The Alpha's Daughter

Chapter 11:Issuing the Challenge

Beta Rex stood up, announcing, “Team Zander is the winner of this part of the competition. Victor, congratulations on beating their leader, but Zander's team still won two of the three fights. Stand and shake hands.” As Zander and Victor shook hands, Beta Rex was not finished; in front of the entire pack, he spoke the worst words ever to be heard in any pack, “I, Beta Rex of the Black Mountain pack, challenge Alpha Vincent Strong for the title of Alpha as sundown.”

To which my father, standing to his feet, declared, “I, Alpha Vincent Strong of the Black Mountain pack, accept the challenge to the Alpha position at sundown.” Then he continued, “Until then, everyone is to disperse; no one is to be wandering the pack lands. The only exception is those who require medical attention. Alpha squad leaders, it is your responsibility to make sure the pack doctor sees your recruits if they need it. Only heads of the families will be permitted at the challenge. Leave Now!” His Alpha voice boomed, and people immediately started moving.

“Yes, Alpha,” sounded across the crowd. There was no celebrating over the tournament. People rushed to get away from the field. I felt sick as I watched people who were loyal to my father run away. Since the pack doctor had already checked Mason and taken him to the pack hospital, I had nothing to do but watch the other leaders and recruits scramble about to fulfill the Alpha’s orders and get off the field. I desperately wanted to talk to Zander, but when I tried to find him, I realized I had lost track of Victor and Zander. In time, only my father and I remained in the field. I stared at the empty field. It looked like I felt. For months, we had been pouring everything into this tournament, and instead of being able to celebrate the victories, everyone was forced to leave and go home like nothing had happened. What should have been an excellent day for the pack is now one marred by fear and uncertainty.

“Viviana,” he pulled my attention from the empty field.

“Yes, Alpha!”

“Viviana,” he sounded a little more exasperated this time.

“Yes, Father,” I answered quickly.

“Let's go home; we have much to discuss,” he flatly stated.

We walked in silence to the pack house. Surprisingly, it was empty when we reached it, so we walked towards his office. My dad shut the door and handed me an envelope. “Add this to your grab bag,” he said. I looked at him in astonishment. “Viviana, I am your father, the Alpha of the pack. Did you actually think I did not know that you were intending to run?”

A smile crossed my face, “I thought I was doing a better job at hiding it.”

“Like your reaction to Victor winning?” He raised his eyebrow as he questioned.

“I did not respond at all.” I defended myself, besides everything I said, I said in mindlink.

“Other than your laugh and your obvious mind link,” he laughed.

“It was not that obvious, Father,” I huffed.

“Perhaps not, but I noticed,” he laughed again.

“But you notice everything, Alpha,” I was getting frustrated now. “I doubt anyone else did.

“Viviana,” he reproached me this time.

“Father, sorry, but seriously, I tried my best not to react,” I said

“Viviana, I told you to control your reaction for your protection, but right now we have other things we need to talk about. I need you to be prepared in case I do not win this challenge. Viviana, you need to run, and you cannot go to Victor. You cannot confide in Victor. You cannot give him any indication of running, and asking him to help you would put him in grave danger. I know that you care about what happens to Victor and Zander, and I know you will want to ask them for help, believing that they will help you. Please do not put them in that position! Please, Viviana, please do what I ask. Do not ask anyone for help! Leave, as I have instructed you! Find Kaleb.”

“I understand, Father, I'm not stupid. If I have to run, I'm running from Victor too. I will have to work even harder to escape him.” I spoke probably a little too carelessly.

“Viviana, I'm glad you understand. However, I could do with a little less of your tone. You will not be allowed to observe the challenge. In other words, this is the perfect time for you to run. When the challenge begins, all the families will be distracted by the challenge, and you should be able to get out of the territory before the challenge is over. This will give you a great advantage, even over Victor.” My father concluded.

“And if you win, I will run for nothing.” I could not believe he was asking me to do this. “I would have shown the pack I don’t believe in the Alpha, or that I don’t care about my mate.” I was on the verge of holding back tears.

“Viviana, I know how hard you have worked to be taken seriously, but I need you to do this. I need you to focus, and I need your word that you will do as I say,” he left no room for objection. “I will deal with the aftermath should I win.”

“Yes, Alpha,” I conceded.

“Viviana,” he smiled.

“Yes, Father.” I smiled back.

“Viviana, I must prepare for the challenge, and I need you to prepare to leave. I know you say you don't want to, but I know you have that grab bag, which tells me that you do. You were planning to leave before without my permission, so go now with it. Just please be careful not to include anyone else in your escape.” He instructed for what seemed like the tenth time.

“I understand, Father,” I responded. Tears filled my eyes, “I never wanted to leave Father. I just wanted to have what was rightfully mine. I wanted a choice.”

“Do you think I don’t know that Viviana, but what was I supposed to do?” he looked strange with tears running down his face.

“It never seemed that way before, Father,” I cried.

“I love you, Viviana,” he said softly as he walked to me and wrapped me in his arms. I did not want to let him go. “I never wanted to make you feel less than you were, Viviana. You have always done what was in the best interest of the pack, and even though you might not understand this as being in the best interest of the pack right now, you must realize that I am ordering you to do it. It is in the best interest of the pack, and I trust you to do what you have always done. To make me proud. To put the pack first, and if I see you again, become the best Luna this pack has ever had.”

I looked up at his face and answered mischievously, “I love you too, Alpha.”

“Viviana,” he laughed.

“I love you, too, Father.”

“Goodbye, Viviana.” He kissed my cheek. “You are dismissed now, do what you must before the sun sets. Then I left the office and headed to my room, with a million thoughts on my mind.