Russian Alpha Queen

06

Mila had been awoken at 7:30 the next morning by a loud knocking at her door. Dragging herself out of bed and redonning the dirty clothes she'd stripped before bed, she made her way to the front door and groggily opened it to find...

Nobody.

Confused, she stepped out into the hall to look around for suspects when her foot came into contact with a small whicker basket. Inside was a towel, change of clothes, shower supplies, and a little note on top. Picking it up, Mila's face turned from confusion to a smile as she read it.

"An awesome outfit for our awesome Alpha! I hope you're adjusting well. Please let me know if you need anything else. - Karine

"That's so sweet of her," Mila gushed to herself as she carried the basket to the bed, setting the note on the windowsill before bringing everything else into the bathroom. Taking a long, relaxing shower, Mila got out and dried off, dressing in the snazzy black and white striped shirt with a black fancy looking jacket and black jeans that hugged her body tighter than she would have preferred. Slipping the black socks on her feet, she made her way out the room and down the fourth floor for hours of meetings. Being an Alpha was already as much work as she thought it would be, but she was excited to be improving other people's lives as well as her own, and she felt her wolf purr inside her as pride flowed through the both of them.

By mid afternoon, all of the pack's primary assets had been transferred to Mila, and in addition to finding numerous outrageous taxes, she was also shocked to find just how much the previous Alpha had been hording money. No wonder this house was so drab looking. After getting the codes to the safe containing the personal Alpha funds in cash, she pulled $20,000 out and stared at it as if it was liquid gold and drinking it would make her cry diamonds. She'd never thought she'd see this much cash in her lifetime, let alone have it be a minute percentage of her wealth. While she didn't intend to spend it all on herself, Mila did allow herself a short moment to daydream about the luxury she could have. It was easy for her to see how money could get to people's heads.

She and her council then decided on a large scale obstacle course type event for the fitness challenge, and Mila had decided to take it easy on them for today. The weather had seemed like it was lightening up unusually early in spring, and everyone's wolves would be itching for a run. After meeting with the pack members her council had suggested help with some parts of their set ups and getting to know them a bit, Mila parted from her duties for the remainder of the day, and she eagerly made her way to a familiar door, a smile lighting up her face as the shorter blonde girl opened it.

"Hello Karine!" she chirped, almost shoving the basket through the girl's neck in her excitement. "Thank you for all your help while I got everything started. If I could, might I ask one more favor?"

"Of course Alpha! What can I do for you?" Karine asked excitedly. Her Alpha seemed a lot more excited to see her today, and it made her glad to see it seemed she was inching closer towards friendship.

"Will you go shopping with me?"

"Oh my god, yes!" Karine shouted, sounded like she'd just gotten proposed to rather than asked to hang out, but she was happy enough that she might as well have been. "I mean, that would be wonderful, Alpha," she corrected herself, hoping she hadn't just caused the redhead to have second thoughts about her invitation.

Much to Karine's surprise, Mila instead let out a small giggle at the sight. Karine's eyes widened, and she acknowledged that since her Alpha asked her on this trip and seemed to enjoy her bluntness, maybe she would try being a little less formal around her. This shopping trip would be a great chance for the two of them to bond.

Oh, but...

It really wouldn't be okay for Karine to let the Alpha leave the pack with only herself. While she held her own in a fight against another she wolf, if a male wolf or group of rogues were to attack, she wouldn't be much use. Sure she'd seen Mila take down wolves in her human form before, but there was no way she could put her Alpha in danger like that without backup.

"I'm sorry, I should have asked before, do you already have plans? We can go some time tomorrow if that works better for you," Mila offered in response to the dismay she felt through the pack bond. Alpha's were responsible for every wolf in the pack, and when her father had told her it was different from a regular pack bond, she hadn't realized it would be so intense of a feeling just from sharing a room with someone. It was almost like she was feeling it herself. The thought scared her a little, she realized. How could she expect people to live and die for her when she could strongly feel the results of each mistake she made?

I'll just have to continue training hard. I have all these people here to back me up now. It's fine. she chanted to herself before Karine's voice lifted her back out of her thoughts.

"No, I don't have plans, it's just that I'm worried about just the two of us going out of the pack lands alone. I know you're strong, but I'd feel better if we had some back up. At least Alexi if you wouldn't mind. Better safe than sorry," she pleaded, hoping her Alpha didn't just think she was trying to back out.

"Hmm... you're right. I wouldn't want to worry the pack just because I wanted to do something."

"Alexi, would you like to take the evening off to go shopping with your mate and I?" she asked through the pack link.

"Of course, thank you Alpha! I do think it would be better if we bring another person with us though, the nearest shopping center worth anything is about 30 minutes away, and I'd rather be safe than sorry. It is your decision though, and I apologize if I'm overstepping."

"No, I appreciate it actually," she replied, amused. "Your mate said the same thing when I asked her to join me. Please feel free to invite a guest of your choosing. We're ready to leave whenever you gather them."

"Okay, Zeno and I will be around front with the car."

