The Alpha's Tortured Mate

The Truth

When did I fall asleep? I do not remember falling asleep in this meadow, but it could happen. I have been exhausted with training, finals, and working. I stood on the sunflower patch I was lying near and took in the scenery... It is beautiful. There were sunflowers for miles running along the sunflowers was a little stream with cedar trees lining it. In the distance there was a huge log cabin with Wipper willows and oak trees lining the walkway. I can not put into words how beautiful it all was. I was amazed at how vibrant everything around me was. This could not be real. I reached to pinch myself, “Hello Ms. Oakley, please do not hurt yourself, it is real... You're just not in the same realm you were a few hours ago.”

I spun my head at the stream I was just looking there a second ago. Where did these beautiful women come from? She was magnificent in this light. She had holy white hair that looked as if it was floating in the breeze as she moved, she had bright blue eyes that mirrored mine and a beautiful white and gold gown that made her look as if she was leaning towards me rather than walking, “HI, if I'm not in my realm then what realm am I in?”

She chuckled, “My child, you are in the realm of the goddesses.”

I bent my head, “I’m sorry Selene my goddess, please forgive me for my Ruden--”

“My child, you are not rude, are you? You awake in a new realm and have been asleep for quite some time, you are allowed not to have all your thoughts at once. Walk with me. We have a conversation we need to have before you return to your realm... I am sorry dear, but it is not your turn to return to my world yet.”

I gasped, “am I dead in my realm right now?”

“You are unconscious in your realm; I am super proud of you for all you have accomplished. Your father and brothers would be so proud as well. You have always been a fighter. You are so strong. I know you have lots of questions and I will try my best to answer them, my dear.”

We walked along the stream. It was so peaceful and quiet here. “Thank you for your words of encouragement, Selene, but I am not sure whether I am as strong as you believe me to be. I feel like I have failed my family... I feel as if my dad and brothers were upset about where I am in the world. He always wanted what was best for us and pushed us to the top. Yes, I am the top student in my shifting and combat class, but I was defeated by those wolves because I lost focus. He would be so disappointed in me.”

“Darling, I know your father is not disappointed in you. You know it in your heart as well that he would love and cherish you no matter if you were a top student or not.”

As we walked along the stream, we came to a path. We followed the fork in the path, and now we were standing in front of what looked like a family crest. “Goddess, why did you bring me here?

‘To show you who you really are and show your father is beyond proud of you.”

I went to ask her what she meant as we walked through the doors of the Crest, my father stood with a beautiful blonde-haired woman in the main picture above the stairs that led to the chest... I looked at the picture to Selene.

“Is that you standing with my father? Why would you be--”

I turned to see Selene had red teary eyes, “I am standing with your father because I am your mother.”

My heart sunk... “You're my mother? But how... How"

“I am a Royal Wolf; my father was King Edwards in the 19th century. I met your father when he attended the royal ball with his father when he was being taught his role in the pack... When our eyes met, everyone else in the room disappeared and the only thing I could focus on was him in his black suit with a lone purple flower on his chest... It felt like fate. The flower was the exact shade of my dress. I started walking towards him and the sea of people in front of us just parted ways with us.” She chuckled, “I remember the quirky pickup line he gave me. He took my hand, bowed and kissed my hand. He trailed his eyes up my arm until we met, “Do you come here often, darlin?” I remember barking out with laughter, as everyone knew I was the Kings youngest daughter. Your father never stopped making me laugh, and I cherished every minute with him until the day I came here... Did your father tell you how I passed?”

“My father never talked about your disappearance, but he told us how much he loved you and how much you loved him and us. My brothers only spoke it once... Have you always been The Moon Goddess?”

