The Rogue Alpha

I woke up to the familiar smells of breakfast cooking. Yet something felt different. I reached in my mind for Alpha Nolan as I quickly changed clothes. He was safe and not too far away, but not too close either.

I rushed to the bathroom, just barely making it in time. I hate close calls, and normally wouldn't risk it, but I was apprehensive about the change in the air.

When I came out I asked loudly, "Hey, Bro, what are we doing today?"

"He's not here." Cousin Richard replied, "But you and I are going to Hunt City for the day."

"He left?" I knew he was telling the truth, but I still checked, and felt him almost at the diner, nervous.

Richard smiled. "He wanted some alone time with his potential mate. Besides, I need to bring you to Hunt City before they get it in their heads that you don't have the Hunter gene. You should have gone there on your own by now. Beta Mitchell can't exactly come with for that can he?"

I shook my head. "Neither can Alpha Nolan." I added grimly.

Cousin Richard put a plate of chocolate chip pancakes down in front of me. He then put some boysenberry syrup next to my plate. I smiled. Even though it had been years since we'd had pancakes together, he remembered my favorites.

"I hope you don't mind it being just us cousins today." He stated as he took his own plate and sat next to me.

I shook my head and took a giant bite of pancakes. I used those few precious moments to put my thoughts together, because if I ate slowly it would be suspicious. "I know you won't let any harm come to me. I'm just a little nervous. I'm not even used to dealing with the werewolves yet; and now I have to deal with their enemies, who I'm also part of, and destined to lead."

Richard nodded his head sympathetically. He took a drink of coffee and sighed. "We shouldn't mention the part werewolf thing, just yet. You should be aware that because of your long exposure to Wolfville they might try to test you for corruption."

"What kind of tests?" I inquired.

My cousin answered, "Handing you silverware that is actually made of silver."

I laughed. "That won't do them any good."

"And since you still enjoy chocolate without any problems, that won't raise any suspicions." Richard pointed out.

"But you're still worried about something." I whispered, even though there was no one around to hear us.

He nodded his head. "You can't mention any training, or most of the stuff having to do with werewolves. Yet you have to explain why you haven't been down there before now. "

I shrugged my shoulders and took another bite of my delicious breakfast. "I'll think of something, I'm pretty good at thinking on my feet."

"What are you going to do about that?" Richard inquired, pointing at the black kiss on the back of my right hand.

I smiled and replied, "Same thing I do everywhere; I'll be wearing the fingerless gloves my Bro gave me."

"At least make sure the Wolf Wear tags are removed." He huffed, apparently deciding not to argue with me about my wardrobe.

I nodded my head.

"And you can't tell anyone that you might be the Hunter Luna." Cousin Richard informed me as we neared Hunt City, "They have to come to that conclusion on their own."

"How do they do that?" I asked, while looking out the window.

"There are four pieces of the prophecy. Each given to a different Hunter Line. You heard the shade lines. The others are known only to their family. As time goes on all four families will see their portion come true if you are indeed the Hunter Luna. If the four families acknowledge you the others can't refuse you."

"Since I come from your line you can't acknowledge me until the others do." I surmised with a frown.

Richard grimaced, "I love how quickly you catch on."

"Wolves and Hunters, love their politics as much as humans, maybe more." I replied.

"Many say we're two halves of the same coin, humans are the stuff in-between."

We arrived at a park barbecue. There was already a game of beach volleyball going. I ran off to join in. For a while I wasn't thinking about being a hunter or werewolves, prophecies or mating. I was just enjoying trying my hardest to beat a bunch of strangers, with other strangers as my teammates; and the instant comradery that comes with being on the same side of the net.

We held casual conversations with each other, but they're silly and odd when you're stopping in the middle of answering a question to spike the ball or dive for a save. Half the time I couldn't keep track of who I was talking to, because I was paying attention to the game, not looking at the person.

By the end of the game two guys had commandeered the conversations I could hear. The guy to my left, my teammate, Hunter, and the guy who lined up with me from the other team, and temporary enemy, Traverse. Both were quick with the jabs against each other, but genuinely curious about me.

After the game Hunter asked, "Can I show you around?"

Before I could respond Traverse replied, "That depends on how old she is."

Hunter rolled his eyes. "She's young, but not that young."

I scowled. Traverse smiled, turned to me and asked, "How old are you?"

"I'm twenty two." I answered trying to smile.

"I'm only seventeen." Hunter informed me.

Traverse grinned. "I'm twenty five, I'd be happy to show you around."

I gave him a playfully skeptical look. "I have a cousin who is perfectly capable of showing me around."

Traverse indicated a table under the pavilion. "He's busy with his peers."

"Is everything so age segregated here?" I asked as I looked around and noticed most groups were within a few years of age, certainly less than ten years between the oldest and youngest members of the group.

