Her Savior Alpha

Half-cold tea sat on the desk beside my right hand, I scratched away at the paper before me. Papers were a necessary part of Alpha life. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Being Alpha was what I was born for, I knew it from the second I received my wolf and became free to shoulder the duties of my pack.

Back then, things were more difficulty than they were now. Mount hunter was just a small, lowly pack over fifty years it; a tiny hole in the middle of nowhere, overshadowed by the pine forests and mountains that surrounded it. Our Alpha was an honorable man at the time, but discord hung beneath the smiling faces of his advisors. He was too gentle, letting his pack rot n the places he couldn’t reach. People were going hungry. Wolves were getting sick from infected injuries, and our healers at the time had little in the way of funds or supplies or skill to manage it all. While our Alpha meant well, there was anarchy in our ranks, anarchy that tore families apart and created liars and thieves, and let our already thin, crumbling walls down for outside forces to come. And come they did. I remembered fighting in countless battles in my youth, many of which ended in absolute disgrace.

When I received my wolf, I realized my purpose to be Alpha. When I lay injured in those gruesome battles surrounded by dead wolves of comrades around me, I realized my objective as the next leader of this pack: to never let our men lose another battle. When I finally rose to the ranks and was voted in as alpha by the higher officials, I turned their powers against them. I had weaseled into their trust, making myself out to be a highly-servile, servant of our pack name, one who followed orders and did as advised.

Upon ascending the throne, I fired all the old, corrupt advisors and appointed trusted ones in my service. Yet I didn’t stop there. How stupid would I have been if i allowed high-ranked officials who lost their positions roam free to plan for my demise? No, one full-moon night, I sent my best soldier to slay them in their sleep, with an a poisonous elixir that stopped the heart instantly. There was no evidence for their death being anything but natural, and the coincidence of the old councilmembers dying at the same time was something that I was responsible for looking into. To this day, their unsolved case sat in a file collecting dust in the basement.

The herb was courtesy of my wife, Cilia, the daughter of the most renowned apothecary at the time and my partner, who stood with me through every trial in my life. When she was gone, slain by rogues while away on a mission, all I had with my daughter, Rebecca, who was living proof of the existence of her mother. In her, I saw my Cilia’s eyes and kindness, her resolute attitude and her honor, and of course, her expansive knowledge of all things herbs, roots, and plants. My eyes flickered to one of the framed photos I had perched on my oak desk; one of me and my beloved, her young face grinning in black-and-white. Beside it, a picture of my daughter when she was young, with me standing behind with an arm around her teenage shoulders. Her straight dark hair was up in her classic ponytails, and in this colored photo, I could see her sparkling green eyes. We were so happy then, when it was just the two of us.

Realizing I had paused in my writing, I couldn’t, putting pen to paper. Suddenly, a knock rapped upon my office door. “Come on, I called out, distracted, getting focused in my work once more. Derrick, my bespectacled messenger, entered the large office, padding over to stand before me.

“The recent and updated list of newly turned wolves for this month, sir.” He extended his arm, a thick file folder in his hand.

“Ah, yes.” I took the file and placed the thing aside. I’d get to it eventually. Knowing he was dismissed, he slipped out quietly and I returned to my work, taking a tip of cold tea.

After a half hour, I completed the report in front of me and put it aside. I needed to stretch my legs, perhaps a run would do me well. As I got up to leave, my eyes landed on the file of newly shifted wolves. Wasn’t this month the birth month of my daughter’s wretched spawn? Curious, I opened the file. Running down the list of name, I scanned until I found her: Vera. Her shift was only yesterday? Her born day completely slipped my mind, as I’d do anything to forget the day of my daughter’s dreadfully painful labor. Yet I couldn’t move, reading the report of her shifting, attention landing form word to word.

My chest squeezed with every piece of information describing her wolf: pitch-black, streaks of brown and gray, glossy, thick hair, and a slight mane around her neck, a shorter tail…. It was the exact wolf my daughter Rebecca had. The file in my hands bled red with the anger blinding my sight. I didn’t care what fate ordained; that bitch had taken my daughters life and now he’d taken her wolf. She would certainly pay.

Vera

Giddiness vibrated in my every cell, putting a spring in my step and swinging my arms back and forth on the walk home. Despite the things Thelma told me, I felt incredibly happy, to an extent that I had never felt, like warm apple cider on a cold winter day or the first flowers to spring on a spring day. It was a comforting and exciting feeling, like coming home and going to a new place, all at once. I couldn’t wait to be one and the same with my wolf, and for once in my life, I didn’t feel empty inside. I felt like my chest was whole with a full heart, I felt completed in the only way a werewolf could. I couldn’t believe I’d made it this far, and now that I had, there were so many things in store. I dared to hope for better things.

As I walked with Thelma that evening, the sunset warming me and blinding my eyes with its orange pink glow, a flood of dreams and goals I wanted to accomplish came rushing through my mind. It was like a dam had been destroyed. I imagined myself next to Thelma in our solder’s habits, flying through the woods before leaping into our wolves to patrol unexplored areas. I could see myself visiting other packs and running with groups of wolves, my comrades. I especially couldn’t wait to receive clearance for living in the permanent residence hall at the barracks. I could finally be out of the sad excuse of a home and have my own room, and keep all my things private and safe. I could sleep as much as I willed and wake up at whatever time I pleased, with no Grant to come stomping up the ladder to scream me awake. I could visit my friends whenever I wanted.

