The First Warrior Wolf

Chapter 5: Strike One

_Allison’s POV_

I was on my feet before I knew it, fists full of my dress, anger boiling. Alex was already at Jennifer’s side, covering her with a blanket.

“What the hell are you doing in our room?” I demanded, trying to control it while Allegra paced in my head, wanting to rip her apart.

“Alex, why is she here? I thought you said we’d catch up.” Jennifer did that pouty, whiny thing again and pressed herself into him.

A low, dangerous growl rolled out of me as Allegra surfaced. _‘Take your hands off my mate!’_

Alex spun, shoving Jennifer behind him, hands up as he stepped forward. “Allison, calm down. Let me handle this. Go to the guest room. Get your wolf in check while I talk to Jen.”

Jennifer peeked around him and smirked.

That was it. Allegra lunged. I grabbed Jennifer, claws extended, digging into her skin— but Alex was faster. He caught me and carried me to the door.

Setting me down, he dropped his voice and let his Alpha aura slip out. “Leave my room. Don’t come back till I call you.”

I blinked up at him. Allegra whimpered and receded. The Alpha command didn’t work on me. What hit was the realization: he was throwing _me_ out and choosing Jennifer. Again.

“I see a leopard truly can’t change his spots.” I turned and walked out, into the room I’d been using.

Most of my stuff was here anyway. I went straight to the closet, extended one claw, and ripped the dress down the side. Stepped out of it. Grabbed a baggy t-shirt and shorts, then slipped out through the bathroom and the sliding door.

I ran. Down the stairs, across the open grounds, into the forest. Deep enough that no one would follow, I shifted.

Allegra was a fire-red wolf, her fur like living flame. She was as big as an Alpha, but faster, more agile. We tore through the forest, weaving between trees until we reached the face of the mountain.

We pawed the ground near a rose bush. A section of stone slid back, revealing a tunnel. We stepped through into a clearing.

A waterfall cascaded into a rock pool before feeding a river. Still in wolf form, I dove in, swam under the falls, and surfaced on the other side in human form.

I didn’t get out. I sat on the stone steps, hugged my knees to my chest, and wept.

I don’t know how long I sat there. At some point, Rose and Jessy arrived. They fished me out, wrapped me in a towel, and held me while I sobbed out what happened.

They didn’t speak. Just held me and listened. When I finally calmed, I sat up and wiped my eyes. I was exhausted.

“I’m going to shower and lie down,” I said. “Please don’t confront Alex until I decide how to handle this.” I went upstairs and took a long, calming shower.

When I walked into my room, a bottle-green satin dress with thin spaghetti straps lay on the bed. I smiled. I put it on, pulled my hair into a messy curly bun with a few tendrils framing my face.

I stepped out of the hidden cave bunker. Everything was quiet. Then I saw them — my friends at the bottom of the stairs with a birthday cake. They started singing _Happy Birthday_.

My eyes welled up. I blushed as I reached the bottom. I closed my eyes, wished for peace, and blew out the candles.

We had cake and tea. Jessy and James gave me a designer dress and running sneakers. Rose and Matteo gave me the latest headphones and a new dagger. We talked and laughed until everyone called it a night.

When it was just me and Lysander, he took my hand. “Time for Helen’s and my gift,” he said, leading me through one of the secret tunnels to the road near the pack border.

Parked there was a 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback. Deep green. My breath caught when Lysander handed me keys with a keychain — a picture of me and Helen.

“She found it and started restoring it for you the year before she died. I finished it. Happy birthday, Allycat,” he said quietly.

I walked to the car, hands shaking. Tears ran down my face as I opened the door and got in. This was my dream car. Helen and I swore we’d get one and road trip together.

Lysander came to the window. He was crying too.

I got out and hugged him. This had to be hard for him. Helen and him were mated three years when the rogue attack happened. I was at college. The rogues slipped our defenses. Helen was moving women and children to safety when one attacked her. She fought him off, but he had rabies and bit her.

There’s no cure for rabies, even for werewolves. She died a week later.

It broke Lysander. He refused to eat or drink for days. We thought we’d lose him too. I stayed with him day and night. I didn’t want to lose him too. Then Helen’s letter came. She always had a plan. That letter gave him a reason to live. It brought us closer.

“Thank you, Sanders,” I whispered. We pulled apart, pulling ourselves together.

“Now, I know you can’t drive,” he said, shooing me to the passenger seat. “So I’ll drive us home. But after this Alex thing is sorted, we start lessons.”

“What are you going to do about the mate bond and Alex?” he asked as we drove.

I sighed, got comfortable, and stared out the window. “I’ll give him three chances before I reject him. He already used one. Let’s see how long it takes to mess up the other two.”

For my wolf’s sake. For the pack’s sake. But I wasn’t gambling my heart.

That was my final decision before sleep took me.