Mila faltered a little mid step, still not understanding the emotions that had happened in her room last night. She hadn't seen anyone show concern for her in so long, and all the care she'd received from Karine was somehow different than the concern she'd seen from Zeno last night, and she found she wasn't quite sure how to respond to it, though she planned on making it a point to be a strictly professional until she figured it out.

Karine quickly changed her outfit and stepped out holding a pair of black gym shoes. "Here, try these on. Lada, the girl I was with the other day offered to see if they fit you since she noticed you didn't have any shoes." Mila smiled, glad to see her pack taking care of her. I should ask them what I can do to thank everyone. Mila thought to herself as she slipped on the shoes. They were a little small, but would do until she could buy some that fit. Not used to the compression of shoes after years, Mila ended up spending the next 45 minutes rubbing at them while they drove.

The ride wasn't as awkward as Mila had expected it to be. Karine had excitedly hopped in the back seat with her, ignoring the door her mate held open up front. Grunting and making his way back around to the driver's seat, Zeno laughed at him before taking up the passenger seat for himself. The radio played some smooth sounding music Karine informed her was called "Lofi." It was really relaxing, and made perfect background music as she chatted it up with Mila.

"So have you ever been to a big shopping mall before?" Mila shook her head no and Karine looked even more excited. "Oooh, you'll have a blast! We'll get you some shoes, great clothes, stuff for your bedroom, and then we can grab some dinner in the food court if you're hungry."

"That sounds great," Mila smiled. "Don't forget about getting yourself some clothes as well." Karine's face fell a little, though she quickly covered it with a smaller smile.

"Oh, I'm alright Alpha, I actually need to save money right now."

"Nonsense," Mila started, waving a hand in front of her face. Karine looked a little startled, and Mila smiled at her again, feeling pleased as her friend looked more at ease. "It's on me today, as well as for you two, if you see anything you like," she continued, turning towards the men in the front seat this time.

"Thank you Alpha," they both said together. Each pair turned back to their own conversations after that, the ride passing quickly as Mila felt herself get more comfortable with the bubbly blonde.

"Okay, what do you want to start with?" Karine asked after giving Mila some time to take the mall in with wide eyes.

"Shoes, please. I appreciate Lada, but I think these are a little small," Mila replied, rubbing her feet together carefully, trying not to damage her loan. Feeling more confident in their budding friendship, Karine grabbed the redhead by the hand, excitedly leading her to a nearby shoe store. Seeing Mila's eyes widen again as she took in the towering walls of shoes around her, an overweight man with greasy black hair pulled up on them, looking like his flashy blue tie was strangling him as he stood far too close to her for Mila's liking.

She quickly took a step away, nearly knocking Karine over in the process. Sweat built up on her forehead, and she felt her pulse quickening as she took another step back. "Why am I acting like this?" Mila asked herself in shock. She'd had no problem being around her male packmembers, so why was this random human giving her such a problem?

Alexi and Zeno were between her and the salesman in an instant, and the chubby man's eyes widened as she looked at the two men looming over him.

"Why don't you get us one of your female coworkers?" Zeno suggested strongly, glowering down at him. The salesman nodded, quickly scurrying away as Karine guided Mila to a nearby seat. Alexi bit his lip, mind linking with Zeno as he watched his mate comfort his Alpha.

"Maybe this was a bad idea, she seemed really shaken up about that guy. Do you think we should take them home?"

Zeno thought it over for a minute as he watched the girls talk. The Alpha seemed to be calming down, and she did need to get these things; her room had looked like a hospital as he'd left last night. Making it his mission to personally keep an eye on her, Zeno subtly shook his head. "No, this is stuff she needs, and I think once she gets used to all the people it'll be good for her. Besides, it seems like her and Karine are becoming friends."

Both men looked back at the girls where Karine was now laughing at the look on Mila's face as her foot made contact with the cold steel of the shoe size measurement tool.

"She's been trying so hard, it's adorable. She was talking to me through the link the whole time she got ready, tripping about how this is their friendship's make or break moment, like she wasn't going to have years to become friends with her." Alexi laughed through the mind link, and Zeno was happy to see his best friend be so happy. He'd been lucky enough to find Karine when they were only 4, and it was really hard on them when they found out that she couldn't have kids. It was good to see them healing now.

"Okay so it looks like you're a size 9, so I'll start pulling shoes for you. Any colors or styles you like?" Karine asked. Mila tapped her chin a few times as she thought about it.

"Some comfortable everyday shoes first to walk around in, and some . I don't really have a color preference if they'd go with multiple outfits." Karine nodded, heading off just as a female sales clerk came up, looking a little apprehensive.

"Hi, sorry for the wait. How can I help y'all today?" she asked professionally, though her dialect came though as she was looking around the three of them to see who the client was.

"Hello, I'm getting a new wardrobe and in need of a lot. Could you please pull me a variety of heels in a size 9, as well as some black, brown, white, and grey boots?"

"Of course, I'll be right back," she chirped, her eyes practically turning to dollar signs as she saw that commission check form in her mind. That's what you get for being a creep. she thought while shooting a mocking smile at her coworker.