Alpha Caleb and the Blessed Wolf

NIKITA There was something about this time of year. The change of seasons kind of felt like a time of change. The last of the Autumn leaves were falling around me as a crisp breeze blew through the woods smelling of pine trees and moss. This coming winter was going to be the biggest change in my life. I was turning 18 in two months and going to head out into the big wide world. That was until my parents made other plans. This morning they held a pack meeting and decided to mic drop that I was to become the future Alpha. You could practically feel the shock vibrate through the pack. Like wtf was that about! I was just as surprised as everyone else. Not once had I shown any interest in becoming Alpha. Sure I have a strong wolf and Alpha blood but I was sick of living behind the mirage, a barrier that concealed our pack from the outside world. We were basically a closed community. Don't get me wrong I love my family and my pack but sometimes you just want to get away from everyone, be someone else, I can't do that here with everyone judging who you are and what you do. Normally the next male heir with Alpha blood or a high ranking wolf would take the position of Alpha, but since I am an only child, my mother the Luna was not having any of that toxic sexism. Mom always tried to be new age saying she was a "cool mom" much to my embarrassment. I had to give it to her though as Luna she pushed for equality of gender's and status she also has no issue putting people in their place. Pretty badass really. So she can't really blame me for my own attitude right? I was raised a strong independent woman by a strong independent woman! I'll be damn if I let someone else choose my own destiny for me. You're probably wondering "if I think I am such a strong female why don't I want to be a boss b***h Alpha". Well, despite my wolf and strong lineage I was always more of an outcast. Everyone thought I was different. "Maybe because I am" huffing at my own thoughts. At twelve years old I was playing in the playground when my friends and I realised it was almost night we parted ways. On my way home I had seen some older kids picking on a little omega boy who had come to us a rogue, we took him in but gave him some freedom to come and go searching for his family after his pack was destroyed by our enemy, Obsidian Blood pack. I saw red, pure rage overtook me, I guess thanks to my mother for all her equality lectures my anger just boiled over. It was my first shift when most wolves first shift around 16, shocking the s**t out of me and those boys when my bones began to crack, hands turned to paws, nose to a snout and an excessive amount of auburn fur covered my skin. My wolf wasn't normal though, the auburn fur looked more like golden flames dancing over my body thick and shiny, my normally blue eyes turned pure white, and white fur sprouted in a cresent moon shape on my chest. The air around me changed, I could feel their aura's, the pull of the rising moon, the elements and creatures in the night as if I controlled them all and night itself. The cowards ran off and the omega boy nearly wet himself. My parents had to use their Alpha command and cover up the whole situation which I was grateful for. That was the first time I felt different to everyome else. "You were born on winter solstice, you were small and not breathing. We didn't think you would last the night. We prayed to the moon goddess for a miracle, she answered and blessed you with life, Nikita. When you felt angry maybe you connected with your wolf early, it must have been your natural protective Alpha instinct. You are special Nikita its important we keep you safe, no shifting around anyone else. We will ensure those kids involved stay quiet and are punished for their behaviour." Remembering what mom had said. I had nodding silently. What I felt was not a protective instinct but one that terrified me. I learned to control my temper ...well.... kind of. Instead biting my tongue from making snarky remarks, and daydreaming about getting away from these people who have watched me, sheltering me my whole life. Hiding my truth. Hence why many of the pack members don't want me as their leader. I had only shifted in private keeping my wolf a secret and kept mostly to myself. Most didn't believe I even had a wolf. After the announcement you could feel the way the mood changed around me. I once again had to stop myself from making sarcastic remarks at their fake smiles and false congratulations it practically made my blood boil. "How dare they not ask me if I even wanted to be Alpha or at least tell me their plans before they threw me in the deep end!" I thought to myself. Now here I am lying out in the wet forest leaves, after storming off to avoid the awkward tension, and maybe a little bit of sulking. But who cares I am allowed to sulk right this is NOT what I want! "Grrrrrrrrr" releasing a groan and rubbing the tension headache forming at my temples. "Maybe if I sneak out of the mirage, run away, change my name I won't be stuck in this boring town, Alpha of annoying people. Maybe I'll meet a bad ass mate and run amuck, break some rules and have wild passionate s*x everywhere" I giggle to myself with the idea. Something deep down though made me want to contemplate the possibility. Could I? Or would I, be able to leave that was the big question. It wasn't long before my mind was made up I would march into the packhouse and declare I would not be Alpha and request permission to leave, if that didn't work then it would be plan B. There was no stopping the thoughts swirling through my head now about a plan B. It would be dangerous, exhilarating, nerve-racking to attempt leaving without permission. I'd definitely need help! A sly little grin twitched at my mouth. My best friends Ryker is son of our pack Gamma which means he's to become future head warrior. He was part of the team that often left the mirage attending meetings and training at neighboring packs. "He knows how to leave the barrier, plus part of this fantastical daydreaming was his fault." Thinking back 6 months ago Ryker had returned from warrior training permanently. He was 2 years older than me and when he shifted at 16 he was sent for warrior training at his Uncle's pack which was outside the mirage and past the rogue woods. I had been so lonely without him, we were almost raised as family. When I, myself turned 16 I had asked to be sent for training too but my parents told me it was too dangerous for me to go. My jaw nearly fell to the floor the day he returned. He had gone from gangly awkward boy to all man. Gorgeous tan skin, golden blonde hair that fell to his shoulders, a matching dark gold short beard (that was new) I had thought, the same beautiful warm brown eyes but the most striking thing was a rock hard body like a Viking god. Somehow he knew I had struggled