Creating The Perfect Alpha

Chapter 11

Looking through the former Sofia’s wardrobe, I settled on another fitted blouse and a skirt that reached my knees. Despite the curves Sofia had been gifted with, she was still small, as omegas always were, and the outfit made her... me... look adorable!

I did a little spin before going to the bathroom to fix my hair.

You are doing too much!

“Nonsense. Like my sister taught me, clothes can do a lot. I’m no fashion icon like her, but I can dress properly,” I explained.

But this isn’t how the former Sofia was. She hid.

“No more hiding.”

Sofia groaned.

You should be more careful.

“I was careful for six years. Now I’m going to enjoy life,” I said.

Once more, I could tell Sofia wasn’t in agreement, yet she remained quiet. After putting up my hair, I sprayed on a nice perfume before leaving the room. As I stepped out, I heard another door open.

I turned my head, only to see Elijah appear, having cleaned up, though still dressed casually. As his eyes landed on me, I saw his lips part slightly, his gaze sliding down my form again. Seeing his interest, I began walking toward him, but he shocked me when, instead of waiting for me, he darted down the stairs as if he were running from me.

Was he seriously making me chase him? Had an omega ever needed to chase someone?

I rolled my eyes before following him downstairs.

“Elijah! Elijah!” I called.

He kept up the fast pace, and with his long legs, he quickly outdistanced me. I stopped for a second, letting out a long exhale.

“I’m not ugly, right?”

Of course not, Sofia replied.

“And yet he runs from me like I’m contagious.”

Well... he can get sick.

“Are you serious?” I groaned.

Not quite his fault, is it? Sofia defended.

I was shocked by the edge in her tone, as though she were growling at me. For a second, I didn’t know how to react. Sofia sounded almost possessive of him. It was very confusing.

Hearing someone come down the stairs, I turned my head. I looked up to find Brian on his way down, but he halted on the last step, another shocked expression crossing his face.

“Sofia?” he inquired, as if he barely recognized me.

“Obviously,” I replied.

Tone!

“I mean, yes,” I corrected.

Brian kept staring, blinking rapidly. His eyes scanned me, yet I didn’t like it nearly as much as when Elijah had done it. He came closer. I remained where I was, watching him carefully, knowing how alphas could be. He circled me, making my instincts react, my eyes dropping to the ground.

“Hmm,” he murmured.

I felt him staring at me before he simply... left. I looked up, watching his retreating figure.

That was it? A hmm?

Ooooh, I don’t like this, Sofia whimpered in my head.

“Why?” I asked.

He has never paid attention to us before or circled us like he was interested.

“So?”

I began making my way to the dining room.

“It’s good to be noticed.”

No, no, remember you’re an omega, Sofia said. Being noticed means men wanting to... f**k us.

“Not without my consent. Or are you telling me Brian has a problem respecting boundaries?”

I’m saying you don’t hold much power here, and he can have whoever he wants. What if he suddenly wants us?

“We are his brother’s mate.”

And what would Elijah do about it?

Sofia’s words made me freeze for a second, worry gripping me. I began to understand why the former Sofia had hidden herself and stayed in the shadows. Elijah wouldn’t be able to do anything if someone wanted his mate. He couldn’t even challenge them.

I began doubting my choice of outfit. Turning around, hoping I could go change, I was once again met by a solid figure. My eyes instantly dropped when I noticed who it was.

“Alpha Carter,” I murmured.

“Sofia?”

I nodded. A long pause followed.

“You look good tonight,” he remarked before simply walking past me.

He had seen me now. I couldn’t hide. Cursing under my breath, I followed after him and entered the dining room. A few members, those who worked closely with the alpha, had already taken their seats around the long table. I glanced around, locating Elijah close to the head of the table where his father sat. Clearly, rank still mattered despite Elijah’s lack of power.

I moved closer, getting the sense that people were watching me. I tried to keep my head held high, but my new omega instincts told me to cower, to make myself smaller so I wouldn’t cause trouble. I found my seat beside Elijah.

Glancing at him, I hoped I would catch his attention, but he remained focused on his empty plate. I sighed, looking ahead, only to find someone else watching me: Brian. His eyes were slightly narrowed, and they were fixed on my chest.

I glanced down before glaring at him.

Don’t glare.

He is ogling me!

You put on the blouse and skirt.

A skirt is not an invitation, I reminded her. Besides, I did this mostly for Elijah.

Oh, yes, he seems wildly impressed.

I glanced at Elijah. He looked extremely uncomfortable. It was clear he was only here out of duty. Finally, Alpha Carter began the meal by serving himself first. Lower-ranking wolves moved between the dining room and the kitchen, making sure no one was missing anything.

I watched Elijah pick out a few things, but he didn’t serve me. Darren had stopped doing that a while into our union, but I remembered that alphas enjoyed choosing food for the mates they cared for. It was almost instinctual for them to make sure their mates were fed.

