Untouchable

Steel

Steel

    I angrily banged on the door to my father's office. He hadn't called for me, but I didn't care. Something was going on and I was determined to find out exactly what it was. The packhouse was buzzing with activity as if they were preparing for guests. My temper flared at the thought of guests. The only guests that we had since I turned eighteen were single females from other packs. This was no doubt another one of my father’s many ploys to push me into choosing a mate. A new wave of eligible women to wave under my nose, hoping I would choose one of them to become my mate and Luna. Something I had no desire in doing. I had seen what matting did to my mother, what he did to my mother.

    He chose my mother to be his mate, to be his Luna. To rule with him only to take everything from her the moment he found his destined mate. He tossed her aside like hot garbage as if she had never even existed. Wolves are meant to mate for life. It's something that is just hard wired into our basic body chemistry. Death is meant to be the only thing that separates mates from the other.

    "Come in." My father mutters and I quickly shove the heavy oak door open. To reveal him standing behind his desk. His silver hair was disheveled. ‘What could he be working on this early.’ I wondered as I watched him curiously.

    "Father -" I start but he raises his hand signaling for me to remain silent. I can feel my wolf becoming agitated at the command. I open my mouth again intending to ignore his request for me to remain silent, but I stop myself. It's then I notice the phone in his other hand as he hurriedly shuffles through papers. All of which look as though they haven't seen the light of day in many years.

    "Yes, I have the proof right in front of me!" My father snaps angrily. "I'm sorry but I disagree! A witch is not equipped to train a werewolf." Now this catches my attention. Was my father taking in strays again? ‘That’s just what we need more wayward wolves to give refuge to.’ I thought dryly as I watched him pinch the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Yes, I will inform you when they arrive out of simple curiosity and that is all.” I can feel my father’s anger growing with each word and now I know it’s something more than just stray wolves. “I have every right! I am their guardian now as I should have been all along. Now given the fact that she attacked you immediately after she transformed, I feel it would be best for the two of you to have as little contact as possible." I slowly raised a brow as my father’s eyes flashed with pure rage something I had not seen since the death of his best friend and Beata. "Then you can take it up with the council!" My father snapped as I watched his phone crash against the wall. It was so out of character for my father to ever become this upset.

    "Father who was that?" I asked as my original reason for barging into his office was quickly forgotten. No, I was much more interested in this phone call my father had just taken. I could feel the anger radiating off of him in waves and no doubt if I had been anyone other than his son I would have been brought to my knees.

    "That was none of your concern for the moment." My father snapped his anger even more apparent in his voice. “Now your mother is throwing a party this evening I expect you and your brother to be on your best behavior.” My eyes narrow. He’s deflecting trying to avoid the topic altogether, but I won’t let him. I have just as much right to know what is going on with this pack.

    “She is not my mother and I could care less about some party she is throwing.” I could see I was applying pressure to what could be my father's last good nerve at the moment, but I didn’t care. I knew if I pushed hard enough, I could get something out of him in his anger. “What I do care about is who you were on the phone with and what danger you might be lacing this pack in.”

    “I already told you boy that phone call is nothing for you to be concerned about. And she may not be your biological mother, but you will show her the respect she deserves.” I can feel my wolf begin to pace in the back of my mind. Demanding that I challenge my father, demanding that I take my rightful place as alpha among the New Moon Pack. I was almost 21. The age when most alphas regardless of their age passed it on to their successes. History had taught us that it became increasingly more dangerous for the father and the son if the title of alpha was not passed down soon after the son came of age. A fight to the death, normally resulting in the death of the son were the most likely outcome. In six months’, my father would be passing down the title to me.

    However, he had made no mention of it lately, only me finding a mate. The very thought of it sickened me to my core. I could feel my wolf whimpering at my feelings about finding a mate. It was something that my wolf longed for, something that was a need that had been woven into the very fabric of our being as the need for air. I had every intention of denying that nature.

    "As your general, and future alpha of this pack. I have a right to know who you are pissing off old man." I narrow my eyes at him, his amber orbs lock with mine and I know this is about more than just the phone call. I know I’m pushing him, dancing with fire and it may very well burn me, but I don’t care. This pack will soon be mine. My face remains stoic as our eyes remain locked, my wolf ragging in my mind, thrashing against the prison I had created for it. Begging to be unleased, begging to rip the vocal cords from my father’s throat. ‘No!’. I refuse to let my emotions rule me. Love. Guilt. Remorse. All things I had purged myself of long ago. It was what made me the best warrior, the most ruthless in battle. All because I didn’t care, and I refused to let this wave of rage take that from me. I had worked too hard and too long.