“No, my love, my original name is Jean. When I first arrived here, I was so broken and miserable that ‘Selene’ became my best friend... She said I reminded her of her daughter Asteria and, since asteria was no longer hers, she took me in her place. My death was not gentle and when I tell you this, I want you to try and brace yourself, okay? In your realm, the timeline is told differently than what happened. We had not announced your birth, yet we were waiting until your grandparents came back to pack lands to tell anyone, so when your father was summoned to the Palace with your brothers for training, we decided it would be safer for us to stay in the pack and only tell the Alpha of your existence. So if something were to happen, he would have a record of every member of his pack. Your father and brothers were to go to the palace for 2 months to train with the Alpha heirs and other higher-ranking wolves. If your father did not tell you about my death, that means he did not tell you what you were. In the royal family, every 3rd generation woman heir is given the White Wolf, which stands for pure intent, independence, and intelligence. I was the white wolf, and now you are the white wolf. You are destined for wonderful things; you should already have your wolf, but I do not sense her. We will fix that before I send you back. There are a lot of decisions and challenges you will face, and you will need her. My death was caused by... Rouges, I was nursing you when I heard screams throughout the pack lands... I ran to your father's bedroom and placed you in your bassinet... When I went out to try to lock down the house, the front door got busted down... I was dragged outside and, well my dear, I will not scare you with all the details, but I was tortured and injured to the point my wolf could not heal me. It was 3-1. I did not really have a chance to fight back as it had only been 3 weeks since I had given birth to you, and I did not have all my strength back. I thought for sure they were going to kill me outright when a little gray wolf came barreling into one of my attackers as well as a huge black wolf and a Tan and orange one... I recognized the tan and Orange as Alpha Maximus, the Black Wolf as Tucker, Axel's father and the little gray wolf as Axel. They tore my assailants to shreds, but I was too far gone to even fret about myself. I screamed for the Alpha to check on you and to make sure they had not hurt you... They had hurt you, but Axel barreled into one intruder then raced to you and killed the man trying to harm you and is why you have a scar on your left elbow right below the bicep muscle.”

I raised my shirt and my mother's face cringed, “Oh my baby, I am sorry they have mistreated you in such a way. I wish I could have done more to protect you, but each realm has its own rules, and I am not allowed to mess with actions that happen in yours. I can only whisper or push paths to meet.”

“This is—is so crazy, I cannot believe all of this! I am so sorry you were attacked... My face blanched... I was attacked by rogues today. What if they come back to finish all this off? What if--”

“Sweetheart, by being a white wolf you need to listen to your heart. Your wolf will also help. Always trust your gut. It is our 6th sense... We had better get inside. There are others who want to see you before I must send you back. I have kept you here a long time. Oakley always remember to never show your wolf to anyone that you cannot trust, and it would be safer for your mate. You are destined for a strong mate. People make stupid decisions when they are jealous. Promise me you will tread carefully.”

“I promise, who else wants to see me?”

“Follow the steps, and you will see for yourself, my dear, they are all very eager to see you and me.”

I followed the steps to the bottom of the crest and saw a fountain. My heart quickened as I felt a pull towards it as if it were calling to me. I reached my hand into the water and swooshed it around. I jumped when I saw three blurbs, one blackish-gray, one redish-gray and the other was Gray with black and red.

“It’s okay. Go ahead and grab them. They are very eager to see you!”

I grabbed the blurbs one by one out of the fountain and all at once Selene/Jean blew on them and the blurbs went from three colors to my father and brothers standing in front of me. I felt the tears escaping my eyes. I had no words I could not remember the last time I saw there handsome faces and felt there warm hugs.

“DAD! NOLAN! NIGUEL! Is that you? Omg you look so different!”

Nolan looked at me with tears in his eyes, “We look different? Look at your squirt, you are all grown up and beautiful! Hey! That’ my hoodie”

I ran to him, wrapping my arms around his waist as he wrapped his around my shoulder, resting his head on mine. More arms wrapped around me, and I knew they were Niguel's, then another set which I knew was my father's and the last set which I guessed was jeans. I broke the wall I did not realize I had put up, broke in a matter of seconds at the love I felt in their embrace. I missed them and needed them so much I cannot believe I am being held by them right now.

“So, munchkin, how are you? I am so sorry I abandoned you. I tried my best to rush back to you and your brothers but I...” His face turned dark, and he took a deep breath and just stared at me... “How is alpha Maximus did he at least make it back to the pack okay?” Jean inhaled and looked at me. “I need to step out I cannot be here for this as I do not want either of you to hate me.” She ran up the stairs, and we all stared after her, I turned back to the people I have missed for the last 10 years and waited.

