Becoming: Valkyrie: Alex Book 2

By Bree Knight

Alex notices something very suspicious going on with Kyros at Hope Asylum. She is eager to find answers, but Alex's magic abilities put her at risk. While Alex is trying to cultivate her powers, Kyros has an evil plan to use her powers for his own agenda. Alex must mature quickly and overcome all the ill-intentions that stand in her way. With the help of her friends, Tori and Chloe, and her potential love interest, Lucas, she embarks on a journey to find the answers she has been searching for.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Aug 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9781667848822

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Awakening

©2022 Bree Knight

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.

ISBN: 978-1-66784-881-5

eBook ISBN: 978-1-66784-882-2

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Acknowledgments

About the Author

To my beautiful Grandmothers.

Grandma Charlotte, for being an author I can look up to. Grandma Marge for taking me to the library for hours to explore new worlds.

Editor: Katelyn Rose Ascheman

Chapter 1

‘S hit, I’m awake!’ Sitting straight up in bed from a dream about Lucas. Since I met him, I can’t seem to dream about anyone or anything else. I run my hands up and down my face before racking them through my hair, slowly bringing my breathing back to normal and giving myself one last mental shake before throwing myself back onto my pillow with a groan.

That was one hell of a dream, but I think I should focus on what to do about him, not on what to do on or with him. These dreams are getting more intense every night.

The dream was even more intense than the last one. Who goes on a picnic with a guy who isn’t wearing a shirt. Not to mention when said picnic is all deserts that can be eaten off that exposed chiseled chest and abs.

The small amount of drool on my pillow speaks for itself.

Yep, it definitely does. I have the hots for a Vampire.

Taking one of Tori’s signature deep breaths, I slowly shift to my side to see what time of day it is.

Thank the Gods it is only 6 am.

I roll back over, listening for any movement from my two friends. I know Tori can’t possibly be awake, but Chloe might be. She likes to tend to her plants early in the morning. Something about them puts her right with the world every day. Another is she could be a little bit anal about getting things done earlier in the day.

 As the saying goes, The early bird gets the worm.

It’s fine either way. I want Chloe to be happy.

On the plus side, sometimes it leads her to clean. When I say clean, it is more along the line of deep cleaning the bathroom or organizing the garage, which is always fantastic in my book. Tori and I tend to clutter things up or forget that soap is a thing. Chloe keeps threatening to hire a maid or set the place on fire.

Every once in a while, I think she means it.

A shiver goes down my back at the thought of someone else in our space.

Mentally I shrug. The fire I can put out, so that doesn’t worry me.

Sitting up with a groan. I didn’t hear anything, so I checked Chloe’s room before heading up to the roof, where I was sure to find her.

Walking down the hall, past Tori’s closed door to Chloe’s. I see that it’s open, a good sign that she is up. Turning on my heels, I backtracked to go down the stairs to the kitchen. In my hast, I take them at a faster pace than needed.

An added perk to my day was not falling or tripping over my feet on the stairs.

Mental high five!

Going to the fridge, I grab a cold breakfast burrito. Tearing open the tin foil and wax paper, I bite into the burrito with a moan escaping from my lips after my first bite. Bacon is the best discovery in human history. I swear I would kiss the person who discovered it.

Some days I have the idea to be a vegetarian or at least have meatless days, but then I come down for breakfast and bite into one of these. There is no way I can give these up, and no matter how hard they try, tofu is not bacon.

I am heading back up, two stairs at a time to get to the next set of stairs that leads to the roof. I love the old spiral stairs that lead up to the roof and greenhouse. The ting of my slippers paddling their way up was a kind of music and alarm that someone was coming up.

Pushing through the door at the top, I inhale the soil, flowers, and magic that comes from the plants my friend has grown. Turning to the speaker system next to the door, I turn it down a few notches while rolling my eyes to the heavens. I don’t know how she can stand loud music this early.

I hear a Hey! from Chloe across the roof. Going around a couple of tables to reach the potting area she has set up for her young seedlings. Thankfully she is distracted, so her annoyance isn’t top level.

 Her long red auburn hair is swiftly braided down her back, hanging over her shoulder to one side. She cocks her hip to the right as she turns around to see that it is just me. I don’t know who else it would be, but she is very protective of her space and plants.

I shot an ice spear through the open window yesterday, hitting one of her hanging tomato plants. She still has not forgiven me. If I were anyone else, I would be dead or missing a part of my body.

…….More than likely the arm that threw the spear but let’s not dwell on that nasty image.

Chloe sells plants for high prices. She can inhibit the plants to do things that they usually can’t or even enhance their natural abilities. The clientele that she has I only help with some of the time. For the most part, I don’t know what, how or who buys them.