    "I am still alpha of this pack!” I could feel the full force of my father’s power come crashing down on me. The chair snapping under the weight of his power bringing me to my knees. I had almost forgotten how strong he was even at his current age. “You will do as I say! Or you will find yourself a rouge!”

    "Yes, father." I grind out between clenched teeth. My wolf once again pushing me to tare him to shreds, but I know that I am still no match for him. He has decades and the power of all the alphas before him on his side. Something I will not have access to until I take my place as alpha.

    "Good, now that matter is settled." I watched as my father once again take his seat behind his desk, sighing in frustration. "That man has been pushing my buttons for the last fifteen years." I slowly stood from my place on the floor. Curious as to who my father would allow to provoke him for fifteen years. I had never known of anyone outside of the pack to provoke my father more than once and live to speak about it. That included alphas of other packs, war had been at our door many times when I was a boy. No one had ever followed through with the threat of though for fear of my father. It wasn’t until my father’s beta and his family were killed that my father finally stopped causing trouble amongst the other packs.

    "Does he have something to do with the reason the packhouse is in such an uproar?" This phone call had to have something to do with the reason my stepmother was throwing this ridiculous party. I had originally thought it to be another ploy of my father to parade more she-wolves in my face. Now though I was starting to think differently.

    "Yes, it has everything to do with it.” An evil glint sparked in my fathers’ eyes as a smirk made its way onto his face. It was a look I hadn’t seen in many years. It was a look that warned he was up to something. Something that would mean no good for me. “He robbed this pack of something very precise and today we are finally getting it back." He continued and I could hear the triumph clear in his voice.

    "And what did he take?" I asked out of pure curiosity. ‘What could be worth fighting for fifteen years to get back?’ Our pack had no great treasure that I know of.

    "Ah, now that you will find out tonight when it arrives." I quickly suppress the urge to roll my eyes at my father's childish antics. "Now what did you want to see me about."

    "No more father," I stated bluntly as the original reason for my visit once again became my focus.

    "No more what?" My father narrowed his eyes as the joy was replaced with annoyance. He already knew what I was asking for. This was a fight we had been having since the day I turned twenty.

    "No more she-wolves being paraded around trying to tempt me into taking a mate," I stated calmly. I needed to keep myself in control. My wolf had already been riled up enough and it wouldn’t take much to set off another battle between the two of us.

    "Son you need a mate."

    "I do not." I shot back at him. I didn’t need anyone except myself. I was more than competent enough, and I didn’t have to worry about me betraying me.

    "To run this pack you need a mate, a partner a Luna. The responsibility is too great for one person. Yes, you may be able to hold it together for a few years, but it will wear on you. " My father sighed. “It was something I had to learn the hard way.”

    "That is what a beta is for.” I reminded him.

    “Have you chosen a beta then?” I wanted to curse. My father never missed anything no matter how small the detail.

    “A mate will just be a burden.” I deflected his question. He knew all too well that I had not chosen a beta. A beta was someone you trusted with your life, with your pack when you were away, I had no one I trusted other than me. “Some needy she-wolf constantly bidding for my attention. " They were all the same at least the ones with good breading. They never wanted to get their hands dirty, more interested in shopping than fighting. “The majority of them can’t even defend themselves. I don’t need someone I have to babysit.”

    "Steel, surely you do not truly feel that way?" I could see the disappointment flash across my father’s face. This was a conversation that we had many times and yet every time he looked just as disappointed as the first time. It was as if he was hoping my answer would suddenly change but it wouldn't.

    "But I do." I spat as my amber eyes locked with his. I could see him searching looking for any glimpse that I was bluffing. "She-wolves are all the same gold-digging wastes only good for breading."

    "How did you become so jaded for one so young?" I was taken aback by his question. He knew all too well what made me the way I am. He knew what jaded me at such a young age. It was him; I was the product of his own making.

    "I am what you made me father." I answered as I reviled in the pain that shot through his eyes before it was quickly replaced by anger.

    "No, I didn't make you this way."