without him and brought me out here to the old outpost shed. He had converted it into a cozy little cabin, set up with satellite TV and sofa. We had spent hours out here binging on the latest shows sometimes reception sucked but we would pass the time telling each other about the years we missed together. Even though I had daydreams about the outside world as a young teen, watching all the crazy, exciting stories of TV only reinforced my desire to leave these past 6 months. Next question was how I could get him to tell me. Begging, blackmail...seduction? Ryker's face and rock hard body flashed through my mind. I definitely wouldn't mind trying the seduction method. It seemed to work in movies. The man was drop dead gorgeous. All those sneaky moments curled up in the secluded cabin. Not once had he made a move on me, he was a pure gentleman. Maybe too gentlemanly. Sometimes when our bodies brushed against each other skin to skin it felt like a slow burn straight to my core, wanting, needing him to soothe my ache. When erotic scenes would play I imagined what it would feel like having his strong hands run over my body. I wanted them to slide up my waist, cup my breasts to feel how much they developed in his absence, how much of a woman I had become. Feel him work my n*****s into tight peaks, have his tongue flick.... "OMG stop thinking about him that way Nikita he's like a brother and treats you like a sister." I reprimanded my own thoughts. "Yeah BUT, like a sexy step brother that is totally bangable." And now I'm talking to myself great!! He was totally bangable though and so thought all the other girls in town. Pressing my lips into a grim line. "Yeah, I dont think the seduction method would work on a man who can get any female he wants, plus he hadn't even made a single move on me." Who am I kidding I was an almost 18 year old virgin, no one wanted to touch the Alpha's daughter. Hell even Davis Chadwick who stole my first kiss avoided me after that. It doesn't help that I vowed long ago never to cross that line with Ryker unless we were mates, never wanting to jeopardize our friendship. I guess he feels the same. It was more than that now. To fall for Ryker or be mated to him would mean I would definitely be stuck in this place. Ten years later with 5 pups I'd become miserable from my unfulfilled youth, starting to hate each other until a younger sexier she-wolf draws his attention and I'm left humiliated, being dubbed the cranky, useless dumped Alpha. Wow that went from zero to 100 real quick. I giggled to myself again. Closing my eyes, continuing my dreams of far off places. Too lost in my daydreams I didn't notice the shift in my surroundings. Another presence, the slight change of scent in the air, birds had quieted, a shiver went down my spine brushing it off as just the wind. Goosebumps prickled my arms as eyes stared unwavering at me unknowingly. A predator focused on it's prey. A thunk on the ground close behind my head snapped me out of my reverie. Jolting my head up abruptly trying to roll into a defensive stanse. The moment I moved there was a sharp, painful tug on my hair as my head was yanked back to the ground. A heavy weight was stuck on my long curls. "Owww, fuck." I yelled bringing my hand to the back of my head where it felt like my hair had been ripped out. A deep low chuckle resonated from a man's chest. "I thought I taught you to always be aware of your surrounds in case of attacks." "Ugh. If you trained your f*****g warriors to guard the perimeter properly I will never get attacked. Now get off my f*****g hair Ry!!" I snarled through gritted teeth, still massaging my scalp to make sure there was no bald patches. " Touche! But seriously kid your hair is literally the colour of the ground, I didn't even know I was standing on it." He chuckled again removing his feet. Huffing and rolling my eyes, I stood up brushing the dirt off. He was right though, the golds, coppers and auburns of the fallen autumn leaves were almost identical to my long hair that fell in delicate curls to my waist. The thing that stood out the most were two strips of pure white blonde hair framing my face that I was born with. When I was done trying my best to look presentable and act unphased by his rude interruption, my blue eyes finally locked with his brown. He closed the short distance, his hand lifted toward my face. I waited for the touch, my heart started to race. It was getting closer and closer. I wanted him to take my cheek in his palm and kiss me, until it went past my face and into my hair pulling out a clump of red/orange and brown leaves. Oh goddess, how embarrassing I thought he was making a move on me! My pale skin did nothing to hide the soft blush rising on my cheeks. i***t, i***t, i***t as if he would be wanting me. Kicking myself and recovering from my embarrassment. I popped my hip to the side and fisted my hands onto them. "Well are you going to tell what you want Ry or just wanted to test me?" I chided. "Here" he tossed her a thick coat, and stepping back "it's getting colder, thought I'd find you out here." Shrugging it on, a delicious shiver ran over my skin at the new warmth it gave. I hadn't noticed the the air had a cold chill to it and the sky had darkened. "Wow, that got dark quickly." I said, both turning to the sky. Something didn't feel right. The darkness in the air seemed heavy and dense not like a setting sun but something more sinister. Sharing a quick glance, Ryker's brows furrowed and muscles tensed with concern. Reaching out through the mind link we could only feel the buzzing of fear nothing could be understood as if they were being blocked somehow. No words were shared we just turned sprinting through the forest toward home. I was thankful my speed was able to keep pace with Ryker's powerful stride. As we approached the smell of smoke halted us in our tracks. A buzzing noise started in our heads a frequency painful to wolves. My wolf started to whimper in my mind, looking over to Ryker who was doing a much better job at withstanding the pain. As a trained warrior I guess they were taught all kind of resistance to torture and be able to think clearly and tactically in dangerous situations. His eyes focused on the scene before them silently calculating their next move. Turning back to the platoon of black and red uniforms, a symbol of a black wolf surrounded by red background prominent on the invaders sleeves told me exactly who had arrived. Fear racked my body. Ever since I was little our pack has stayed hidden from the tyranny of the Obsidian Blood pack. They are said to be cruel and vicious claiming pack after pack, soon other supernatural beings had been taken under their rule. With only a few packs left our's included, the mirage was supposed to keep us hidden and them out. Obsidian Blood Pack were here and they came with warriors and weapons fit for a war.