The Alpha's Queen

When the moon is high in the sky, and the clouds are thin whips of silver ribbons. I think that's my favorite time of the night. The sky's so clear and the moon is glowing so brightly, you almost can't see the star's twinkling. If you listen closely, you can hear the wind, the trees, even the very earth talking to you. If only you stayed still and quiet so that you can hear what’s being said. That’s the trick, learning to listen to what the world around you is saying, taking the time to listen and learn from earth herself. I'm sitting on the roof just watching the moon. My favorite pastime. Momma doesn't like it when I climb up here, but I can't resist. It’s something about the moon and being able to lay under its milky light. I feel as if I’m able to absorb the harnessed energy of the moon, the way most people feel about relaxing in the sun. Momma is always telling me that I could be snatched away in a blink of an eye, without anyone knowing. But I think that's just her imagination working her over protective mom gene. I mean, really, who is going to kidnap me without anyone knowing. First off, they would have to climb onto the roof without anyone hearing them. Which I can't see happening, my family can hear a pin drop on the other side of the grassy meadow. We all have ridiculously good heading. Secondly, since mom had me training in combat fighting since I was 2, they would have a fight on their hands. I’m not trying to boast or anything, but I can kick butt. I’m always challenging my cousins to spar with me.  It was more like a game than actual fighting, we try to see who can get the first hit. Tonight, something is different though. Something is calling me back into the safety of the house. I’m not sure what it is, other than a feeling in my gut that something is wrong. I climb down off the roof and into my bedroom, only to be greeted by three strange people standing in my bedroom doorway, almost like they were purposely blocking the door. As I turn around to climb back out the window, I notice two people standing on either side of the window ready to block any hasty exit. Concussion set in, I didn’t notice them when I climbed into the window. That's about the same time that I noticed that the whole house is eerily quiet. My house is never quiet, even at night. With my parents, 2 aunts, their husbands, 3 uncles and their wives, along with all the combined total 17 kids. The kids range in ages from 3 years old to 19 years old. With that many people living in one house, there was always some type of noise. I felt someone put a cloth over my face, and everything started going black. Trying to hold my breath and not to breathe, not knowing what chemicals might be on the fabric. The burning in my chest lets me know that I’ve lost the battle of holding my breath. Having no choice but to inhale a breath of air, I tasted the sweetness on the back of my throat before my body completely betrayed me. I lost complete control of my limbs and body, they wouldn’t and couldn’t respond to my mind's screams to move and fight on their own. Just before my whole world went black, I remembered the knock out d**g that my aunt was teaching us about, and how to make it in science class. With its ability to paralyze your central nervous system before your body starts shutting down into a coma like state. When I came to, I found myself chained to the wall and floor. I pulled on the chain to see if I could free myself. But it was of no use. I could only move about 3 feet, and the chains were securely bolted to the wall and floor. With the wall at my back and bars on the other three sides, I knew that I wasn’t going anywhere unless somebody let me out. Nobody was around me, and my thoughts went to my family. Did they know where I was, and were they alright? Who would kidnap me, and why?  “Well it appears that the princess has awakened”, a voice sneered. Looking up towards the voice, I saw that it belonged to a tall girl looked to be about my age, with a beautiful mocha skin tone. By the look on her face, I'm guessing she doesn't like me much. I try to think if I've ever seen her before, but I can't place her face or voice. Not understanding or even knowing what’s going on, I watch her cautiously. While trying to get some understanding of how I ended up in my current state. “What have I ever done to you? I asked her, only to see her curled lip. Let me go please.” Tears threaten to fall, but I refuse to give this girl, my captor, the benefit of seeing me cry. I’m now getting mad at myself, as well as this girl. I don’t like showing any type of weakness to anybody. I don’t even like crying in front of my parents, let alone anyone else in the family. Not knowing what’s happening, or what’s going on; of course, I’m scared for myself and my family. “Please! Did she really say please”? The girl asked the air around her. “You’re so weak and pathetic! I don't see what's so special about you. Alpha should just kill you now and save the pack from having to feed your sorry a*s”. “Who is Alpha? And what's a pack? Is that the name of your g**g? Why am I here? What have I ever done to you”? I’m so confused now. What is this girl talking about? I haven’t got a clue as to what is going on, and she’s talking like she’s lost some part of her brain function, or at minimum has a few loose screws. “You'll find out soon enough.” Leaving me alone with my thoughts, she walked away while I fought back the tears that threatened to fall. Hearing footsteps approaching, I stood up. I've let my captors see me weak enough already, I refuse to let them see another tear fall from my eyes. The girl came into my line of vision first, opening the door that I hadn't noticed before. From floor to ceiling and swinging on a seamless hinge. Unless you know where the bars separated, you would never notice a doorway there. Bringing a chair into my cage like cell, she puts the chair just out of my reach. Standing back by the door, she turned and looked at the best-looking specimen of the male-hood I have ever seen. I might be young, but that didn’t mean that I wouldn’t know an earth walking God when I see one.  