"Tends to happen." Traverse admitted, "Side effects of the way we train and choose assignments. Some things have larger age ranges, like athletics, and other things like hanging out have smaller ranges."

"Seems limiting." I stated dryly.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I guess, but right now, I'm just grateful I'm in the range to be able to show you around."

He offered his elbow. "Shall we?"

I motioned with my arm. "Lead the way."

He walked beside me as he pointed at each group. He told me what each was gathered for, and how you could tell by this factor or that factor. I found it all quite boring. Traverse himself seemed to have potential as a person, could be a good friend if he wasn't so content to live a life of boxes.

Part of me wanted to get to know him better, and the other part screamed danger and wanted out of the situation. Usually I tended to listen to danger warnings, but I was trying to give this town, and side of my heritage, a real chance. Why was life suddenly feeling so complicated?

Traverse started introducing me to different groups. If they knew I didn't fit the parameters of the group the meeting was brief but pleasant. If they thought I should be compatible then they asked a lot of questions and provided all kinds of information.

I rather enjoyed the short meetings and started looking for what made me incompatible with the groups I was approved for, getting them to dismiss me from their conversation as quickly as possible.

After a couple hours there wasn't a single group who wanted me to join them. I didn't lie about who I am, or how I feel, but I also didn't volunteer information or discuss genetics. I kind of enjoyed my incompatible status.

Finally Traverse led me to the outdoor bar where Cousin Richard was sitting. I approached my cousin from behind and asked, "Can I get a hot chocolate float, and a cheeseburger my way?"

"Only you would think it's appropriate to take hot chocolate and throw a scoop of chocolate ice cream in it." Richard teased me.

I grinned and replied, "Can't help it if I'm the only genius around."

I turned around to find Hunter standing nearby. He approached nervously and stated, "I don't think it's fair that I can't pursue a relationship with you, just because I'm not eighteen for another month. I really think we were hitting it off pretty well."

I held up my hand. "It's sweet that you've the guts to stand up for yourself, but I'm already involved with someone I want to spend the rest of my life with."

"But, human relationships never work, once you become a hunter." Hunter grabbed my right hand.

I felt a slight sparkle emanating from the kiss under my glove.

Hunter was electrified, and sent flying backwards, landing in the sand outside the bar, on his butt.

The bartender gasped and turned to me. "What's under your glove?"

"Nothing." I replied.

Someone else grabbed my arm and forced my glove off in a matter of moments. There for everyone to gawk at was my black kiss mark. The bartender cleared her throat. "I find the pledge acceptable."

Someone else clapped. Cousin Richard had a smile that showed pride in me.

Traverse asked, "What's this?" As he pointed at the kiss.

I instantly answered, "A sign that I'm already taken."

"But, you haven't consummated, right?"

"Why would that matter?"

Traverse placed his hand over the kiss. I felt a slight burn, but nothing else happened. "It means that I still have a chance to prove I'm the better choice."

I pulled my hand out from under his and stepped back slowly. "What's going on?"

Cousin Richard explained, "Hunters have a similar drive to find their perfect match, like werewolves once did. Traverse believes that he is your Hunter love match."

I shook my head. "I want one, and only one husband."

Richard raised his hands. "I don't get a say in the matters of your heart."

Something about the way he said it clicked with me. "So who does?" I growled at him. I felt my eyes go silver, and had to fight to change them back.

An older woman near us smiled confidently. "The short answer to that question is me."

I glared at her. "And who gave you that say?"

"Generations of leadership ingrained in our blood, and passed down in training. Councils and courts since ancient times." She answered looking down at me. If it wasn't for her four inch heals, she would've be looking up physically, but as it was we're eye level, and the down looking was purely psychological.

"Funny." I replied, "Don't remember giving any of them permission to decide my love life."

She grinned, half friendly, half mischievous. "I find the pledge acceptable."

I gave a sarcastic thumbs up.

A silver dagger came flying through the air. I jumped, turned into my wolf, just long enough to catch it in my mouth, and landed as myself. I spit the dagger into my hand and looked at it. Then I turned to the man who threw it, smelling him on the handle.

He smiled and announced, "I find the pledge acceptable."

"I find the pledge acceptable." Cousin Richard stated.

The four who had made the declaration quickly stood around me, while everyone else stood back.

The bartender said, "From the house of Light."

"And from the house of Shade." Cousin Richard continued.

"From the house of Fight." The dagger throwing man added.

"And from the house of Grade." The older woman continued, "We have found our Hunter Luna."

The park erupted with noise. Some were happy, others not so much. I just plugged my ears. It didn't seem to help. I still felt overwhelmed. I passed out.

The last thing I remembered was Alpha Nolan's howl piercing the air, calling out to me.