I try a wave, but she will not give in that easily. So I do the next best thing, I silently offer her the rest of my breakfast burrito.

 She nods and swipes it out of my hand, taking a massive bite out of it before she says. Ok, but bring me one without your germs on it next time. After another taste, she adds. You are halfway forgiven. Now, what brings you up here and out of bed so early? She turns back to her seedlings, so I jump up on the counter next to her work. I had another dream about him, and they seem to become more and more intense each night. Not going into detail on what the dream entailed, though.

This girl is cruelly honest and will not hesitate with her opinion.

Which I am sure would be ‘Jump his bones’ or something along that line of thinking.

I can tell from the gleam in her eye what she was imagining. Yep, definitely not going to tell her. I roll my eyes at her eyebrow waggle. I think we need to come up with what to do soon. I know that we need to protect ourselves, but I can’t ignore the fact that he is my mate or that his brothers know what we are. I tilt my head back, taking in another deep breath.

Tori’s yoga breathing isn’t helping. Damn it. I say under my breath.

Chloe reaches over to me, squeezing my leg, taking pity on me, which is easier for her than it would have been for Tori. That girl liked to lay into the sarcasm and jokes.

Chloe puts the seedlings to the side and jumps up next to me. I know you; with us getting closer to your birthday and these people after you. I am worried that things may worsen, not to mention Kyros Industries, which are still a problem. With the information that I found on them. I think that we need to find out what this experiment is. I don’t think they should have it back, and I may have a way for you to find it using your gift of vision. She held up her hand, causing me to stop what I was about to say. If we can get into the place that it was stolen from, we can have you go back in time to see who took it or even what it is capable of. Chloe finishes and puts her hand down.

I contemplated this for a second before speaking. That is a good idea. Then Tori’s reaction to Chloe’s ideas. Not to mention some of them have landed us in a pickle.

 What do you think of Tori going along with it? This gets her attention back on me for the moment. And how do we do this, with all of the guards Lucas has put on us? We can’t just stroll out of this place without them noticing. She looks over her shoulder out the window. We all know there are guards out on the neighboring roofs and positioned around the building on the ground.

Annoying as this is, you have to admit it is sort of sweet.

I think that it would be impossible to do that. We will have to rope Lucas in on this. Now that we all have had a few days to talk amongst ourselves, we should get back together to discuss everything. Even if they want to know more about us, we don’t have to tell them. Chloe jumps down, brushing her hands on her overalls.

She makes dirt look so good and cute.

Like an accessor…..

She is also correct. Shit, Tori will not be pleased with this, but we have to face it.

Lucas is my mate……. That he and his brothers know about us. Ok, let’s do this. I will text Lucas. He has been calling and texting me non-stop….. It might be a good idea either way to call him. If I don’t, I think my time is up on ignoring him. His last text indicated he may storm the gates. Laughing, I jump down, swiping some dirt from my butt.

We head to the door to go down together. I think we should fill the Lucas and his brothers in more about what we are and about my upcoming birthday. This has her faltering some on the stairs, but she catches herself on the rail. He is my mate, and I better start trusting him. Sighing, I feel better just thinking about being with him again. Oooo…kay… Chloe’s agreement is one of a person caving into the situation rather than one of enthusiasm.

The knot in my chest loosens some.

At the bottom of the stairs, I pause at Chloe’s door and look toward Tori’s still shut door. Looking back at Chloe, we both yell. Not it! While putting a pointer finger on our nose. I got mine there first. ‘Sweet!’ Chloe…. groans. Looking to the ceiling uttering the word. Fuck...

I run down the hall to my room to throw some clothes on before calling Lucas, snagging a cold coffee from the fridge before going to my closet. No one should have to face what I am without caffeine.

Though maybe a shot of tequila would be better.

What does one wear when having a serious conversation with your mate and his brothers? Taking another sip, I comb through my nicer clothes that are not for a date but could still be a little sexy when called for. I settled on a black lace-off-the-shoulder top with a black tank under it. As I pull out my dark teal jeggings, I hear music in the hallway.

Crap, no, she didn’t….. Chloe why? Looking to the heavens for help as I race to the door just in time to see Tori’s door slamming against the wall as it is opened and attacking the alarm clock with a bat she keeps by her bed. At least she has a long T-shirt on instead of her birthday suit this morning.

Running to her, I catch the bat on a downward swing before it hits the alarm clock again. Really at this point, it is in pieces. No use in damaging the floors.

Explaining that to Ry would suck.

Though I think he would just roll his eyes at this point. He has made jokes in the past at Chloe’s antics.