    "But you did father." I say as I move to leave. This conversation is quickly going nowhere, and I have no intention of going down memory lane with my father.

    "Steel." I pause my hand gripping the doorknob as I turn to look back at my father. The hurt and the anger shining on his face. ‘Good. He deserves to hurt.’       

    "As of this moment you cannot take over the position of Alpha of the New Moon Pack until you choose a mate." It felt as if someone had shoved a silver blade through my heart as my father’s decree reached my ears. My wolf howling in rage slamming itself against the walls of my mind with such force I didn’t know if I would be able to stop it.

    "It is my right to be Alpha!” I roared at my father. Slamming my wolf back into the recesses of my mind. I couldn’t lose control, not now, not ever. I reminded myself.

    "It is only your right if I say it is your right! Remember you have a younger brother I can pass the title too if I so choose. Just because you are the oldest guarantees you nothing." My brother was an i***t. If left in charge of this pack he would ruin it. Run it into the ground as all the work and progress of the alphas who had come before us were undone. Father knew this, he knew Ian could never live up to the challenge of being alpha yet here he was threatening to give him what was rightfully mine.

    “Your bluffing old man.” I bit out through my clenched jaw. I was calling his bluff.

    “No son I am dead serious. Find a mate by your birthday or the pack and title of alpha will go to your brother.” No, I would not stand for this. I slammed the door behind me and I'm sure I heard it crack. I didn't care I was livid; my wolf was furious. I could feel him just below the surface of my mind. Pushing me to release him to let him rip my father into pieces so small the wind would carry him away.

    I pause in my stride as the struggle with my wolf becomes even harder. 'No, I refuse to be ruled by my emotions.' With a burst of strength, I shove my wolf back into its cage. I need to release this frustration and soon. It's still early. ‘The pack warriors will still be training.’ That’s when a thought occurred to me. The new recruits were being brought in for their initiation test. A fight to determine the weaker ones from the strong. ‘What better way to test their strength than to fight their future alpha.’ Decision made up I waste no time in leaving the packhouse. Myself and my wolf both eager to spill some blood. 

  It wasn’t long before the training grounds came into view. A large field surrounded by an untouched forest. It had been the perfect place to construct an updated training facility. A large track nestled right in the center of the field. Bleachers on either side that were utilized for demonstrations’ and right in the heart of it all sparring rings.

    I could still feel my muscles tense just under my skin pleading with me to draw blood, begging for anything that would subdue this rage inside of me. Anger was a powerful emotion in humans but in a wolf, it could be all-consuming. Many wolves in the past and present had fallen victim to their lack of control. Some becoming so enraged they would slater whole villages back in the day.

   Rage. It was the one emotion I had never been completely able to control. No matter how much I trained, no matter how much I meditated it always seemed to get the best of me. This fact only served to feed my anger even further.

    “Alright, men! Give me fifty laps!” I loud voice boomed as all the men froze. All attention is now focused on a young man with sandy blond hair. With his youthful appearance, he looked more like he belonged in a frat house than out on the field. Jasper, our current trainer for the new warriors and the closest thing I had to a friend. At twenty-one, he was the youngest trainer the pack had ever had. “Today ladies! Move!” I watched in amusement as the men scramble to the track. “They really scraped the bottom of the barrel with this lot.”

    “That was where we found you.”

    “Jeeez man!” Jasper snaps clenching his chest. “Your goanna give someone a heart attack doing that one of these days!”

    “It's not my fault you weren’t paying attention.” Jasper even though he is a brilliant warrior had always had a flair for the dramatic.

    “Yeah, yeah whatever.” He snorts before turning his attention back to the group of men running. “Come to blow off some steam?”

    “Yes,” I answer as I size up the boys making their way around the track. They were all so young barely sixteen and it wouldn’t be long before their first change.

    “Well get changed and I’ll let you pummel them for a while. Might teach them a thing or two.” Jasper smiles as he made his way to the center of the track. Part of me wanted to laugh as I watched him begin to yell foul things at the recruits. The look of horror on their collective faces were quite amusing, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t afford to show any emotion, any weakness. Turning away from the special that Jasper was making I swiftly made my way into the small locker rooms that had been built for the higher-ranking worriers. Making my way to my locker I quickly change into my black ball shorts and a tank top. I didn’t bother with any of the protective gear that was pilled in a box off in the corner.

