The Alpha Within

Chapter 2

“Hi sweety, you must be Alexandria. It is a most pleasure to meet with you.” She said with a genuine smile.

“H-hello,” I managed to stutter having been entranced by her appearance. I pulled my hand from Father and held it out meekly to her, having been caught staring. I glanced at Father who gave me a disapproving look.

She reached out with a jeweled hand to meet with my own, rings adorning every finger and her wrists jingled at the plethora of braclets. I shook it firmly just like Father had taught me. “A soft handshake is a sign of a weak person, you are an Alpha, you can never show weakness.” his voice echoed in my head.

She held her smile, “Such a strong handshake, very much like an Alpha to be.”

I grinned in glee, accepting her compliment wholeheartedly.

I liked Autie Evangeline.

She stood and turned to Father giving him a low curtsy bow.

“Grand Alpha, it is a great pleasure to have you visit with me. Please come in, would you like some tea?” she motioned guiding us into her cottage home.

“Would you happen to have any liquor? Perhaps a whiskey or bourbon?” he asked.

We stood in her living room and much like he outside the inside resembled the woods surrounding us. Trunks of trees were used as end tables, the walls lined with vines, the large leaves creating shelves for books in a variety of languages. Pots of all sizes surrounding us with strange plants, some even watched us carefully

“Of course, Grand Alpha.” she walked through a doorway out of sight.

Father walked toward the large wicker chairs, pillows for cushions in colorful fabrics making them soft, plush and very comforting.

I looked at Father and almost laughed at how out of place he looked sitting there. He always commanded the attention of those around him. Strong and silent a steel safe, unbreakable. But here he stuck out like a sore thumb, he didn’t belong in this green yet colorful wonderland. He made it cold and unwelcome with his presence.

He had a harsh face from years of battle, scars marred the entirety of his body. The most prominent one on his face straight down across his left eye down to his chin on the same side. Fingernail markings. Dark hair brought further attention to it since it fell around his face in disarray.

He looked immaculately and purposefully disheveled as to ward off weak-willed people who didn’t have the courage to approach him.

A slight humming could be heard as Auntie Evangeline returned with a serving tray which was really a thin slice of a tree trunk

“Here you are, Grand Alpha” she said bowing again.

I had not yet become accustomed to how outsiders treated my father. Although I was aware of his importance to our supernatural world. It was still weird.

I fidgeted slightly; I didn’t understand why I had been brought here with Father. I had never been allowed off the packlands and the first place we visit is the home of a white witch in the middle of nowhere? What is it that she can help us with?

She sat on our opposite side after having placed a swirling cup of hot tea in front of me and taking one for herself. All of course after serving my father a glass of darkened liquor.

He began after taking the drink in a single sip and pouring himself another, “I’d like to complete this as quickly as possible, and return before sunrise. The time to present her to our pack and to the packs in our territory has come. She needs to begin her training to take my place as soon as possible.”

I was finally going to begin my training?! I thought that would never happen being a girl!

She frowned after taking a deep breath, shaking her head as she did so. “I apologize for the confusion; this is not a simple task you ask of me. It will take me about two weeks minimum to get the rest of the ingredients. She will have to stay with me during this time. A lifelong spell such as this one has to be done with extreme attention to detail and her mindset has to be a strong one. Its not one that only takes a day. She will need to be trained for the moment when the next full moon comes, in two weeks.”

A spell? My mind set? What could they be talking about?

She placed her cup down on the table between us waiting for Fathers' response.

He gulped down his drink again and she poured another almost anticipating what he would do. He repeated the process twice more thinking over what she said.

“Fine,” was his only response standing and turning to me.

“After the full moon, I will be returning for the next Grand Alpha and my son.” and with that he left without another word.