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  THE HIDDEN ALPHA

  ALMA VENUS SHIFTER-BRIDES, BOOK 2

  Copyright © 2015 by Cara Wylde

  All rights reserved.

  This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  BOOK ONE: Twisted

  CHAPTER ONE: Interview with the Beta

  CHAPTER TWO: Clan Sylfur

  CHAPTER THREE: The White Fox

  CHAPTER FOUR: The Unfaithful Bride

  CHAPTER FIVE: Blake

  BOOK TWO: Triad

  CHAPTER ONE: Best Friends

  CHAPTER TWO: The Mating Ritual

  CHAPTER THREE: The Blackmanes’ Trial

  CHAPTER FOUR: Demons from the Past

  CHAPTER FIVE: Weakness…

  BOOK THREE: Hybrid

  CHAPTER ONE: Loss

  CHAPTER TWO: New Fox-Councilor

  CHAPTER THREE: Hybrid

  CHAPTER FOUR: The Tricksters

  CHAPTER FIVE: Kyubi

  EPILOGUE

  Alma Venus Shifter-Brides (The Complete Series)

  More Books by Cara Wylde

  About the Author

  A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  The Hidden Alpha Trilogy is a sequel to Sold to the Alpha (BBW Wolf-Shifter Romance). Although the trilogy can be read as a standalone, it is highly recommended that you start with Sold to the Alpha to get familiar with the universe and better understand the characters and their backgrounds. If you’ve already read Sold to the Alpha, then please enjoy Amelia’s story!

  The Complete Edition of Sold to the Alpha is available on Amazon

  and FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

  Amazon US | Amazon UK

  CHAPTER ONE

  Interview with the Beta

  Amelia was pacing the room frantically, her smartphone clutched in her hand. From time to time, she lit up the screen, either to check the time or to make sure it hadn’t rung without her noticing. That was stupid, of course. On the other hand, technology could misbehave, and she couldn’t afford this to happen right now, when she was waiting for such an important call. Miss Jones, Monique Delacroix’s secretary, rarely called when she needed a student to go down to the school principal’s office. She usually sent someone to find said student, and that was why Amelia hadn’t left her room today. She wanted to make sure she was easy to find.

  She sighed and went into the bathroom to check herself in the tall mirror for the hundredth time in the past two hours. She straightened her shirt and made sure the last button was undone and showed a glimpse of her cleavage in a casual, unassuming way. She turned around and frowned at the sight of her round hips. The black, elegant trousers she had chosen that morning were really tight over her butt, which showed how generous it was in comparison to her delicate waist and medium-sized breasts.

  “Ugh! I have such a big ass. Maybe I should have gone for a skirt.” She contemplated the possibility of changing. “No. No, no, no. What if Miss Jones sends for me just as I’m out of my pants and struggling to make the stupid skirt fit? Out of the question.”

  The long, perfectly ironed trousers would have to do, even though, in combination with the white shirt and black pumps, they did give her a standoffish, businesslike air. She looked as if she was getting ready for a meeting. Her soft, medium-length brown hair fell on her shoulders in wide curls. It had taken her forever to curl it properly, the annoying strands too soft and shiny to comply with the new shape she wanted to give them. She had applied a thin layer of foundation to make sure her complexion was white and flawless, then used black eyeliner to make her warm, brown eyes stand out. Fiery red lipstick completed her make-up. Yes, she looked like she was about to give a sales pitch to a filthy rich, pretentious client.

  “Well… isn’t that what we’re actually doing here?” she whispered while applying a new layer of red lipstick. She heard the door open and threw one last glance in the mirror before leaving the bathroom.

  Amelia’s two roommates entered the bedroom, Claudia laughing wholeheartedly at something Delyse had just said. They both stopped in their tracks, eyes wide and mouths slightly open, when they saw Amelia.

  “What do you think?” Amelia asked them, not before checking her phone again.

  “Oh, wow! Aren’t you taking the project for the stock market seminar a bit too far?” asked Delyse.

  “What project?” Amelia rolled her eyes. “Ha.Ha. So funny. Seriously, how do I look?”

