Strong-willed
1310 Words
Octavia left her father's office with Ralph on her heels.
“Woah Octavia. You would be competing for the Alpha position.”
“Yes Ralph. I'm pretty sure I heard that part clearly when Alpha said it.” She groaned.
“Yes, but aren't you scared.” Ralph asked.
Octavia just shrugged. “It doesn't matter. What matters is I fulfill my duty to my pack.”
“I know that Octavia but what about Cole.”
“What about him?”
Ralph stared at her with wide eyes. “Octavia, Cole would be beyond mad if you win this contest.”
“He would have to accept it.” She deadpanned turning to Ralph with a frown.
“But it would be like you stole his birthright.” Ralph murmured quietly.
“I didn't steal anything, Ralph. If I remember clearly. Cole and I are twins which means the Alpha title belongs to both of us.”
“But you are female, Octavia. Women do not run packs as Alphas, only Lunas.” He argued.
“Well, Dad does not seem to think that. Besides, I haven't won the contest yet. So I have no idea why we are having this discussion.”
Ralph nodded. “True.”
Octavia sighed.
“Where is Cole?”
“Don't know. Probably in his bedroom.”
Octavia nodded turning towards Cole's bedroom.
“I would go talk to him.”
“I will come with you.” Ralph offered but Octavia put a hand on his shoulder.
“I should do this alone, Ralph.”
She pat his shoulders as she turned and made her way to Cole's bedroom.
“Cole.” She knocked twice, but there was no response.
She then decided to let herself in.
“Cole.” Octavia called again following his scent until she got to his balcony.
“Hey.”
She put a hand on his shoulder.
“Are you okay?”
“I'm fine.” He shrugged her off, walking into his bedroom.
Octavia sighed closing and reopening her eyes as she followed him.
“Cole. I know you're mad about father's decision but I swear I knew nothing about —”
“Why would I be mad.” Cole interrupted turning to her in a blank face.
“Do you think I see you as a threat Octavia because I don't. I'm male Octavia and you're only female. I know you can't defeat me.”
Octavia just stared at her twin brother too shocked to even reply.
“If I were you Octavia. I would probably just withdraw from the competition.” Cole stalked towards her, arms folded. “I mean what do you think the people would say about a female Alpha. That is assuming you manage to win by some miracle.” He snorted.
“They would never accept you.”
Octavia who found words too heavy, shocked by her brother's behavior just nodded.
“Okay then. It's settled.”
Cole's features relaxed as he thought she was about to agree to withdraw.
“Since, I'm am no threat to you. I don't think you would mind if I follow through with the contest.”
Cole turned to her sharply, fixing her with a sharp glare before quickly relaxing his face.
He shrugged, his face expressionless.
“Okay then. Do what you want.”
Octavia nodded turning quickly to leave his room.
“Octavia.” He called and she turned to him.
“What?”
“May the best man win.” He smirked.
“May the best man win.” Octavia nodded as she left his room and headed for her's. She needed to rest her head from all this overthinking.
********
Later that night, Octavia brushed her hair in her bedroom completely lost in her thoughts.
“Octavia,” She heard a knock on her door. “It's mom.”
“Come in.” Octavia replied dropping the comb as she turned towards her mother.
“Hey mom.” She smiled walking over to her.
Carlina, her mother smiled back. She took her daughter's hand and led her to the bed. Once they were both comfortably sitted. She cleared her throat.
“So I heard about your father's decree. The contest between you and your brother.”
Octavia sighed as she looked away.
“Mom, I'm scared. I'm so scared.”
“Why darling?” Carlina asked twisting her hand in her daughter's silver almost white hair.
“What if I win? How would Cole feel? How would the pack feel about a female Alpha? How can I fulfil my duties if u don't even know what to do first?” Her breath trembled as she tried to calm herself.
Carlina rubbed her hand on her daughter's shoulder.
“Then why don't you withdraw from the competition?”
Octavia shook her head.
“I can't.” She muttered harshly.
“Of course you can, darling. No one would judge you if you do. They would understand that you are just female, besides we have never had a female ruler.”
“No mom, I can't disappoint Dad.”
Her mother shook her head.
“Forget about your father. I will talk to him. You know what, why don't you come with me. We will tell him together.” Calina stood up taking a hold of Octavia's hand but Octavia shook her off.
“Why do you want me to withdraw so bad.” She asked, narrowing her eyes at her mother.
Calina stared at her for a moment, before letting out a defeated sigh.
“Because, you know how long Cole had dreamed of this title. And now you are just going to snatch it away from him? It's unfair.”
Octavia could feel anger boil inside of her. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
“Unfair,” She jolted to her feet. “You want to know what is unfair? It's you coming into my room at the middle of the night and picking sides in all of this. And as for the Alpha title. We haven't even done the contest yet. So why is everyone making it look like I have won already.”
“It doesn't matter. You shouldn't be competing with him for what's rightfully his. Calina emphasized. Her words made Octavia scoff.
“Rightfully his?” She stalked towards her mother. “If I remember clearly. Cole and I are twins, which means we both have a right to the title. I am an Alpha too, mom.”
Her mother frowned as she turned away from her daughter's deadly glare.
“You know what I mean, Octavia. You are a girl and girls are not allowed to be Alphas.”
Octavia closed her eyes. Disappointment was far too mild a word for what she felt in that moment. A restless urge to hit something—or someone—rose within her, and she knew that if the conversation continued, that someone might very well be her mother.
“Leave.” She demanded, her voice eerily calm.
“Octavia—”
“Get out of my bedroom!!” She shouted.
Calina huffed as she stood up, looking at her daughter with a sharp glare.
“Fine, but remember what I said.”
With that, she stormed out of Octavia's bedroom banging the door on her way out.
Once she was gone Octavia fell on a stool, sadness settled all over her stomach. She still couldn't believe those words came from her mother's mouth.
She felt painfully alone. Tears burned at the corners of her eyes, but she closed them tightly, steadying her breathing as she fought to calm herself.
She didn't care what anyone thought.
She was gonna compete for the Alpha title and try her best to win.
She was gonna prove them all wrong.
- Writer
