My Alpha Mate's Christmas Gift

"O-Oh... I see..." Roxanne said, not entirely understanding Rita's explanation, but excited nonetheless.

She wanted to know more, so she went back to her seat and sat down, Rita doing the same as well.

"So you're saying everyone here is the same as the Werewolves I've heard about on TV or read in books?" Roxanne asked.

"Well, I wouldn't call us exactly that. We are Werewolves of the Rockwood pack, one of the six factions in the entire Oregon Woods tribe" Rita explained.

"Pack? Tribe? I don't understand. Aren't all werewolves usually a group of some kind?" Roxanne asked.

Rita laughed at Roxanne's words, making her feel silly for saying anything.

"Sorry about that. Ah, it's just that you're a bit wrong in that area" Rita said, still chuckling a bit.

"As Werewolves, we belong to different packs. A pack is a group of like-minded Werewolves who live together as a family. We are a community of friends who cherish each other and see the other as blood." She explained.

"But... As a Tribe, we do not share such sentiment. As I said, the Rockwood Pack is just one of the six packs in this region. There are five others like us, well... Not exactly like us." Rita said, adding the last part hesitantly.

"Our packs live separate from the other and we each manage our territory. This entire area of the woods belongs to us. The others have theirs as well... But do not be mistaken... We are not the same." Rita said with a tone of caution.

"Our tribe coexists and has formed an alliance, but it wasn't always this way. In the past, each pack fought the other and a lot of chaos filled the woods at the time."

Roxanne's excited expression changed to exhibit shock and conflict.

"W-What do you mean? You're all members of the same race, why would you-" Roxanne asked.

"Why else?" Rita interrupted.

"For food, territory, power, superiority, revenge, fear... The endless and meaningless cycle continued for so long. Besides, aren't humans the same way? You fight over every single thing, even from time past."

Roxanne thought deeply and ruminated on Rita's words. She wasn't wrong. Human nature was similar to the way she described the wolves. Maybe they weren't so different after all.

"So, what changed? How was everyone able to make up and coexist?" She asked.

"Everything changed with the appearance of one existence... The Wolf King." Rita said gravely.

"Wolf king? Hold on, like... That's a thing?" Roxanne asked with surprise.

"Yes, that's a thing," Rita smiled.

"Oh, okay. So... Who's this Wolf King guy? He sounds really ominous." Roxanne asked.

"The Wolf King first appeared in the war over a hundred years ago. He was a werewolf with unparalleled power and phenomenal strength. It is said that he single handedly subdued the Alphas of the other packs and proved himself to be the most superior in the entire region. After this, he unified the packs under a single tribe and ended the conflict"

"After his death, in order to prevent the same calamity that befell the packs, we decided to continue with the tradition, having the strongest of Werewolves compete to become Wolf King. That way, we have a symbol of authority which maintains the peace between the packs... That is the Wolf King, also known as the Grand Alpha"

"Sounds like the president of a union of institutions. It's strange how you guys are so similar to us in many ways." Roxanne said.

"Well, we are part human after all" Rita smiled.

"But, I'm confused... Just what is a Werewolf? Where do you guys come from? Who are you all really?" Roxanne asked.

Rita grinned and raised her eyebrows in a playful manner.

"Come on, you can't just leave me hanging. You have to tell me." Roxanne said excitedly.

"First, let's exchange names. I just realised I don't know your name even though we've been talking all this while" Rita smiled.

"I'm Rita by the way"

"Roxanne. My name is Roxanne... B-But my friend calls me Roxy" Roxanne replied with an awkward smile.

She had just met Rita, they hadn't spoken for very long and they hardly knew anything about each other. Yet... She felt like she could trust this woman.

"Nice to meet you, Roxy," Rita smiled.

"I-Is it okay to call you that?" She added as an afterthought.

Roxanne laughed at the obvious slip Rita made and Rita also joined in the laughter.

"Sure you can. May I also call you Rita?"

"What else is there to call me? Roxy, you little..."

They laughed heartily as they mutually realised that they enjoyed each other's company.

"Nice to meet you too, Rita" Roxanne said with a smile.

Even though she was in a strange place, among strange people, learning strange things... She didn't at all feel scared at this moment. Because, despite everything she was going through... She felt like she was with a friend.

And so Rita began the story Roxanne was so curious about... The story of werewolves and their origin.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