I was sure that Alpha Dane would not mind if the deal was that he would never see my face again. I would gladly never reveal it in front of him in exchange for freedom. Perhaps without his influence, people would begin to see me as Vera, a part of the pack, not Vera the bitch who caused the collapse of the Mount Hunter Pack after the fight against Beartown. I could rack up my own list of achievements - I new I could. I didn’t know why, but a newfound confidence welled from deep within me. A multitude of doors felt available to me; who knows? Maybe I could also serve the medical hall after a few years of frontline service? I certainly didn’t mind.

“Thelma, do you think I would look good in a healer’s outfit?” I suddenly turned to Thelma to ask, a grin threatening to break my countenance. My serotonin was through the roof.

Her short blond hair was streaked with orange hues form the setting sun. It flew around as she whipped her head to look at me in surprise. “Uh, yes. Everything looks good on you. But you’ve never showed any interest in being a healer. Why do you ask?”

I laughed. “Just wondering. What can I say, I guess I am just seeing so many possibilities.”

Thelma laughed beside me, joining in with my bubbling happiness that was so contagious. Hooking an arm around mine, she said, “Let’s start with getting used to your wolf first, Vera. After that,” she spread her hand across the sky, “The world is your oyster.”

We continued our way down the grassy path through the residential area, Dane’s giant pack house peeking out over the roofs of other houses.

Upon getting to the house, we were still a bundle of giggles, drunk without any substances in our system. The front porch was dark under the velvet night, the sun slipping beneath the horizon. Only a sliver of yellow light flooded on the wooden porch floor from the slightly ajar front door. It usually was open, since no one had anything to fear. The alpha was powerful, so no one would dare to try to sneak in.

Suddenly, a bit of my usual reality crashed into me. My future did seem brighter, but my present was still the same. I didn’t know what would await me when I walked through the door. Would I still be the same Vera who was treated like shit by an abusive grandfather? Would my wolf have any influence over how my situation was? We quieted, and I sent Thelma a glance as I pushed the door a bit open, hesitate. She gave me an encouraging look. While I knew Thelma couldn’t really do anything in the face of the alpha, her presence was reassuring. I pushed the door open.

Stepping in the front door, silence met us. We continued onwards, turning the corner into the front sitting room. A tremendously dark aura wafting around the air urged me to turn around and run with my tail between my legs. The living room seemed normal, the lights on and the couches set in a square haven in the middle around a large coffee table, enough seat for many to sit. To the side, near the kitchen, a large dining table sat, both for meals and for meetings. The only thing out of place was the large form leaning against mantel above the fireplace facing the sitting area, the hulking build of Alpha Dane holding a wine glass in one hand, a file folder nestled in the other arm. He was emotionless as he whirled the liquid around in his glass, before throwing it back with a gulp. Talk about dramatic. But now was not the time for jokes, as my stomach flipped in anxiety at the warning signs.

With as strong of a voice I could use, I greeted him, “Grandfather.”

His muscles visibly twitched. “That’s alpha to you,” he said slowly.

“Alpha Dane,” I corrected. Thelma repeated the phrase with a slight bow of her head.

“I’m glad you’re here,” he started, a dangerous lilt to his tone. “Because I’d like to know what the fuck this is?” Forcefully, he grabbed the file from under his arm and pushed it under my nose. The file was a report - the report for newly turned wolves, and it was turned to my name, in which Thelma’s bubbly scrawl had written my wolf’s false description, one that she based on my mother’s….oh. Understanding dawned on me, cold and sobering. I feigned ignorance. “That’s my wolf, sir. I shifted yesterday for the first time.”

“Do you think I’m fucking stupid?” he threw the file to the ide, and it landed on the floor, the papers spreading. “Do you think I wouldn’t recognize my own daughter’s wolf? You, you, dumb little bitch…” his voice rose and rose increasingly with every word. “How dare you!” He shot out his arm, grabbing my roughly by the collar. I cried out as my shirt cut into my throat.

Thelma moved closer, nearly blocking me from him, her hand up. “Wait! Sir. Please, the Moon Goddess chooses a wolf for each person, and this… coincidence is a fate that she has ordained. We have no say in how--”

“GARDINER!” Dane’s angry voice boomed, echoing throughout the entire room, stopping Thelma in her attempt to save me. “Unless you’d like me to visit your father and see that his livelihood is stripped from him…You. Are. Dismissed.”

Thelma was about to retort, but her lips paused in movement at the direct threat to her dear father. Her blue eyes looked helplessly between me and Dane, and I could feel her pain. I caught Thelma’s eyes with my eyes, shooting her a reassuring look. “It’s okay, Thelma. Just go.” I urged. I didn’t want her to get caught in the crossfire between me and Dane, and I definitely didn’t want her innocent father involved either. I could handle this.

