The Alpha Is Mine

Chapter 1

“Mom, relax. I'm only leaving for like ten weeks. It's not like I'm dying,” I rolled my eyes.

“I know, baby. It’s just that…we’ve never been apart for as long as we’re going to. I mean, the whole summer?” She blew her red nose.

I hugged her one last time, the scent of cocoa butter lingering in her soft golden locks.

“I know, mom,” I closed my eyes. “I’m gonna miss you too.”

We hugged for what felt like an eternity before mom stepped back, her eyes red. My mother was always a bit of a drama queen, but I loved her to death. I brushed her tears away with my thumbs.

“I will call you as much as I can. I love you Mom.”

I walked over to Jess, my best friend. She smirked, flipping her long platinum blonde hair.

“I wonder if Portland has hot boys,” she grinned.

I shoved her playfully. “Stop!”

We both laughed.

“I'll miss you so much,” she squeezed me tightly. “Call me as soon as you land, okay?”

“I will. Love you. Bye,” I waved over at

Mom before jogging across the road to my dad’s car.

“You ready?” he smiled.

I nodded.

The car began driving off, with my mom and Jess waving as she stood in the driveway until they were completely out of sight. I exhaled, sinking into my seat. This was my first time going to stay with my father. My parents were never married. Apparently, they were so in love but couldn't be together due to irreconcilable differences.

Mom would never explain beyond that, and over time, I learned not to ask. Nevertheless, they were always polite to each other when Randy visited.

When I turned sixteen, Randy reached out, wanting to make things right. He would drive down on weekends to see me. At first, I would be cold towards him, but over time, I warmed up to him.

He looked different; older and happier. Maybe I was just seeing him through the lens of all the missed birthdays and holidays.

He had gotten married, and he seemed to love his new wife very much. Now that I was visiting their house and staying with them for the whole summer, I was a bit nervous.

Nora sounded great and I already hated her for it without even meeting her. With my dad things were still awkward and delicate, but we were both willing to work on it, and so it wasn't all that bad.

The drive to Dad’s home in Portland was about 4 hours long. It was only 11am, and I couldn't wait till it was bedtime.

“I hope you're hungry,” dad spoke for the first time in hours. “Nora is a really good cook.”

I nodded. “I am pretty hungry.”

The burger and vanilla shake I had eaten only an hour ago had completely disintegrated from my stomach.

“We're almost there,” he assured me.

I had never been there, so I had no idea what to expect. The car lurched to a stop, kicking up a cloud of dust on the long, gravel driveway. This was it. Dad's house. It wasn't what I expected. I'd pictured something modern, almost hostile but this was… cozy. It was a two-story house with a wide porch and flower boxes overflowing with bright pink roses.

And standing on that porch, bathed in the golden afternoon light, was her. My eyes widened in shock. She was pregnant as hell. That baby was ready to jump out, and Dad hadn't said anything.

Dad got out first, stretching and groaning a little.

"Home sweet home," he announced.

Then he turned and hurried to the porch. Nora ran up to him, and he lifted her slightly off the ground in a bear hug. She giggled as he kissed her all over her face. It was a side of my dad I had never seen. As much as I wanted to be repulsed by the sight, I wasn't.

Nora looked more beautiful in person. The pictures did her an injustice. She wore a long yellow strapless dress that gave space for her baby bump. Her silky hair was tied up in a messy bun, and as always, she had her charming smile.

"Elara! It's so nice to finally meet you, honey," she said, her voice genuinely welcoming.

She came down the steps and offered me a hug. I hesitated for a split second, then leaned in awkwardly. She smelled like sunshine and vanilla. She was very pregnant, and yet she was still slim, and her arms were toned. Who the bloody hell was this perfect?

"Hi," I managed, my lips curving into a smile.

"Let me help you with your bag," she said, reaching for my backpack.

"I got it," I mumbled, clutching it tighter. I didn't want her touching my stuff.

Dad cleared his throat. "Why don't you show Elara to her room, babe? I'll get the rest of the luggage."

Nora smiled again, unfazed by my awkwardness. "Of course! Come on, Elara. It's upstairs. I hope you like it."

I followed her up the porch steps, my eyes darting around, taking everything in. The house felt… lived in. There were family photos on the walls, a half-finished puzzle on a table in the hallway, and the faint scent of baking in the air. It was a home. And now they had a freaking baby on the way. He had completely replaced Mom and I.

I shook my head as if trying to shake the thought out. I was too old to have that mindset, but I couldn't help it. He was my dad. This was supposed to be our life.

As I trailed behind Nora, a strange mix of curiosity and resentment churned inside me. This was their life. I was just a temporary guest, a visitor in a home that wasn't really mine.

Nora opened the door to a beautiful room, entirely furnished. The walls were a pretty shade of light pink, and the bed had pink and white blankets and pillows. The room was massive with its own bathroom.

“I decorated this room for you when we bought the house earlier this year. I hope you still like pink. Your dad said you did,” she smiled at me.

I nodded. “I do. Thank you, Nora.”

“It's my pleasure, Elara. Please feel at home. This is your home , too. I'll leave you to rest for a bit. Lunch will be ready in a few. Call me if you need anything.”

I nodded. “Thanks.”

Once Nora left, I threw myself onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.

.

.

.

I wanted to hate Nora, but she was nice and all perfect. My dad was completely obsessed with her. Perhaps it was because she was pregnant. He literally followed her freaking everywhere with puppy dog eyes. Part of me was happy dad had found love that profound but I didn't understand why it had to be Nora and not Mom.

Dad went to work early in the morning and came back at sunset everyday. After work he would take me for a drive around town and we would talk about whatever was on his mind. When it was just me and him, everything was so easy and it just flowed. As soon as we were back home with Nora, I felt so awkward and out of place.

