Mythical Mate for an Alpha

Chapter 16

I stormed out the front door and broke into a run toward the tree line. As soon as the forest enveloped me I shifted into Nash. He is a magnificent chestnut colored monster with paws twice the size of a man’s head. 

We pounded against the forest floor, no real destination in mind. We skirted low hanging branches, jumped over rocks, and tore through the underbrush. I needed something, anything to clear my head. It felt as though I couldn’t think or breath correctly, like a fire was raging through my veins that I couldn’t quench.

If I was being honest, I have absolutely no idea what just happened. For that matter, Nash didn’t either. Once again, we had completely come undone. All because of Kitty. The thought made me angrier than I already felt, and Nash pushed harder through the woods. 

Before long, we had circled the perimeter a few times and wound up behind the pack house. There was a tall broad deck that ran the entire length of the pack house. Underneath we kept bins with clothes for shifted wolves. I dug through for some clothes that fit and headed inside. 

Most of the pack had finished cleaning up from dinner and were scattered throughout the house. As I walked through, I was greeted with smiles and slight nods, a sign of respect for the future position that I didn’t want. 

I made my way to the third floor where the officers were. To the left was the Luna’s office. My mother rarely worked from here. She preferred her office in our house when she had paperwork. Otherwise, she was always milling about the pack house and surrounding grounds. She liked to be accessible to the pack, especially the women.

At the end of the hall, adjacent to the Luna’s office was the Alpha’s office. My dad spent half of his time here through the week. He preferred to be behind closed doors when he spoke with pack members. He felt as though it made the pack feel safer, knowing that whatever they discussed with him stayed private. He also said he felt it made the pack members feel important, that the Alpha would allow them in his office. No matter how trivial, Dad took every pack member seriously. 

For everything I felt about the Alpha position, I admit that my Father is one hell of an Alpha. He devotes so much time and energy to this pack. It is his pride and joy, just as much as his family. I admire my dad immensely for that. I still have no desire to be him. At times, I don’t think I could even come close to Alpha he is, even if I tried. So with that knowledge, I know I won’t try.

The last office, across the hall from the Luna’s is my office. Dad gave it to me 3 years ago in preparation for becoming Alpha. I spent very little time here, and considerably less now. Every time I step foot in this place, it increased my resentment of my birth into this pack even more. 

I blew out a breath and pushed into my office. The whole room was done with cream walls and pine floors. It was much lighter than either my mom’s or dad’s offices. 

Directly in front was a large bay window that overlooked part of the pack village below and the expanse out toward the tree line. It was well past dusk, but the lights outside of the pack cabins were enough to light up the grounds. I stood watching the scenes below.

Pups were out front of their houses playing, getting out the last of their energy before bed. Women sat on porches, some in clusters, others by themselves, and still more with their mates as they watched their pups play. 

I turned toward my desk on the right side of the room. It was a walnut behemoth with intricate carvings. It belonged to my great-great-grandfather eons ago. I think that maybe dad figured the sentiment would push the want to be Alpha into me. Again, he was wrong. 

I dropped into the brown leather swivel chair and looked around. I suppose that it wasn’t a bad office. I should have spent more time here doing school work. It definitely made me feel calm. Maybe when I came home to visit from college I would use this room to work. 

I turned in the chair to face the bookshelves lining the walls behind me. Row after row held the journals of the past Alphas. In this room, my great-grandfather’s journals took up most of the space. 

In our family, it was tradition for the Alpha’s to keep a journal. They would document the struggles of the pack, the joys, the victories, the defeats, everything. My ancestors believed that we should learn from one another, no matter when in life we existed. I have always thought it was a crock, but dad thinks otherwise. 

Over the years, he made me read all of my great-grandfather's journals. I learned a lot about the man and how he ran his pack. I still don’t see how that has anything to do with what happens now. Back then, there wasn’t even a toilet in-doors. How helpful were these really going to be?

Alphas took over their packs into their twenties and held the title for longer than we do now. My father took the title at 20 when my grandfather died. It was unexpected to say the least. 

Dad said it taught him more about life and wolf packs in those first few years than in the entire time he was growing up in a pack. I still don’t know what he means other than he must have been living under a rock before taking the title. Or he was free. Just like I plan to stay. 

I turned back to my desk and dropped my head into my hands, replaying once again, the events of the night. More annoyingly was that everyone felt the need to protect Kitty. What was this girl doing to my family?

There was no longer a question that there was something not normal about her. Even Eli continued to be almost enamored with her. I can’t stand it. You would think he liked her as more than just our sisters’ friend. 

‘Of course!’ Nash cried out. 

‘Of course, what?’ I asked in a bored tone. 

‘Eli. We only get angry when Eli is around Kitty.’

‘Yeah. So?’ I am clearly not seeing where Nash is going with this. 

‘Eli came in the kitchen earlier with no shirt on. It bothered us that he would do that in front of a strange girl. Then tonight, he touches her and he smiles at her. He must like her. He must want her as his mate.’ Nash was convinced.

‘I think you are onto something here.’ I considered his words a little more seriously.

‘I am the smarter of the two halves.’ Nash retorted.

I rolled my eyes. ‘She must be doing something to him. Kitty must have our brother under some spell or something. I wonder if he drinks that tea Andre was talking about?’

I thought about Nash’s words some more. ‘Damn right that would make us angry. She is manipulating our brother into mating her. She wants to be a part of our family. Who knows what she could do from there. She already has mom wrapped around her finger.’

Nash preened in my mind’s eye. We finally figured it out. How could we have been so blind?

Kitty was influencing our brother’s mind. Nash and I must be able to sense it. Suddenly it felt like all the pieces were coming together. It would be easy to influence the rest of the family with dad, myself, and Owen out of the way. It sure as hell couldn’t be a coincidence that Kitty decided to show up right when the rest of us were at the Alpha Summit. 

A knock at the door tore me from my thoughts. “Come in.” I said sternly. The doors opened to reveal an Omega girl. 

“Sorry to bother you Alpha.” She said in a shy tone. Her eyes were focused on the floor, but I could see the blush that was spreading across her face. “I wanted to know if I should be making up one of the spare rooms for you this evening?”

I stood up from my chair and headed in her direction. I grabbed one of the stray brown curls that was falling down the side of her face. I wrapped it around my fingers as Nash and I took in her scent. She was pleasant enough. 

“What is your name?” I said in a husky tone. 

I heard her breath in sharply. Her eyes remained glued to the floor and I could hear her heartbeat start to pound in her chest. I lifted her chin to look her in the eye. “You would make your Alpha ask twice?” I asked her playfully. 

“No Alpha” She responded almost breathless. “I’m sorry. My name is Merica.”

“Well Merica,” I whispered as I bent close to her ear. “Why would you need to make me a room when it will be yours I am staying in tonight?”

Instantly I could smell her attraction to me. My words, like always, had that effect on she-wolves. Hell, they had that effect on any female. It didn’t matter their species. 

Merica’s eyes flickered as I could see her lust getting more intense. I backed her into the hallway and closed the door behind me. “Why don’t you lead the way? I feel myself getting tired already.” 

I slid my hand down her arm and found her hand. Without further discussion, she turned on her heel and began to lead me to her room. In the morning, I was definitely going to put a stop to this Kitty business. Tonight though, I would have some much needed ‘me time’.