Standing at 6’ 8”, with chiseled arms and chest. A stomach so defined, I can see every muscle in his core, looking like he has a 12 pack instead of a 6 pack. Even with his shirt on! I wondered how many sit-ups and crunches he completed daily to maintain his washboard stomach. His hair reached his mid back in multiple braids. He was definitely someone's chocolate bar, and I wanted to take a bite or two myself. “My Queen”, the chocolate bar says as he looks directly at me. between his piercing look and the sexy timber of his voice, I had to fight the shivers running down my spine. Thinking that he must be speaking to the girl, I looked at her; waiting for her to say something, anything.  “Why don't you take a seat”? He said, “Angel, go get her something to eat and some clean clothes. I don't want her leaving this room looking like that”.  Thank the gods, he is going to let me go. I thought happily. But wait, why would he call me his queen?  Sneering at me again, the girl (I now knew was Angel) left to go do as the chocolate bar said. Throughout the whole time, he never once took his eyes off of me. While I’m admiring his well-defined body, I don’t like his scrutiny. I feel like he’s looking for something, and I’m not sure what. “I am Terrance, but most people call me Terry or Alpha”. “Why do they call you Alpha”? I asked, “Is that like a nickname or something”?  “Because I am the alpha of this pack, The Golden Moon Pack”. He c***s his head to the side as if he’s studying me. “Don't tell me that your parents have been negligent in their duties and haven't explained or taught you the basic rules or hierarchy of the shifters world”.  “What are you talking about, shifters aren't real. That's just made for movies or television, a good book at best”.  The roar of laughter that he let out sent shivers down my spine. Not the bad kind, no, I wasn’t scared at all. I had to mentally shake myself, all I wanted to do was take a bite out of him. And maybe something more. “Come my Queen, you have lots to learn.” He said walking closer towards me. “I’ll teach you everything that your small pack should have been teaching you all along.” As he reached for my hand, I backed up against the wall. “What are you talking about, and where is my family?” I asked. “Your family are all in another room similar to this one. The young children are being cared for in the pack daycare area. I promise no harm will come to you or the youngsters.”  “I want to see my family! My parents, my uncles and aunts, all my cousins and siblings.” I yelled at him. “Queen there is no reason for you to yell and raise your voice.” “Stop calling me Queen, my name is Maritza, not Queen.” I screamed at him. Terry turns his back and stands just outside the hidden door. “I’ll give you a moment to change your clothes.” He said as he walked away. Angel handed me a clean pair of pants and shirt to put on. Just as I finished dressing, Angel walks back in with a tray of food. I'm hungry, but also suspicious of the food. Angel has made it very clear that she doesn’t like me. For all I know she’s spit in it or poisoned it. She slams the tray down onto the chair and walks out in a huff. I’m still unsure why she doesn’t like me. I can’t think of ever meeting her before. So, I’m unsure of what I’ve done to make her hate me so much. But looking at the food on the tray, I was right not to trust her to give me something edible. I'm sitting against the wall when I hear footsteps coming towards me. I stand up as I see Terry. “Are you done eating my Queen?”  “No, I'm not eating that. Would you?” I guess that's when he decided to really look at the meal that was provided for me. “What is that!” he asked walking towards the door with the tray in hand. “It's dog food, and not even a good brand at that. I wouldn’t feed my own dog that crap.” I say while seething. “What made you think that I would eat that? Why would you tell your b***h to give dog food to someone? And what makes you think that it’s okay to serve that to anyone? Whether you’ve kidnapped them or not, it doesn’t make it right to expect someone to eat food that was meant to be fed to an animal. What is wrong with you people?” He walked up to me and unlocked the chains from my arms and legs, then grabbed my arm along with the tray of dog food and stormed out of the cage like room I've been in. With his long strides I had the choice of running to keep up or being dragged alongside him. ‘Angel! Angel, what is the meaning of this? Why would you think this was an acceptable meal to feed someone?” He bellowed as he walked, with me running trying to keep up, towards where Angel was standing in front of a door.  “Alpha, I only gave her what she deserves. She’s weak and pathetic, why should the pack waste the resources feeding her? She will only weaken the pack and isn’t worth the trouble.” She stated. Angel gasped and took a step back, I looked at Terry. It must be a trick of the light, but it looks like his eyes are slowly turning black. He blinked, and his eyes were their normal beautiful golden brown. I had to be seeing things. People’s eyes don’t just change colors like that.  “What are you?” My voice was barely a whisper, but both of their heads snapped in my direction. “Told you- “ “Don’t say a word Angel, for the next two weeks you’re on kitchen and child care duty. And I’ll make sure that you have plenty of this ‘cuisine’ to eat during the next two weeks. Seeing how you feel this is a fitting meal for someone to eat, you can enjoy the same meal during the duration of your extra duties.” Terry said, cutting her off. “Maybe some time taking care of the needs of others, and experiencing the very delicious meal that you’ve decided was fitting for her to eat, will teach you a little humility and respect. It’s not okay to treat someone with blatant disrespect, it’s worse that you feel it’s alright to treat my queen, your Luna, with any disrespect at all.” Terry let go of my arm and asked me to follow him. His eyes seemed to have glazed over for a second. As I follow him, a group of people walk towards us, with greetings of hello Alpha and welcome Luna.   I look at Terry as we are walking, but he only nods his head in reply to the greetings. We enter the kitchen, and it's huge. My eyes almost fall out of my head. A restaurant style grill, 2 six burners cooktops, a subzero fridge, and 4 wall ovens. Everything surrounded by a 20-foot center island, which had bar stools that sat right up to the counter. I counted 30 stools in all. Oh, what I could cook and serve up in a kitchen like this. Being one of my favorite past times, I’m always cooking or baking something for my family to eat. If I had this gourmet restaurant style kitchen growing up, my cooking skills would be much better than they are even now. “I would like to make sure you have eaten properly. Please accept my apologies for your mistreatment this morning.” Terry says and motions for me to sit down. “Please, when can I see my family and when can we go home? If you really wanted to apologize for the treatment I've had this morning, then you would let my family and I go. I don’t understand why I’m here, or what you want with me and my family. We don’t bother anyone, no one can even say that we have insulted someone in the town that we live in. My siblings, cousins and I are all home schooled, and our parents work from home.” I state as I watch him cook. “Soon my Queen. After you eat, I will take you to see your family. But, first I need for you to eat. Then I’ll see to it that you speak with your family. Everything will be explained to you in short order. Once you’ve spoken with your family, you’ll understand why you're here, and why this is your new home. Is that acceptable to you?  “Why do you keep calling me Queen? I told you that’s not my name.” “I will explain why I call you Queen once we are with your family, please be patient and bear with me a little longer. I promise everything will be explained to you.” With that said, he sat a massive plate in front of me. My eyes bulged, becoming big as saucers once I saw everything he sat in front of me, did he think I was a horse or something? Eggs scrambled with red, green, yellow and orange sweet bell-peppers. Six slices of french toast topped with powdered sugar and strawberries, along with bacon and sausage. A small bowl of fruit salad was placed next to a goblet of cranberry juice and a glass of water with lemon slices floating in it. My mouth just watered looking at it, but there was no way I would be able to eat all of that. “There is no way I’ll be able to eat all of this by myself, would you care to join me? I would hate to see all this food go to waste.” I told Terry. Nodding his head with a smile, he grabbed two smaller plates and utensils and sat across from me. Handing me one of the smaller plates, Terry put a little of everything on both plates. I waited until he started eating before I did. Once I took my first bite of the French Toast, my eyes rolled into the back of my skull; It was perfectly cooked. Slightly toasted on the outside, but warm and fluffy on the inside. Topped with the right amount of powdered sugar, no syrup or anything else needed. Once we were finished eating, we went to what he called the media room. It looked like a combination of a movie theater with a very large living room. Flipping the many switches on the wall just inside the door, one at a time, the lights started coming on going down the ceiling towards the far walls. Then he flipped the last switch and the curtains slid open, revealing a wall of windows with shades that started sliding up. As the shades rolled up, the lights started dimming on their own, until the mix of natural daylight and lighting from the room was a perfect combination. Terry started walking to one of the couches grouped together and sat down. Not wanting to sit next to him, I sat on the couch across from him. “Your family will be here shortly.” He said. Looking around the great room, there were 6 seating areas in the middle of the room. Each of the six areas consisted of four couches surrounding a square coffee table. On one end of the room were overstuffed chairs and beanbags, strategically placed with bookcases and lamps for a reading area. The other side of the great room was a big movie screen with 20 recliners sitting in front of it. Terry stands up, and I hear the door open. I turn around to look and I see my mom. I immediately started crying and ran to her, hugging her and asking why we were here. As I see each of my uncles and aunts, with my dad walking into the room last, I give them all hugs. “I think we should all sit down and talk” Terry says, he hasn’t moved from where he was standing. Choosing to give me and my family space to greet each other. Looking at my dad, “would you and your wife like to start, or should I?” asked Terry