Belonging to the Alpha

I sighed, rolled over, and looked at my phone. 7.32 am.

Doesn’t that boy sleep?

I roll back over and cover my eyes with my arm. Another day a lie in is out of the question.

Down the hall, you can hear an enthusiastic 5-year-old making plane noises from his bedroom. I sigh again as the noises show no sign of stopping and I swing my legs out of bed.

I catch sight of myself in the mirror. Chocolate brown eyes look back at me. I have long brown hair that tumbles in loose waves over my body. I’m not fat nor skinny. I’m not particularly muscular either.

That’s due to lack of training I thought.

Gym holds no interest to me, but I know soon that I’ll have to start training. A weak wolf is no good to any pack. You see, we are not normal people. We are werewolves. Not the type that shifts at full moon and kills every human on sight, but the type that can shift whenever we like at choice and have decided to live peacefully alongside humans. We are strong, fast, and powerful. We only shift in cases of emergency and danger or to protect the pack from enemies. Our wolf forms look like normal wolves, only just slightly bigger. Not like the ugly, dangerous, vicious beasts depicted in books.

I do have curves though in the right places and a flat tummy. My belly piercing glints in the light. I look back at my face. Long black eyelashes hide big round brown eyes, I have a cute little button nose and plump soft lips harbouring a lip ring in the corner.

Mum and dad almost killed me when they saw I had it done.

I giggled at the memory. I look at the hint of rose in my cheeks. Saves on blusher, I guess.

My skin is soft and blemish free and has a slight tan to it, thanks to the endless number of hours I spend sunning myself in the garden. I turn to my wardrobe and throw on a tank top and some pyjama trousers and make my way downstairs to see what is for breakfast.

I can still hear Lucas in his bedroom, but he is making train noises now. He loves anything with an engine. I wonder how he will feel when he eventually finds out the truth. We haven’t told him yet. Mum doesn’t want to tell him he is a werewolf until the time is ready for his first shift.

That normally happens when your about 10. I was 9 when I had my first shift. The pain of breaking bones as our werewolf form grew was excruciating, I thought I was going to die, but I’m used to it now.

My wolf form is white with golden brown and grey streaks throughout the fur. She is a beautifully marked wolf. I have dark brown eyes and black ear tips like my Dad. I like being in my wolf form as I am fast, and I feel free running through the woods at night, the night air blowing through my fur, the earth between my claws. I almost feel invincible.

I get downstairs and I notice the sun is already high in the sky and the warmth radiates into the kitchen.

I love summer.

I smell the mouth-watering smell of toast coming from the toaster and music coming from the front room. I suddenly hear a voice on the phone, and I pause, trying to catch a glimpse of the conversation “Yes, I know. We haven’t mentioned it yet, but we will let her know today. Of course, of course. Hopefully, we can persuade her. No, I don’t think she will be happy by it. You know how she feels about it. Yes of course. Ok see you soon. Bye bye.”

I frown. Who is dad talking too? Sounds like a pack member. Persuade who? Mention what? Happy about what? I wonder silently.

A noise behind me makes me jump from my thoughts and I look up to see Dad walking into the kitchen. “Morning Dad. Who was that on the phone? Sounded important” I quizzed.

“Oh, hello love. You’re up early. Let me guess, Lucas woke you up too? Oh, and nothing important. Just some pack business that needs attending to” Dad chuckles, but not really looking at me in the eye.

“Oh really?” I look at him not entirely believing him and crossing my arms, but I don’t question it. “Yeah” I grumble. “Does that kid not get what the idea of a lie in means.” We both laugh at my comment.

Lucas is my 5-year-old brother. He can be cute and funny and oh my, I love him to the moon and back, but why does he insist on waking up at the crack of dawn. Every. Bloody. Morning.

I look over at my Dad buttering his toast. In my eyes, he is my hero and my best friend. He is broad shouldered with a muscular build, he has stubble on his face, brown eyes and brown hair that is starting to recede.

But what is he hiding from me?

Normally, Dad wears suits and a tie, but today he is in a pair of jeans and an old shirt. It’s strange to see him looking so casual.

“Are you going to the pack today then Dad?” I ask. My dad’s wolf is a big brown wolf with shaggy fur. He has black paws and the tips to his ears are black, like mine.

