
“But you are one as well.” He spoke so softly she almost didn’t hear him.
She spun in her seat and glared. “Come again?”
“No one is born an alpha, they’re forged by fire. Some people get burned, some get crushed, but a few people like you rise from the ashes stronger and better. You’re just growing into your powers, and you’re doing it while considerably younger than most. It can take centuries or longer for a true alpha to rise to power.”
Annora was speechless as she processed what he said, not sure she believed him. He must have read her doubt.
“You’re already able to disregard a direct order from an alpha. Not many can say that. You stood up to a pack of wolves, fought them and won. And you outwitted those boys for the whole night, not an easy task in itself.”
Annora bit the inside of her lip, refusing to feel guilty for keeping them up all night.
“You’ll only grow stronger, and others will notice.” His face hardened. “People will be drawn to you, while others will want to destroy you for what they can’t have. You need those guys, but I think they need you more.”
She wanted to deny everything, walk out of his office and pretend to be nothing but a normal girl. That’s all she’d ever wanted. But it appeared that wasn’t going to happen. She couldn’t risk becoming an alpha and drawing more attention to herself. “How do I stop it?”
Rufus sat back in his chair and sighed. “Most students work their entire lives to achieve what you would deny…which is why I think you will make an excellent alpha…stronger than anyone I’ve ever met.”
The hair on the back of her neck rose. “But?”
“You just need to survive long enough to come into your full powers. Then not even your uncle would dare come after you” He rubbed his forehead, then waved a hand to the window, indicating the campus below. “This world will need people like you. Without someone to stand up for the weak, they will be slaughtered.”
She was afraid he was talking about more than just the campus. “Sorry, but I think you have the wrong girl. I’ve spent my life wanting to be free, wanting to be normal. You’re asking me to give up everything I’ve dreamed about for years.”
“I’m asking you to be strong enough to save more than yourself.” He waved away her protest before she could speak. “Work the case. Get to know the team. Learn about us. Just give us a chance.”
Annora knew she was dismissed. A crushing weight of expectation and responsibility pressed on her chest, and she looked down, struggling to control her emotions. She thought she’d found someone to stand in her corner, someone who wanted to protect her without demanding something in return, but she was wrong.
