The Mark of an Alpha

Sleep is easier to come by now that I have my painkiller by my side.

His warmth is a foreign feeling but a welcome one nonetheless.

Waking up from a good night's sleep seems to be just what I need and with Hunter, by my side, that is exactly what I get. His chest rises pushing my head up as well. The warmth of his chest against my cheeks makes me feel good glancing up I see that he is still asleep.

Hunter looks peaceful in his sleep. His mouth hangs slightly open as he breathes in quietly. His arm is wrapped around me. I slowly remove it and climb over him. I am about to make my escape when he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me closer to him.

“Hunter,” I hiss as he turns to his side taking me with him. I am half-buried beneath him.

“Where are you going?” His voice sounds like velvet to my ears as he barely wakes up. He adjusts us, allowing me to breathe, and he buries my face into his chest as he nuzzles my hair breathing in my scent.

“I was going to get breakfast.” My voice is muffled by his chest he groans deeply and falls silent.

I am beginning to think he fell asleep again until he groans again, “Fine let’s go.”

Hunter gets out of the bed and stands up unstable. He teeters back and forth as he rubs his sleepy eyes with his fist. This reminds me of a child that cannot seem to wake up for school in the morning. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FindNʘᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“You can stay.” I sit up and climb off. He shakes his head and looks at me with his half-open eyes.

“I’m awake.” He tries his hardest to fight off the yawn that is pushing through his lips but he loses that battle.

Hardly! My wolf finds it cute that he wants to have breakfast with me even though he is exhausted.

“Barely,” my remark makes his eyes open wide and a mischievous gleam shines in his eyes.

He is by my side quickly and bends down putting his arm under my thighs and lifting me off the ground and his other arm holds me in place. I scream as my arms wrap around his neck.

“Put me down!” I squeal and he chuckles at my reaction.

“No,” he walks out of the room with me in his arms, I struggle but he does not put me down. There are two men in the living room having a chat. They stop their talk and stare as Hunter makes his way to the kitchen with me in his arms.

This is embarrassing!

I find it quite lovely.

You would.

The kitchen is packed with a pack member as Hunter steps in everyone fall silent. Andrew and Ken are eating and when Ken sees us the fork that is making its way to his mouth drops noisily on his plate sending food flying in Andrew’s direction. His eyes seem as they could fall out of their sockets if he opens them a bit wider.

“Morning Melany,” Andrew smiles at me and then picks a piece of egg off his arm and flings it to Ken, “Morning Alpha Hunter.”

“Good morning Andrew! Ken, you have better manners than that.” Hunter scowls and Ken shakes his head and clears his throat.

“Good morning Alpha Hunter and Alpha Blake.” The smile on Ken's face is an amused one.

“Morning everyone,” Hunter walks to the table and puts me down so he can grab some food. My cheeks are ablaze as I try not to look at anyone in particular. “Sit down I’ll bring you a plate.”

I push my hair behind my ear as I rush to take my normal seat next to Andrew, Ken is next to him. Andrew's gaze is burning a hole into my skull. I direct my attention to someone else.

“How did you sleep?” I ask Ken.

“Amazingly! Thank you for the hospitality, Alpha Blake.” Ken seems to fall back into his comfortable demeanor as he scrapes up some food.

“No problem, any friend of Hunter is welcome here.” I glance up as Hunter puts down my plate and I see that he has served me hash brown, eggs, and bacon.

“Thanks,” I look up at him and he smiles at me as he puts down his plate and heads over to the beverage area.

“Wow,” Ken says as his eyes go back to his plate.

“What?” I question as Andrew acts like he did not hear anything.

“Nothing alpha,” Ken bows down his head.

“Just spill it, Ken.” I can sense the annoyance in my voice.

“Well it’s just strange that’s all.” Ken's face scrunches but from the corner of his eye he glances over at Hunter.

Strange? What?

“What is?” Ken glances over at Hunter once again but Hunter is busy making his coffee.

“He’s acting,” he shrugs and looks up as if to find the right words, “like a normal human being.”

I look back at him and he is now serving a glass of orange juice. “He acted differently before?”

“Well sure, he used to be so aggressive and violent with everyone. Now he seems to like his old self in away.” Ken stuffs his mouth with scrambled eggs and concentrates on chewing.

I wonder what that was about. Andrew chimes into my mind.

Mind your own business.

Andrew turns his face away from Hunter once he takes his seat.

“Here,” he hands me a steaming cup of coffee. My eyebrow arches.

“Coffee?” I try my hardest to hide my distaste, but there is a look in his eyes that says I could have tried harder.

I do not normally drink coffee.

“Yes, you need to warm up,” he sits down and gulps the orange juice.