“Did he make it back okay?” I looked at my father and in a whispered voice said, “No pops, he did not make it back. No one who went to the kingdom made it back besides Tucker and Axel... Tucker was killed the second he stepped on pack lands and Axel was made to Pledge Loyalty to Alpha Quinton.” My father's face was blood-red as my brothers' nostrils flared... I hurried to continue, “After Nolan locked me in my room... I lay under my bed listening to the brawl happening right outside my bedroom door, crying, holding the Plushie you got me daddy... I—It went quiet, and I was waiting for Nolan to get me when I heard boots walking across the floor. I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing like you told me to and held it even when someone broke my door down. I watched him walk all around my room and I thought he had left until my bed frame was ripped from over my head, and I was yanked off the floor and taken to the living room. The sight I saw was terrifying. I still have nightmares of--’ I looked at Nolan and Niguel and they gulped. “You. The man holding me walked me out of the house and handed me to another man who walked me back to the pack house... I was terrified. They took me to the Alphas office and in Alpha Maximus’s chair was Alpha Quinton. He had me sit on his lap and called every warrior alive in the pack to come in. He stroked my hair as he had them pledge their loyalty to him. After all the warriors left, he told me I was an orphan, that my family was dead, and my father was a traitor who let his Alpha get poisoned at the Royal ball—My father growled, “He told me I would work with the head servant until I was old enough for her to retire so that's what I did, I tried to stay out of trouble but the Alphas twins hate me and get me trouble for stuff they do and.. I um I spend more time in the dungeon than I do in my bed. I have kept my grades up though... I am the top student in my Shifting and combat class even without my wolf and--”

“Why do you not have your wolf? You should have her already. Your mother already had Marie at this age...”

I looked at the ground sheepishly, “I do not know dad, please do not be disappointed in me.”

“Oh, Hunny no!” he walked over and wrapped me in a hug, “I would never be disappointed in you, you are my amazing, beautiful, strong-willed daughter. I am so happy to see you. I never thought I would get to see you again. As I took my last breath, I prayed to the goddess nothing bad would come of you, I did not know I was praying to your mother at the time, but all is well, I hope. Will you tell us about your life before you go back? WAIT, why are you here? Why is Jean so adamant that you must go back... She did not bring you here?

I stared at my father and brothers and wondered if they would be disappointed, and I shook at the thought of, “Jean says I am here because I am on my deathbed.” They all inhaled sharply. “She says it is not my time, but I would not mind staying here with you. The last ten years of my life have been very rough without you all. Jean says I must go back. That I am destined for greatness, but no one believes in me like that in the pack. I was the head Servant for Alpha Quintion up until recently. I slept in a ridiculously small room under the stairs in the packhouse. I talked him into letting me move back into our house. When he agreed, I had not realized anyone had taken care of our house besides Axel. He helped me in laying you all to rest under our favorite Wipper willow tree, and he helped me put the door back on when I was little, but we were not allowed inside the house. The house sat exactly like it looked 10 years ago, and it took me months to clean and restore half of what was ruined in our modest home. I do not own many clothes my size. Why have I chosen to steal your guy’s clothes? I am on my deathbed because I was on my way to training, walking on the warrior path to the arena when 15 wolves blocked my pathway... Even without my wolf, I held my own until this large wolf stepped into the fray. I was mesmerized by him, and it took my focus, and I was flanked, and he tore my backside up and a bit into my neck/shoulder...” My father and brother were crying the whole time I talked. I had not realized my hand was swirling in the water and the memory I was speaking was being shown to them in real time.

“You are an amazing fighter, Oakley; I see there is some moves you have kept with you all these years, and I'm happy they have helped you in your time of need.”

“Nolan, Niguel is that--”

“Terri, I'm sorry we need to say goodbye. I have to put her back in real time. She has been gone for longer than we want. I would love for her to stay here but you and I both know we need her to fulfill her destiny.”

