Alpha Hades

[ Seline ] The cold weather made it hard for me to sit comfortably in the car, the crisp air had turned my face numb, yet I refused to close the window. The natural scenery of this mountainous area, where I am returning after thirteen years, cast a spell on me, yet I miss home. I pulled my jacket close and leaned on the window as tall pine trees passed. “Seline, I am sorry. I thought this summer we’ll be going on a Europe trip but your parents want you to return to your home.” I heard my aunt, Jennie, saying from the passenger seat. She looked at me through the rearview mirror. It was probably the hundredth time since last night when my parents called to wish me happy birthday and also told my uncle and aunt to bring me back to my birthplace, Yellowstone Pack. “It doesn’t change anything so don’t apologize because we aren’t going back home.” I rolled up my eyes and increased the volume of my earbuds, so I didn’t have to hear them saying another ‘sorry’. I miss my friends, they must be enjoying without me. We had made big plans for our summer vacation but now, it seems impossible because I might find my mate during the annual lunar festival. Two hours had passed, my back turned stiff due to sitting for hours. I just want to reach my parents’ house and crash on the bed. I have no mood to celebrate my birthday with strangers. My parents visit me twice in a year at my aunt’s house where I have been living for past thirteen years. I didn’t understand the reason why they sent me to stay with my mother’s sister and her husband. I only remember one night, when our pack was under attack and my terrified parents took me to the city. I could barely remember any faces, except my childhood friend Lily and the Alpha’s son, Jayden. They’d be grown up like me. “How long before we reach home?” I asked them in a disinterested tone. “Hardly thirty minutes more, Sel.” My uncle Seth smiled at me. “Can we go back? I am not interested in this mating ceremony. I just want to go to college and become a doctor.” I expressed my resentment but the look of helplessness on their faces told me that they couldn’t do anything for me. My attention again diverted to the far-stretched woods. The forest became denser. The sky had turned dark gray and the temperature fell miserably, yet I felt less colder than before. I could recognize this familiar smell. It was our area, far from humans. Although it was hard to see through the dense forest, I could figure out a huge silhouette, an animal precisely which was running alongside us. It was a wolf but its size contradicted. It looked larger than an Alpha male. On a certain point, it stopped and looked at my direction, my heartbeats hammered against my ribcage when those golden eyes pierced through my soul even though he was at a distance. Why did I feel a pull towards this mysterious creature? I was scared but also curious. “Seth, can you see that wolf?” I asked my uncle, who looked outside the window as he slowed down the car. “What, Sel? I can’t see anything.” He said with confusion al over his face. I glanced at the forest and it disappeared into the dark woods. Maybe it's gone. “Seline, it’s not uncommon to see a werewolf here. You must have seen one of them hunting or patrolling,” Aunt Jennie explained, but I knew it wasn’t a normal wolf. Its eyes had a mysterious depth that I couldn’t shake my mind off him. When we reached our park, it was already dark. I felt many emotions rushing back. This place has changed a lot. The younger people I knew, looked older. The car stopped in front of my parents’ house, a beautiful two-storey wooden house. My parents and my elder brother were waiting outside with huge smiles on their faces. I felt slightly better when I saw them. “Seline, my baby girl.” My mother wrapped me in her motherly embrace as soon as I stepped down from the car and stretched my arms. “How are you, Mom?” I smiled at her. She looks skinnier than the last time I saw her but she looked really happy to see me. “I am fine at last after seeing you, baby.” She kissed my forehead and then my father came forward and gave me the same bone-crushing hug. My anger slowly melted away. They love me more than anything and there must be a grave reason for them to keep me away from them. “It’s good to have you back here, Seline.” My elder brother and future beta Zeke gave me a slight nod. We’re much closer and I don’t blame him. He had been training hard to take our father’s position soon. “Please, let’s go inside. The weather isn’t favourable today, and we also have to gather for the ceremony tonight at twelve at the packhouse ground.” My father said and all my happiness died down again. Normally, any wolf at my age would be dreaming about this most important moment when they finally find their soulmates but I had no plans on settling down in a pack when I spent most of my life in human world. “Amelia, can’t we wait for another year? I don’t think Seline is ready for this.” My Aunt expressed her concern as soon as we walked inside the house which was surprisingly warmer. It hadn’t changed at all. I smiled faintly when my eyes fell on the family photographs hanging on the wall. They actually remembered and preserved my childhood memories. My parents stiffened and looked down. “We wish we could but Alpha Jason wants my children to be a part of this ceremony this year. Zeke will become the next Beta soon and he must find his mate during this ceremony or his position will be challenged by other potential males of his age.” My father said in a monotone. “But it’s not necessary for Seline to participate. We can say that she isn’t ready yet?” Uncle Seth argued and I felt lucky to have them as my guardians. “No, she has to participate, it’ll be her luck if she doesn’t find her mate this year but we all strongly assume that Alpha’s son Jayden might be her mate and it’d be our honor to see our daughter mated to the Alpha in line. It must be him.” My brother said but he swallowed the last line to himself. My mind drifted to Jayden. I remember him as a small seven years old child who was very protective of me but I don’t think it’s necessary if he is my mate. “I want to rest for a while. Can I go to my old room?” I asked my parents because I didn’t want to listen them arguing over me. “Yes, baby. I have modified it according to your needs. Take some rest while I prepare coffee for everyone. Your dress for the ceremony is kept there. You have to wear it for tonight’s function.” Mom yelled as I was already climbing the stairs. When I entered inside my old room, I felt nostalgia hit me hard. I glanced around the room, the pink walls were now beige and my toys were replaced by decorative items. There was a wooden closet. A single bed was placed in the centre, the large window was closed. I sat down on the bed and ran my hand through my hairs. I felt a strange sensation in my heart like something was about to change tonight, something I or anyone else hasn’t expected. I couldn’t rest despite being exhausted from a long journey. I texted back my friends who called or messaged to check upon me. I’d not stay here for long because I don’t belong into this world. Suddenly, I heard a low growl and my neck snapped in the direction of the window. My legs involuntarily moved in the direction. My heart was pacing rapidly as fear gripped me. The growl was faint yet audible to my ears. With cautious steps, I moved to the window and pulled the curtains slightly. I could only see dim lights coming from other houses and the woods in higher mountains when my eyes zeroed on those golden eyes in the woods. The same eyes, slowly turning to a shade of amber. The same creature I saw hours ago. I was frozen on my spot. My body couldn’t move. It growled again. “Seline, I think I can smell him.” I heard my wolf’s voice after millennia. I was shocked because she rarely responds because I want her to stay back and let me adapt into the human world. “But it’s not possible, Rose. I can’t smell anything and the creature is miles away from us.” I said, still trying to get over the shock. She didn’t respond and I was forced to dwell upon these unexpected turns of events in my life.