Two Alphas: One Broken Girl

Chapter 7- Happy Birthday

It was getting late. 30 minutes until my birthday and I heard him again, his wolf. Let’s go back to the woods.

I gasped, hey! Where have you been all day! What happened to answering my questions!

The Orion wolf seemed amused- let’s just get out of here already.

The instincts were strong, so I slipped into my shoes and moved toward the door. I paused and quickly returned to my bed and flipped my pillow over grabbing the crinkled photo from its hiding place- it was one of the last ones taken of Orion with me. We were grinning widely with our arms around each other. I remember the day this was taken at our aunt and uncle’s place on the grounds of the pack house. Uncle Theseus was the pack beta and, having no children, he and Aunt Meena had us over often. Uncle Theseus would spend a lot of time with Orion- sharing his knowledge and preparing him to one day be the beta since he did not have a son of his own.

Photo in hand, I hurried out of the room. In the hallway I paused, hearing raised voices from my parents’ room. The Orion wolf grumbled at me impatiently, but I paused to snoop.

“That GIRL is GONE tomorrow, and I don’t want to hear anything more about it!” My father was snarling- likely intoxicated again.

“She doesn’t have anywhere to go, Omar.” My mom was trying to soothe him.

“That’s not our problem anymore. Our son would have been 18 tomorrow. He would be preparing to be the Beta. We would be the second most powerful family in this pack!” my father was not allowing himself to be quieted.

I felt a surge of pity for my mother. Was she trying to stand up for me? I held my breath waiting to hear more.

“Please, for me.” She begged.

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore, Orla. The girl goes and I hope I never see her ungrateful face again!” I shuddered at the venom in his voice. I suddenly felt a strong impulse to get out the door so I ran on the balls of my feet down the hall, down the stairs and out of the door closing it softly behind me. The Orion wolf sighed, satisfied.

Will I meet my wolf tonight? I demanded.

I don’t think so.

Am I not going to phase tonight then? I suddenly felt devastated and a little panicked at the thought.

Well… there might be a way…

And?! I was jogging down the road, already nearing the bottom of the hill and the beginning of the trees.

The Orion wolf seemed speculative and a little reluctant. I could… lend you my wolf.

My heart picked up, hammering in my ears. Oh, please! Please lend me your wolf! I want to phase! I want to run! I was now fully running in my eagerness, the trees whipping past me. Automatically running to the lake despite telling myself this morning I would never have to return. It just felt like where I was supposed to go.

The Orion wolf did not respond, but I felt his agreement in my mind. I looked up quickly at the moon- it was nearly overhead signaling midnight being minutes away. Just then, I broke through the trees and was again at the edge of the lake. Remembering what Olive had said I quickly began stripping off my clothes until I was stark naked, bleached white by the moonlight. I was trembling from nerves and cold as I stood there feeling the cool evening breeze on my skin. I felt my arms breakout in goosebumps and the hair standing up on the back of my neck. It was going to happen. I was going to be a wolf!

I felt it when midnight arrived. I suddenly knew it was time. I closed my eyes and concentrated on what I wanted.

Fire erupted up and down my spine and I clamped down on a scream. I felt my bones breaking and growing making sickening cracking noises. My eyes snapped open in shock and I fell onto my hands and knees in pain, I was shocked to find that my hand had been replaced by massive black paws. Unable to contain the pained scream anymore I released it, but it was an agonized howl that echoed in the trees around me.

It was over. I shook violently and then stepped forward curiously to look at my reflection in the lake. I was huge. It seems Orion really must have been meant to be the beta because I was no simple she-wolf, but a hulking beast, larger even than all of the other wolves I had ever seen in person. Pride burned through me along with sadness, but I was euphoric as a wolf and I wanted to RUN.

I launched into the woods. I wanted to see how fast I could go. The air whooshed in and out of my massive lungs as I tore through the underbrush. I felt like it was flying! The trees flashed by at an impossible pace and my sensitive ears seemed to pick up on every small sound for miles. I felt powerful and it was a good feeling.

I ran for a while just enjoying the sensation and then I smelled them- cinnamon, sandalwood, frankincense, ginger, freshly cut wood, green leaves- some indescribable blend of aromas that consumed me body and mind. I heard them too. I was being pursued by the all-consuming scents and I wanted them to find me.