The Billionaire Alpha’s Dilemma

Summer, Berdic desert. Striding out of the open courtyard in barely concealed anger a tall man stormed through the dimly lit corridor with purpose, as he walked past oil lamps mounted high up on opposite ends of the narrow way the flickering lights played with his shadow, making long exaggerated impressions on the mud brick wall as he drew near the end of the corridor. when he got to the end he turned left into a room whose only source of light came from the moon shining in through the wide open window, this he walked towards as if pulled by the magnificence of the soon to be full moon, A light breeze blew in from over a sea of red dunes, swirling around making little sandy whirlwinds dance across the expanse in front of the window, bringing in traces of the smell of the coast that lay not too far off towards the East. he was soon joined by another, as the person crept noiselessly into the room in the darkness and drew closer to him he made no indication that he knew he was no longer alone in the room and when the other man spoke up from the shadows he remained as he had been, pensively facing the moon. “You are being impatient, you have to remember that the ultimate decision lies with the Alpha, you don’t want to be seen as a schemer do you? When the man at the window turned snarling angrily in the direction of the shadows where the speaker stood, the speaker almost jumped, startled at the heat emanating from the man’s eyes. in the shemagh that he had wrapped around his head and face to protect him from the scorching desert, they were the only features on his face that were visible in its wrapped state. In the shadows the other man gulped, a little shocked at the usually unflappable man’s reaction, The man turned his face away from the shadows back at the moon and spoke evenly, his voice muffled by the cloth covering. “I have given my life in service, I have worked without question, ready for the Alpha’s call, I have been most loyal and yet you call me impatient? A Schemer?” He ground out, the cold steel of his voice slicing through the air with deadly force. The other man kept quiet for a moment then cleared his throat awkwardly and continued speaking, this time in an ingratiating voice, putting away his haughtiness. he needed to thread carefully, this was Medine, the greatest warrior in recent history, it would do no good to alienate him, the Alpha needed him tethered to the pack and loyal. “Your ambition worries the Alpha, when he saved your life and took you in he treated you like only a father could, that you have grown in such might is a coup for us all, as the greatest soldier in our pack and even beyond, your conquests on behalf of the Alpha and this pack have brought great acclaim to us, that is why the alpha gave you his precious daughter as a mate and her birthing of a male pup will ensure that your lineage sits as Alpha, how many werewolves have been lucky to be able to grow in the ranks like you have? maybe when the new Alpha comes he can be spoken to and you can be appointed Beta, I am certain the..” “That is not what I was promised!” the man at the window’s tone lowered dangerously, he breathed deeply then continued in a clipped measured tone, “I see you all still see me as a mutt, bottom barrel and rudderless. it is not enough that I have came to this pack with nothing and solely on my strength grown from the ranks of omega and made the most impact after I dedicated all of my time to defending this pack from its enemies, the Alpha would rather join his pack to a band of marauding normad werewolves than give me my due! Being with the Alpha’s weak daughter and a few vague promises for my heirs is not enough for me.” So saying he swooped out of the room through the window and when he landed on the soft ground at the back of the house he unselfconsciously took off his robes and the covering over his head to expose curly hair that fell to shoulders and a back roped with rippling muscles, falling to his knees his bones cracked and tuffs of hair began to sprout all over his nude body as his transformation into a werewolf began, in a minute in place of the muscular dark man stood a magnificent werewolf, it’s dark hair glistening in the moonlight as it stretched and poised for flight, in a couple of powerful leaps it bounded away from the compound and raced, its swift departure gone unchallenged. As Medine’s wolf raced home he fumed at the betrayal, when he had been invited to the meeting at the Packhouse he had been certain the Alpha of Red Stone Pack was ready to tell him he would confer the title of Alpha unto him, the culmination of all his hard work, of being looked down, of the days he had been looked at like dirt because he had no roots, he had coverted the rank for so long, all of the fear he arose in the hearts of people was not enough, he yearned for the legitimacy Being a ranked Werewolf gave and now his dreams were squashed. it was not enough that his heirs would have Alpha blood, he wanted it for himself. He was sick of the ceremonies that held werewolves to siege, that was why he had abandoned any notions of a moon Mate and instead fought to claim the Alpha’s daughter, He had believed that marking an Alpha blood would make them see him as more than just the hired gun but the unfolding events showed him otherwise, the pack would hold a ceremony on the day of the full moon to welcome the new Alpha and since that was not going to be him he would not be a member of the welcoming committee he swore to himself. After running for a little while the air became cooler and the sea of sand began to give way to more rocky terrain with a lot of shrubbery and some trees, the werewolf came to a halt at a solitary single story building with stone foundation and transformed back to a man, he walked determinedly to the door seemingly oblivious to his