The home was practically in the woods and so it made sense that Dad didn't let me go out and about on my own. I didn't mind. I liked the peace my temporary room had to offer.

At 6pm I headed downstairs, ready to go out with Dad as I had been doing everyday for the last three weeks. I wore my leather jacket before leaving. Nora sat in the lounge, reading a book and sipping on ice tea.

“Elara," she smiled. "Your dad must've forgotten to tell you he's working late today.”

“Okay cool. I'll be outside if you need me then,” I told her as I headed out.

“Okay. Just stay in the yard okay? I have this odd feeling about these woods,” she shuddered.

“Yet you decided to build your house right here?” I raised a brow.

She smiled softly as she turned to the door to face me. “Your father and I have a thing for the silence here. No annoying neighbours.”

“Hmm,” I nodded. “Okay. I'll stay closeby.”

I opened the door and left. The sun was setting and the sky was painted in warm hues of orange and pink. I pulled out my phone and took a picture to send to Mom. I was about to send it to Jess too when she suddenly called.

“I was just about to call you,” I said as soon as I answered.

“Beat you to it. How's the countryside?”

I smiled, walking down the path that led into the forest. It was beautiful, like the enchanted forests in fairy tales.

“It's pretty nice. Nora is pretty chill too,” I shrugged. “And my dad…well he's my dad.”

“Yeah I know. You can come back and tell me all about it.”

The sunlight filtered through the towering trees as I walked deeper into the forest, my phone pressed to my ear.

“Okay I can't hold it in anymore!” Jess suddenly blurted out. “I'm going out with Chris again! I lost my virginity to him yesterday in the backseat of his car!”

I gasped so loudly I swear Nora could've heard it back at the house.

“You what?! No way! And in the back of his car? Jessica!”

Chris was “the love of her life”. He also cheated on her four times. I know. The bar was in hell. Jess was gorgeous and she chose slumming it with everybody Chris?

“I know, I know, but this time is different!”

Uh huh. I had heard that one about 80 times. And now she had s*x with him. Ew. But I didn't want to be the unsupportive best friend.

“Well…if you're happy.”

“I totally am—” she started to say, but her voice was suddenly drowned out by a rustling sound.

I paused, glancing around at the thick underbrush and towering pines. A chill ran down my spine, but I shook it off.

I listened to way too many true crime podcasts.

“Sorry, what did you say?” I asked, forcing a casual tone as I resumed walking.

The trail under my sneakers crunched gently, but the forest felt unusually still around me. Jess’s voice began to fade into the background noise of the woods as I focused on the oddly heavy silence.

“I said that you can’t let him walk all over you! You have to—”

“Hold on,” I interrupted her.

I squinted into the shadows between the trees. Something felt off. There it was again— a low growl, almost inaudible, but unmistakably there. My heart raced.

“Jess, can I call you back?”

“Wait, why? What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice suddenly concerned.

“I… I think someone is—” I began, when I caught sight of a pair of glowing eyes peering at me from behind a tree. My breath caught in my throat.

“Hello? Are you there?” Jess’s voice crackled through the phone, but I couldn’t respond.

My instincts kicked in, and without waiting for a second of deliberation, I turned and ran.

Branches whipped against my arms as I sprinted down the path, adrenaline surging through me. The growl grew louder, closer, and I could hear the heavy footsteps of whatever was behind me gaining ground. I dared a glance over my shoulder and froze. A massive figure surged from the underbrush.

It was way too big to be a dog. It was—

I pushed the thought out of my head. I couldn't bring myself to admit the realisation.

I sprinted faster, my heart pounding in my ears.

“Jess, I have to go!” I shouted into the phone, but there was no time for her questions.

All that mattered was escaping whatever was chasing me.

As I ran off the trail, I could hear the snapping of twigs and the relentless growl that echoed through the trees. The world around me blurred. Panic fueled my steps, but all I could think was that I had to get away.

I looked back and it was gone.

“What the—”

My body slammed hard into what felt like a wall and I tumbled to the ground, screaming my lungs out. It caught me.

“Help!” I let out a bloodcurling scream, my eyes tight shut.

“Hey hey, it's just me!”

I recognised the voice and flung my eyes open.

“Dad!” I cried as I got up and threw myself into his arms. He carried me off the ground with ease as I hugged him tightly.

“Dad we need to run! We need to go! There's a wolf! A huge one!” The words kept spilling out. I was panicking. “It was chasing me! I think something distracted it but it's gonna catch up! We need to leave!”

Dad looked down at me with furrowed brows.

“Elara, if there were wolves in these parts we would definitely know about them. It's probably a deer. Nora and I used to go hunting before she, well you know. We haven't gone in a while because you see how big her stomach has gotten—”

“Dad, I don't care about her freaking baby!” I yelled at him.

I regretted it as soon as the words came out.

I sighed heavily, rubbing the temples of my head. “I'm sorry Dad. I shouldn't have said that.”

He looked at the ground then back up at me, forcing a smile. “It's okay. I haven't encountered any wolves, but if you're certain you saw one, I'll check it out tomorrow with my rifle and shoot it down on the spot. The only reason I ever told you not to go out alone was because it's very easy to get lost in the forest Nora once—”

He stopped himself, and I knew I had just made him feel bad about talking about his own wife. What kind of daughter was I?

I nodded. “Maybe it was a deer. My imagination tends to run a bit wild sometimes.”

We began walking back to the house in silence. Only it wasn't a deer. I knew what I saw. A deer runs away from people, not chases them. A deer doesn't growl or have malicious glowing eyes. I knew the difference between a wolf and a f*****g deer.

I had either gone completely insane, or there was something deadly in the woods, and we were all in danger.