The Lost Alpha

More To Life

ANDY

Grant walked me back upstairs, back to the warmth of the house.

“Maybe that was a bad idea.” He mumbled.

“I’m the one that decided to do it. There’s no one to blame but me.” I reassured him. “And my decision only gave me more doubts and questions.”

I followed Grant into the kitchen, hopping up on the island counter to watch him angrily scrounge for food. While he was partly distracted, I took a chance.

“What I need to do is talk to someone else who was there.” I eyed the back of Grant as he searched the fridge. “Someone who knew my mother very well. Who she would have confided in.”

“I don’t know who her friends were, but I can ask around.” Grant said.

“No, I think I need someone closer to her than friends.” I tried to say it without actually saying it.

“My grandparents died years ago. And they only had Mariana and my father.”

“Exactly.” I said quietly. “I think I need to speak to your father.”

I saw Grant freeze before turning around slowly to look at me.

“I’ve actually already asked him about that.” He said slowly.

“And?”

“And,” Grant took a deep breath. “He’s not ready.”

“What do you mean ‘he’s not ready’?” I asked. “I’m his long-lost niece.”

“You’re the daughter of the little sister he failed to protect.” Grant clarified. “That was his job, to protect her, and he failed her. He failed you. My father has never forgiven himself for that. It changed who he was.”

“I need to know, Grant.” I pushed. “I’ve got two conflicting stories here. I need to know the truth of what happened.”

“My father has mourned Mariana every day since we found out she was dead. He was only able to do the bare minimum each day. And now, with finding you and you being here, he’s a shell.” Grant paused. “I can’t push him on this. He’s guilt-ridden as it is, and I don’t know what it’ll do to him.”

“Okay.” I sighed. “I’ll wait, but just, please, let him know that I want to talk to him.”

“He knows.”

MICHAEL

I was avoiding everyone. Grant, my father. I skipped training sessions. I took meals in my room. I went to classes. I took care of my responsibilities through texts as much as I could. I didn’t want to talk to anyone.

Except I really wanted to be with Andy. So badly I wanted to be close to her, to touch her. To feel the reassurance that she just so naturally gave to me. But I couldn’t do that. Not now. Not with knowing my father’s supposed plans. Not with everything she was facing right now.

Wednesday night found me pacing my room. I was restless. I was agitated. Something needed to be done. My father was planning for me to take over the pack. I didn’t know how long he had been planning this. I didn’t know how far it had gotten. If it had gotten to any members of the Alpha Council, then there could be no turning back.

If Andy decided to stay, and if she decided to take the place as Alpha, then she would have to go before the Council and be approved. But if my name was already there, I mean, I grew up in the pack, I grew up as a werewolf and in this life. The Council would pick me over her regardless of bloodlines.

Had I at one time considered what it would be like to become Alpha? Sure, everyone does at one time or another. But I didn’t want it. I did not want the responsibility. I was a Beta. It was in my blood to serve and protect the Alpha. It was in my father’s blood as well, but what he was doing wasn’t either of those.

“You have to tell the Alpha.” Xavier sounded in my head. “That’s what a true Beta would do.”

“My father is Alpha Morris’ Beta. I am his heir’s Beta. I’m Andy’s Beta.” I argued.

“That’s not how this works, and you know it.” Xavier argued. “You are responsible to the Alpha, regardless of who it is.”

I sighed and nodded. He was right. I knew he was right. I ran my hands through my hair and oddly, the only thought I had was that I needed a haircut. I took a deep breath and walked out into the hallway. I kept my eyes down as I walked to the Alpha’s office.

I knocked authoritatively, mustering all my courage. What I was about to do defied my father, something I normally would never do.

“Enter.”

I walked through the door and looked around the office making sure my father wasn’t there. Alpha Morris was sitting at his desk doing paperwork.

“Michael, it’s late.” Alpha Morris said. “What is it?”

“Are we alone?” I asked.

“Very much so.” He looked at me over the rims of his glasses.

“Are you aware of what my father has planned? For me?” I asked.

“It depends on what you’re aware your father has planned for you.” Alpha Morris dropped his pen on his desk and leaned back in his chair, taking off his glasses. “I think I need a little more explanation.”

“My father wants me to take over as Alpha when you step down.” I blurted out. “He wants to bypass the Alpha Council and appoint me as Alpha.”