It seemed I once again had to be my own alpha. I reached for a few delicious dishes before digging into the meal. Conversation began around me, but exactly as Sofia had told me, no one tried to speak to Elijah or me. I wondered if I should try to join in. The people around the table seemed open and warm, but that would most likely change if I tried.

Focusing on Elijah again, I realized we could have our own conversation.

“How’s the birdhouse coming along?” I asked, focusing on him.

Elijah whipped his head around, staring at me. The reaction was as strong as when I had touched him, but what was even more surreal was that... the room had gone quiet.

Carefully, I glanced around, seeing everyone staring at us.

Why? Was I not allowed to speak at all?

I looked back at Elijah, seeing him carefully glance around as well, looking even more uncomfortable, as if he were about to throw up.

Was he scared of answering me and getting in trouble? We were just talking.

“Yes, brother, how is it going with those birdhouses? Ensuring every little lovebird couple gets their own place?” Brian inquired, but the mocking tone and sarcastic smirk made it clear he wasn’t interested.

I heard everyone around the table laugh. I glanced at Alpha Carter. He looked amused too as he took a sip from his glass.

He was allowing this mockery?

“I think caring for nature’s creatures proves he has a kind heart, something I haven’t seen in many alphas.”

Brian’s smirk disappeared instantly, and the room became so quiet I could hear my own heartbeat in my ears.

Fuck, f**k, f**k, Sofia murmured, terrified inside me.

Even my instincts urged me to bow, to show I wasn’t trying to challenge anyone, but I held firm, reminding myself they would never respect us if we didn’t at least try to stand our ground.

Don’t do it! Sofia exclaimed.

“A kind heart?” Alpha Carter joined in.

I turned to him.

“Yes?”

“And how will that help him in a world like this?”

“Mercy is a good trait in a leader.”

“Mercy,” Alpha Carter mocked, chuckling and making the rest of the table laugh as well.

I knew Elijah held a lower status, but this taunting seemed excessive.

“And is Elijah a leader?”

“He is your son,” I pointed out.

Alpha Carter merely continued to smirk before glancing past me, focusing on Elijah. I turned, expecting Elijah to face his father, but he was looking down at his half-empty plate.

“Are you a leader, Elijah?” his father asked.

I heard the challenge in his father’s voice.

Say something, I urged silently.

Elijah kept looking down.

“Well?” his father pressed.

Elijah remained silent. I noticed his body begin to shake. I reached out, wanting to show my support, but the moment I touched him, he shot up from his seat.

“Excuse me.”

I watched as he stormed from the dining room, leaving me completely perplexed. Laughter echoed around the table again. It made my blood boil. I faced his father, who was leaning toward his younger son, still smiling.

“That’s not something to laugh at, Alpha,” I hissed. “He is your son too.”

He stared at me, appearing stunned. Then I rose quickly and followed after Elijah. I feared he had run back to his room, but I found him in the hallway, pacing back and forth, running a hand through his hair.

I stepped closer carefully.

“Elijah?”

He spun toward me, actually looking angry. I took a step back.

“Why would you do that?” he snapped.

“I... what do you mean?”

“Why would you humiliate me like that?”

“I wasn’t—”

He came closer, making me take another step back.

“Don’t I give you space? Don’t I let you do whatever you want?”

“Well...” I didn’t know what to say.

“So why would you do that to me?” He gestured toward the dining hall.

I glanced behind me before facing him again.

“I wasn’t trying to humiliate you. I was praising you.”

“Praising me?” he laughed in disbelief.

“Yes. I do think you have a good heart. That’s not something bad.”

He stepped all the way up to me, pressing his hands together.

“Maybe in the world of omegas a kind heart matters, but not in the world of alphas. You know that very well!” he growled.

I was shocked by the power in his voice. He had seemed so timid in there, but now that he was driven by his anger, he transformed before my eyes. His eyes even seemed to glow, yet what shocked me most was that they weren’t yellow like every other wolf’s. They carried a hint of red.

Fascinating, I thought.

I remembered only one family that had ever carried such a trait.

“Don’t ever do something like that again, do you hear me?”

“I-I…”

“Do you hear me, Sofia?”

“Yes, I hear you.”

Elijah held my gaze for a second longer before he spun around and stormed off. I remained where I was, completely overwhelmed by what had transpired.

Why couldn’t he have shown a side like that in the dining room?

Why do you think? Sofia inquired.

“What do you mean?”

If Elijah stands up for himself, he can’t just do it with words. Alphas don’t work like that. If he challenges his brother or his father, he has to prepare himself for a real fight.

I had completely forgotten. Elijah’s status was so low that it would be expected of him to prove his words with his fists.

I groaned, grasping my hair, feeling so stupid now.

You might have gained a lot more freedom by becoming Sofia, but Elijah has not gained a new life. He is still Elijah.