    It was mostly for the pups of the pack who took an interest in fighting and who hadn’t yet come of age. Once our wolf was awakened and the advanced healing kicked in there was no need for such silly equipment. Besides, in a real fight, the only protection you had was how long you could stay on your feet. Once you hit the ground that was it you were done for.

    “Hey Steel, you ready yet?” Jasper's voice carried from the door.

    “Hn.” I snorted as I turned to face him.

    “I’ll take that as a yes.” Jasper snorted. “Would it kill you to just say yes for a change?”

    “Are the recruits ready for their fight?” I asked ignoring his question.

    “Yeah man, they're ready for yeah.” Jasper sighed as he shook his head. “Just try not to make this lot piss themselves alright. I’m the one who gets stuck cleaning it up.”

* * *

           “That’s a match.” Jasper called as I looked at the boy sprawled out on the mat below me. Out of all of them, he was the one who managed to last the longest. This one had real potential if he worked hard enough.

    “Hn.” 

    “Alright Steel go hit the showers,” Jasper stated as he moved to help the boy stand. ‘How dare he command me.’

    “It’s still early.” I had no intention of leaving the training grounds. The advanced class would be arriving soon, and I still had more frustration that needed to be worked off. My wolf had yet to be satisfied.

    “Yes, but we have guests coming tonight.” I could feel my chest vibrating from the growl that I had let slip. My frustration was making me careless in my actions. I needed to get myself under control and soon or I risked my wolf taking complete control. Then I would merely be a passenger in my own body forced to live with the consequences of whatever horrid act he committed.

    “That’s no concern of mine.” I had no intention of attending the party tonight. I would much rather spend my time doing something productive and less mind-numbing. And no doubt my father would take full advantage and force me into tiresome conversations with the eligible women of the pack.

    “Yes, but if you’re not at that party tonight and the Luna finds out you were here with me then it’s my ass that pays the price.” Jasper’s tone became serious as he dropped the smile. “I have no desire to be punished by her again.”

    “Fine.” I could feel what little frustration I had managed to work off returning as I made my way to the locker rooms. I frowned as a familiar scent assaulted my nose. Sandalwood and sage. “What are you doing here Cassy? Last time I checked this is the men’s locker room.” I asked as I rounded the corner and sure enough there she stood leaning against my locker. Her long brown hair had been pulled up into a high ponytail and she wore only a black sports bra. Clearly, she planned on leaving nothing for the imagination. 

    “You look frustrated.” Cassandra smiled as she moved closer to the distance between us. Pressing her body against mine, placing her hands on my chest in an attempt to draw attention to her already bulging cleavage.

    “What do you want Cassandra?” I already knew what she wanted. It’s the same thing she always wants when she approaches me, an invitation into my bed.

    “I just wish to ease some of your frustration my alpha.” Without thought, I wrap my hand around her throat as I shove her into the row of lockers behind her. Her muddy eyes wide with shock as she begins to claw at my hand. I could hear her gasping in a futile attempt to catch her breath.

    “You wish to help with this frustration?” I growled out as I loosened my grip and she fell to the floor in a gasping heap.

    “Y-ye-yes.” She gasped. “I merely wish to help you.”

    “I will not be gentile.” I wouldn’t miss lead her. We had been down this road before when my anger and frustration began to get the better of me.

    “I can handle it.” Cassandra whispered as she stood facing me once more. “Let me help you.” She whispered as she placed her arms around my neck. I could feel my wolf protesting at the idea of sleeping with her again. He protested at sleeping with anyone who was not our mate, but I didn’t care.

    “Very well.” Without hesitation, I shove her back into the lockers with a loud thud. I had warned her I would not be gentile. No, I was too angry to be gentle, but then again, she had already known that. Cassandra knew the only time I ever allowed her into my bed was when I needed to release this murderous frustration.

* * *

    "Open up ass hole!" My brother's gruff voice came from the other side of my door as Ian repeatedly pounded on the wood. A smirk formed on my lips. The hot-headed was in an uproar over some misfortune he perceived to be my fault. It had been that way since we were children. Everything that went wrong in his life was my fault no matter if I had anything to do with it or not. When he was old enough, I started reminding him who was in charge. It had been a while since I last put the little mutt in his place and it looked like he needed a reminder. ‘This should be fun.’ I almost smiled as I moved to open the door to my room.

