Anyone But You

The scenery was breathtaking as our black SUV rolled through the forest towards the Hallowed Grounds, my favorite place in the whole state. It's a weird stretch of forest that is four miles long by four miles wide where four different city lines meet. In the center of the lines is a big lake, and it's the only area with a perfect two mile by two mile circular opening of trees. Most states only have one or two big packs with a few smaller ones scattered around, but ours had four. Each city represented the pack borders and was divided by North, South, East, and West. This spot was called Hallowed Ground because it was neutral territory for all packs. Although there was never any bad blood between the four packs, times were changing. The new Alphas were beginning to come of age and had different ideas that would help make their packs stronger and more efficient. Although change always brings its own set of challenges, peace was always the number one priority. Something instilled in all of us as pups, and through our every day since, and our fathers expected us to maintain it. The thick trees stood so tall they blocked out most of the sun. Even at noon in the middle of summer, the forest floor was still damp from the morning dew. The few rays of sun that penetrated through made the droplets glisten like small diamonds as we passed. The warm air was clean and fresh as I stuck my head out of the window. "Ari, why must you do that?" Alpha Andrew asked me with a sigh as he shook as his head. "I like the way it dries out my eye sockets," I replied with a big toothy grin. "Nice to see you are in good form today," he said, rolling his eyes and smirking. Alpha Andrew is the most handsome man in our pack. Even in his early fifties, he didn't look a day over 30. His deep blue eyes and brunette hair, which is always kept high and tight, still had the females swooning. He stands 6'1 "and is very broad. His arms are tatted with tribal ink that sleeve his skin and meet in the middle of his chest. His legs are just as muscular as the rest of him, and he is almost zero percent body fat. Basically, if Captain America ever body swapped with the Rock and became a Marine. His presence was very commanding and not just because he was an Alpha. His wolf Onxy was built the same way and extremely fast. He was jet black and could disappear into all of his surroundings. Although Alpha blood makes their wolves bigger, Onxy was huge. Both intimidated all who saw them, except me. To me, he was never anything more than my loving, caring, and intentive father. "Put the Cheshire grin away, princess, you not a cat," he said, smirking at my expression. "Good thing, I'd totally use up three of my lives in the first hour just for funsies, " I said, laughing as my father pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. A move I knew way too well and saw often when I was pushing his limits. "Please, for the love of the Moon Goddess, behave yourself today," he said as we entered the big clearing at the entrance of the Hallowed Grounds. "Don't worry, I will." I said, slumping back into the seat and looking out the window. "You're nervous?" he asked, almost sounding like a statement. "I'm the only female Alpha, wouldn't you be?" I shot back a bit harsher than intended. I quickly shot my father an apologetic glance as he took my hand in his. "You are stronger, smarter, faster, and bigger than them. You have nothing to fear, princess." he said as he gently squeezed my hand. "Besides, you have something the boys dont," my father started. "The ability to annoy anyone into submission?" I interrupted jokingly with a smirk. "Yes, but no," he said, shaking his head and giggling. "You have me." "Forever and always, " I said, leaning my head on his shoulder. He kissed my forehead, and we continued the rest of the drive in comfortable silence. As the lake came into view, my mind began to race. Each territory had one Alpha and one child ready to take over. Alpha Samuel of the South and his son Atlas, Alpha Wesley of the East and his son Aramis, Alpha Edwin of the West, and his son Arthur and Alpha Andrew of the North and me, his daughter Ari. The four Alphas were thick as thieves and raised us kids together in hopes that their friendships would spread to us. Unfortunately, and to their dismay, they were wrong. The SUV rolled to slow crawl and stopped in line with the other three already there. "We're late," I said with a smirk while removing my seat belt. My father quickly jumped out as Stan, our driver, opened my door. "Forget how to tell time, Marine?" Alpha Samuel boomed with a smile as we approached the already formed circle. "It's your fault for not writing it in crayon," my father said with a laugh. "You would have eaten the invitation," Alpha Wesley said, reaching out to hug my father. "Only if you used the red flavor," my father said into Wesley's shoulder. The Alphas greeted each other as the boys and I shot glares at one another. "Are you gonna tell us what this is about, or just rip on Alpha Andrew's Marine carreer?" Aramis asked, annoyed while crossing his arms over his chest. The four Alphas went quiet, and as they got in a line and faced us, all joking and smiles erased from their faces. "Good job d**k, now their gonna kill us," Arthur said, punching Aramis in the arm. "A challenge, should you except it, is why you're here. Succeed, and you will get your title, fail, and you won't." Alpha Edwin stated with a no-nonsense smirk. The sun was high above us, scorching the only opening of land it could reach. The boys and I stood dumbfounded as our fathers crossed their arms and stared us down. "A challenge? For my rightful title? You've got to be f*****g joking?" Atlas spat as his hands flung wildly around him. "Does it look like a joke, Map?" I said, turning my upper body to face him. "For f***s sake, my name is Atlas" he spat at me as I rolled my eyes. "Is this optional?" Athur asked, hopeful. "Your own father just challenged us, why the hell would you think it would be optional?" Aramis asked in a condescending tone. "Don't be such a d**k," I shot back at Aramis. "You kiss your mother with that mouth?" Atlas asked before his brain could shut him up. "Nope, Yours!" I yelled angrily. As we erupted into a yelling match of chaotic proportions, our fathers stood there unfazed and let their Alpha Auras interrupt and silence us all. The weight of their auras pushed us to the ground. Seeing as we were all also Alphas, it shouldn't have affected us that intensely. "Well, now you did it," Atlas said quietly, shooting me a glare. "Me? You started." "ENOUGH!" My father yelled in his drill instructor voice, making the woods shake and forcing my words to stay locked in my throat. "This is why you're being challenged. Right here! And no, this is not optional." he continued. "We had really hoped you four would have out grown your bullshit by now, but it's obvious you haven't." stated Alpha Samuel. “So since you won't work together willingly, we'll do it by force. Simple as that”