Page 77 of Alphas Never Hide

Ineeded to quit thinking about food.Itwasn’t helping my stomach settle.

“Hereis the tracker,”Jeremysaid, handing me a funny little pin to attach to my shirt.

Myhands shook asItried to attach it.Haydenfinally stepped forward to help.Howembarrassing.ThenJeremychecked the signal on his phone.

“We’regood,”Jeremysaid. “Ready?”

Inodded.Icouldn’t do words.

“Adrian, go into your cone of silence.”

Adriangrumbled something aboutJeremymaking it up to him later, but he put on the helmet as requested.Blackconstruction paper covered the visor so he couldn’t seeout.Jeremy’scheeks flushed as he pattedAdrian’sback.Asmall smile played over his mouth.

Jeremycleared his throat and glanced at his clipboard again, as if needing to remember what he was supposed to be doing. “Right.Likethe others, you’ll have a head start, thenAdrianwill go into the woods to find you after five minutes.”Jeremyheld up a large metal bell.Basedon whatI’dseen ofOak’swork in the demonstration earlier,Ithought it was one of his.Andwhy, for the love ofMagic, wasIeven looking at the bell?Iwas about to be hunted through the woods. “Doyou want some music to hype you up?”

Noone else had agreed to the music, but it couldn’t hurt. “Sure.”

“Yes!Finally!”Jeremylowered the bell and scooped up his phone.Hetapped on the screen and “LoseYourself” byEminemblasted over two small portable speakers.Hewaited until the chorus before he shouted, “Onyour mark.Getset.Gohide!”

Heclanged the bell.Ishifted and galloped to the trees.Assoon asIwas away from the crowd’s eyes,Ilet out a deep breath.Thiswould all be over in a few minutes.ThenIcould go drink a metric ton of ouzo and promise myselfI’dnever do this again.

TheshrubIhid behind still had most of its leaves, soIwas a little hidden from view.Butthat would be too easy.Iwandered through the trees to find another spot.Ididn’t want to make it too easy.Huh.NowthatIwas doing it, it didn’t seem so scary.

Icould do this.Hide.Makeit a little tricky forAdrian.

Iwalked a little further.They’dbe sending him after me soon.Ishould hunker down somewhere.

Whatwas that noise?

Shit.Hemust already be in the woods.Fiveminutes had passed fast.Atwig cracked.Leavesrustled.Igrinned, ready to jump out and surprise my hunter.Hewas getting closer and closer and…

“Oomph.Ouch.Sonof a goat herder’s daughter.”

Istaggered, reaching for my head.ThenIfell to my ass.Whatthe ever-loving fuck had hit me?Itwas luckyIhad shifted because my horns protected me from the brunt of the hit, butIwas still dazed.

“Grabhim.Let’sgo.”

Ohno.Irecognized that bastard’s voice.Buthow?Iwas still within theWillowLakeboundary, andRobbiewas supposed to be on the run.Iblinked to clear my bleary sight, as rough hands hauled me to my feet.

“Itwas nice of him to come out and greet us like a good little pet.Now, let’s go before he tries to run away again.”

Thensomeone came at me with something black.

Ibatted them away with my free hand, but they were stronger and faster.Fuckingfuckity foo.Therehad to be a way out of here.Ineeded to escape.Thenmy gaze caught on something that made me freeze.StandingbehindRobbieand his buddies was a faceIhadn’t seen in years.

Connywas here.

HAYDEN

Ryleydisappeared into the woods, and it took everythingIhad not to follow him.Adigital timer was counting down the five minutes untilAdrianwould go afterRyley.Itseemed to flick through the numbers more slowly than normal.

Finally, the timer got to zero.

JeremytappedAdrian’sshoulder.Hewhipped off the helmet and rushed into the woods.Jeremyglanced at his phone.Frowning, he tapped on the screen.Thenhe did it again.

“Weird.”

“What?What’sweird?”