The Making of a Dark Gamma - Book 1

For three days they’d run, on the second day Louise, or rather her wolf Aspen had eaten the kill raw, that Toni had hunted, she’d given full control over to her wolf; while she was quiet that night, she’d admitted the next day it wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be.

Toni approved of her actions, she was at least growing as a wolf, and she had a chance of surviving, maybe even thriving in their pack, although she was frustrated with her wolf, who kept telling her the same thing ‘We are a lone wolf’ but she doesn’t elaborate on what she’s supposed to mean with that, she assumes because they have no real connection within the pack that they are can bond with packless wolves, like Aspen, Louise’s wolf.

Arriving at the border on the fourth day, she’d linked to the Alpha to inform him they were crossing back over the border, knowing he’d call the pack together, a short distance from the centre, she shifted and changed into her black uniform, shoving the teddy Louise had been desperate to keep, to the bottom of her pack, only acceptable items were in Louise’s bag, from those, Toni watched as she took out jeans, jumper and pumps, looking at Toni for confirmation.

“That’s fine”

She nods at the outfit choice, simple, respectful and warm.

Toni takes back her cloak once she has dressed, for no other reason than the pack doesn’t need to see her as a mini-Gamma, if they did, it would probably hinder her ability to integrate into the pack.

“Be respectful, bare your neck to the Alpha when you first meet him and try and hide your fear.”

Toni could almost see Louise trembling at the thought of having to be in front of the pack and could smell the fear, just this time, her wolf wasn’t licking its lips at the reaction, instead, a part of her softens, feeling the need to give her a little comfort, she places her hand gently on her arm.

“I will be beside you all the way, just don’t talk until you are spoken to, understand?”

“Yes Gamma Antonia” her head bowed as she replies

“Good, let’s go, remember you are going to be okay, keep that in your thoughts”

Toni sees her falter as she catches sight of the pack, it’s about twice the size of the one she’s come from and not many from outside of the pack ever see them all together, guests are rarely invited.

However, this is a mandatory meeting, everyone even the pups are there, it stops mistakes from being made when someone claims they didn’t recognise a new joiner.

“Keep walking”

Toni mutters lowly at her

“Show no fear”

Striding up to the Alpha standing on the platform, Louise follows a few steps behind

“Alpha”

Toni bows momentarily and she can see Louise mimicking her action

“Gamma, good to have you home”

“Thank you, Alpha, it took a little longer to complete my final task, their pack doesn’t train she-wolves so we’ve been slower than I’d hoped.

I would also apologise for failing to get there before the Royal Pack started their census and audit, it added undue complications.”

He nods at Toni’s apology, accepting it, inwardly she relaxes, unlikely there will be a punishment for her not getting Louise out before she was made a ward at least.

“Is your paperwork in order, ready for when they get to us?”

“Yes, Alpha”

Stepping to one side she signals to Louise, who steps forward, neck bared.

“Alpha, this is Louise Ann Knight, she’s previously from the Blue River Pack, and she’d like to join our pack.”

She doesn’t, but Toni carries on the pretence mostly for Louise’s sake, if people believe she wants to join, rather than being forced to join, she’ll have an easier ride.

“Did she give you any trouble?”

“No Alpha, she’s taken commands and direction well, complied willingly with anything that has been asked of her and not caused any issues.”

Toni chooses to ignore her one, half-hearted attempt at escaping with her brothers, telling the Alpha about it would only cause Louise to be punished, even if she still wasn’t officially a member of the pack, disrespect isn’t allowed to go unpunished, Toni knows that well.

She will not make Louise’s entry to their pack more difficult than it already is, she had, after all, tried to save her from this fate.

He walks to Louise and the way he’s looking at her makes Toni’s skin crawl, he lifts her head, turning it from side to side, but as instructed, Louise keeps her eyes cast down.

In front of the pack, she accepts her place via the standard blood oath and can be felt joining the pack, sealing her fate, there’s a pang of guilt in Toni’s stomach that she hadn’t been able to stop this from happening.

As the pack disperse the Alpha comes to talk to Toni, Louise stands awkwardly to one side, unsure of what happens to her next.

“Gamma, I’ve kept you travelling a lot for the last couple of months.

I have a new job for you but it involves sharing your house”

Toni masks her face and thoughts, keeping her face stony and blank, but internally, she already hates the thought.

Her house is the one place where she can be herself, but if he has picked a chosen mate for her, albeit a few months too early, she will scream and she swears to herself if it’s Delta Cole, then the pack will be one Delta down if he tries to lay his hands on her.

This turmoil of thoughts is going on behind her calm cold eyes, keeping up the façade in front of her Alpha

“Of course, Alpha, whatever the pack needs”

No matter how sick she feels, the response given is the one he expects, not the one she wanted to give him.

“Good, good.

