The Lost Alpha

Uncovering Plans

MICHAEL

I had expected Andy to go to her room, but that’s not where her scent led me. I followed her scent all the way up to the top floor of the pack house. These rooms were seldom used but were kept clean by the house staff. I wasn’t exactly sure why, but it wasn’t something that was questioned. I found her in a room at the end of the hall. The lights were off, but the room was illuminated by the full moon casting a low glow.

I slipped into the room. Andy was gazing out the window, her arms around herself. She didn’t acknowledge me when I entered, but I knew she knew I was there.

“What are you doing up here?” I asked quietly.

“I don’t know.” Andy shrugged. “I started walking and just didn’t stop until I ran out of places to go.” She glanced back at me. “I apparently can’t go outside, otherwise I’d be halfway across the state.”

“I know this is difficult.” I started, stepping towards her.

“Difficult?” She spun and looked at me. “Difficult does not begin to describe this situation. The Riemann Hypothesis is difficult. Reading Finnegan’s Wake is difficult. This, what’s going on right now, is impossible.”

“What can I do?” I asked, stepping up to her and rubbing her arms. “Anything. Anything you want, I will do.”

“I don’t know if I’m cut out to be in this world.” Andy’s voice quivered a little as she spoke. “I wasn’t raised in a pack. I, obviously, know nothing about werewolves. I know nothing about this world.”

“But you’re learning.” I tried to tell her. “Maybe a few years later than the rest of us, but you’re figuring it out quickly.”

“I’m beginning to think maybe I shouldn’t be.” Andy shook her head. “Anytime I do something, someone gets hurt. Someone gets mad.”

“You need to ignore my father.” I sighed. “He takes himself more seriously than he should. And you’re the only person stubborn enough to put him in his place.”

“Still, this place isn’t for me.” Andy insisted. “I can’t stay.” She looked up at me with her beautiful gray eyes, misted with tears. I reached up and touched her cheek, feeling her press into my hand. I couldn’t resist.

I leaned down and kissed her gently. Andy paused a second and kissed me back. I gathered her in my arms, pulling her against me. Andy’s arms wrapped around my neck, her fingers in my hair. My hands slid down her sides to her hips and around to her butt. I picked her up and Andy’s legs wrapped around my waist.

We were in an old office. The closest surface was a desk pushed up against the wall. That’s where I placed her, standing between her legs. My lips found their way down to her neck, sucking on and nipping at her skin. Andy breathed deeply, her chest pushing against me. I wanted more. More skin, more of her body, more of her.

In my head, Xavier was intent. He wanted Faolan as much as I wanted Andy. We needed them. I grabbed the bottom of Andy’s shirt, pulling it over her head. My shirt followed quickly after, and for the first time, we were skin to skin, her breasts against my chest. Our lips met again, tongues entwining. I gently pushed her back onto the desk, laying her down. Andy didn’t resist.

Andy’s hands reached for my buckle. This time I didn’t stop her. I didn’t want to stop her. I couldn’t. My hands ran down her body until my fingers hooked into her shorts. I stopped kissing her long enough to pull them off her body. I took a moment to take in her body, her lean body, sprawled over the desk, looking at me, reaching for me, urging me to continue.

“Michael!” I jumped when my name was yelled in my head through the mind link. Andy sat up confused.

“What’s wrong?” She asked, touching my chest.

“My father is calling me.” I rubbed my temple.

“Michael! Come here!” My father yelled. He was angry. He was always angry with me, especially recently.

“I have to go.” I grumbled, stepping back from her, and pulling my pants back into place. Andy sighed but nodded.

“Maybe it’s for the best.”

“Please don’t do anything until we can talk. Okay?” Andy nodded and gave me a small smile. “Promise me.”

“I promise.” Andy confirmed, kissing me once more. “Go placate your father.”

I finished getting dressed as I made my way down to my father’s office. Standing outside the door, I ran my hands through my hair, trying to straight it out before taking a deep breath and knocking.

“Enter.”

I took another deep breath as I walked through the door, letting it fall closed behind me.

“You bellowed?”

“I’ve talked to the guards who responded to your call.” My father glowered at me. “Why didn’t you call them the second she walked out that door?”

“Because I didn’t think it was needed.”

“And why wouldn’t it be needed when I told you to keep her watched?” My father’s voice was beginning to rise.

“Because she was being watched. I was with her.” I told him. “And because I had no reason to suspect there was a rogue wolf on property, which is your doing.” The two of us stared at each other. “Why didn’t you tell anyone about the rogue?”

“That doesn’t concern you.” He growled. “What does concern you is that girl, and if you can’t watch her then I will find someone who will.”

“That girl is my mate and because of you, I might lose her.”

“Good!” Beta Theo yelled. “That girl is no good for you! She is not part of the plan!”

“Plan?” I asked. I was not expecting that word to come out of his mouth. “What plan? What are you talking about?”

“The Alpha had no child.” My father said. “He had no heir. In a few years, he would be stepping down and that would be your chance.”

“Chance for what?” Now my voice was rising. “To be Alpha? No! I don’t want that! I’ve never wanted that!”

“This isn’t a discussion!” Beta Theo stood, pushing his chair against the wall behind him. “This is what is going to happen, whether you like it or not! The faster that girl leaves, the better for everyone!”

I stepped back. I couldn’t believe what was coming out of my father’s mouth. This was tantamount to treason.

“If you won’t think about your future, then I will.” My father continued. “I will also think about the future of this pack, and I will be damned if it will fall into the hands of some girl who was raised by a rogue.”

“This is not your decision to make.” I used those same words. “The succession of an Alpha-ship is determined by blood, and if there is no heir it is determined by the Alpha Council. You taught me that, and now you want to go against it to further your own ambitions?” I shook my head. “No, I won’t do it.”

“You don’t have a choice.” My father countered. “Everything is already in the works. There’s no stopping it.”

“Then I will defect.” I told him. “I will leave.”

“And what? Turn rogue?”

“If I have to.”

ANDY

Michael rushed out of the room, and I slowly pulled my clothes back on. Maybe this was for the best. Every time we were together, we pushed the line, and tonight, tonight we almost crossed that line. And I wanted it, my God, did I want it. I wanted to be with him. Faolan wanted to be with Xavier. She wanted us to be marked.

I couldn’t. I couldn’t stay. With Michael gone, my only thought was about my classes the next day. I couldn’t miss my classes, not when I was this close to graduation. I hadn’t been formally accepted to any of the medical schools. I was still waiting on my MCAT scores, and I had to keep my grades up. I couldn’t let that slip away.

I made my way back to the room I had been staying in. It was so late, and suddenly I was so exhausted. I had made up my mind. In the morning, I would get Grant to drive me back to my house and then, that would be it. I’d go back to my own plan for my life. Medical school, residency, I would become a doctor.

I crawled into bed. It was so late.