Alpha Loves Alpha

Chapter 17:

Megan:

I stormed out to the garden where I was supposed to think about what I did, but I have nothing to think about! I am seventeen and old enough to make my own decisions!

I ran my hands through my bright red hair I had freshly dyed today.

Miss Lisa didn’t approve. Apparently I have to ask her for permission, but it’s my hair. Why does she care?

I might have dyed the sink too, but I told her I’d clean it up.

She accused me of making rash decisions and not thinking about the consequences.

I gritted my teeth and kicked the tree closest to me, then followed with two jabs and a right hook.

My knuckles began to bleed, but I knew they would heal soon. I continued my assault on the tree till I could see my blood start to coat the bark.

I panted and stared at the dent I had caused.

“Wow. That tree really had it coming.”

I gasped and turned around to find a boy about my age. He chuckled at my surprise and I could feel my cheeks heat up.

As a wolf I should have felt his presence, but I was so focused on my rage that I couldn’t focus on my surroundings as well.

“I was, uh… How long were you standing there?”

“I was already here before you walked out,” he said with a teasing smirk.

That’s even worse! My senses have failed me! I need to leave before I embarrass myself even more. “I’m gonna head back in.”

“Wait. I haven’t met you before. Do you live here?”

I rolled my eyes. “Unfortunately. Are you new?”

“I’m Zarik. I’m originally from the Rogue Lands, but decided to join The Fire Pack after seeing Alpha Xavier’s performance.”

I gawked at him. “You’re a rogue?”

“Not anymore.”

“Wow! I’ve never met anyone from the Rogue Lands. What is it like?” I couldn’t contain my excitement.

There was a whole other world outside of the packs that I had never seen. “I’ve always wanted to visit! Wide open spaces where you’re free to do what you want. It sounds amazing!”

I gave him a disgusted look. “Why would you want to stay here?”

He looked down and walked over to one of the benches and sat down.

After a moment he quietly said, “It’s not for everyone. It can be challenging for those that don’t belong to a clan. It’s survival of the fittest. Only the strong can survive.”

I sat on the bench and noticed the long mark that ran down the side of his face. “Is that how you got that scar?” I couldn’t seem to stop the words from tumbling out of my mouth. My cheeks reddened at my brazenness. “Uh… You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to.”

He looked me in the eye. “I was stupid. I thought I was slick enough to steal from one of the members of the strongest clan.” He paused and looked down at the ground and closed his eyes. Gritting his teeth and continued, “But I was wrong. I got off easy. Most would lose their life. And I’ve seen it happen. Even for something small.”

He looked back up at me. I could see how serious he was by the look in his eyes. “The freedom to do what you want is great, but some will take advantage of that. The only one that will protect you is you.”

I looked into his amber eyes. They held such intensity that I couldn’t help but stare. I could hear the warning in his voice. I saw it reflected in his eyes as well, but I didn’t feel scared.

“I can handle myself. I’m not afraid. I’d rather live life my way than rot here and be forced to be who they want me to be.”

He shook his head. “At least you have someone to care for you. My parents passed before I was a teenager. After that, the family I knew fell apart.”

“I can’t even stay out past eight o’clock. I’m not allowed to dye my hair the color that I want. How am I supposed to live oppressed like that? I’d rather be mauled by rogues!” I folded my arms and turned away from him. “Stay here long enough and you’ll find out.”

I could hear him sigh. “I didn’t mean to upset you. Let’s start over. My name is Zarik.”

I turned and saw the genuine look in his eyes. “I’m Megan.”

He smiled. “It’s nice to meet you. I like your hair. It’s bright, like a nasturtium.”

“What’s that,” I asked, confused.

“An edible flower that grows in the rogue lands.”

I laughed at his answer. “Thanks. I was inspired by Luna Alpha.” I frowned. “But I got in trouble for doing it, so Miss Lisa punished me. Now I won’t get to meet her.”

“I can arrange that.”

“What do you mean,” I asked.

“I know Luna Alpha personally.”

“Really? Thank you, Zarik!” I jumped up and gave him a hug.

“Megan, Aren’t you supposed to be thinking about what you did?”

I sighed and turned to Alpha Xavier. “But I didn’t mean to dye the sink. It just happened.”

“It doesn’t mean that there aren’t any consequences.”

“Yes, Alpha Xavier.”

“Zarik, we will be leaving shortly. Go get your things and meet Luna Alpha in the playroom. I’ll be there shortly.”

Zarik gave me a small smile before leaving the garden.

I internally sighed, knowing I would get an earful from Alpha Xavier.

Zarik may have been trying to warn me, but anything would be better than this draconian existence.

Alpha:

“Luna Alpha, Will you come play with us tomorrow,” Penny asked with doe-eyes, along with the other girls that looked up with anticipation.

I inwardly smiled. I was so busy training to be Alpha that I didn’t have the chance to play games on the playground.

“I would love to. I have some work to do tomorrow, but I’ll come back to play before I go back to visit my pack.”

The girls cheered and headed to the cafeteria for dinner.

I smiled after them. They were so sweet. And to think that none of this would be possible without Xavier. Maybe I was wrong about him. Maybe he wasn’t the self-centered man I thought he was.

“Luna Alpha?”

I turned to find Zarik. “Hey, Kiddo. Ready to go? You were so cute running around with the kids,” I said as I tussled his hair.

“Hey,” he exclaimed, while smoothing out his hair.

I chuckled at his sour expression. “Are you hungry? We’re going to have dinner at Alpha Xavier’s and you’ll be staying with us tonight.”

“Okay.”

I started to clean up some of the blocks the girls and I had been playing with, but stopped when I heard Zarik’s voice.

“Luna Alpha… Can I asked for a favor?”

“Depends on what it is,” I said as I continued to pick up the toys.

“Can my friend come to dinner?”

I gave him a cheeky grin. “You made a friend. That’s so cute! You want a play-date with your new friend!”

Zarik wrinkled his nose at me. “Play-date? How old do you think I am? I just want to invite her over for dinner-”

“A girl? Is she your girlfriend?”

He lowered his brows. “Are you teasing me?”

“Never! I just think you’re so adorable, asking about having your girlfriend over for dinner.”

Zarik rolled his eyes and sighed. “She’s not my girlfriend!”

“One day and you already have a girlfiend, Zarik?”

He gave Xavier an exasperated sigh. “Not you too…”

“Zarik wants to invite her over for dinner. Isn’t that cute?”

“Does this girlfriend happen to be Megan,” Xavier asked him.

“Yes. Is that okay?”

“She’s grounded, but maybe I’ll let her join us for lunch tomorrow when Luna Alpha has her interview with Edith. But only if she behaves until then.”

“Is she pretty? I bet she’s so cute! You should buy her some flowers. And we can take pictures of your first date! Wouldn’t that be fun?”

To Zarik’s dismay I continued to bombard him with questions about his friend on our ride to Xavier’s. He would sigh and roll his eyes, but I could see the light shade of pink on his cheeks.

Young love is such a funny thing. To be embarrass about liking someone when it was obvious that that was how you felt was amusing. Everyone can see the chemistry except for the two naive lovers.

I glanced at Xavier. Maybe adult love wasn’t much different. I could feel myself being pulled to Xavier, but refused to acknowledge my feelings. I was destined to be with him, yet I continued to hold myself back from actually falling for him.

 He’s my mate and I promised to try. I wasn’t even giving him an opportunity. I’m slowly seeing the part of him I could actually fall for. Maybe it was time that I gave him a real chance.