“I’ve never been a fan of coffee.” My hands wrap around the mug and my fingers clench the mug tighter as the warmth seeps into my cold hands. “That feels amazing.”

Hunter nods, “now drink it.”

After eating everything on my plate and drinking two mugs of coffee we sit at the table letting the conversation flow between everyone. Ken stands up and my eyes go to him.

“Excuse me, alpha,” Ken looks at me, “Alpha Hunter I’ll await your departure outside.”

He’s leaving.

I swallow, “You’re leaving?” This is news to me. Hunter has not mentioned leaving so soon to me.

Hunter groans and waves his hand dismissing Ken. Ken takes off to the front door and Andrew sensing I wanted to talk to Hunter he excuses himself and heads upstairs.

“Yes,” he nods avoiding my eyes, “I need to resolve some problems back home.” When I stay quiet his eyes level with mine. They burn into mine and my eyes wander around, looking anywhere but him.

“Is it the rogues? I told you that we would help you with them.” The defensive tone does not go unnoticed.

I knew this was going to happen so why am I so surprised?

“No, not the rogues it’s more of managing a pack from far away is never a good idea. Especially when you have some pack members trying to cause trouble,” my lips set in a frown.

“When are you planning on leaving?” Hunter takes a sip of his juice and then sighs.

“I was supposed to leave last night but I should be leaving shortly.”

My wolf has not spoken but I can sense her movement and she seems agitated.

“Oh,” is all that I manage.

“Melany,” he stops not knowing what to say.

“I’ll send some of my best fighters out with you to help with the rogue problem.”

“Melany,” he starts again. I put my hand up and he stops.

Andrew! Get Jonah, Melvin, and Drake they’re going to go with Hunter.

Okay.

“I’m sending three of my best fighters with you so your problem can be cleared as soon as possible.” My voice is monotone and my body stiffens. My emotions go into autopilot.

“Why are-” He is cut off by Andrew.

They’re outside with Ken.

“Please send them back safe and sound.” Hunter stands and looks at me with hurt in his eyes but when he blinks his impassive façade starts showing.

“Thanks for helping me out with this.” He walks out of the dining room and the door closes behind him.

Melany?

If I had Andrew in front of me I know I would not be able to speak to him because of the lump in my throat.

Yes.

What happened?

Nothing I’m going to my office if you need me.

Ever since I became alpha I have not once stepped foot in the alpha’s office. That was my father’s room. That is where the entire pack meeting would take place and since I have taken over I have not held a meeting just so that I would not have to step inside of there. But now that I am the alpha I need to start acting like one.

My wolf’s presences radiate through me. Her alpha aura makes me stand taller and walk with confidence. I walk out of the dining area forgetting that there are other people there as well for the moment.

One of the elder women looks at me with pride on her face, “She has arrived.”

Their alpha is finally ready to take her spot. Walking upstairs the buzzing starts slowly at first and then louder.

Alpha?

Whoa!

Our alpha has arrived.

Alpha Blake, your presences is finally with us.

Having my pack back in my mind makes my body fill up with goosebumps.

Drake, run faster!

They're coming from the east. Cover the alpha.

My feet stop dead in their tracks.

Drake left with Hunter.

Melany, Hunter and the rest of them are being attacked by rogues.

Andrew’s mind is frantic. My body reacts without hesitation.

Let’s go.

I rush to the door and I only take two steps when my body flings itself into the air. My wolf bursts through me landing on the ground hard. My wolf pushes itself to run as fast as it has ever run before.

Alpha Blake, I’m behind you. Jonah’s brother is coming.

On any other occasion, I would have sent him back but if Andrew were to be in any type of danger I would do whatever I could to help him.

It’s fine.

The images in my mind do not help me locate them but I see that it is not just a few rogues, it is the entire pack.

My alpha side is connected with my pack so I have this inner body compass leading me to my pack. The trees blur past me as I can sense my nearness.

My mind connects with Jonah’s. Jonah is concentrated on Drake, a salt and pepper wolf, he sees that his hind leg is bleeding and he keeps jumping back when he puts pressure on it.

The growl next to him makes him turn just as a red-eyed wolf lunges at him. Jonah prepares himself for the hit but a sandy color wolf jumps in front of him and takes the attack.

Hunter!

My mind snaps back into reality and my wolf howls into the cold air. My howl is not one of hurt, heartbroken, or sadness it is one of anger.

They’re going to pay!

My claws dig deeper into the ground pushing to run faster. The image of Hunter hitting the ground plays in a loop in my head.

This week has been an eventful one. Wednesday my friend and I got hit by a drunk driver, we're both okay just suffering from some aches.

I am currently helping my father with his lifelong dream of owning his first home. We signed the papers on Thursday, we are getting the keys on Monday. So I've had an emotional rollercoaster of a week.