Crestfallen, she held eye contact with me, an apology shining on every feature of her face. Then, she backed away slowly and left the room.

Left at Dane’s mercy, I awaited the blow. It didn’t come yet, so I assumed Dane wanted an introduction first. “Moon Goddess, my ass. You seem to have the uncanny pattern of stealing any shred of happiness I have from me.” Funny, I thought, you seem to be good at doing the same for me. “First, you take her time, you and that ridiculous husband of hers. I didn’t like him at first, but he grew on me over the years. Rachel was all I had in my family. Eventually, others slowly stole pieces of her from me. But you,” his hand stretched around my neck, long fingers curling around soft flesh easily. His fingers pressed deep, gripping my neck and raising my entire body high, higher than I’d ever been. Dane was far over six feet tall. The pressure on my airways made it so I lost breath, struggling to let in air. I choked as he continued his speech. “You took the most of her time from me. You made her suffer during your disgusting birth. She doted on you and spent so much attention and energy on you, I barely saw her anymore. Then, when you made her die for you five years ago - that was the last straw.”

With his powerful, tensed arm, he threw me like a baseball. The blur of the world around me was all I could see. Then, pain exploded across my back and head, and I felt my brain bounce within my skull, as I crashed into the wall. Sliding to the ground, I groaned, unable to move with my tailbone brushed from twenty different points. I heard the approaching tap of boots on floorboard and Dane’s legs came into view. Before I could scramble out of the way, a boot dug into my gut, and stars swim in my eyesight as searing pain burns my abdomen for several seconds. I coughed and gasped, curling my body around the injured area.

“You know,” Dane lowered himself down on his haunches, cocking his salt-and-pepper bearded jaw. “The day you returned with the news that Rachel was dead, my entire life burned up right in front of me. And I would have strangled you to death right there if it weren’t for the eyes of my pack.”

My neck nearly snapped as his grabbed me by the hair and pulled back forcefully, bringing my head near his face. Eyes stinging, I could see his long nose in my periphery, hot breath washing over my cheek.

“I would have snapped your neck and broken every bone in your tiny, insignificant body. Quite frankly, I don’t know why I still haven’t,” he growled. Using my hair, he roughly pulled my body up, making my face him. He continued, “And now, can you imagine how I feel finding out that you have the same wolf as my daughter? It’s simply not possible. You cannot be ruining my life to such an extent without it being on purpose.” He punched me in the gut again and I almost felt my innards leave my body. “Are you?” He slapped my face to the side backhandedly. “Well, Ve-ra?” His voice was shaking with rage, on full volume. “Are you doing this shit on purpose?” He aimed another thick, veined fist at my gut again.

This time, I got a hold of myself. Despite coughing and trembling from the pain of my hair in his stronghold, my body automatically moved. His knuckles met the palm of my small but defiant hand, and I strained under its weight. I supposed Clive was right; practicing the same, boring strategy over and over sure came in handy in fast-paced battles. My arm shook with the difficulty of holding back his hit. Surprise colored Dane’s dark, beady eyes. With the hand pulling my hair, he let go and pushed my head, making me tip back and crash onto the ground.

Huffing, I scrambled up on all fours and then two, arm wrapped around my bruised stomach. He stared down at me with apprehension. “Don’t let a little training get to your head, Vera,” he said quietly, viciously. “Try to block this!” His arm suddenly lashed out, slamming into my shoulder and I flew, hitting the brick fireplace. Several décor on the mantel crashed to the floor, breaking.

I braced myself, using the wall as a support to slowly get back up. I wouldn’t back down this time. “You know, dear grandfather,” I grunted through gritted teeth and shallow breath. “When someone is beat down over and over again, they eventually learn it works They become an expert in getting torn apart. The more you experience something, the more it becomes normal to you. Thank you for training me the best.” I approached him, baring my mouth into a fierce grin. Once I got within two meters of him, I broke out into a run, flying to jump and shoot a jab straight at his throat, height be damned. He blocked it, leaving his abdomen open for my second move; I dug a flat-palmed hit straight into his stomach, driving it as deep as I could into his rock-hard abs. The feinting move Clive first taught actually made him grunt in pain!

The victory was short. A slap countered me, making me fall to the floor once more. However, I landed on an arm and used it to boost myself back into a crouched position. I hooked a leg around the back of Dane’s knee, pulling towards me. His knee buckled, and he crashed on one leg, cursing. Swiping at me, I moved out of the way, but not before his nails tore skin from my cheek.

“You little vermin!” He raged, jumped up and quickly coming towards me. My small body could dodge many of the hits, especially now that I had more speed and skill on my side. I grabbed his shirt pulled him toward me, driving my knee up his chest. With a roar, more angry than anything, he gave me an upper-cut to the jaw.

White-hot pain blinded me for a few moments, and the next time I blinked my eyes open, I was flat on my back. Dane sneered down, hatred burning in his black, shadow-like orbs.

“This time, I’ll let you off. Next time, the Mood Goddess will not protect you from me. Mark my words.” Dane’s heavy footsteps walked away.

My lips curled. Sitting there, bruised and beaten, I somehow still felt like a winner.