My father and brothers snatched me into a bear hug and kissed the top of my head just like when I was little, “Oakley, I will be sending you back now... In this realm your injuries are not here, there they will be. You will be in pain and for that I am so sorry. I will leave you with all these memories, but remember who you trust. Also, watch for me in your dreams. I speak to you a lot more than you think. “Ad Regnum”

“AHHHHHHHHHH” I opened my eyes to frantic faces all around me, I could hear machines beeping all around me, and it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. My back felt as if it were on fire and my head was pounding... I looked around the room and tried to focus on what they were saying to me. I could see their mouths moving, but my ears were not working. I closed my eyes to try to regain my senses. I opened my eyes and focused on the doctor, “Hello Ms. Oakley. How are you feeling? You gave all of us quite a scare... You are on your 4th round of Iv we almost have all the wolfsbane out of your system and are hoping that will help speed up your recovery.”

“My chest is heavy, my back is on fire, my head is pounding, and I really have to pee.”

“I will have them give you some morphine before the Alpha comes back, and I will see about you going to the bathroom. Oakley, I was not supposed to mention the wolfsbane, so do not repeat it. I am thankful I looked more into your blood to see why you were not healing. Your father would have my license if he were here for not checking in the first place. I will be sending an anonymous complaint to the king on your behalf.”

I smiled, “Thank you, Fredrick. Thank you for always trying to take care of me.”

The door slammed open, “You were supposed to mind-link me the second she was awake!”

Cohen’s aura was flooding the room, it was hard to breathe through it and not bend my neck, but I physically could not, “I'm sorry Alpha, when she awoke, she was screaming in pain and disoriented. We were trying to recomfort her, so she could talk to you and tell you what happened without problems.”

I stared at Cohen. I remember what he said to me before I passed out, but I will not tell him, “Why did you not mind-link me when you were under attack?”

“I was closer to the training area than the packhouse and thought the warriors and trainees would get there faster as well as alert you.”

“Are you saying I am not fast enough to have made it to you?”

“N—No Alpha I did—didn't"

“How many were there?”

“15 I think, I cannot be sure as everything happened so fast, I didn't have time to count.”

“The wolfless girl faced 15 wolves and did not die yet killed 2 herself? I do not believe it! Were you working with them? Did you plan this all out?”

“No-No Alpha, I swear to you, I had nothing to do with this. I was just walking. I didn't--”

Cohen took a deep breath and pushed all his aura out, “Oakley, tell me the truth were you working with the wolves who attacked you and My father.”

My neck was bent so far it was shoving into my chest, “No alpha. I was not working with the wolves. Wait! Alpha Quinton was attacked?”

“Yes, the trainer mind-linked me and my dad, and we were sidelined by 2–3 wolves, and before I could reach my dad, they killed him.”

“Rest, Oakley, you have major cleanup to do.”

I closed my eyes as he exited the door. “Perfectly, one of the few non-original members of my pack who did not hate me is dead... What am I going to do now? He always helped make my punishments not so rough.” My head fell into my hands, and I wanted to cry for the torture I was bound to endure... Silently I said, “Jean, you should just have kept me with you.”

“No, my child, remember you are destined for greatness.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I promised you I would fix the wolf situation. I'm here to uphold my promise.”

“How--”

“Close your eyes and I will guide you.”

I closed my eyes and woke up in the sunflower meadow again. I looked around, and I saw Selene/Jean in the distance. I stood to walk towards her... When I got closer, a large white wolf stepped through the meadow. I stopped my heart beating a mile a minute in my chest... She is beautiful and massive. She was white with gold tips on her coat, her eyes matched mine, bright baby blue.

“Oakley, take a deep breath and close your eyes. Let willow do all the rest.”

I closed my eyes and did as Selene said, “Willow is a beautiful name, you are beautiful.”

The wind picked up, and I wanted to open my eyes but knew I should not. I felt the wind rush through me, and then I opened my eyes, it was now just me and Selene in the meadow. I looked all over for the beautiful white wolf and when I saw she was not there I felt sad. “Miss me already? We just met.”

I whipped my head around looking for the voice, “I am one with you Oakley. We can speak telepathically. I cannot wait to get to know you more.”

I felt a sense of comfort knowing I had a built-in best friend I could talk to, “Hello Willow, I'm so happy to finally meet you.”

“I will let you two get acquainted now, take this necklace, and never take it off. It dilutes wolfsbane, so no matter if you eat it or drink it there will be no effect. You got this Oakley; I will be watching you. “Ad Regnum”