  “Very… professional?” offered Claudia.

  “Why didn’t you tell us you have an interview today? We could have helped you get ready.” Delyse walked to her desk and powered up her laptop. She and Claudia had just come back from lunch and they had half an hour more to spare before the next class.

  “I don’t have an interview,” said Amelia reluctantly. “At least… not yet.”

  “What do you mean?” Claudia had already lain down on her bed, determined to waste away the little free time she had before the Greek Literature class.

  “I’m waiting for Miss Jones to call me.”

  “So… you do have an interview,” concluded Delyse.

  “No, I don’t.” Amelia sat down on her bed angrily. This was so frustrating. The fox-shifter had been interviewing her Vulpes colleagues since early morning, and no one had sent for her yet. She had skipped classes and lunch to make sure she was ready when Miss Jones would tell her the fox-shifter who was visiting the Alma Venus Boarding School had requested her for an interview, but it was already 12:30 PM and nothing had happened. Had the guy gone over her page in the House Vulpes catalog and decided she wasn’t what he was looking for?

  “I’m confused,” said Claudia, sitting up in bed. “You don’t have an interview, but you got ready for one anyway.”

  Amelia stood up and resumed her anxious pacing. This couldn’t happen again. It simply couldn’t. She was 22 and had gotten her own page in the House Vulpes catalog four years ago. Since then, she had had more interviews than she could count, and she had done her best each and every time, even when she hadn’t been particularly fond of the fox-shifter who was trying to assess if she was a good mate for him or his Alpha. And after each interview, she had walked out of the office disappointed, already aware she had blown it. None of the shape-shifters who had interviewed her over the years had wanted to buy her. It was easy to understand why the bear-shifters and the eagle-shifters had dismissed her after just a couple of questions. She was too much of a fox-bride to appeal to them. But, for the life of her, she couldn’t understand why no fox-shifter seemed to want her either. In these circumstances, there was a fair chance she would reach 25 before anyone bought her. She shook her head, and her gesture made Delyse and Claudia exchange a worried glance. She couldn’t think about that. She had worked too hard to be thrown out of Alma Venus and forced to fend for herself or work in a shifter brothel.

  “Are you okay?” asked Delyse carefully. Amelia wasn’t exactly her and Claudia’s friend, but they had shared the same room for years. Since Amelia helped Avelyn escape the night she was bought by Max Blackmane, Delyse had tried to get closer to her. She was difficult and bitchy, but Delyse was sure the girl’s attitude was more of a weird, twisted defense system.

  “No, I’m not okay!” Amelia turned to face Delyse and Claudia. Tears were threatening to fill her beautiful eyes, and she struggled to hold them back before they ruined her make-up. “More than a half of the Vulpes girls at Alma Venus have already been interview
ed, and no one sent for me.”

  “Oh, so that’s what the whole fuss is about!” said Claudia. She and Delyse had seen a couple of students waiting in front of Miss Delacroix’s office, but hadn’t been curious enough to investigate and see what was happening. “A fox-shifter has come to look for a bride.”

  “Not just any fox-shifter,” said Amelia. She checked the time again. “The guy came all the way from Alaska, which means the clan he belongs to must be rich and influential. Otherwise, he would have stuck to one of the American boarding schools.”

  “Have you seen him?”

  “No, but I don’t care what he looks like. I want out of here, preferably before I turn 25 and it’s too late.”

  “Amelia…”

  Claudia’s soothing voice only made her angrier and more agitated. “Don’t you try to comfort me. I’m not afraid to look reality in the face: this year I had around two or three interviews a month, and no shape-shifter wanted to buy me. I don’t know why, and yes, I might be getting a little panicky, but I must fix this somehow. I must push harder. Maybe I’m not pretty enough, or sexy enough, or… or…” she sniffed loudly, determined not to let the tears fall, “… smart enough. I know everything there is to know about the werefoxes’ culture and traditions by heart. I’ve read all the copies of their ancient texts we have in the library, and I probably know more about their powers and connection to lightning and electricity than most of their Inaris. I am willing to work even harder than this. I’d make a great Alpha bride, I’m sure of it. So, why does no one want to buy me? And now this… There’s a fox-shifter downstairs, interviewing prospective brides, and he hasn’t even considered calling me for an interview.”