    "What do you want little brother?" The words barely had time to leave lips before his fist connected with my jaw. ‘The little pup is getting braver.’ I narrowed my amber eyes at him. "And what have I done to piss you off this time?"

    "How could you?" Ian screamed as he grabbed the collar of my shirt. I could feel the anger rolling off him in waves.

    "How could I what?"

    "Don't act like you don't know what you did. You took advantage of her."

    "Your referring to Cassy." There it was. The anger that flashed through his eyes told me I was right. "I assure you little brother the only one who took advantage of the situation was her."

    “No, I don’t believe you! I saw the marks on her neck! You abused your power like you always do!” Ian shoved me back releasing his grasp on my shirt. “I was going to ask her to be mine! And you ruined her!”

    “I assure you little brother that girl was ruined long before I got to her.” A smirk made its way onto my lips. He was making this too easy and somehow, he was the only one who couldn’t see that Cassandra was playing him. She craved power and status and she would take anyone who could give it to her.

    “You disgust me!” Ian spat as he took a step closer. There was only one way this was going to end. Father wouldn’t be pleased by the two of us fighting again but I didn’t care.

    “Come now little brother I did you a favor. No one wants a w***e for a mate.”

    “You bastard!” He moved faster than I had been expecting as he rammed his shoulder into my stomach with such force launching us both out the window of my room. I could smell her even before my brother and I hit the ground. Raspberry and vanilla mixed with a hit of spice. Oh, it was intoxicating. My muscles stiffened as the realization of what was about to happen hit me. My mate, my fated mate was standing behind me. I could feel my wolf violently attacking the barriers I had locked him behind. My attention is brought back to Ian as he shoves me off of him both of us scrambling to our feet. 

    “Am I not even worth your full attention!” He screamed but I didn’t care. It didn’t matter.

    “Be silent.” I bit out with much more authority than I had ever used. I knew my wolf was close to surfacing and if Ian continued to get in my way, I would kill him. It didn’t matter that he was my half-brother. I watched as Ian took a step back, the fear shone brightly in his eyes. Satisfied that he would no longer interfere I turned to face her. To finally see the woman who was handpicked by the moon goddess herself to be my other half.

    She was breathtaking. Her raven hair had been pulled up into a loose messy bun on top of her head. Her olive tone skin seemed to be glowing in the evening light of the sun. The light pink sundress she wore hugged her slender frame perfectly, but it was her eyes. Those shining pools of emeralds that I saw a fire that burned with such intensity. The intensity of a warrior, of someone with knowledge beyond their years.

    My wolf howled in approval of the moon goddess choice. Urging me to move forward to claim her as mine. To mark her to ensure that no one would ever take her from our side. "Mate." The word fell from my lips so easily. The very word that had left such a bitter taste in my mouth suddenly didn’t seem so bad.

    "What?" She squeaks in surprise as I move to close the distance between us. She takes a step back and a sick feeling begins to take root in the pit of my stomach. ‘Is she not pleased with me? Is she scared of me? Is she going to reject me?’

    "Mate." I repeat the word. Hopping that she will finally understand what is happening. I’m so close to her now. Just a foot of space stands between us. I can smell her even stronger now her sent is begging to cloud my mind as pure instinct begins to take over. It's like my body is moving of its own accord but I don’t want to fight it.

    "I- I- I- don't know- what that means." She manages to stammer out. I can taste her fear now heavy in the air and my wolf howls again in frustration. ‘How can she fear me? How could she not know what mate meant? Was this her way of rejecting me?’

    A pain like nothing I had ever felt before shot through me at the thought of this beautiful goddess rejecting me. From a young age, I had never wanted a mate. Not after what happened to my mother. If I was being honest with myself, I still didn’t know if I wanted a mate or if I wanted to reject her. All I knew was I wanted the chance to try.

    "It means you're mine." It was like a jolt of electricity shot through my body as I wrapped my hand around her wrist.

    "Don't touch me!" I barely had time to register her words before a blast of fire slammed me back into one of the many trees on our property. ‘She’s a witch and a wolf.’ My eyes widened at the realization of just how rare my mate truly was. Pushing myself up from the ground I use the tree to steady myself. Even though the fire didn’t burn me directly my little witch had packed quite a punch.

    “What is your name?” I asked as my amber eyes locked with her emerald ones. That fire I saw burning in them earlier now a raging storm.