The She-Wolf Alpha (Book 1 She-Wolf Series)

Samantha

After Emerick left, I couldn’t go back to sleep. My mind was once again racing. Without his strong body to anchor me I was lost in a sea of my own thoughts and worries.

Luke was going to hate me today, and maybe everyday afterwards. I could only hope he thought of being a werewolf as a gift or maybe like he had super powers. He loved superheroes as a young kid.

That could be cool, right?

I scoffed at myself. I wasn’t fooling anybody into thinking ripping him away from his friends and life would be fun.

My heart broke for him. And for me. I had called the others in charge at my real estate firm and told them I would be taking a backseat for personal reasons. While I still owned the business for now, I imagined eventually I would have to step away completely.

My coworkers were confused, but accepted my reasoning without further questions. Maybe they thought I finally had my mental break. I laughed to myself, maybe I had and I was just imagining the whole “werewolf thing”.

The alarm on my phone went off at 6:30 signaling it was time to start my day. With a groan, I got up and started the shower. I would keep it a normal Friday morning until I couldn’t. Dad had texted yesterday to say he and Mom would come over at the time he would normally pick up Luke so we could all break the news to him. Until then, I needed to navigate the next couple hours on my own.

~

“Hey you forgot my five minute warning,” Luke teased as he walked into the kitchen where I was making eggs.

“Oh yeah. Sorry,” I said, distractedly.

“Tired after movie night?”

I almost dropped the spatula I was using.

“What? No,” I said, hurriedly, “Just a lot on my mind today.”

“Whatever you say,” he smirked.

I heard a knock on the door and froze. That had to be Mom and Dad.

My dreaded moment was here. The butterflies in my stomach multiplied as I heard Luke greet his grandparents.

“Hey Gran! I didn’t know you would be on pickup duty today, too. You didn’t have to work?” He asked.

“Not today, sweetie,” she replied, warmly.

I was hyperventilating at the stove when I felt my mom come up and slip and arm around me.

“Hey babe,” she kissed me on the cheek, “It’s going to be okay. Take a breath. I’m here. Okay?”

I nodded and tried to slow down my breathing. Turning to face my bright, beautiful son, I watched concern wash over him as he took in my demeanor.

“Mom? What’s wrong?” Luke asked.

“Nothing’s wrong,” I held up a hand before he could protest. “Everything is fine. But we need to talk. Gran and Pop are here for support.”

“Okay…” he said, cautiously.

My mom looped her arm around him and steered him to the dining room table.

“Let’s sit,” she told him.

We each took a chair. My mom kept a hand on Luke’s. Dad’s face looked somber and his was body tense - like a rubber band that was pulled too tight and could snap at any minute. Luke looked like a young child again. His eyes were wide as he sat, ready to take in whatever I had to say.

“Umm I don’t really know how to start, so I guess I’ll just tell you. Lukey,” I paused searching for the speech I had written in my mind last night and coming up empty.

Fuck it. Here goes nothing.

"Apparently, we are werewolves and I’m the pack’s alpha.”

Yep, definitely sounded like I was having a mental break.

I braced myself for the questions or denial I was sure were coming.

Luke looked around at each of us. All of us wore serious expressions and stared back at him.

“Okay, so we are all werewolves then?” Dad and I nodded our response, “Cool, I thought I was going crazy.”

“What?” I asked, shocked and confused.

“Well…. I’ve been hearing a voice in my head and somehow, just like, knew it was a wolf in my body. I was pretty sure it was schizophrenia or something to be honest, but I wasn’t sure how to bring it up. This is a way better explanation,” he said, completely calm.

“Are you telling me you’ve been hearing a wolf in your head and didn’t think to mention it?” My dad asked, pissed off.

“Excuse me,” I snapped, “You are the last person who gets to be upset with anyone for not being open and honest.”

“He’s been hearing voices and wasn’t going to tell anyone!” Dad yelled back.

“He’s a kid! You’re an adult and we are all here because you kept a secret for 33 years!”

“He’s right here,” Luke interjected, calmly. “And he has questions.”

“Of course you do,” I said, quickly. “Ask away.”

“How do I like, ya know, change?”

“It won’t happen until you turn 16,” Dad answered and Luke seemed immediately disappointed. “I’ve never actually heard of anyone having contact with their wolf before shifting though.”

“Oh cool. Maybe I’m special,” Luke seemed happy with this information. Before seeming to have a realization. “Wait, Mom? You said you’re the alpha, right? How? Have you been secretly forming a werewolf pack on the weekends?”

Dad and I broke down the family dynamics and the circumstances that brought me to be the alpha. We explained the expectations going forward and that we would be moving onto pack lands. He seemed both disappointed at leaving his old life, and excited for what was to come.

Truly the conversation had gone much better than I could’ve anticipated. He was a resilient kid and apparently having “werewolf powers” as he called them was, in fact, cool.

“Can I see your wolf?” Luke asked me as the conversation wound down.

“Umm sure,” I replied, not at all confident.

I had only shifted the one time and hadn’t practiced.

Could I do it on demand?

Ayisha was suddenly front and center in my mind. She seemed excited.

‘Just step back,’ she told me.

‘Like, physically?’ I asked, confused.

I hadn’t needed to step anywhere before.

She was amused, ‘No your consciousness. Just pull your consciousness back so I can take over.’

I focused and started to do as she asked. Then I heard Dad clear his throat.

“Uh, Sam? Just so you know, the spell that keeps your clothes, uh, intact between shifts only works near the pack house. It’s convenient for daily business and such but generally your clothes will rip when you shift. You’ll be naked when you shift back,” he explained, awkwardly.

“Oh, right,” I turned to Luke, “One sec.”

I made my way around the corner into the formal living room. Once again, I focused on stepping back and allowing Ayisha control. Faster than I could blink, my perspective shifted and I was standing on all fours. I trotted back into the dining room where my family sat.

“That is so fucking cool,” Luke exclaimed.

Language! I thought and Ayisha let out a low growl.

Luke waved me off and came to stand before me. I stared up at him, but to my shock I didn’t have to tilt my head very far. I was a very large wolf. Probably about 4 feet at my shoulder. No one would be convinced I was a naturally occurring animal. Luke reached out a hand and Ayisha tilted her head into it, rubbing against him.

Luke giggled and gave me one last pat before stepping back. Ayisha seemed disappointed but trotted back to my clothes then stepped back so that I could shift again.

‘We can run later,’ I told her. I could tell that’s what she wanted, and she seemed pleased.

When I stood as a human once again, Luke looked like a giddy child. I was about to say something when my phone rang. I went to pick it up and saw it was Emerick.