  “Maybe he hasn’t gotten to your page yet…” whispered Claudia.

  “Amelia. A. I’m on the third page or so. You can’t miss me.” Amelia turned towards the tall windows, suddenly ashamed of her own behavior. She didn’t want her roommates to see how vulnerable she was, but the situation was starting to get to her. She really wanted this interview, although she couldn’t say why. Yes, Julia, one of the few Alma Venus students she actually liked, had come upstairs after her own interview and told her the fox-shifter was pretty hot and handsome, but that didn’t matter anyway. Apparently, he was only a Beta, or an Yako, according to the foxes’ ranking system, who was looking for a bride for his Alpha, or Inari. Handsome or not, the girl he bought would end up the wife of a mysterious stranger.

  Delyse turned off her laptop, stood up, and walked to Amelia, stopping in front of her and blocking her view of the tall, green trees outside their window. “Please don’t take the wrong way what I’m about to tell you.”

  Amelia huffed. “I can take criticism.”

  “No, you can’t.” Delyse smiled at her roommate’s stubbornness. “You usually brush it off and do things your way, that’s why it’s so difficult to be honest with you. You remind me of Avelyn.”

  Amelia rolled her eyes. She had never liked whiny Avelyn.

  “You look wonderful, by the way,” Delyse continued, studying Amelia’s outfit and make-up. “That is… if you want to convince your Beta fox he needs to hire a new accountant.”

  “Are you trying to be sarcastic?”

  “Not at all. I’m trying to be honest with you and give you some sound advice, even though… yeah… you didn’t ask for it. But be patient for a second and hear me out.”

  Amelia checked her phone again, then crossed her arms over her chest. “Go on.”

  “You make it too obvious that this whole affair is business to you. Shape-shifters need mates to bear their children, boarding schools raise girls to become shifter-brides and do just that. It’s a system that works, but I’m sure you’re intuitive enough to see there’s something missing from this equation: love. Friendship. True bonding. Amelia, the way you dress, behave, and present yourself tells the fox-shifters who would be interested in you that you’re only looking for a husband to get you out of Alma Venus, and in exchange you’re willing to be a good wife and mother, but never a true partner. You’ve always criticized Avelyn for rebelling against the system and trying to fight it, but you fail to realize you’re doing the same thing, albeit in a different way.”

  Amelia averted her gaze and clutched the phone tighter. “I’m not Avelyn.”

  “You’re not. Avelyn wanted to be happy. She wanted to be free so she could love whomever she liked, and the simple fact that she was open to love and happiness helped her find the right man.”

  “How do you know Max is the right man for her? If I remember well, he bought her and took her away from Alma Venus without her consent.”

  Delyse swallowed heavily and cursed herself for saying too much. No one had to know Miss Delacroix had let them video chat a few weeks ago because Avelyn had gotten bitten and needed a cure for the werewolf venom. “Max is a good guy.”

  Amelia cocked an eyebrow. “What do you suggest?”

  “Be more open. Let them see who you are. You always go there and make a huge display of your knowledge about the foxes and how you’re ready to fulfill your duty as a bride.”

  “Isn’t this what they’re looking for?”

  “No. God, no!” Delyse smiled indulgently. How hadn’t she realized this before? Amelia’s refusal to make any real friends, her determination to succeed, to do things right, to be perfect and professional… They all showed how intelligent she was. Intellectually, but not emotionally. Amelia lacked emotional intelligence. “Look, I know this is new to you, but take a shot and listen to me this time.” Delyse reached for her neat, shiny curls and started to ruffle them.

  “What are you doing?” Amelia slapped the blonde’s hands away and took a step back, a look of utter horror on her face.

  Delyse laughed and motioned for Claudia to give her a hand. “You need to loosen up. Perfect hair? Men don’t want that shit. The make-up is great, so I promise not to touch it.”