You see, my Dad is an important member of our pack. He is the lead warrior and he helps train the younger wolves and helps them to find their place within the pack. He is the next one down from the Beta. He is well respected, and no one dares to challenge his authority. Dad says his position in the pack fares good on me for getting high up within the hierarchy, but I’m not sure if I’m ready for that sort of responsibility. I’m quite happy to stay in the city and lead a normal human life. I enjoy the parties, the cinema, the shopping centre and just chilling out with my friends on the beach.

“I have to go there this afternoon and finish off some important business. Do you want to come with me? It will be good for you to start meeting the pack leaders. They are all extremely interested in getting to know you. Especially Alpha Xavier” Dad looked at me with bated breath. I’m sure he knew what was coming.

“Umm, No thank you” I grimace. I take a bottle of water out of the fridge and some fruit and yoghurt and turn to kitchen door. “I, uh, got some coursework to be finishing off anyway.”

“Well you need to meet them sooner or later” was my Dads reply.

I groan. Not if I can help it.

As I head off upstairs, I think back to the last time I visited the packhouse with my Dad. All the males were looking at me as if I was a piece of meat.

You see, all werewolves have their fated mate. You must find them, and I was yet to find mine. A mate really did not interest me at this point of my life and any excuse I found to not go to the packhouse, I extensively used. I am quite glad that I have not yet been claimed by a wolf.

I sighed again. I knew it would only be a matter of time before I had no choice but to go to the packhouse and start looking for my mate. God, Mum, and Dad reminded me enough times about how it was my duty to go and take my place in the pack like they have done and all our ancestors, before me. It was my destiny and my honour. I rolled my eyes and glanced at my phone. I was just about to text my best friend Cierra when I heard a voice.

“Hey honey” I look up and see Mum standing in my bedroom doorway.

She is an incredibly beautiful woman with deep brown eyes and long brown hair. She has it pulled up into a loose bun, but a few tendrils have escaped and now frame her face. She is tall and slender but with an athletic build. I love my Mum. She is kind, softly spoken and polite and she has a heart of gold and will do anything for anyone, however she can be fierce and very protective over her family. I have seen her wolf. She is a honey gold colour. Her fur shines in the sun like liquid gold. She too, is incredibly fast and powerful. Not many she-wolves like to get on the wrong side of my Mum! She too, like Dad, is well respected.

“Good morning Mum” I reply. I watch her as she comes in and perks herself at the end of my bed. She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, looks at me and smiles before grabbing my hands and gently holding them in hers.

Uh oh. I know that smile.

“Me and your Father need to talk to you about something particularly important. Can you come downstairs after you have done your coursework please?”

Uh oh. I got a feeling I know what this is about. The talk. Not again!

You see, I’m 18, which means it will be time for me to go and live at the packhouse until I find my mate, accept my place within the pack and join the packs clan – The Blue Moon clan.

Our clan is big, and powerful and extremely wealthy. We are one of the biggest clans out of the 5 in Silvermoor City. It’s almost an honour to be able to join our clan. The rules are at 18, you come to live at the packhouse, train and become strong, get accepted into the clan and find your place within the hierarchy. Then you find your mate and extend the bloodline and live happily ever after with your mate.

I frown hard. Sometimes it sucks to be a werewolf. I love the city life. Moving to the countryside will be hard. Living happily ever after with my mate and having babies is not exactly on top of my list of priorities right now. I sigh again.

“Yeah sure.” I mutter before turning away to face my desk. No matter how I try, there is no getting away from fate. I hear Mum get up and head off downstairs. I look at my coursework and groan, I’m not in the mood for this now.

I turn around to head downstairs moodily. Best get this over with I thought sadly.

Slowly, I slump down the stairs. Lucas is no longer making train noises in his room. I can hear him in the front room giggling along to some cartoons.

If only I could go back to being 5. He has it so easy.

As I enter the kitchen, the smell of bacon, sausages and eggs come to greet me. I sniff hungrily and eye up the frying pan on the oven. Oh, my Mum is such a good cook.

“Hungry?” My Mum asks. “Starving” was my reply.

