The Alpha Fate

Orji had been staring at me for minutes and I knew exactly what ran through her mind, but I refused to let her see the fear that was tearing me up. Braiah was gone, and yes, I had a huge weight on my shoulders, but the last thing I needed was the pack, knowing that their new “alpha” was weak. It was already a week and I had not addressed them, didn’t know what to say, didn’t know what to do. I needed to think and Orji’s eyes were making it impossible. “The council will need a word soon” “It took you three hours to finally speak up,” I said, feigning a smile “Well, let the council know I am ready when they are.” I got up and retrieved the glass of whiskey neatly on the table, gulping it in an instance, and closed my eyes in tiredness when I felt her behind me. “Are you okay?” It took everything in me to not collapse against her in tears but when I turned to stare at her and my pitch-black eyes met grey, I felt like a portal had opened within me and she was trying to get in, trying to understand. “Stop it.” My voice was darker than I intended but it was better she didn’t know the thoughts running through my head. She let out a loud breath “You lie.” I moved some steps back and reclined onto the sofa, propping my legs up so the cold from the hard floor wouldn’t affect me. “I know this is a lot for you.” “Do you?” I asked. Instead of replying, she dropped to the floor beside me and I heard her growl. It gave me a reassurance that I was not the only one who was frustrated. “If you need some time, you just have to say it. The others will understand, they have to.” “There’s no time for that. There’s too much at stake for me to require time.” I stared solemnly at her “How do you always see through me? I mean, apart from that evil gift of yours.” She giggled, her dark eyes searching through my face, “You don’t make it easy; you know. But I am always here for you. Never forget that.” I was grateful to her, and for my life. I had defeated a prophesy when I was too young to speak. There was literally nothing I couldn’t accomplish. I remind myself every time. But Orji, she made everything better, and although I never told her, I wouldn’t know what to do without her. There were issues, and it was just a matter of when the other packs would launch their attack, and if I didn’t get the pack in order soon, we would fall, and we would fall hard. I drifted off to sleep. I had the same nightmare, the same piercing scream, the same race through the caves and rocks, fleeing away from the wailings of my pack members. Then I saw Orji, saw the silver sword being aimed at her neck while she struggled to free herself from the hold of the people who held her captive. I didn’t know who they were because my vision was blurry with tears. She looked at me with disappointment written all over her face but I seemed stuck. I knew there was nothing I could do to save her, but that’s not why I didn’t attempt to do it. I didn’t because I was scared of having the same fate as her. The silver glimmered even in the dark and just as it sliced through the first layer of her flesh, I awoke with a start. She wasn’t in the room and so that was good. I got up and made my way to the bathroom. I needed a good bath, and even though there were attendants for that, I still wasn’t used to having everything done for me. My grandma ruled the pack for forty years after her husband, the alpha, died in a nasty ambush, and she did so with a fierce hand, and everyone expected me to carry on the legacy. Except, I was never like that. I didn’t like the decisions involved. From what I had learnt under her mentorship, if it ever came to sacrificing someone or something you love for the sake of the pack, you had to do it. You had to constantly prove yourself and be prepared for any challenge from any member of the pack. I had always brushed everything away because I didn’t think this day would come soon enough, and I had secretly hoped that someday, someone would challenge Braiah, and relieve me of that burden. But no one did, no one dared. The other clans feared her, and with it came respect, and that had caused Braiah to push some boundaries, take where she could, constantly remind them of who she was. Now that she was gone, I was sure they would come back, and they wouldn’t come with a peace treaty. It was unfortunate that I was the one left to handle it all. I was out in thirty minutes, and had the servants attend to my hair and my dress. I knew I looked good, I always did, and I spent extra time admiring myself in the mirror while avoiding the thought that in a few minutes from now, I would be addressing the council, a task I was not ready for. “Where is Orji?” I asked Myra, the girl I had chosen to be my personal handmaid. I still had some restructuring to do as regards my private servants, but for now, I was good with the arrangement. “Teaching, alpha.” “Tell her to join me right now.” I could see the surprise on her face but she didn’t utter a word. This was the good part of this rank, no one could turn down your commands. Orji had no business being at the meeting of Councils. She was a sigma, but as if her wisdom was not enough, she had an extra gift, one I could always use as an excuse to have her around.