I want you to be in charge of settling Louise into the pack and overseeing her training, she needs to be in her age bracket training as soon as possible and since she’s had no training, that’s going to need some intensive work.

She’s also a minor without family, so needs to have some protection, all that would be achieved, if she were directly under your watch, therefore she is to live in your house and I am making you her blood guardian until she is legally an adult.”

“Of course, Alpha”

Inwardly she wants to groan.

“Do you Antonia Emma Woodfield, agree to protect and defend Louise Ann Knight as her guardian and protector?

To guide and teach her the ways of our pack, taking responsibility for her actions, until she comes of age?”

“I do Alpha”

“Louise hold out your hand”

The Alpha cuts Toni’s hand and reopens Louise’s already-cut palm, placing their hands together.

“The Oath of Guardianship is sealed by the mixing of your blood.”

“Do you have any questions, Louise?” Alpha Vincent has turned his attention back to her charge

There’s a realisation in Toni as she hears the Alpha use her first name, unranked wolves are addressed by surname only, his voice not as hard as it normally is and she thanks the Goddess that Louise was made a ward of the Royal Pack, because she has the feeling he is thinking of her as a new mate.

“I have one, if I may Alpha” She stops to wait for his permission

“Go ahead” he crosses his arms, clearly not expecting her to ask for anything.

“Would it be alright if I also learnt to hunt, it wasn’t something she-wolves did in my old pack and I was impressed at Gamma Antonia’s hunting skills.”

He smiles, it’s a creepy smile that sends a chill down Toni’s spine, however, he approves of her request.

“The Gamma’s skills are” he pauses “well known in this pack.”

His words hold many meanings, even if Louise doesn’t yet understand them.

“I approve of her teaching you to hunt, but know, you can only hunt if you are accompanied by her and she will decide when you are ready to learn.”

“Thank you, Alpha,” she almost forgot to keep her head bowed.

Finally, the Alpha takes her bag, checking the contents before removing her phone, telling her she can have it back when she’s proven herself before Toni and Louise are dismissed together.

Toni motions for her to follow, reluctantly leading her to her own house, in her head there’s a stream of expletives, not that she has, as yet, uttered one out loud.

Knowing she is on glorified babysitting duties, Toni sighs quietly, in reality, it isn’t so terrible compared to some of the tasks she normally gets given, except having to share her house, she will have to keep up the pretence of being a hard-assed Gamma twenty-four seven, no relaxing and being herself.

Looking briefly at Louise, Toni starts listing out rules

“I come and go at odd times, do not question where I am or what I do, you will not like the answers.

You will keep to your room from eight at night until 4 in the morning.

At five-thirty in the morning, the pack trains, I leave the house at five-fifteen, you will be ready or I’ll drag you out, dressed or not, do not expect me to wake you.”

Toni pauses as she opens the front door

“A maid comes to clean and stock the house daily unless I am away, that is not a privilege you have earned.

She will not be touching your room, you need to keep it clean and tidy on your own, I will check it regularly to ensure you are doing so.

Same with your clothes, you are sixteen and old enough to look after yourself, I moved into this place at fifteen so if I can look after myself, you can.

Food either you make yourself or you eat in the pack house, I will take you there for lunch today so you can see and decide, do not expect me to cook for you.

If you make friends, they are not welcome in my house, although I doubt any of their parents would want them to come here anyway, my reputation in this pack is not”

She pauses

“a welcoming one.”

It comes out almost sadly.

“Do you understand the rules?”

Toni crosses her arms, she can tell Louise is overwhelmed and probably just needs a hug, but she needs to toughen up, plus Toni is hyper-aware that if she appears to be friendly to her one of two things will happen.

One, Louise will end up being whipped, either for being friendly or for thinking she can take liberties, or two, no one in the pack will befriend her, steering clear of someone who is too friendly with the Gamma, making her more of an outcast within the pack.

“Yes Gamma Antonia”

Toni leads her to a spare room and tosses the items from her own bag that she had carried for Louise, including her teddy.

“The bathroom is the far door, in the other is the closet that also has bedding and towels, if there’s anything you need, ask me.

Lunch is in an hour at the pack house, be ready in forty-five minutes.”

As Toni turns to walk out of the door she hears the smallest sharp intake of breath, the kind that precedes crying, shaking her head, Toni stops.

Knowing the reality of Louise’s new life is finally hitting her, probably wanting someone to comfort her, Toni raises her eyes knowing she can’t be the one to do that, there can be no move that would give her even the slightest hint that she was a candidate for being a friend.

Toni reasons, that if she was in her shoes, it would be a family member she’d crave, none of which are here, but she can help ease her briefly she thinks, tossing her phone onto the bed.

“You have twenty minutes before I am back for my phone, you may make a single call.

I will check the call history, so pick your number wisely.”

Toni turns on her heel and leaves Louise in her room