I smiled at Mum and she threw me a smile back. I turned around and I sit down on an empty chair at the table across from Dad. He is looking down, arms crossed and leaning over the morning paper. He doesn’t say a word. I can tell he is trying to keep himself looking busy but it’s not working. I look over my shoulder and see Mum glance at us, quickly turning her head when she saw me looking.

“Dad? What is going on? Mum said you two wanted to talk to me about something important?” I quizzed. Dad sighed and eventually looked up at me and then at Mum. There was a clatter of plates as they were placed on to the table in front of us and Mum joins us, sitting across from me.

“Honey don’t get angry or upset, we know how you feel about joining the pack but something important has popped up” Mum began. She glanced over at Dad, biting her lip and I look at her annoyed. If they know how I feel, then why do they keep going on about it!?

“Anyway, Alpha Xavier has asked every family head to bring their unmated daughters to the packhouse on Saturday” Dad continued.

That’s in two days’ time!!

“From our clan, anyway” I heard Dad continue.

“What for? And I won’t be going!” I snapped back crossing my arms. I’m not having some guy tell me what I need or must do. Alpha or not! He can go to hell!

“Alpha Xavier has still not found his mate. He wants every unmated female to attend a garden party at the packhouse on Saturday so that he can attempt to find his mate. He needs to find his Luna. It’s for the packs greater good. And to carry on the bloodline” Dad looked at me. “Alpha’s orders. And you will be going.”

“BUT THAT’S NOT FAIR! I’m not interested in finding some stupid mate” I tried to argue back but Dad just gave me that look, raised his eyebrows and began pointing at me.

Uh oh. I looked over at Mum, but her face remained blank. I can see she agreed with my Dad.

“As daughter of the warrior chief, You WILL join this pack and take your place. It has been prophesised. It’s your honour and your duty! Either as Luna or not, your place lies high up in our ranks” Dad calmly stated. The look on his face meant do not mess with me. I knew better than to argue with him.

I sighed. Great. Bloody Great.

I stared moodily at my breakfast and began to eat. I looked up at Mum who smiled at me apologetically. She knew how I felt about leaving my friends and the city life behind, but she also agreed with Dad. This was something I had to do. Her hands were tied.

“You will love it at the packhouse honey. And besides, you can still see your friends. There’s buses and you can come back here weekends. It’s not all that bad.” Mum said. “You are strong and powerful, and you will do great things, my little pup” Mum smiled at me squeezing my hand from across the table.

What does she know that they’re not telling me?

I know she was trying to make the situation seem a lot better for me, but it was not working. I had left college a few weeks ago. All I had to do was send off the last of my coursework and I was done. The move to the packhouse was looming. And there was nothing I could do about it. I was going and that was the end of that.

“I don’t see the point in me going anyway. It’s not like Alpha Xavier is going to be interested in me. He can have any she-wolf he wants.” I am desperate not to go to some stupid garden party, but I can see I’m not going to be able to worm my way out of this one.

“You never know, if not Alpha, then you may find your mate in someone else high up. A Beta maybe, as Beta Adam still hasn’t found his mate either. It’s time to face up to your responsibilities. The pack is waiting for you” Dad replied.

Yeah, well they can carry on waiting if I have anything to do with it.

I groaned as I pulled my phone out my pocket and tapped a brief message. Need your help. Come here soon. Urgent. Love Ya. L xxx I sent it off to my best mate Cierra. She would know what to do. She was already promised to Alpha Matthew from one of the other clans once she turned 18.

Surprisingly, she was happy about it. Turns out, they were fated mates. I rolled my eyes. Alpha Matthew was all she ever spoke about with a dreamy look on her face.

Ten minutes later, just as I was finishing my breakfast, I heard a knock on the door. Mum walked off to answer it and promptly came back with Cierra.

“That was quick” I said to her laughing, so glad to see a friendly face.

“Yeah, well, you said it was urgent, so I ran all the way here” Cierra replied. She is also a werewolf and is stupidly fast. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her upstairs. “Come with me. Now!”

“Oww, watch my wrist babe. Where are we going anyway?” Cierra yelped.

“We need to talk. I need your help. It’s important.” As I pulled her up the stairs back to my room.