  “Lemme help you get rid of that boring shirt,” said Claudia and reached around Amelia to attack the small buttons.

  Amelia didn’t know how to react. She was surrounded, and her roommates were messing with her hair and pulling at the clothes she had taken hours to smooth down to perfect, irreproachable lines. Confused and a bit shocked, she simply spread her arms to her sides and let them do whatever they pleased. What did it matter anyway? Miss Jones hadn’t called or sent for her. The interview wasn’t happening.

  “The pumps can stay,” said Delyse. “But you’re wearing a dress, missy.”

  “One of my dresses,” added Claudia. They both knew Amelia’s dresses and skirts were all black and went way below her knees. Claudia ran to her closet and pulled out a cute, almond dress with thin straps and delicate lace on the chest, around the waist, and on the hem of the skirt.

  “I’m not wearing that!”

  “Yes, you are!” chirped Claudia. “The color is perfect! It makes your brown hair and eyes look even warmer. And it tones down those sharp edges the eyeliner and that lipstick create.” She shuddered, as if only the sole mention of black, winged eyeliner and red lipstick sent a chill right to her core.

  “Come on,” pleaded Delyse. “Do things our way. Just this time.”

  Amelia bit the inside of her lip and eyed the dress wearily. She had never been a fan of pale colors. “Oh well… I guess it won’t hurt,” she eventually gave in. She took off her shirt and trousers, then pulled the dress down her head and shoulders, cringing at how much it messed up her hair. Claudia zipped it up and Delyse started rearranging her wide curls, making them look more natural.

  “See? This isn’t so bad,” said the blonde.

  Amelia took a deep breath and stepped in front of the mirror. Her brows furrowed when she saw how the dress stopped right above her knees, and how the cleavage revealed almost the entire upper half of her breasts. “I don’t feel comfortable.”

  “Relax. You look gorgeous!” Claudia encouraged her.

  “Now, don’t you dare adopt that businesslike attitu
de of yours during the interview. It doesn’t go well with your outfit,” Delyse advised.

  “There won’t be an interview,” Amelia sighed. She turned around, her eyes searching for her phone. She had left it on one of the beds when the girls had started undressing her. There was no use in checking the time or her call log again. Her eyes turned back to Delyse and Claudia. She couldn’t help offering them a small, grateful smile. Even though the dress made her feel exposed, and she was constantly tempted to pull at her skirt to make sure her panties didn’t show, she knew they had meant well. “Thank you.” Two simple words. They were more of a whisper, but she did say them.

  “You’re welcome.” Delyse smiled widely, thinking of how much the dress and slightly messy hair changed Amelia’s entire appearance.

  “And don’t worry,” said Claudia. “If this foxy guy came all the way from Alaska to find the perfect bride for his Alpha, he will go through the entire House Vulpes catalog.”

  Amelia was just getting ready to contradict her when her phone started vibrating furiously on the bed. It took her two wide steps to reach it, and Claudia and Delyse made sure to move out of her way.

  “It’s Miss Jones.”

  ***

  Amelia had never been so nervous in her life. Miss Jones had told her she had fifteen minutes to get downstairs, and apologized for rushing her. She knew the girls needed some time to prepare for the interviews, but Seth of Clan Sylfur had made up his mind at the last moment. He had gone through the entire House Vulpes catalog, deliberately skipping Amelia while he interviewed all the other girls, then asked for her when he reached the letter Z. Zoe was still in the office when Amelia stopped in front of Miss Jones’ desk.

  “I’m so sorry sweetie,” said the secretary. “The young gentleman is so fussy. I swear to God we’ve never had such a difficult client before. He didn’t even fill out the forms with the names of the brides he wanted to see. It took him five minutes to scan the catalog and tell us he wanted to see all the Vulpes girls, except for you.” The woman searched Amelia’s face for the girl’s reaction. She didn’t want to upset her, but she believed it was better to be honest and tell her exactly what to expect. She rather liked Amelia with her cold, calculated attitude. She deserved to know what she was getting herself into before entering the office.