nakedness then he kicked the door with so much violence it caved in and was wrenched off its hinges and thrown against the wall on the opposite end, the clattering noise disturbed the stillness of the night and almost immediately a baby’s cry rang out, apparently startled by the sudden disturbance. Soon after came sounds of footsteps dashing out from inside the back rooms of the house to the main hall to investigate the cause of the noise. A tiny young woman in her early 20s ran out in a long flowing gown closely followed by a buxom older woman with a lot of gray in her hair, the identical looks of fear and confusion on their faces grew as their running steps halted when they saw who had just destroyed the entrance of the home. “Medine you’re back? I thought you would be sleeping at the Packhouse tonight, is anything wrong?” The younger woman said as she drew closer to him then stopped a couple of feet away from him, he stood in the wrecked doorway, naked and hulking, as she peered into his face she noticed that he looked unusually flushed with emotion, his normally blank look had been replaced by a fiery determined expression. she shivered involuntarily and took a step back, without turning she mindlinked Salomé “Go back to the room, go and see to Remi while I see what the problem is with Medine, do not come out until I say you can.” As the older woman began to pivot back towards the rooms where she came from while the younger woman waited and wrung her hands anxiously Medine’s voice stilled them both. “Bring me my son.” Salome stood rooted to the spot and the younger woman turned and gave her a nod of okay. Turning back she raised beseeching eyes up at him, “Tell me what was said at the meeting that has put you in such a state.” He just ignored her and stared ahead stonily. She wondered what had been discussed that had her mate so tense, she was never privy to the Alpha’s inner circle as women were not invited so she had no idea what went on at these meetings. Her mate was a cold emotionless man, he scared her but as the daughter of the Alpha she knew she had a duty to make her Pack stronger and when she had been informed that she would be mated to the warrior Medine she had been disappointed, he was a very attractive man and strong but she had allowed herself hope she might find a moon mate that she would fall in love with and who her father would be content with. she thought of her father’s safety for a moment and pushed it away, he had enough guards to protect them from one werewolf even if the werewolf was Medine and he didn’t smell like blood so she was sure there had been no fight. The silence in the room was interrupted by a baby’s hiccups and as Salomé came in bearing a baby wrapped in cloth, she cooed to the child and rocked him as she moved towards where they both stood. Medine spoke up again. “I will be taking my son away from here and we shall never return.” He walked further into the room, his arms outstretched in the direction of the child and the younger woman ran ahead of him and stood in front of the baby spreading her arms wide out in a protective stance. “No!” The panic and despair making her blue eyes wild, “please I will talk to my father, he will do anything I ask, please I beg you, don’t take my child away from me, let me go with you” tears now running down her cheeks. Without breaking his stride Medine grabbed a hold of her and flung her away from his path into the wall as easily as if she had been a rag doll. he continued on towards his son and as he bent to fetch him out of the hands cradling him the sounds of ripping clothes could be heard as the child’s mother transformed into a little black wolf. She charged at Medine and he turned away from the child and once again flung her to the wall, As the wolf whimpered and tried to stand up he walked towards her and rained blows and kicks, pounding on her until his fists were bloodied and she lay quiet and unmoving in a crumbled heap transformed to her human form. He stood up and looked towards the direction of the bawling child then he walked towards where Salomé sat on the ground cowering and still trying to soothe the child. As Medine looked down his anger spent, his head clear he contemplated the two shivering people in front of him and made a quick decision, he had known the mother of his child would never give up her son, however there had been a haze of anger covering his eyes and he had been itching for a fight, he could not have started one at the Packhouse, he could have taken down a lot of the werewolves but in the end he would have been killed. he would have to leave this place immediately and go far far away where he could not be found and he would need someone to care for the tiny infant. “Get the essentials you will need for a long trip, you are coming with me” without waiting for an answer he turned on his heel and went out of the house in the direction of the bathroom out back. 3 years after. Grimbley Village, Brinla. As he staggered out of the pub and went next door to the bed and breakfast he was currently residing at Brady Strand’s awkward gait was more pronounced thanks to his inebriated state, limping as he climbed up the stairs he congratulated himself on his wisdom in finding accommodations right next to the local watering hole, after meeting the Selkie that had sought him out and helping her find her skin he had carefully recorded the details in his notes and had gone to the pub next door to celebrate, there was nothing else to do. Unless something new arose he would be out of this city in a couple of days and it could not be soon enough, He was already itching for a new adventure. he unlocked his room, stumbled in and started taking off his shoes, he had had some food in the pub, it was straight to bed with him. His head snapped up when a light suddenly came on in the darkest corner of the room