In The Shadows Of Two Alphas

Andrea. “Andrea!” Just the mention of my name was enough to make me shiver. Coupled with the fact that it was not just called but shouted, I was close to peeing my pants. Coward. Most people might think, but I was not ready to clear their thoughts on that. The first thing? Making sure that whoever had shouted my name had only done it because I didn't hear when they softly called it. “Right here!” I screamed back to show that I had indeed heard the person. As I dropped the utensils I was washing in the kitchen, my feet were already racing through the hallway to answer the call. The moment I busted into the living room, my heart stopped a million times in the space of a second. I had hoped upon all hopes that the caller of my name would be any other man except who was standing right in front of me, but alas, fate had its hold on me already. “Al-al-pha.” I stammered out, already going on my knees and bowing my head, not in reference, but in fear. The living room was empty and as such, I knew that there was no way I would be saved from what was coming. Even if it was not, I still wouldn’t get a savior for all it was worth. Who would challenge the notorious Alpha? “You piece of trash!” The man yelled at me. I lifted my eyes rapidly to determine just how angry he was. From how his golden eyes blazed like it was on fire, I knew I was in for it. I had barely dropped the thought when I felt hands on me. I quickly clutched the side of my stomach where the punch had landed. “If I call you once, be there to answer a million times!” he yelled at me. I didn't say a word. I couldn't afford to. Not if I wanted to live. Alpha Garret of the Bloodhound Pack was a man known as the beast throughout the werewolf world. He killed people as a sign of his warning to them. I should know better since he was the man who killed my father. I was barely ten years old when the news came to me that my father had been tied and was being beaten up. I had rushed to the scene, eager to see who had dared to touch the Beta and special advisor to the Alpha of the pack, only for me to find out that it was no other person than the Alpha himself. At that time, the Alpha was barely fifteen years old, yet he had become a force to never tackle with. All my pleas for him to calm down and try to get to the root of whatever it was my father had allegedly done had turned to his deaf ears. Even reminding him that my father was the best friend of the former Alpha had done nothing to calm the young Alpha down. Foolishly, I had asked the man to at least think about the fact that the man he was beating up was going to be his future in-law as was the custom of the pack (Alpha Garret and I were going to become mates. From the time past, the Alpha’s son and the Beta’s daughter were always mated in order for them to give the pack the strong heir needed to carry on the legacy and also provide assurance of protection due to our strong wolves.) but then, that only seemed to irk him some more. Those were the last words I spoke before I saw claws dived into my father’s chest, directly where his heart was. By the time the hand and the claws would be out, it was with my father’s heart still beating hard. A scream had torn itself from my lips back then, just like it did right now. My hands clenched by my sides as the memory from the past shook me. Countless times, I wanted to avenge the death of my father, but I couldn't. Not because I wasn't brave, but because my wolf, Sapphire, was weak. I didn't know if the weakness was because I was malnourished and didn't have the chance to train again after the death of my father, as I was turned into a slave immediately, or because something had gone wrong the first time I transformed at the age of twelve. Another kick landed squarely on my chest, pushing me to fall on my ass. I hissed in pain as the injury from the previous day beating from the head of the kitchen scratched the floor. Tears pooled up in my gray eyes. I couldn't just take anymore beating. However, the one thing I promised myself was to never beg for mercy from the Alpha no matter what. And I was sure he knew that since he had always gone extras with his maltreatment of me, sometimes beating ne up until I could barely recognize myself. “Go and tell the kitchen head that everyone is off-duty from this moment.” the man finally said to me. I was happy that we would be going off duty early that I forgot I was in pain for a while, meaning that I could take the rest of the day to clean up and rest so as to aid my healing process. “Except from you.” Alpha Garret added, making the wild thought in my head disappear. How could I have thought that he would let me off so easily? “You are to cook for tonight. I have Alphas from afar coming for an important allegiance.” He said. “If you dare mess the occasion up for me…” The rest of the words were left unsaid, but both of us knew just exactly what the implications of it meant. “Y-yes, Al-pha,” I stammered out. “Good for nothing i***t!” He spat at me. Footsteps receded away from me a few seconds after that. I waited until I couldn’t hear them anymore before I heaved myself up. The side of my stomach where he punched me hurt, but I didn't pay it any mind. My focus was on making sure I didn't ruin the meeting just as the man had warned. But as I made my way back to the kitchen, one thought kept resonating within me. Why would Alpha Garret, a lone wolf, suddenly be seeking for an alliance?