Finding My Alpha

Prologue Part 2

With the solstice in full effect the twins, along with the other pups, sat and listened to the elders tell stories from before their time. Recalling the exploits of past heroes and battles won and lost that led up to the downfall of the veratus. The pups played and wrestled and challenged Nanette’s impressive memory. The night was going well until Nanette suddenly grew anxious. A red tinged sweat broke out across her body as she became extremely aggressive. 

Not of age to fully shift she shrieked in pain as her small fingers shifted back and forth from normal to clawed. Chills ran up and down her spine and she couldn’t stop pacing the large room. Annette soon mimicked her behavior and the two became ferocious. They corralled the other pups into a tight group before trying to force the elders to join them. One of the elders finally recognized the protective actions as signs of an Alpha female foreseeing misfortune.

“What do you mean by misfortune?” the warrior asked as elder Alba requested him to go find the Alpha.

“Stories of old tell that an Alpha female can tell when something tragic will befall her or her pack. It’s one of the many reasons they are so vital to the pack’s survival. In the past Alpha females have saved not only their own packs but countless others because of their superior senses. Nanette is displaying all the signs and were she fully grown she would have all of us packing up and moving out. Now go tell the Alpha we must end the festival and leave this place,” she explained.

The warrior nodded, shifted into his white wolf and ran off into the night, but it was too late. No sooner had he left than the screams of their pack members could be heard throughout the town. Blood curdling cries and deafening roars echoed through the air. The remaining two warriors shifted and took up a defensive stance. They circled around the house checking for any enemies nearby. The elders heard the screams and had everyone move into the safety of the basement. 

‘The veratus are here! We are overrun! Those who can fight protect those who cannot. Those who cannot fight, run! Run until your feet carry you to safety. We will hold them off, but it won’t be for long. Corrine, your Luna, has already fallen as have our Betas. The warriors and myself are all that remain in the town center,’ came Alpha Gilead’s terrifying message through the mind link.

‘I can no longer sense many of our pack mates, meaning they are no longer with us. To those of you who can still hear me, if you can, find your way to the pups. They are what's most important now. Nanette and Annette listen to me, your siblings are gone, your mother is gone and I too will soon be gone. Nanette you are now the Alpha of this pack, guide the elders and the pups to safety. If there is anyone still alive to join you they will. I love you both. May the moon goddess watch over you and….’

And just like that his voice was gone. Nanette tumbled over in agony, as an Alpha female she felt the loss of her father more deeply than the others. She felt his authority pass on to her along with all the knowledge he held. The howls of the remaining wolves filled the air as they too felt their Alpha’s passing. All but the ones in the house, in this moment silence was their friend. The veratus hadn’t traveled this far out so they were still safe, but not for long. Anyone headed their way would lead the veratus to them. They needed to move and fast. Too afraid to be heard, the four elders spoke through the mind link. 

‘What are we to do now?’ Fern asked, being the youngest of the elders she had never encountered the veratus before.

‘We must get the pups as far away from here as we can. There had to have been a pack or human settlement that we passed on our way here that we can double back too,’ Vergo said, he was the only male elder.

‘And risk their safety along with our own? We are the hunters of veratus, yet they got the drop on us. Do you think it is wise to put our potential saviors in danger?’ Fern asked as terror filled her voice.

‘Calm yourself Fern! We will not be seeking shelter with anyone until the veratus are off our trail. The others know where we are, but they will not come this way or they risk leading the veratus right to the pups. But with the Alpha dead we cannot link with them to tell them our plans,’ Alba the oldest of the elders said.

‘I can reach them. There are not many of us left, but I can feel them,’ Nanette chimed in.

The elders paused and looked down at the child at their feet, confused. How had she heard their conversation? Her ever alert slanted hazel eyes were partially covered by her snow white coily hair darted from one face to another. 

‘How is it you can hear us?’ Stuney asked, she was closest in age to Alba.

‘Daddy called it ‘tapping in,’ he said it was a rumored power of an Alpha female. I can sense when a telepathic connection is happening and if I focus on it, I can break into the connection or tap into it and either join it or sever it,’ Nanette answered.

‘How long have you had access to this power?’ Alba asked.

‘Since the beginning. My parents taught me how to use it and warned me to never eavesdrop. Not all conversations need listening to,’ she said with a small smile.

‘You, little one, will be the greatest Alpha female the moon goddess has ever bestowed upon us. You are truly gifted. How many of us can you sense?’ asked Vergo.

Nanette closed her eyes for a brief moment before answering, ‘Not including those of us here, there are eight Ahroun wolves still out there. Two of them are fading away, soon there will be six.’