Alpha Morris gazed at me for a moment.

“How do you know this?” He asked.

“My father told me during an argument the other night.” I confessed. “I don’t know how long he’s been planning this. I don’t know how far it’s gotten. But this is what he wants.”

“And what do you want, Michael?” Alpha Morris folded his hands, resting them on his stomach.

“I don’t want it.” I shook my head vehemently, my voice stern. “I’ve never wanted it. My job is to protect and serve the Alpha, not overthrow them.”

“It doesn’t help when your mate could be the potential future Alpha.” Alpha Morris mused.

“It has nothing to do with Andy.” I told him. I stepped forward. “Believe me when I tell you, I have never wanted to be Alpha. I never want to be Alpha.”

Alpha Morris stared at me for another few moments before he took a deep breath and sat forward.

“Michael, this has been the plan since I found out Mariana was dead.”

“What?” Why didn’t you tell me?”

“The Alpha Council was hoping that I would find someone else and have an heir, and that this whole thing wouldn’t be needed.” Alpha Morris explained. “But as we know, that didn’t happen. I was never able to make myself settle for anyone else. But I also couldn’t let a stranger come in and take over everything I and my father had worked so hard for.”

“But why didn’t you tell me? Why wasn’t I part of this discussion?” I asked again.

“We thought it was for the best.” Alpha Morris gave half a shrug. “But you have been trained and raised on this path. This is what both your father and I planned for you. And if Andy decides she doesn’t want to stay, then you will take my place.”

“I. Don’t. Want it.” I stated succinctly. “If Andy doesn’t want it, then it will go to the Alpha Council. I refuse.”

“You would rather have a stranger come in and take over the pack?” Alpha Morris asked. “Are you so much of a Beta that you wouldn’t step up for the good of your pack?”

“I would do anything for the pack and the Alpha.” I stood my ground. “I would lay down my life. That is my job as Beta. That is what I was born to do.” I took a deep breath. “I will serve the Alpha.”

“And if the Alpha commands you to step up and be the new Alpha?” He asked. “What then?” I flinched at his words, knowing that as Beta, I could never disobey my Alpha.

“I will do as I am commanded to do.” I stood straight in front of him, readying myself for his order. When he was silent, I looked back at him.

“You really don’t want it, do you?” He asked quietly.

“No, sir. I don’t.”

Alpha Morris nodded thoughtfully.

“If Andy decides to stay and take the position,” he paused. “That could be complicated.”

“Because she’d be my Alpha and my mate?” I asked. Alpha Morris nodded. “I don’t see anything complicated about it. My duties are the same to both of those.”

“And if she leaves?”

“My duty is to my pack.” I straightened my back, folding my hands behind me.

“So, you’re saying you’ll reject her?”

“If I have to.” I refused to meet his eyes. I knew that if I looked at him, he would see the pain I was going through mentally.

Alpha Morris stood slowly and walked around his desk until he stood right in front of me. He put a hand gently on my shoulder, making me look at him.

“Michael,” he said quietly, almost fatherly. “There is more to this life than your responsibilities to your pack. So much more, and it would be a grave disservice if I allowed you to miss out on them.” He shook his head, leaning back against his desk. “Your father is single minded, we both know that. But you have to understand, your father was never allowed to find his fated mate. Your grandfather was set on having the right bloodlines. And so, your mother was chosen by your grandfather and your parents were forced to marry.”

“An arranged marriage?” I asked. “I never knew.”

“I know you didn’t. Your father was planning the same thing for you even before you were born, but your mother was completely against it. She threatened to take you and leave if he continued on that path, leaving him with no one to carry on the family name.” Alpha Morris continued to explain.

“The family name.” I scoffed. “That’s all I am to him. Someone to carry on his name to the next generation.”

“Michael, I know he doesn’t show it, but your father is very proud of you and everything you do.” Alpha Morris tried to tell me, but I shook my head in absolute disbelief.

“All I am is a failure to him.” I argued. “Nothing I do is right. Even when I clean up his mistakes, I’m still a failure.”

“What mistakes?” Alpha Morris’ brow furrowed.

“Like him failing to tell you about the rogue Sunday night.” I said. “The rogue that Andy and I encountered while out for a run. The one that nearly took out Grant’s kidney.”

Alpha Morris looked at me with a shocked look on his face.

“You might want to sit down because I’m going to need the entire story.”