where a chair sat near the foot of the bed, then he noticed someone was seated in the chair holding what looked to be a bundle of clothes. Rubbing his eyes to make certain his drunkenness was not playing with his mind he leaned forward to look past the ball of light that seemed suspended in the air just above the floor into the face that was too high above the light to be seen. As he realized the tableau in front of him was real he attempted to back out of the room, when he slowly took two steps backwards he was stopped when the figure in the chair called his name, squinting he watched as the hovering ball of light rose high enough that he could see the features of his midnight guest. “Marcel? Marcel Montebeau? Am I drunk or is this a dream?” Brady rubbed his eyes again, certain he was not seeing properly, the last time he had seen Marcel he had been at the Lune Pack’s commune years ago. “It is good to see you my friend, I see you’re still a drunk, that is going to have to change,” so saying Marcel snapped his fingers and the alcohol cloud in Brady Strand’s head cleared up immediately. “and yes, it is truly I Marcel, the drink is not deceiving you, I am truly here in the flesh.” As Brady drew closer to Marcel he noticed dark rings around his eye and the usually handsome man’s complexion looked washed out and pale, sitting down on the bed beside him he looked enquiringly at the clothes on his lap. “Are you alright Marcel?” “My friend, I need your help, I have come to selfishly claim your promise to me, I do this on behalf of my daughter.” So saying he parted the clothes he held and exposed a little child.” Brady peered down into a tiny face framed by blonde ringlets, as he watched in awe tiny little fists stretched and it’s little rosebud mouth pouted before settling back to sleep. Shocked he looked up at Marcel, “you have a child? Is she Camille’s?” At that Marcel’s eyes filled with pain and he nodded yes then he spoke. Three years ago when Camille’s father had become severely ill other packs and rouges found out and took advantage of the weakness of the pack to attack, we all fought hard but we had no leader and were being attacked on every front, just when we had believed ourselves Lost a very strong werewolf came to our rescue and thanks to his masterful coordination we were able to conquer our enemies and win the battle. Thereafter Camille’s father betrothed her to this strange warrior, being a dutiful daughter she accepted because she wanted what was best for the pack. When she informed me I just could not live that way so I told her I was leaving the commune and I begged her to come with me. She left with me and we have since been hunted by the warrior who became Alpha after Camille’s father’s passing, there have been rumors that he hastened his death so he could take over the pack. Today he found us, Camille sent me away with the child while she stayed behind to distract him, I feel my bond to her broken, I believe Alpha Medine has killed my Camille and is intent in killing my daughter who is the rightful Heir to the Alpha title. “But how did you find me Marcel, I haven’t been home in a long time, no one knows where I am, I have basically been a normad without an address” “Remember when we traveled through the Peregrine Mountains, when I saved you from that ogre and you said if I ever needed you I could call on you? The ring I gave you then, it led me here to you, even though when I got into your room I did not find you I saw your books and I know you will never stray too far away from them. I am sorry because I know I am about to change your lifestyle but I have no other choice. I have come calling Brady Strand, I need you to be a father to my daughter and protect her. Can you do that for me?” “Marcel, when I told you to call on me when you need it I meant it, I probably would not be alive if you had not helped me, I am willing to do anything to keep your daughter but how can I protect her if her father who is a warlock and her mother who is a high bred werewolf have not been able to? Will the Alpha Medine not come after her?” “I have thought of that, first of all Alpha Medine does not know of you, I will cast a spell on my daughter that will keep her abilities locked up until her 21st birthday and if you raise her as a regular human no one will know, Her true nature will have to be hidden if she is to stay alive. I on the other hand will act as bait and lead Medine and his sorcerers away from here, I most likely will not see you again so, Do you accept?” “I will take your daughter and care for her as my own, I will protect her with my life” Brady answered with tears in his eyes. Handing over the tiny sleeping child over to Brady felt solemn, Marcel’s stoic face trying to hide the pain he felt. “I will need you to keep this box for her, she should be given on her 21st birthday.” He handed Brady a small ornate box with intricate carvings all over that seemed to have no way of being opened, as if sensing Brady’s unasked question he said “it needs no key, it has been sealed by magic, all she would need to open it is to look at it, it will recognize her eyes. Now my friend, I need to send you away from here so that when they come looking for me you would have been long gone. I don’t need to know where you want to go, just think of where you want to be and when you are done visualizing the location let me know you’re ready.” As Brady looked around at the disorder of his room and all his belongings scattered about Marcel snapped his finger and had everything organized and in one place. Brady chuckled and looking at Marcel said “I am ready.” Coming closer Marcel kissed the sleeping infant, whispered “bye Adrienne” then took a few steps back and started to whistle, in a moment Brady, the baby and all his property disappeared and left alone in the room he keeled over and sobbed in the darkness.