The Alpha's Daughter

Chapter 6: Zander's Concerns

Upon returning to my room, I could tell before opening the door that my room was not empty. As I opened it, I saw Zander standing inside. I closed the door quickly.

“What are you doing in here, Zander?” He must be crazy to be waiting up here in my room after dinner.

“Vivi, are you okay?” I was a little taken aback by his concern, but he did look genuine, which is very different from him and very confusing for me. Then he pulled his backpack off, unzipping it, and took out an ice pack from his bag.“I may not have been the one to find you, but I did see the hit from Victor. I was afraid when you did not get up right away.” He was standing there holding out the ice and looking shy. It was actually a funny sight to see.

I laughed, “I've been hit harder, Zander, but thank you for the ice.” I laughed, stepped towards him, and took the ice pack he held out to me.

“The hit was bad enough,” his anger radiating off him as he spoke. It had been a long time since I had seen a concern like this in him. He looked me straight in the eyes, “Then that kick to the same spot. Victor needs to be more careful and stop showing off. I mean, it is certainly impressive that he learned and executed a new move none of us knew he was working on, but did he have to try

it on you? I mean, both Max and I had been sharing with him while we were waiting for you to show up today. Anytime during that would have been perfect, especially if he had done it to Max.”

I tried very hard not to laugh at his babbling. Instead, I just placed my hand on his arm in a comforting way, “It’s really okay, Zander, we both know I heal fast, and it was a fair fight. Two days at the most, and no one will ever know I was bruised.” I tucked the ice back in my waistband to help the swelling.

“It was a dirty move,” he huffed, not ready to let Victor off the hook.

“The enemy doesn’t,” I start to say.

He interrupts, “fight fair, yeah, I know I am so sick and tired of hearing that excuse when one of them fights dirty. Who cares that the enemy doesn’t fight fair? We are not the enemy. We are part of the same pack. You are still our soon-to-be Luna, and it will be our job to protect you. I’m tired of seeing good wolves hurt under the guise of preparing for the enemy. I have one wolf who still can’t shift properly, and instead of being able to concentrate on helping him properly, I have been overworking him, so he does not get torn apart when sparring with wolves from his own pack!”

I smiled at him. Trying to reassure him, I chuckled before removing my hand from his arm and taking a few steps back, shaking my head. Then, pointing my finger at him, annoyed, I had to make this more straightforward: “It is also your job to help train me to be the best I can be for the pack. The pack can’t afford to have an untrained, unprotected, unprepared Luna.”

“You are already trained,” he smiled. “You have never been unprotected or unprepared. You wouldn’t allow it. In fact, I would say you don’t know how to let others help you or even ask for help should you need it. You try to do everything yourself, Viviana, and you don’t have to. No one expects that from you.” He spoke in all seriousness, and a small part of me knew what he said was true.

“I expect it from me, Zander, don’t you see that? Don’t you know that?” I asked, trying to keep myself from breaking down, which would do nothing to help this situation. “Zander, you know I can’t be that weak Luna who waits for rescue,” I said mournfully.

“Your mother was not weak,” he replied.

“Yes, she was, Zander, you know it and I know it. She spent her life as the perfect Luna, and what did it get her? DEAD!” I yelled.

“That’s not fair, Viviana,” he whispered, trying to de-escalate the situation.

“What’s not fair is having to grow up without my mother,” I snapped.

“Viviana, your mother choosing not to become a warrior did not mean she loved you or the pack any less,” Zander spoke calmly as he pulled me in for a hug.

I let him embarrass me for a moment, and then I remembered what we had been discussing before the subject of my mother came up. I pushed him back and then addressed the real problem: “What matters is that in the end, I have to train, Zander, and to train effectively, I have to be pushed passed my limits to always be improving.”

“Is that what you call what happened today?” Zander asked.

“They are doing their best to make sure I am not weak,” I laughed.

“You are anything but weak, and we can train with you without putting you in danger.” He defended. “Without hurting you for our advancement in the Alpha squad.”

“No, you can’t, Zander. Training will always be and will always require a level of risk on my part. If there is no risk, there is no reward either. Besides, you all enjoy letting Beta Rex play with me,” I laughed.

He did not respond to that jab, just tightened his fingers at his side. “You seem to be favoring your right side even after the ice, Vivi. Are you sure you should participate tomorrow?” His voice was soft, and the concern was evident in his eyes. I could tell he was worried about me fighting Max, not at my best. I had to admit I was nervous about that too. Unlike Zander, Max would never

pull his punches.

“I’ll be fine, Zander, this is what we train for,” I laughed. “I promise,” and I held my pinky in the air out to him.

His face looked agitated now. “We don’t train to hurt each other.” But reluctantly, he wrapped his pinky around mine, “I will hold you to that promise.”

I gave him a stern look, “You're right, we train so we will be able to protect the pack.” Then, lightening the mood, I smiled, “What do I get if I keep my promise?” I questioned, laughing.

“You

don’t have to train, but I know I can’t stop you. You don’t have to fight

tomorrow, but I know nothing would keep you off that field,” he responded,

amused. “However, if you do keep your promise, I’ll get you something special

for your birthday.”

“You will get me something special anyhow,” I joked back.

“I will have to make it even better than,” he laughed, “perhaps tomorrow won’t be so bad. If your side has not improved, will you at least think of not fighting Max?”

“I will do what is expected of me, Zander, and so will you!” He glanced around the floor, started to advance, but I held my hands up to stop him.

“Zander, thank you for your concern, but you need to leave before Alpha Vincent comes to say goodnight,” I said apologetically. “Trust me, you don’t want him to find you here.”

“Your father, Vivi, you could just say father with me,” he laughed. “And I absolutely don’t want to be here still when he comes. I heard what happened with Saphira the last time.”

I smiled. “I could,” I chuckled. “Now, get out of here!”

Zander turned and smiled, “I just don’t like to see you hurt, Vivi,” before grabbing the doorknob.

“Zander,” he stopped and looked back at me. “Don’t watch then!” I teased.

He laughed, stepping out of the room, “Good night, Vivi.”

“Good night, Zander,” I called out, “Thanks for the ice,” I added as the door pulled shut.

Zander really did have a good heart, even if it was not always in the right place. He could not protect me all the time. This was something I had to do for myself. I had to prove to myself that I could face danger and emerge unscathed. Now, if this ice and my healing would just work a little faster, it would not be a bad night.