Tori gives me a defiant look of loathing. Ok, killer. This wasn’t me, but can you please stop and instead, next time, not use your bat on innocent objects? Smirking, I pull the bat from her grasp. Fine, but that thing deserved it. Where the hell is Chloe? She is going to pay for this seriously. Tori says. The small amount of mirth convinces me that she may mean it this time.

The last time she got this creative was with a bucket of water outside the door with some of her loud music to draw Tori out in her sleep-beguiled stubborn state. Sure Chloe cleaned up the mess….. But that smile on her face was worth it. And a video that is still one of my favorites to watch of Tori will live on.

Thankfully she was in her bra and respectable undies for that one.

There have been some wake-up calls that regrettably have an inappropriate wardrobe theme.

I point to the bathroom with running water that she would have heard if she wasn’t so revved up over the alarm clock. Moving out of her warpath, I lean against the wall with the bat, waiting for the retaliation to begin.

God’s above. I love those two maniacs.

Tori goes into the bathroom, leaving the door wide open, dragging the shower curtain aside after taking the glass of water off the counter and throwing the cold water at Chloe. Ahhhh! Fuck, that’s cold! Chloe shrieks. Well, next time, be normal and just tell me it’s time to get up. What’s up with the fucking concert in the hall at this hour? Tori yells back.

Chloe shrugs, looking over her shoulder as she says. What kind of fun is that? Besides, it got you up, didn’t it? The growl was not promising from Tori, but I think the ‘wind is going out of Tori’s sails,’ so to speak.

There may be more later.

Letting those two hash out the rest should be safe now that the initial protest is over. To be safe, I swing the bat over my right shoulder. Going back into my room, I drag a brush through my hair and apply some light makeup. I can’t make it look like I am trying too hard. Even with the two intense make out sessions behind us, I still feel like we need to take things slower from here.

Looking at their doors before I head down, I don’t hear anything out of the ordinary. So, I continue my way down to the kitchen to grab another breakfast burrito. This time I take the tinfoil off and put it in the microwave. I hear Tori coming down the stairs as I wait, so I grab a couple more out. Throwing them in after, I take mine out of the microwave and walk over to the stool by the counter.

Opening up my phone. There are two missed calls and a few text messages from Lucas. Man, this guy doesn’t know how to chill or do the three-day rule before calling a chick.

Rolling my shoulders, I think it is best just to call him. Texting would be the easier route, but when have I ever done things the easy way.

After a few rings, he picks up. It’s about bloody time you got back to me. I want to see you. His ruff voice is demandingly calm. I told you that it would be a few days before I am ready to talk about everything, and we are still working on a side project. My friends and I had to talk, and besides, we don’t know if we can trust you and your brothers. I try to get this all out without sounding too defensive, but I know I failed. I am your mate. I will always protect you, and my brothers will be there also. After a beat, he adds. This side project better not be the one with Kyro Industries. They are dangerous, Alex. Lucas and his kingly demurring voice will put me on edge soon. Yes, I am your mate, but I don’t have to accept this if I don’t want to……. I state definitely. My heart squeezed at this. Ahh, yeah, I am caught by him. Why I keep defying myself and him is beyond me.

‘My stupid, stubborn ass.’ I recited to myself.

We are off-topic, but this man lights a fire under my ass. The reason I called is to ask if you guys want to meet up to talk. We have decided that it is safer if we share with you. After getting this out, I can breathe smoother. Thank the God’s woman. Yes, I will send a car to pick you up in 10 minutes. Do not make me wait for you. With that, he hung up.

Looking down at my phone, I can’t help but think about the suggestion of them coming here that was still on the tip of my tung.

I am glancing up at Tori, who just raises her eyebrow, waiting for me to spill. I know she is about to say I told you so, especially after last night trying to get me to text him to come over and hash things out.

Putting my phone down, I take a bite out of my burrito, savoring the bacon and spices. After I get the next one down, I say, We have to be ready in 10 minutes. Lucas is sending a car for us.

Tori snorts. You have got to be kidding me. Does he know we are grown adults with our own transportation? Can he be any more male? After a pause at which….. I think she wanted me to chime in……. but I didn’t want to encourage her to climb that ladder. She tries another route.I will inform Chloe to finish the primping, or we will never make it. She pushes off, heading for the stairs. I quickly got up. Hey, give her this, and she may come willingly, I shout. Throwing the burrito at her; as she is walking up the stairs.

Tori snags it with no problem.

She does a pretend touch-down dance on the stairs as she continues up to get Chloe moving. I think it is a cross between the running man and chicken dance.

About five minutes